1978

Contrary to popular wisdom, life in western Turkey during the Gulf War was pretty much business as usual. As an American I enjoyed much local support and backslapping during the entire war, and especially at the successful cease fire. The Turks generally supported the coalition and wished the demise of Saddam. Predictably they bemoaned the loss of oil pipeline and tourism revenues, but also have endured stoically. Now you all do your part, and come on over here for your spring vacation. If you can endure the tricky driving techniques, you will find delightful people, great beaches, wonderful antiquities, and low prices.

Speaking of vacations, I have recently discovered the sport of skiing in Turkey. For those of us familiar with crowded, expensive, ultrachic destination resorts, the initial escapade to Uludag, the premier resort in this country, was an eye-opener. You lawyers would love this place. Skis appear to be luxurious extensions of steering wheels these people ski the way they drive. The rental shop is best described as chaos, with a variety of would-be skiers clamoring for mix-and-match equipment that may well be up to ten years old (though in all fairness to the rental shop, I did not see any "beartrap" cable bindings!). Weight, degree of proficiency, or special request played no part in determining the binding setting in fact, lam not sure what did determine the setting. Ski size is small, medium, and a little bigger. Only boot picking seemed to be remotely organized. Then came interpretation of the lift system. Maps are nonexistent, and the lifts are individually owned and operated!! The would-be skier buys a punch card for a certain number of rides on a certain lift, with no reciprocity. Confusing, you ask... Try this out in Turkish! Needless to say, when we finally figured out the system and where to head, we were rewarded with spectacular views of Western Anatolia, sunshine, and spring skiing in wide open bowls.

A note from Pierre Kirch and his wire, Caroline, indicated that they were living in Paris, but as this is the first time I have heard from Pierre in many years, I am wondering what they are up to... How 'bout an update? Or maybe just prepare the guest bedroom, and I will find out myself.

Anne Barschall wrote to say that she had never lived in New Jersey, contrary to previously published reports. However, she did say that she and her husband, Alan McKenney, do live in Tarrytown, N.Y. They have bought a house with leaky plumbing there no fan, I'm sure and now have a young son, David Benjamin, born at home in September.

The Class of '78 Club of Western Turkey was formed in February with the arrival of Steve Maynard, lately from Reno, Nev., and Chile. We both live in the same town, work for the same company, and in fact are roommates! Steve was questioned as to why he was leaving a good "secure" job in the U.S. for a "war zone" assignment. Now, "looking back" (it's only mid-March at this writing), with the exploration and mining business starting to look like the Baghdad road, we are wondering where the war zone is ...

Back in my old haunts of northeastern Washington, Roland Feltner is living in the small town of Omak, home of the famous Omak Stampede (a horse race with few rules, and a euphemism for a weekend bash during mid-summer). Roland was recendy named Okanogan County medical officer and will head the county health district. He has been with the Farmworkers Clinic since July 1987, after obtaining his M.D. from Cincinnati and doing a residency in family medicine there as well. That's it from this part of the world. Cheers until next time.

Tunus Cad. 76/5, Kavaklidere, Ankara, Turkey