FACTS ABOUT SINOP THAT YOUR FAMILY WOULD NEVER UNDERSTANDSOFTBALL--Persuading the umpire to call time out because the outfield suddenly disappeared in a fog bank. The infield, in the meantime, remains sunny and bright.
THINGS THAT GO THUD IN THE NIGHT--The sound of your roommate hitting the floor after rolling out of his upper bunk. Miraculously he is neither injured nor awaken, having spent the evening at the EM club.
TWO THUMBS UP--Going to the mid-flick just to hear the catcalls when any actress under the age of 50 appears on screen.
SINOP TAXIS--Studebakers, Hudsons, and DeSotos running on two cylinders, with bald tires, worn shocks, and hail Mary brakes.
SINOP TAXIS II--Maximum capacity: 6 (inside). Any number of riders may position themselves on bumpers, fenders, running boards, hoods, and trunk lids.
RULES OF THE ROAD--The vehicle with the loudest horn has the right of way.
THE BEACH--Fine sand, warm sunshine, shimmering sea...and no women.
LIRA--A kind of monopoly money. Twelve to the dollar.
BAFRA (a/k/a Barf-ra)--A highly aromatic cigarette made of the finest Turkish tobaccos.
ALICE'S RESTAURANT--American food with an unfortunate difference.
ATATURK--Think of George Washington with the heels of his shoes mashed down.
GAF--An unprintable acronym; defines an attitude necessary for survival on the hill.
THE BOWLING ALLEY--Blink, and you'll miss it. Not destined to become a stop on the pro bowlers tour. A challenge to any miniature golfer.
THE EM CLUB--Slot machines, pool table, lewd floor shows, and cockroaches served with every beer.
THE MESS HALL--SOS with every meal.
RUINS OF THE BYZANTINE CHAPEL--A pile of rubble easily mistaken for a Turkish country home. As close to church as some guys ever got.
ZOOMIES--Air Force personnel transferred to Sinop from Samsun and Trabzon. Not sure whose air force.
ASA AT SINOP--Couldn't tell by my invisible shoulder patch. For the record, we were simply your friendly neighborhood NATO forces.
Copyright © Michael Gillespie, 1999. All Rights Reserved.