Job Discussion Forums

[dmb]

I know what you mean. I often see my neighbour having just a loaf of bread or pot of yoghurt delivered. But for an order so small I'd rather go to the shop myself. For someone as fundamentally lazy as myself that's something. I guess it's a cultural thing and we haven't been completely turkified yet.

[justme]

1) The way people, especially men, are openly affectionate with each other
2) The ways you can be rude by saying something polite
3) The way my co-workers regard me as 'hard-working'
4) The way our kapıcı kindly refrains from telling us all the b*tchy complaints our neighbor tells him about me
5) When that same neighbor is glaring at me from her balcony, I can look right at her and say 'staring staring staring why are you staring like that you mean old bag' and she has no idea what I'm saying

6) *bonus love* The way Turks are so mesmerized by their own country and culture, and they're so happy when you tell them you like it here

[dmb]

[justme]

Teacher: Do your homework
Student: Inşallah

Me (at a checkout counter where I have to pass someone at the register to help my husband load groceries): Pardon, ge�ebilir miyim?
Rude guy who doesn't see why he should have to move: Ge�sin (but in a certain tone of voice, you know?)

Serving home-cooked foreign food to a Turk:
Me: Do you like it?
Turk: �ok değişik/farklı

Stuff like that.

[dmb]

^ seems normal to me. been here too long

[whynotme]

[dmb]

Hospitality can get too much sometimes though. You know after you have eaten and you are really stuffed and are asked do you want some more and when you you say no, really I'm full. It falls on deaf ears and you have to eat another plate of something delicious that is home made. Nightmare, innit?

[justme]

[whynotme]

[sandyhoney2]

A Slight Alteration on the Original Thread.... My Best Moments in Turkey

1. My students threw me the greatest birthday party ever, complete with a clown and everything.

2. Snow crunching under my feet as i walked up the path to the Karballa in in Guzelyurt, Cappadocia - that fresh clean smell of newly fallen snow and early morning bread baking

3. Buyukada in the spring, hiking up to the monastary, reading a book, eating cheese and bread...

4. Selcuk in August, walking to Ephesus through the peach orchards...

5. A moment when the electricity went out in class, my first few weeks on the job, and I had to think of something to do with my seven or eight students; they sang me Turkish songs - it was beautiful

I will also add, the culture, history, the Bosphorus at sunset, winning an important football match, and the way the locals protect you even if you've only been there a few days... and the fact that on a rainy weekday there is always something to do, and even if you choose to do nothing there is no other place where I'd rather do nothing more.

[dmb]

Turkey have played Scotland once. At 19 Mayis stadium in a friendly in 1960. You won't be surprised to hear that Scotland lost 4-2.

[corall]

also in no particuar order:
1. the food
2. snow days
3. the history
4. the markets, shopping and how crazy beyoglu is
5. the diversity of people