Chok Kar, Chok Solk.

The title contains an interesting term in Turkish, Chok, pronounced like the English word for depriving someone of air. Chok can mean a lot, but it can also mean too much. So this title can mean, "A lot of snow, very cold" or "Too much snow, too cold." Or a combination of those. I wonder if America would be any different if English had one term for both "a lot" and "too much." Then again, those who can afford it are as into conspicuous consumption here as they are in the States.

Another day dawns in the driving snow. This time the hill isn't plowed and when I walked up it an hour ago I was the first one to put footprints in the snow. People shuffled around from building to building, some just walked up the middle of the street. Cars are useless on these hills. After stopping by a bakery I arrived at school, doors locked and security guard breathing slow and steady, not very aware of anything around him. After a while of knocking I got his attention and I was out of the wind and snow. Everything is again closed down and school is canceled, I have nested in one of the computer laboratories left unlocked, dedicated to finding diversions while I wait for the weather to improve enough to make walking home worth being home.

Istanbul, at least Mecideyaköy, seems ill-prepared for the weather. Salt on the sidewalks is done only on a local level, and some places do not receive any to melt away the ice. I haven't seen a snow plow, though their must be some about. From what I hear though, this kind of weather only lasts a a very short time each year, so perhaps the city just acknowledges the weather and calls a snow day.