A Backpack for the Trip

Sometimes good things just happen to a traveler wanting to be practical, and let's face it, cheap when possible.  I am a student, after all.  On Thursday, I took advantage of a lovely evening of movies, munchies, drinks and good company with my friends Beth and Stephanie, and I met new friends Katie and Courtney.  I was telling people about the upcoming Turkey trip and sharing my excitement, and learning some travel tips.  At some point in the evening, I asked out of the blue if anyone had a big campers backpack, which I think will be ideal for traveling to three countries and hauling my own stuff.  Courtney responded "Yes--do you want to borrow it?"  Keep in mind--I have only met Courtney that night for the first time!  She called her husband and got him to bring both backpacks over to the party so that I could choose one.  I couldn't ask for a better deal than that!  Lots of generosity and thanksgiving going down in Berkeley due to one nice traveler loaning out this fabulous-looking backpack.  Doesn't it look like it will be perfect?  It's even got straps on the outside so that I can tote my harp around on it, too.  Thanks Courtney!

Big Surprises

I just found out my new balance, and I've been given an award for the "most unique balance" of anyone in the trip!  I was so surprised to see the names of people who had given, and am incredibly grateful.  Norma, Sara, Lou Ann, Sheryl---a big thank you.  You will be the recipient of a fancy postcard and maybe some holy water from Mary's house.

Long time, No Write! Making Music in Oakland

Whoa, long time, no blog update!  I am correcting that now.

I was privileged to play my violin at Mills Grove Christian Church, and it was my first time to worship with them though I've been at retreats and in classes with many of the women for several years.  This is sweet, delightful and energetic congregation---I thoroughly enjoyed my worship there.  To the right, you will see the wonderful Rochon, who is a supreme pianist and musician.  She can sightread anything and add dimensions to accompaniment that I would never imagine.  What a wonderful gift to play together!  So wonderful in fact......that she helped me fix a big, big mistake---the kind I haven't made since I was about 11 years old.  Right in the middle of "Jesu, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (which I've played about 1,000 times), I looked up at the congregation, looked back at my  music, and could not find where I was.  I mean, I was LOST.  Then Rochon was lost.  Then we were both lost.  So, I did something that I have never done before.  I stopped playing, laughed and just said "This is TERRIBLE!  I've lost my place!"  Rochon and I picked up and kept going til the end.  The most wonderful part, in my experience, was the warmth and joy of the congregation---everyone just rolled with the punches.  It turned out that a few of the people really loved the piece (even with the error), so everything ended well and on a high note.  The amazing Rev. Clarence Thomas even managed to incorporate the "wrong note" images into his sermon, so we all made lemonade out of lemons.

I can't wait to give my "thank you" to the congregation for their donation after I get back from Turkey.  It will be great to worship with y'all again!

Short Update

Last night I went to go see Carrie Newcomer at Sierra Christian Church in Loomis, CA.  She was incredible, and the evening of music was right up my ally.  This does not directly have to do with the trip to Turkey, but at the concert there were many people who know about my upcoming trip who asked about it!  The good news is that the balance keeps getting smaller: I owe about $1200, a long ways from the original $3800. A few people seemed eager to chip in (I'm looking at you, LAH), and I continue to be grateful.

What a great night: a mini-road trip with friends, singing in the car, Carrie Newcomer, the hospitality of Sierra Christian Church, and some more promises for Turkey!

Stories about Istanbul

Hello Gentle Readers,

In between my dissertation and other summer fun, I am still preparing for the big trip to Turkey.  I get more excited every day!  Recently I picked up a small book called Istanbul: Tales of the City, with stories by Herman Melville, Simone de Beauvoir, Gore Vidal, and others.  I've read the first one by Bahloal Dana called "The Rose of Istamboul".  The story dates to the Ottoman empire, and is a classic of Turkish literature, though we know very little about Bahloal Dana.  Despite my efforts, I cannot find any wikipedia or other links to the story--and isn't funny how quickly that has become an expectation of mine!

