Job Discussion Forums

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

For the yabanci here, how do you feel about constantly living in ambiguity? My turkish is not bad, but it does run out and sometimes I am not quite sure what is going on. Mostly it contributes to the constant adventure of living here, but sometimes it is frustrating and/or irritating. What do you think?

yaramaz · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject:

I have to admit that I gave gotten used to the concept of never quite knowing what's going on...

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

the pusherman · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 31 Location: istanbul

You could always try learning better Turkish... Not that that always helps, mind you.

By the way, like the new avatar, yaramaz you naughty thing.

yaramaz · Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 6:21 pm Post subject:

Pushy, I am trying to learn but am not the fastest learner on the block. It's starting to kick in more though-- I realised last year that I could actually understand what I thought I couldnt.

BTW, thanks. I like the new me too. I think it looks like me Very Happy

the pusherman · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 31 Location: istanbul

I agree, it does look at bit like you - how do you keep your balance?

The learning Turkish comment wasn't necessarily aimed at you (though I could hardly miss!).

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I'll bite, go on, continue

Golightly · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 8:16 am Post subject:

When I came back to the UK a few years back, I felt distinctly dazed as I walked through the Arrivals hall at Heathrow. All the adverts in English, English newspapers, the constant babble of English all around me...it was, for a few minutes, strangely dreamy...
I knew I was back in Blighty when some woman behind me bellowed at one of her offspring, 'Gavin! Gavin, yer little c**t! Get yer A**e over 'ere right nahhh, yer little s*d!'
Ah yes.....

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Hmm... reverse culture shock. After you finally manage to get out of Heathrow it is a bit weird and you remember why you left in the first place( all those feral kids) When i was last back in the UK i was in Scotland and the NE of England. I sometimes had problems understanding people. Of course it is nice to see family and friends but the honeymoon lasts about 4 days for me. Also everyone thinks you are weird. You visit someone's house and the first thing you do is go to kiss them hello(they then think you are gay) then you take off your shoes when you enter their house and they wonder what you are doing. The list goes on

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Addendum
I watched a dvd the other night-Dead man's boots. I understood the Turkish sub titles better than the thick mancunian accents in the film

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

yes, the ambiguity is "back home" too-- wherever that is. I know the only Canadian thing about me now is my passport. I left Canada many years ago and when I was there a couple of yrs ago i felt like i was in a dream. Then last summer when i went back to the states, it was weird again because i look like them but i'm not like them anymore. of course they think i'm weird too because i don't act like them-- like dmb's kiss-kiss and shoes off example.

do any of you want to go back "home"?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

so do you feel at home here? or are you home-less?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

O.K read all of the above and started to think, whats the cut off date.
At what point is it too late to return.

I left Melb in 1992 and went back for a 4 week hoilday in 2000. I hated it. Crying or Very sad

For me it's to late. I think I have missed the jump off point.

SO the question to one and all, is when is it too late to go home

Is there a point in time when, the place you live and work in becomes home. Question