Job Discussion Forums

[ryanlogic]

I pray all of you are well,

As the title describes, I may be offered a job in Antakya, Hatay. If anyone could help me get a general idea about housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, etc. I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if anyone could direct me to a forum or community not exclusively for teachers, that would be great.

If it worked out, I'd be working for a relief organization dealing with Syrian refugees in Turkey. It would be a great foot in the door, and I'm very excited about the possibility.

Basically, I want to gather as much information as possible about the area before I receive an offer.

Thanks in advance

-Ryan

[ryanlogic]

I'm surprised no one has chimed in at all?!?!

[ossie39]

Hello I don't know a great deal but here goes. I visited Antakya 5 times about 10 years ago. You will hear both Turkish and Arabic. Antakya has a pleasent geographical museum. There are open markets and many tradesmen plying their skills in the streets. Antakya may have an original population of 100,00 as you walk throughout the city. Now with new inhabitants from Syria the population has likely increased. I remember nice fountains and a couple of big hotels. Also a few hamams (bath houses). It is very relaxing walking through the city, a bit 'oldy worldy.' Antakya has its own kebab which you must try. The people are extremely friendly. My interpretation is that Antakya is the county town of Hatay province, with Iskenderun being an important city in the province, but it's thought to be very dirty because of factory air pollution. Good luck.

You might try mymerhaba on the web for general information on Turkey.

[mysterytrain]

Ryan, based on the proximity to the Syrian border and an active war zone, I would suggest making your first priority checking out what security precautions, strategies or protocols will be in place for the NGO staff.

The dangers of abduction of Westerners / foreigners by IS and other factions, and what subsequently tends to happen to those foreigners, are quite well-publicized and I'm sure you are aware of them. Several of them have been NGO / aid workers. Note that the guy who had (apparently) converted to Islam was still beheaded, the only difference being that in that one case, they didn't show the actual beheading in the video they released - this was probably because he was saying "there is no God but Allah" just before and up to the act.

I don't mean this to necessarily discourage you from what in one sense is a great opportunity for you, as I am familiar with your background and aspirations, but you definitely need to go into such an undertaking with eyes wide open about the risks involved.

I taught for a week in Sanliurfa at the beginning of 2011, when the Arab Spring was just catching fire. It was just a nice, calm and peaceful little city then, and for all I know it still seems like that today (if a bit more crowded than before), but considering it is only about an hour's drive from the border, then another two or three hours, maybe, down to Raqqa, I wouldn't feel very safe there now.

[misskismet]

There have been NO abductions or kidnappings of civilians by ISIS within Turkey.

[mysterytrain]