Job Discussion Forums

[jrosenthol]

With few exceptions, everyone posting on this site has seemed to be quite courteous and informed, and I would really appreciate the input of anyone with any relevant experiences as I try to sort through this problem.

I've been teaching English for about a year now, and about three or four months ago I suddenly fell in love with the idea of spending the next year in Istanbul. Unfortunately, right around that time I happened to get together with a someone I'd had my eye on for quite a while and decided to stick around for the summer to see how things were going to work out. I suppose that in the back of my mind I was maybe hoping they wouldn't as I wouldn't have to eventually face a choice between a city I was dieing to live in and a person I really might now love. Ironically, things are great now, but I've still got a mad itch to really get to know this city.

I've been talking to some schools and looking to set up some work, but making the decision has really started to wear me down. I've been casting about for a compromise - I know that my girlfriend is going to be very busy with her schoolwork until Christmas, and around that time my school here has promised that I could have my job back if I wanted it. So I've thought about trying to split the difference and heading over until Christmas. The only problems would be whether I would spend those months so busy getting used to things that I wouldn't really enjoy it, as well as the niggling moral feeling of signing a 9 month contract that I really have no intention to fulfill.

Anybody have any thoughts? Can you really have a great experience in Istanbul in only three or four months?

[Wildcat]

It might be difficult. Most places will not hire you for such a short time and if they did, it would be without a work visa. That being said, I think to experience Istanbul would be worth it.

[justme]

Agreed-- it sounds like a good compromise.

If it eases your conscience any, remember most schools that would hire you without a visa would screw you on some part of your 'contract' first chance they got anyway, so don't feel too bad about that. The worst thing that will happen is that you'll lose a bit of pay at the end...

Good luck!

[Otterman Ollie]

Sorry mate ,I disagree, what this country doesn't need right now is another uncommitted freeloader who is just going to be a fly by night merchant and give those of us who will stay after your gone another headache to clear up .
When you have got this female out of your system come and stay and try to make a difference ,thats if you care ,otherwise stay away and play with your girlfriend .

[justme]

Actually, that's a good point too. I take it back. He should stay with the girl and if she really loves him, she'll come here with him and they can try to do a good job, plus do a worthy test of their relationship. Or come here and do something besides teaching. Apparently, you can be an actor in a gum commercial if you hang out in enough bars, though I can't say it's worked out for me...
On the other hand, somebody's gotta do the crap jobs like CLC, British English, etc...
On the other other hand, I suppose if these people keep coming it just makes it easier for them to offer the rest of us lower wages, lousy working conditions, lowered student expectations of foreign teachers...

[Faustino]

Personally, I recommend City of London College as an ideal 3/4 month job.

[calsimsek]

I'm with Otterman Ollie on this.
This is not a summer job or a passing thing for those of us that have made a choice to live and work here. What we don't need are a fly by night lads who show up go weak at the knees at the local girls and try to sleep and drink thier way through the city.
Stay out The less free loaders the better pay and conditions for the rest of us.
For those of you who can recall the days after the earthquake alot of no hopes left. Those of us who stayed and helped were treated much better after that.