Here I Am In Honduras

Well, it's been shamefully long since my last post - nearly a year. And in that year, I've left Istanbul, spent 5 weeks on Home Leave (best invention EVER! Thank you Congress!), bummed around D.C. for 5 weeks (i.e. for training), and moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Life here is settling into it's own patterns and rhythms and they are very different from those in Istanbul. Tegucigalpa is hardly a cosmopolitan metropolis so the rhythms are slower, the patterns less rushed. I'm taking this time to check a couple things off my bucket list, including taking horseback riding lessons and reintegrating yoga into my life.

As far as work goes, I'm now in the Regional Security Office so the work is much different from what I was doing in Istanbul. I work longer hours than I think I ever have in my life. No, I take that back - I know I've never had longer work days than this. That has been a learning experience in it's own right - learning to leave things unfinished until the next day certainly didn't come easily to me and has been a challenge. I think I've got the hang of it now, though!

Jason and I continue our long distance marriage (he in Troy, NY - where he is kicking butt at being a student again and honing his rugby skills - and me here in Tegucigalpa). Managing a long distance marriage has turned out to be quite similar to managing a long distance engagement or dating relationship. We've become pros at it, though we are thoroughly enjoying being able to see each other more often and for longer periods of time (second best invention ever is the month long winter break at RPI which means we'll be able to spend a whole 4 weeks together!).

I just received my second HHE (Household Effects) shipment from the States and will be making a little project out of it. This is all stuff I haven't seen since 2004 and as I unpack these boxes from a couple lifetimes ago, I'll be posting pictures of the most entertaining (and possibly embarrassing) things I come across.

For now, you'll have to content yourself with some photos of my time between Istanbul and Tegucigalpa.

Me, Grandpa Reif, and Jason in Cunningham, KS


A long weekend in Utila, Honduras diving. Yeah! Utila Dive Center - best dive center I've encountered.


Jason (in the middle) playing rugby with the RPI men's team


With Karen & Preeti in D.C.

SNOW DAY!

The snow in Istanbul continues! It has been snowing pretty much non-stop for the past 3 days which has snarled the city but also meant a "liberal leave" day for consulate employees; meaning if you didn't/couldn't make it to work, you could use a vacation day and stay home. I opted out of what I'm sure would have been a harrowing trip to work and instead tried to spend my additional day being productive. I have been only mildly successful at that (but at least my apartment is clean and relatively clutter-free now!). And since I have sufficient food and libation, I haven't left the house in three days. Out of boredom, I will probably try to make my way into work tomorrow - at least for a few hours.

The view from my windows today

The Bosphorus is over there. . .somewhere

At Long Last!

I've finally found the energy, the desire, and the time to post an update. I know it's been months (and months and months and months), and they've been busy. To catch everyone up, here's what's happened:

President Obama came to Istanbul and spoke to the Consulate in April '09

(The President of the United States of America)

Cody was in town for the President's talk after which we headed to Prague to celebrate his 30th birthday

(Cody and President Obama)


(In Prague at a statue memorializing Franz Kafka)


(Bringing beer)


(Drinking more beer - we drank a lot of beer)

I found out I will be heading to Tegucigalpa, Honduras for my next post


Jason arrived after shortly after we got back from Prague and not only spent a lot of quality time with Cody, but also asked me to marry him (I said yes - in case you were wondering!)

(The rock!)

Karen and I said "See you soon and stay safe!" to Preeti when she left Istanbul in May for Kabul (hence the "stay safe" part).

(Preeti "scaring" Karen)

Mom came to visit in May - we had a great time exploring Istanbul and Ephesus together

(Mom checking out the library at Ephesus)


(On the main road at Ephesus)

In July, I went back to Norway to visit Jason. We toured the country with Norway in a Nutshell, hiked to Preikestolen, wandered around Stavanger, and took our first overnight train

(On the train from Oslo to Myrdal)

(At Preikestolen - a.k.a Pulpit Rock)


(Overlooking Lysefjord)


(Hiking up to Preikestolen)

My Dads made the trip to Turkey in September. I sadly had to work most of the time, but they explored (and I think fell in love with) Istanbul. We also spent a few days together in Sirince, Selcuk, and the area.

(Garth and Dad at the entrance to St. John's Basilica in Selcuk)


(Dad leaving Mary's House - where the Virgin Mary is thought to have lived before her ascension to Heaven)


(Garth wrapped in one of his prizes from the Grand Bazaar)

My good friend John was hot on the Dads heels and arrived only a couple weeks after they left. In classic Peace Corps style, John explored the city and a huge chunk of Turkey with just his backpack to accompany him.

October and November were busy - Jason arrived for a month-long visit (the longest period of time we've ever spend together in the same country, city, apartment as a couple. His mom Carol and her friend Sharon also made the trip for a couple weeks of touring Istanbul and Turkey.

Jason and I were married officially (i.e. at the courthouse) December 17, 2009. On December 19 we had a small ceremony at Fox Acres Country Club in Red Feather Lakes followed by a big party the next day at the Rio in Fort Collins. We had a great time and are getting used to using the words "husband" and "wife" to describe each other in our every day lives.
http://tyeseye.myshowit.com/stenzel/index.html


While I get ready to pull my life up in Istanbul, Jason is settling into his new life in Troy, NY. He will be attending Renssealer Polytechnic Institute starting in a couple of weeks.


I will be leaving Istanbul shortly. Sadly, one adventure must come to an end for another to begin so I will say good-bye to Haya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Tike in early March. I will not however, be saying good-bye to the dear friends I have made here, but rather "See you soon!" as the world of the State Department is small indeed.