Job Discussion Forums

sweetpea · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Bursa, Turkey

Has anyone ever worked for a school/uni/dershanesi here? If so, were you made to live in a place called "Soli" and if so, were you happy? If not, why not. If so, HOW IN HEC DID YOU PULL OFF THE SHEER BOREDOM OF THE PLACE????

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

No reply to your query, I'm afraid, but I'm curious - you sound like you live and work in Mersin but your location reads Bursa. Where are you?

almuze · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 125

Not that I have ever been, but some friends tell me that Mersin is a lot like Hawaii in the States, tropical and small. If this is that same place, maybe you try to pretend like you are in Hawaii? They generally spend lots of time on the beach doing not much. Good Luck!

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Most of the provincial places in Turkey will bring on a dose of boredom to foreigners, because the cultural opportunities are not that great.

How do Turks spend their free time? - in cafes, drinking tea, playing cards and watching the Turkish `Super League.` Foreigners soon get tired of that. One time ghost walked into one of those little cafes in Ankara (Ayranci district) out of curiosity, and very soon a waiter rolled up and told ghost `he was not welcome there.` When ghost asked why, the waiter told him the cafe was a kind of club and that foreigners were not welcome.....

To get by in Turkey, you need interests that you can pursue, and be self reliant. Do not rely on Turks to make your stay a happy one, because they have their own agendas. And as foreigners are usually not part of the plan, you will have to do it on your own, as ghost found in Antalya, Ankara, Eskisehir and other places he stayed in during his 6 month sojourn (2003/2004).

Ghost remembers staying in Mersin, on his way to Iskenderun, and not being impressed by the city. It is big, but not particularly attractive. You are quite far East, and it is quite conservative. You will be judged as a foreigner, so it is best to avoid making ``faux pas.`

sweetpea · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Bursa, Turkey

I have been in Turkey for two years, but this is a first-time experience in Mersin. Actually, it's a misnomer to call it 'mersin' as it is about 15 km away from the city. Soli is a boring place, and the administration has refused to allow the foreign staff to obtain either cable or satellite, for one thing. Also, because we are so far off the beaten path (it's a summer holiday resort for most) there are no restaurants, cafes or anything out here. The busses stop at about 11 at night, but because I have a 3 hour bus ride to and from school every day, the last thing I want to do at night is get on another bus to go into town.

Anyway, the place is horrible. No other place in Turkey compares, I think. I have been to other cities, and this is the worst of the worst. It wouldn't be so bad if I were IN mersin, but being this far out is insanity-inducing.

I was in Bursa last year. Hence, the location under my name. Smile

Will head back that way soon, I am sure.

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

sweetpea · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Bursa, Turkey

Sorry, Ghost, you misunderstood (or I wasn't very clear....) SOLI is 15 km from the edge of Mersin (it's not a big city, so the city center is likely only another 5 or 10 km from THAT point). The school was (I left yesterday) nearly 60 km from SOLI. When you factor in all the stops for the other teachers, it took a hec of a long time to get to and from work.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Good luck with the new job hunt sweetpea.