tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post4170971999813333091..comments2024-01-15T21:30:40.609+03:00Comments on Istanbul's Stranger: Evil! Evil!Strangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-89324650402029970312009-07-22T04:47:52.145+03:002009-07-22T04:47:52.145+03:00I think I pretty much fit the stereotype, Anonymou...I think I pretty much fit the stereotype, Anonymous. I try to get along as best as I can, but I definitely draw the line at anything I think is stupid.<br /><br />And there's a whole lot of stuff I think is stupid, especially anything that requires me to do more work or that otherwise inconveniences me.<br /><br />You're right about MIL needing therapy. To amuse myself, I sometimes imagine what her therapy sessions would be like. Since she started going crazy about Nazar, she's become slightly less crazy about germs, and I think she's hoarding slightly less. By hoarding I mean she buys LE TONS of clothes he doesn't need, all in the wrong sizes (and all fiercely unattractive or terribly uncool), which she either stashes around her house or gives them to us all at once. One time, she gave us 14 shirts and 7 pairs of pants. My cleaner's family enjoyed them greatly.Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-34303041255128540902009-07-20T23:31:09.094+03:002009-07-20T23:31:09.094+03:00Your MIL needs to get a life... In fact she needs ...Your MIL needs to get a life... In fact she needs therapy. Sure, Turkish people can get quite serious about nazar, but it seems like it is an outlet for whatever underlying crazy issues she has currently. At least you seem to be handling them quite well. Popular view on foreign "gelins" is that they ignore what the IL's think and feel, and they are too obstinate about how they want things to be (why the hell not? it is your own marriage, child, life etc. after all!). A Turkish gelin can and should not put her foot down... I hope you actually fit the stereotype of the foreign gelin because MIL's can be so unbearable so they deserve to be vexed. ;) <br /><br />-A curious reader who stumbled upon your blog- DvNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-39415239220306435532009-06-14T21:46:05.965+03:002009-06-14T21:46:05.965+03:00Sigh, that Jesus thing, it was a joke. You see, he...Sigh, that Jesus thing, it was a joke. You see, he never looks very middle eastern, does he? I'm just going to leave the comedy and stick to the mothering stuff from now on.siobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01230841810118051830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-46728437575377858832009-06-14T09:25:27.321+03:002009-06-14T09:25:27.321+03:00I had a pet finch named Jesus, but the Spanish Jes...I had a pet finch named Jesus, but the Spanish Jesus. His friend was named Meep.<br /><br />I suspect I have a close mitochondrial connection with Jesus Loves You.Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-78365086457531272662009-06-13T22:50:18.555+03:002009-06-13T22:50:18.555+03:00Jesus? Isn't he from Brazil? We're talking...Jesus? Isn't he from Brazil? We're talking about Madonna's Jesus, right?<br /><br />"Jesus" is also a very popular Spanish name...and most "Jesus" I know are nicknamed "Chewey." This is not meant as an offense; merely an observation. <br /><br />In all seriousness, yes: historical Jesus was from the Middle East and Mary was most likely of African extraction. (The mitochondrial--or however it's spelled--Eve theory supports that.) The wavy brown-haired , rosy-skinned Jesus image is courtesy of Da Vinci's uncle, who served as a model.UNchecked otherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04901450628734825112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-23532424698769898422009-06-13T22:27:56.183+03:002009-06-13T22:27:56.183+03:00ehm, where was "Jesus" from if not the M...ehm, where was "Jesus" from if not the Middle East?Jesus Loves Younoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-7539340387961765112009-06-13T10:39:09.534+03:002009-06-13T10:39:09.534+03:00Siobhan, your version of Nazar sounds right too. I...Siobhan, your version of Nazar sounds right too. I've asked lots of people and I'm not the only one who's unclear on exactly what it is...<br /><br />I think it's interesting how many educated people believe in these kinds of things for real. It's not just a passing belief-- they really do get upset with you for not going along, and it comes from people you don't expect. It's like my pediatrician assuring BE it was good for LE's muscle development for him to go around barefoot, yet both of them being extremely uncomfortable with the possibility of his feet getting cold.<br /><br />Medea you're right-- smiling and nodding go a long way. I find people's religious beliefs, and sometimes even their superstitions, easy enough to go along with as long as they keep most of it to themselves, but it's really hard to keep smiling when you're getting bawled out for some ridiculous thing.Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-43203025558423658992009-06-13T02:53:32.779+03:002009-06-13T02:53:32.779+03:00No wonder I love you! Nice to find another atheis...No wonder I love you! Nice to find another atheist!<br /><br />My husband's grandmother believes in a Buddhist sect which is also big on amulets and leader worship. She never allowed us to do Shinto rites which are more closely related to Japanese culture, so I never get to go to drum performances at shrines on New Year's Eve or take my kids for newborn pictures at the shrine. Also she sends people around to sell us things from her religion, which just cements my anger at these leader cults for making a profit off little old ladies.