Sunday seemed a long day. I day two courses running together, a NLP Practitioner Course with eager participants wanting to know how NLP works, and an English language course, where I have the students for three session a day, helping their belief systems, their memory, their relaxation, their learning.

I also had a new translator, her first experience of working with a trainer like me. She did a great job, dealing with my accent, the structure of my English language which is based on NLP, the Meta Model (click to read), the Milton Model, using words that she had never heard before, syncronicity, transderivational search, having to deal with concepts of sleep and the workings of the brain, plus the different, difficult characters and personalities of the participants.

Most translators in Turkey's universities are told that they should only work for a maximum of forty minutes, then stop. I certainly cannot work that way, I can go on for three hours, with my metaphors, stories, demonstrations. I have to as we are going through a process. Can you put a chocolate cake in the oven to cook, and half way through the process, take it out to rest?

It amazes me that my translators do so well.

The day started with a long walk to the school near Taxim Square. I did not have enough money for a taxi, and the tram from Taxim Tunel to Taxim Square was not working so early.

The streets were very quite. It was enjoyable to have space, noticing the national flags hanging above my head, buildings and shops I had never seen before, or should I say never noticed before. 

                                           

I wondered as I looked at the people going about their business if they were going to work, to school, or were they going home after a night out. Istanbul is a twenty-four hour city. No matter what hour you are up, there are people and taxis everywhere.

On reaching Taxim Square, I realise I am tired, I am hot, I am hungry as I had no breakfast, and no money not even to buy a simit bread, but I take my mind off things as I watch the police arrive in their coaches plus a water canon vehicle. There must be a demonstration expected.

                          

The office is not far from Taxim Square, but the walk had made me too hot, I was sweating, I was so wet, my shirt was wringing wet, but I had a course to start, I had to go on. It was embarrassing to stand their in this condition, but with the help of Mustapha (hara), the day started well.

Halfway through the morning, I had to stop my talk, as down in the street below a procession of young people marched past, it was a national celebration of youth. Bands played, drums beat, and voices shouted out. The Turkish people love to march it seems, and are very proud of their flag and founder, Ataturk (click). I hope they do not intend to use the water canon against the youths matching towards Taxim Square.

                                         

At 7pm, after a long day of training with few breaks, I felt like a zombie, I was dead, my arms and legs were like lead, I needed my bed, rest sleep and food.

Thank goodness for La Cantine in Taxim Tunel Square, their wraps are tasty, the best.