The story is just a few pages long, and is about a young man who has ended up with three wives.  He likes them well enough, but would rather be a mystic and spend his time in holy trances.  He thinks bitterly that women were impulsive, and sought to trap men in their snares...until he meets a beautiful woman who refuses to give him her name.  Indeed, she startles him by appearing while he is in prayer and tells him softly that she is the answer to his prayer.  Her beauty seems immortal to him, and she will not give him her name even when he asks for it, but tells him "Allah in His great mercy has understood that for thee and such as thee no moral woman can suffice.  But as it is necessary that the soul of woman should unite with that even of the most wise and pious of mankind, such as I have been raised up by Allah to attend them in order that the miracle of nature's unity may be made complete".  They continue their conversation and he wonders if she might have been sent by the evil one.  She laughs and reminds him that no one from evil may utter the name Allah.  Finally she tells him that she is mystery, as he has guessed, and also something more, "for which you would gladly give your life, yet which daily you tread under your feet."  He guesses--Love?  Yes, she is love, the kind that surpasses that of a mother for the son or a sailor for the sea.  She leaves before daybreak, telling him that she will come every nightfall in the hopes of meeting him again.

The next night he demands to know her name, and she tells him that he may call her the Rose of Istamboul.  He wants her to become his bride, and then he may know her true name.  She reminds him that they are already bride and groom in eternity...and one guesses she does not want to formalize the arrangement.  He tries to follow her by day to see where she dwells, but she vanishes before him.  His wives at home are becoming suspicious of his nightly wanderings. Weeks pass and he does not see his beloved, who was the answer to his unspoken prayer.  He finally comes to realize that she is "all that woman in her essential native vigour and power and divine sweetness brings to man in one body--the rapturous spirit of that earth of which he is himself a part, the less vivid, the less daedal part, the nymphic fire that from the oak conceives the dryad, that from the stream brings forth the naiad, that pagan fury which not only receives the life of which man is the vessel, but which has power, like its mother the earth, to bring it to harvest and fruition".  After his realization, the next time he enters the mosque, he finds her.  She declares in his embrace that she is that which comes to all poets--the Rose of Istamboul.

There is something about this story...it is distinctly non-Western.  The story is not shy about the connection between ecstasy, desire, the body, prayer and the Divine.  At the same time, it exhibits dualism about women---they are either nags (the wives), or holy spectacles (the Rose).  Yet at the same time---I was enchanted.

Does anyone else have classic Turkish literature that I should read?  I'm ready to be enchanted some more!

What I will be doing in Turkey

Another week, another posting!  I finally have some updated information about what I'll be doing in Turkey.  If you are new to this blog, you might want to read the initial posting that explains about the trip and why I'm going.

While we don't know our final itinerary yet, it looks like we'll be spending the majority of our time in Western Turkey, in and around Istanbul.  The map over to your right is helpful for getting a sense at how BIG Turkey is---we'll only be in a small portion of the country.  Of particular interest to me is a visit (hopefully!) to the ancient ruins of Ephesus, an important economic and cultic center in Asia Minor in the ancient world---and a place where St. Paul visited.  Istanbul is in the top left, and Ephesus is located in red near the coast of the Aegean Sea.  I am also really interested in visiting the region of Cappadocia, home of the 4th century Cappadocian Fathers---very important to the history of early Christianity (though I admit, I don't know much about them!)

As far as what we'll be doing, for sure on the schedule are visits to locations that specialize in women's and children's interests.  I am realizing how little I know about these issues in the United States, much less about them in a country like Turkey.  I am looking forward to seeing how another culture, and one whose main religious adherents are Muslim, interpret, deal with, and solve problems, including poverty, among women and children.

I am still happily accepting donations to help offset the cost of this trip!  This summer I am dedicated to writing my dissertation, so work has been on the back burner a little bit.  (At least, paid work.  Writing a dissertation, it turns out, is a LOT of work!)  If you have been thinking about contributing, now is a great time!  Any and all amounts are appreciated---even small amounts like $5 add up!  Any contributions may be sent to:

Office of Disciples Women
130 E Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Attn: Beverly Ledwon

Memo: for Katy Valentine WWW Trip
It is essential that my name be added to the memo line!

A big THANK YOU to all those who have contributed.  I appreciate it so much, and can't wait to communicate with you about the trip.

Last question: for those of you who have done long, international trip living out of a suitcase, what was the most valuable thing that you packed?

Woo-Hoo!

Just $1000 left to raise for the trip!  I'm excited and humbled that so many people have contributed to the trip.  Thanks so much to everyone so far!