Have moved around enough in the last ten years only to discover that however much you think you are clearing out, there is always more stuff than you think you have. The dust that has emerged is a welcome reminder of how embedded some things have become with each place I have lived (and how much more I could have cleaned).
And just to digress with a little dust anecdote – there are many dusty places across the world but in Eskisehir where I once lived in Turkey, it used to be known as the dusty city and when I first went there it was.
“Eskisehir is a Phrygia city which is known as Dorylaion in Greek and Dorylaeum in Latin in documents and in mediaeval era, located at the centre of important roads, famous for its thermal baths and prosperous in commerce.Dorylaion-Sahöyük had a major role in the Byzantine Empire defence against Seljuk Empire but it came under the dominance of Seljuks after the defeat of Byzantine Emperor Immanuel Kommonos by The Seljuk Sultan II. Kiliçaslan in 1176.Odunpazari,which is the first residential area of the current Eskisehir,was located in a hilly and earthquake-resistant area where there were mostly Ottoman houses.In time,it slided to a plain land and became a city with narrow avenues lack of aesthetics and greenery.It is impossible for a city in this position to breathe. Governments,shifting education systems,culture and art have had destructive effects on urbanization more than constructive ones.”2
There was a healthy business for street shoe cleaners. Then when they decided to clear the city and bring in trams there was even more. Now that the trams have been in for several years, large amounts of dust have gone, the shoe cleaners have mostly gone and it looks like a different city, as the article notes.
Returning to house clearing, I found a copy of Oriah Mountain Dreamer‘s Prelude to the Dance,
“What if the task is simply to unfold, to become who you already in your essential nature”2
What if that is what is needed for education – it needs to unfold – to become what learning already is in its essential nature?
Photo: Mosaic Unfolding Book, with thanks to JimmieHomeSchoolMom on Flickr, available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmiehomeschoolmom/3209433044
1. Saime Dönmezer (2012) An Example of Art-Culture Policy City : Eskisehir, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 2 No. 2 [Special Issue – January 2012], available at: http://www.ijhssnet.com/update/archive/756-vol-1-no-20-december-2011abstract8.html
2. Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Prelude to the Dance
I can only imagine that much dust. Not a pleasant thought, as that is my housework nemesis!
Ironing used to be mine, but I’ve got more used to it now
Wow, another world, Nicola. thank you for a glimpse of this distant city.
I can definitely recommend the hamams – Turkish baths in Eskisehir – they are still sourced from local springs and are very good.
Fascinating, but a little confusing. In the final analysis, was the advent of the tram era a good or a bad thing? I would prefer greenery with some dust to no dust, but no greenery.
Its a good thing commercially for the city but I don’t think it was totally necessary, they are definitely trying to attract more people from outside Turkey. They have lost some of the character of the city through this and Eskisehir actually means old city – Eski is old and sehir is city. There are some nice forest areas and rivers outside of the main city but not that much greenery inside unfortunately.
Pity. What gives short-term commercial benefits often provides long-term general degradation.