Job Discussion Forums

[tulumba]

[b]Many teachers have left Turkey, with being subjected to constant, sickening, smokey atmospheres - one of the contributing factors. Stop now!....or take a walk and do it outside[/b]

[[i]Quote from previous posting by Ghost[/i]]

Does anyone know the current smoking situation at "English Time" schools in Istanbul?

As a non-smoker who is allergic to cigarette smoke, I need to know whether smoking is allowed in the classrooms; whether there is adequate ventilation in the schools; whether there is non-smoking legislation in the works, etc.

Has any of you teachers had an issue with smoking in the schools, and what have you done about it to resolve the problem?

Thank you.

[molly farquharson]

There is no smoking in any classrooms in any school that I know of. There is smoking in the kantins at ET, which is the only place that people can smoke. Turkey is a smoking culture, and people smoke in bars and restaurants. Smoking is prohibited in places like metro stations, etc, and people mostly adhere to it. This is a civilized country, so smoking is not banned in places like bars and restaurants and as far as I know there is not any legislation in the works. There are more important things to work on here. Oops, gotta puff on a ciggie...

[justme]

The N. American notion of 'civilization' with regards to smoking is slowly leaking in, but happily, we are still free...

[crumpy]

What's "civilized" about me having to breathe in other people's smoke that could potentially take years off MY life. If it's prohibited in metro stations, then people SHOULD adhere to it. The other day at Carrefour, I reported a guy to the g�venlik for doing just that. Some of you probably think I'm a troublemaker ... maybe I am ... or maybe my doing that is one VERY small step to creating less of a "smoking culture" in this country ... and as a result enabling maybe a few people to live slightly longer lives.

[ghost]

It will take a long time for the Turks to kick the smoking habit, and ghost met many teachers (Turkish and foreigners alike) who were basically chain smokers - smoking all day....two packets or more....incredible but true...and it is always somewhat surprising that perfectly intelligent people can and do indulge in self destructive habits like smoking, and/or drinking to excess.

In Taiwan, the situation is similar to Turkey - with smoking allowed (still) in many public places and restaurants, etc., and in the Internet place which ghost uses, ghost was surprised to witness a surprising number of young boys (aged 12-14) smoking openly without any words of criticism from the owners - ghost was even offered a few...this is Taiwan...

Another sore point with Taiwan is the horrendous pollution...as everyone owns a scooter, and traffic, combined with factory smoke pollutes the air to frightening levels.

When ghost leaves its windows open, everything in its (ghost's) apartment is covered in a black kind of dust....or particles...quite frightening.

Most Taiwanese (and foreigners) are forced to wear masks when they go outside, especially when they ride their scooters. It is a highly toxic environment, and if ghost had known how bad it was in the Taichung area, it would not have signed the contract. From what ghost understands, the pollution is less in Korea, and of course Japan.

Turkey also has some bad areas with pollution, but nothing like what ghost has seen in Taiwan, and when ghost wipes the sweat off, after a power walk or jog, it can see a load of black residue being wiped off. It makes one wonder whether exercising in this type of toxic environment is worth it?

You have to live here and experience this to believe how bad it is...

Many foreigners get sick, and have to cut their contracts short. Ghost has trouble sleeping more than about 5 hours a night...because of the smells and pollution drifting through. It is one of the downsides to Taiwan.

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan

[scot47]

Addictions are difficult to deal with !

[Baba Alex]

[bigbadsuzie]

Do intelligent people smoke one wonders , if not why not ? another place to "sigh" perhaps .