Phillip and Rebecca Mefford

Matchbox cars are essentially a universal language for young boys. By two o’clock Rebecca and the kids are nearly home, having visited at least two play grounds on the way back from school. If they go home they have snacks, read books, and learn about letters (ramping up for supplemental homeschool once Lincoln starts Kindergarten). Some days a friend in the neighborhood will invite them over for ikindi çay , afternoon tea and snacks that happens anywhere between 2 and 4pm. In the first scenario the kids get bonding time with each other and mom as well as English instruction. Lincoln loves doing worksheets and it is good for him to understand instructions in English for bilingual academic success. In the second scenario, the kids get more time immersed in Turkish language and culture. This is especially beneficial for Hudson and Sofia who spend the mornings at home. Rebecca also gets to bond with other ladies in the neighborhood. Both alternatives are very positive, as long as the

According to a January 2014 statistic by the Department of Religious Affairs, Isparta has 711 mosques. Depending on the time of year and position of the sun, somewhere between noon and 1pm the midday ezan, or call to prayer, echoes throughout town. At this time of year the öğle namaz, noon Muslim prayer, is heralded at about saat bire on var, ten minutes to one. At the university Phillip is holding office hours, i.e. drinking tea with the colleagues in his shared office. On the other end of town Rebecca knows that it is time to bundle Hudson and Sofia into the stroller to walk over to Lincoln’s preschool to pick him up. She is almost always at least ten minutes late, but no one really cares. The principal never complains about tardiness. In fact, sometimes he offers tea while we wait for Lincoln Umut to come down from his classroom. The ezan, call to prayer, provides mile markers for the day’s activities, especially for those who perform the daily five prayer