1978

After a month at my new job in Turkey, I am finally beginning to get the hang of several of the throaty sounds common in the Turkish language. Unfortunately, there are several more which are impossible—one sounds like swallowing bad tasting medicine when you were a kid. Maybe sometime in the next three years I will figure it out. I am writing from the picturesque town of Artvin, capital of the easternmost Black Sea province, a mere 30 miles from the Russian border. Turkey has over a million men in arms and many of them are located in this area. Guardposts, army barracks, and camps are everywhere. Rifles and machine guns are common, and a general feeling pervades that Turkey does not trust its large neighbor a mistrust that predates the advent of communism in the Soviet Union. However, the people here in this medieval fortress town situated about 1,000 feet above the rushing Coruh River (one of the country's largest streams), are warm and friendly. Daily work and activity begins in earnest at sunrise with a call to prayer from the nearby (and piercingly loud!) mosque. There is construction everywhere, a sign of recent economic boom spreading throughout the country, and for the time being ignoring the 100 percent annual inflation rate. Teahouses fill quickly, fruit and vegetable markets display their produce, and the streets come alive with a cacophony of noisy diesels, chattering matrons, laughing children chasing each other on their way to school, and the inevitable horn-blowing taxi or mini-bus. Since I cannot ignore the racket, it is just as well to get going and I figure it's nice to wake up to the vibrant sounds of overall happiness and optimism. Inshallah. Speaking of happiness and optimism I am pleased to report that Scott Brown and Mary Kendall really did get married in Mary's hometown of Auburn, Maine. Rumors indicate that it was a great party! Sorry I could not make it, you two, but give me your new address, so I can.send the wedding present!

One of the first letters I received over here was from long-lost friend Will Yancey. We had not talked, written, seen each other for three or four years, so this was a pleasant welcome. Will and Carol live in Austin, Tex., where Will is working in a doctoral program in accounting at the University of Texas. His goal upon graduation in 1991 is to become a professor at a business school. Quite a change from the old Cabin & Trail days!

Since new news and rumors travel slowly to Turkey, I slipped in a call to CatherineCates. As our class U.S. correspondent, she was able to fill me in on all the details of the past few months. Catherine, herself, is working in real estate investment for Prudential in Atlanta, and seems to be enjoying this new job. She managed a trip up to Charlotte for the Spirit of Dartmouth weekend at Davidson College, where numerous '78s from the area were able to get together. And we even won the football game!

John Jordan was there, and had to be forcibly restrained from parading with the D.C. Marching Band. In real life he has turned into a psych professor at Duke Med School.

Jay Brown also turned up and, as class agent, tried to start up the 1989 Alumni Fund early. No -way, Jay, we are waiting for the last minute, as usual. Besides, how can we deal with a class agent who moves without letting anyone know (hint, hint . . . new address, please). Jay recently moved to Charlotte and is presently working for Hoechst Chemical as a lawyer.

That's about it from this side of the world. Best wishes for a great New Year! Cheers.

farabi Sokak 3/3, cankaya, Ankara, Turkey