Job Discussion Forums

Golightly · Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 4:31 pm Post subject:

I started working in Turkey in 1993, then (apart from the odd holiday back home) left again in december 1999.
I'd say it took me the best part of eight months to re-acclimatize myself to the UK.
Definitely a case of reverse culture shock.
I returned for a holiday with the in-laws a couple of years back, and so could see Istanbul with more of an objective eye. It came as a bit of a shock to really realise how much of it, particularly the outskirts, are shabby, low-grade, overcrowded, polluted and depressing.
I still love the Big Stan, but I'm more aware of its shortcomings, as I am of the UK's.

whynotme · Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 728 Location: istanbul

Golightly,
your signature reminds me a lot of things...where did you get it? do you love that song too? and is it MFO version...here are the lyrics

nasıl anlatsam, nereden başlasam,
bodrum bodrum
duygu, biraz duygu,, b�t�n isteğim buydu.
biraz deniz, biraz uyku,, b�t�n isteğim buydu,
bodrum bodrum
nasıl anlatsam, nereden başlasam,
ka� kişiydik o zaman? bak, ka� kişi kaldı şimdi
bodrum bodrum
bir zamanlar aşık olmuştum, ama şimdi, ismi neydi unuttum
bodrum bodrum
duygu, biraz duygu,, b�t�n isteğim buydu.
biraz deniz, biraz uyku,, b�t�n isteğim buydu,
bodrum bodrum
bir zamanlar aşık olmuştum, ama şimdi, ismi neydi unuttum
bodrum bodrum

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

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

O.K then would we agree that after say three years in any one place; gets harder to leave and move on. I think for dmb and me (sorry for speaking for you dmb) that appears to be the case

Golightly · Posted: Wed May 18, 2005 7:41 am Post subject:

yeah, whynotme, it is the mighty MFO - love that song! best version of it I ever heard was by some guy with a guitar in Vivache one hot summer's night ages ago.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

So where would you go Entrailicus and why?

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

I wonder if people living in other countries feel the same? I know some people I taught with in Japan are still there, but japan did not resonate with me at all. I was glad to leave it. I didn't expect to love istanbul so much-- my plan was to stay 2 years and then go somewhere to make more money. ha!

I left Canada many years ago and have no intention on going back. I lived in the US for many years and had to give up my green card last year-- no loss, as far as I am concerned, as I don't want to go back there, either (esp. not now). However, I have kids there, so I suppose I shouldn't be so adamant. But I am here for the long haul, in spite of the frequent sense of ambiguity (which of course is sometimes a boon).

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

Your right Molly 'if people living in other countries feel the same?' I don't think its just Istanbul. I think if you go through some growing up in a city you kind hold on to it.

Perhapes we all put in so much effert to make this place work for us, that now we feel we can't leave.

The one real problem is that if a Turk comes to O.Z the U.K or States after some time and legal paper work they can become a legal citizen.

Can we? even if we could all speak great Turkish, would your average Turk see us as one of them or are we to be for ever the Yabanci where ever we go.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

Not to mention the females! I feel weird even walking too close to one of those places. And yesterday when I met my husband at the barbershop, the feeling of having girled the place up was palpable...

But that's just how much these things get inside you. When I first came here, I wouldn't have thought twice about going into either of these places. Or I might have taken the American point of view and thought, 'I don't have to keep to your silly chauvanistic ways. I'll be damned if anyone stops me from playing the weird numbers on the rack game...'

Last week some friends of relatives came here-- I'd never met them before and they were about my parents' age. It took me 20 minutes before I remembered they wouldn't give me that *look* if I crossed my legs...

You're all right about home countries being hard to adjust to. Among the many problems or 'oddities' I run into, one of the worst is talking about the people around you, and forgetting they can understand! And even with my parents it's unsettling when they only come in for one kiss.

I think the ambiguity is one of things I like. It relieves you of a certain amount of social responsibility. But I think I like that extra challenge piled up on top of life's other challenges-- not only do you have to do the things one must do, you have to work out an entirely different system of doing them, then translate it into another language and try to keep your interlocutors happy with you.

I also like how the ambiguity leads to a feeling of suspension of all logic and normalcy. Last week I asked my mother-in-law for some copper polish, remembering this foul-smelling blue stuff my mom used to use, and she said, 'Oh, just take it to the gypsies.'

Of course. Gypsies. Duh.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

Yeah, and if neither the gypsies nor the eskici will have it, leave it on the street and it'll be gone by morning. If you're bored, you can watch with your friends at the window and take bets on how long it'll take to disappear.

I don't think I'll ever go home. How can anything be fun after this life here?

alterego · Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 104

alterego · Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 104

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

You can become a legal Turkish citizen after being legally here for 5 years straight (except for short holidays, galiba). You have to be in good health and you have to speak Turkish. I heard you have to take a test for the latter, but I think it depends on who you are dealing with, as is often the case. It used to be that a woman could marry a Turk and get citizenship immediately, but now women, like men, have to wait 3 years. I don't know that there are many advantages to being a citizen, but it is possible.

As far as being accepted is concerned, I think we western yabanci are more accepted here than Turks are accepted in our countries, truth to tell. Turks know more about us than we (in general, whatever our country of origin is) know/knew about them. However, that said, I think what they think they know is often erroneous. I feel more respected here than in N America. I am also more exotic, which I kind of enjoy. I think it is an advantage to be able to speak Turkish, however, as that surprises some Turks and then we are treated in yet another kind of way. The people in my neighbourhood call me theirs, but I also know that that doesn't make me one of them. I'm a nowherewoman!! Olsun.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Some writers call it "the British Regiment Syndrome" In the days of the Raj when a British Regiment was sent off on a colonial posting they were away for years and got out of touch with developments back in Blighty. When they went back after many years they were totally out of place.

This is what happens to all of us who emigrate. Even with modern technology, we get stuck in the time when we left our native land. I, for example, am forever a creature of Scotland of the late 1960's.

Would someone please invent a time machine ? I want to go home !