Living out of focus

In the past week, I've been plotting my escape from the land of magandas.
See, my Turkish is improving and I've learnt this very useful word which describes, oh about 90% of Turks encountered so far.
I'll leave U to Google it.

I need to go home for a while to recharge, regain my sanity, think about what I want to do, hug my parents, play with my dog.

In the last week, I met some expat women and signed up for the IWI...International Women of Istanbul.
Some think it's a tai tai's association for bored rich housewives with a car, driver and young kids in tow.
(All of which I don't have.)
Others like me just want to be able to have a conversation with another human being without using hand signs and feeling frustrated.
Christy, a perky blonde American who's the membership secretary, asked me if I wanted to organise some events or outings to attract a younger crowd. Sure why not. Tennis, golf and playing bridge sure ain't my cup of tea.

It's Ramadan, but strangely here in the Bull, people seem to be stuffing their faces more than ever.
Restaurants are more packed, day or night. In supermarkets, frenzied shoppers are grabbing food off the aisles.
And oh yes, the smoking continues.

I just can't understand the general mentality.
Everything's mixed up, upside down, and often downright stupid.

Case in point:

Last Thursday, my Filipina cleaning lady Rosie was taking a bus home. It was about 5pm, bus was full. 20 minutes into the journey, the bus suddenly swerves, rams into a car, skids to the side of the road and flips on its side. The driver of the car was seriously hurt. Passengers are screaming and crying.
What does the bus driver do? A MUNICIPAL (read government) employee.
He crawls out of the bus, AND RUNS AWAY.
Doesn't try to help. Doesn't call for an ambulance. Just RUNS AWAY.

Like HELLO, you are employed by the government, your bosses know you're driving THIS bus on THIS route and you RUN AWAY from the scene of an accident?
And where's the personal sense of responsiblity?

In the past months, people having been telling me, "celebrate the cultural differences", accept, adapt.
Well, no matter how hard I try, I can't celebrate idiocy. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

The late, great Bukowski speaks for me.

Be Kind by Charles Bukowski

we are always asked
to understand the other person's
viewpoint
no matter how
out-dated
foolish or
obnoxious.

one is asked
to view
their total error
their life-waste
with
kindliness,
especially if they are
aged.

but age is the total of
our doing.
they have aged
badly
because they have
lived
out of focus,
they have refused to
see.

not their fault?

whose fault?
mine?

I am asked to hide
my viewpoint
from them
for fear of their
fear.

age is no crime

but the shame
of a deliberately
wasted
life

among so many
deliberately
wasted
lives

is.