<br /><br />Anyway, I just wish you luck. Smiling and nodding while thinking about how nuts someone is always gets me through door-knockers and religious grandmas.Perogyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01066575445602451389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-5263504360118629132009-06-12T21:21:44.627+03:002009-06-12T21:21:44.627+03:00I always wondered who that guy was, thought it mig...I always wondered who that guy was, thought it might be Jesus but sort of dismissed it because he looks far too middle eastern to be Jesus. I love that Ali, Ataturk, Haci Bektas bust. <br /><br />The boncuk on baby thing drives me crazy. I was finally able to put my foot down about it when a safety pin did come open when D was 2 months old. But, you'd be amazed (well, not YOU I know nothing would surprise you anymore re crazy customs and our dear hosts) how many people believe that stuff. Highly educated, well travelled people have chastised me for not protecting my child in this way. <br /><br />BTW, have I got it wrong? I always thought it wasn't so much as being cursed by the evil eye rather than tempting fate by being admiredsiobhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01230841810118051830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-4774193706729210672009-06-10T22:11:03.361+03:002009-06-10T22:11:03.361+03:00Goodness, that's a lot of family superstition ...Goodness, that's a lot of family superstition for one person to contend with! <br /><br />I think you'll find Turkish superstitions are pretty mundane by comparison...Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-3527922050511643862009-06-10T21:42:48.446+03:002009-06-10T21:42:48.446+03:00Stranger, on my da's side I am Hawaiian, Pilip...Stranger, on my da's side I am Hawaiian, Pilipino, Maori, and Swiss. On my momma's I am Tsalagi (Cherokee), Spanish, and Chinese. In other words, I never ran out of topics to write about for anthro courses while at uni.<br /><br />The whole diamond thing became popular with Imelda Marcos, the shoe fetishest/Evita wannabe/drag queen who taught Christina Aguilera and RuPaul to put make-up. When she and her husband were still the dictators of the Philippines, theyrightfully incurred the wrath of many people. Ole Meldy claimed that many people wanted to do "kulam" or "barang" (voodoo) to her, but the diamonds she wore protected her. I suppose you could say it worked; she's still lumbering around as a politician in the Philippines. <br /><br />As for the biting thing, I'm not sure but I think in the AmerIndian traditions it is similar to sucking off the venom from a snake bite. Or something like that. But yes, when I become a mother and somebody tried to bit my kid, I'd def introduce them to the pointy end of my stiletto boots. Either that or start handing out toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash to random people.UNchecked otherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04901450628734825112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-48466855336055329602009-06-10T21:22:59.414+03:002009-06-10T21:22:59.414+03:00People's cultural beliefs are all well and goo...People's cultural beliefs are all well and good as long as they don't involve mutilating girls' genitals and shit like that. Cultural beliefs are nice and interesting as long as I don't have to significantly alter my behavior or go along with something I think is stupid for more than a few hours.<br /><br />But dissing science in favor of utter nonsense, well, there's where I have to draw the line about cultural relativism. I would never make my MIL drink a cold beverage and I can't figure out why she thinks it's okay to come into my house and bitch at me for have two windows open, creating a deadly draft. So yeah, it's fair game, especially when she's the one acting like I'm an idiot. I don't even know how to say 'provincial' in Turkish, which probably goes a long way towards preserving peace around here.<br /><br />UNchecked other, OMG! I'm wondering where your family is from. I've never heard that about diamonds (though I share your suspicions about DeBeers) or biting. If anyone tried to bite my kid I'd show them where they can stick their cultural beliefs.Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933997864575809110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-69532665728610349392009-06-10T18:14:45.852+03:002009-06-10T18:14:45.852+03:00Your MIL sends shivers down my spine. Bless her he...Your MIL sends shivers down my spine. Bless her heart, she reminds me of my grandmother. I grew up adorned with "amulets" ranging from the Catholic scapular to AmerIndian fetishes, Chinese jades to diamonds. Apparently the clarity of diamonds traps the evil intentions of envious people, thus protecting the wearer. Methinks this belief was started by a bored DeBeers exec. Whenever somebody would comment on how cute I was as a baby, some well-intentioned family member would inevitably bite me. Why? To expel the evil intentions, of course. What's surprising is that my mom's side of the family is staunchly Catholic and are comprised of "modern" politicians, lawyers, doctors, professors...aka people who shun "primitive" ways. Ah...contradictions. <br /><br />In any case, your son LE is lucky to have you. He'll grow up to have a balanced perspective. <br /><br /><br />LeilaUNchecked otherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04901450628734825112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2799914692887174209.post-45929017561912581232009-06-10T15:37:15.270+03:002009-06-10T15:37:15.270+03:00I am pro-unreserved adoration, personally. That al...I am pro-unreserved adoration, personally. That all sounds truly insane. Like, mental institution crazy. I know we aren't suppose to say that about people's cultural beliefs. But it sure seems like fair game when she is calling YOUR scientific/cultural beliefs Bad and Wrong.Briarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04431318790028032416noreply@blogger.com