Last weekend, Rana (my sister-in-law), Jake and I visited Rana's family's summer house in Arsuz. Arsuz is a small town on the Mediterranean Sea, and a great place to escape the heat and noise of the city. We had a fun time with Rana's family. (I didn't realize how much I had missed Rana's mother's cooking!) It was an all-around great weekend.
On Sunday afternoon, Jake suggested a Sunday drive. When we were young, our parents would occasionally take us for drives on Sunday after church. We would go out into the countryside for a few hours, looking at the fields, the scenery, maybe drive around a lake; really wherever the car took us. I'm not positive that we completely understood or appreciated those drives as children, but it is a great way to see some of the sights in our area of Turkey. After Jake's suggestion, Rana's brother said, "To where will you drive?" Jake explained that he didn't know...maybe we'd visit a historical site nearby, maybe just drive by the sea, but he didn't really know. After some convincing, Jake, Rana, Rana's brother's family and I all set out on our "Sunday drive."
About three minutes into the drive, the question began popping up again. "To where are we going, Jake?" "I don't know," Jake would explain. Two minutes later, "To where are we going?" "I really don't know. Maybe the mountains." This dialogue repeated itself a few times until we saw a beautiful, rocky beach. Jake pulled into the beach, and we got out. We had a great time collecting rocks, taking pictures, watching the sea and enjoying each other's company. We got in the car, and Jake was going to continue the Sunday drive a bit further until someone said, "We've been gone almost an hour. Maybe we should get back."
Whether its the directionless driving or the ungodly gas prices, it was a strange concept for their family. (In response to the suggestion of a long drive with no endpoint in mind, Rana's mother asked Jake if he peed gasoline.) I remember all-day drives simply to visit a good restaurant in a neighboring state. This drive was a short one, but wonderful at the same time. I think it was a good breaking-in experience for their family. I'll try to post some of the pictures from the beach and maybe next time we'll make it an hour and a half...
On Sunday afternoon, Jake suggested a Sunday drive. When we were young, our parents would occasionally take us for drives on Sunday after church. We would go out into the countryside for a few hours, looking at the fields, the scenery, maybe drive around a lake; really wherever the car took us. I'm not positive that we completely understood or appreciated those drives as children, but it is a great way to see some of the sights in our area of Turkey. After Jake's suggestion, Rana's brother said, "To where will you drive?" Jake explained that he didn't know...maybe we'd visit a historical site nearby, maybe just drive by the sea, but he didn't really know. After some convincing, Jake, Rana, Rana's brother's family and I all set out on our "Sunday drive."
About three minutes into the drive, the question began popping up again. "To where are we going, Jake?" "I don't know," Jake would explain. Two minutes later, "To where are we going?" "I really don't know. Maybe the mountains." This dialogue repeated itself a few times until we saw a beautiful, rocky beach. Jake pulled into the beach, and we got out. We had a great time collecting rocks, taking pictures, watching the sea and enjoying each other's company. We got in the car, and Jake was going to continue the Sunday drive a bit further until someone said, "We've been gone almost an hour. Maybe we should get back."
Whether its the directionless driving or the ungodly gas prices, it was a strange concept for their family. (In response to the suggestion of a long drive with no endpoint in mind, Rana's mother asked Jake if he peed gasoline.) I remember all-day drives simply to visit a good restaurant in a neighboring state. This drive was a short one, but wonderful at the same time. I think it was a good breaking-in experience for their family. I'll try to post some of the pictures from the beach and maybe next time we'll make it an hour and a half...
7 comments:
hey laura, do you mind if I use your post as an ESL lesson?
http://jakedolson.com/lessons/?p=4
nope...be my guest
thanks for sharing the picture and fun story :)
Laura, my father used to take us on Sunday drives also. He loved the long stretches of road that led into the country side. At the end of the drive we would have a picnic or just buy an ice-cream on shorter drives.
Looking back it is a great opportunity to bring the whole family together for discussion and mutual observation whilst driving. We would even sing songs. No one could make an excuse to leave because everyone was in the car far from home.
My children don't appreciate long drives. They do not ask 'Where are we going?' but rather 'Are we there yet?' Why? Because the want the drive to be over so they can return home and play with their friends. Quite sad!
We might take a "Sunday drive" tomorrow to go look at the fall colors.! Maybe even a trip to an apple orchard. Wish you could come!! -Mom
hi Laura:D I'm Funda,your brother's student from the classrom of Uzman.I read your story and I liked it because it seemed so merry to me:P Jake is an intelligent and enjoyable person so i've never been bored until now at his lesson!I only wanted to tell u about my thinking about..Pls take care and also glad to meet u Laura bye :)
Laura,I'm a friend of your Aunt Jane's in Wausau WI and she gave me your blog site. How neat! Enjoyed the Sunday ride because as a kid we went for Sunday Drives and we usually ended up visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins. Have many memories of those rides especially since my dad took curving roads and us 5 kids would be sick in the back seat. Still get car sick on occasion. Have traveled the world, but have never been to Turkey. Would like to go there sometime. Loved the rugs you made. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Joanne
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