Job Discussion Forums

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

They have it, but it rarely comes in packets. It seems to come in little plastic tubes, and people carry them around with them. The aspertame itself is in the form of little tablets. I'm not sure where people buy them-- pharmacy maybe?

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Does someone know if accupuncture treatments are available in Istanbul?
Also, what about Yoga classes?

yaramaz · Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

Yes, and yes, but from my experience (fairly limited and in generally expensive neighbourhoods like Sudiye and Nisantasi) they are a lot more expensive than they'd be in Europe or North America- possibly because only they are newish here, and possibly because mainly the moneyed folk are interested in them- the yoga classes usually are affiliated with gyms and you are charged an hourly rate on top of your monthly fee. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Mikana51 · Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 41 Location: Istanrubble

Absolutely fascinating and useful thread ---- and how often do fascination and usefulness go together in life? I'm just past the whole tampon thing (oh, bliss!) but I am 5'11" and, um, willowy (but not deciduous). So, I gather I'll be able to find pants long enough, eat wafer cookies to my heart's content, I'd better pretend I don't have nipples, the lingerie scene is tolerable, and I can rip a picture out of Vogue and have a tailor replicate it for next to nothing? Sounds good to me. See ya-all ya-all in the fall.

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Well, ok the yoga classes are not important cause it would just be fun to try out.
But I use accupuncture about once a year for a few treatments to manage my migraines and it really helps. Would be lovely to find someone in Istanbul and I am willing to fork out some money for it. Accupuncture is a whole lot better than all those stupid meds!

yaramaz · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:08 am Post subject:

There is actually a teacher in Suadiye who is a professional acupuncturist/massage therapist from the Uk (got bored with working for the NHS) so maybe I can put you in contact with him. If I remember correctly, he worked in exchange for fine, dark chocolate Very Happy

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

The NHS employs massage therapists/accupuncturists?

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

LOL, I'll make sure to bring a few kilos of fine, dark Belgium or Swiss chocolate with me then!

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Thrifty is correct, we are in the wrong profession. One of my students goes to a yoga guru in Kurucesme and she pays 250 dollars an hour for yoga class(1-1) Shocked

If I call myself an English guru do you reckon I could charge her that much?
On the subject of expensive stuff, have you seen the price of organic fruit and veg in this country?

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

The whole world is getting yuppiefied except TEFL.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

There you go thrifty. There's your escape clause- become an expert in yuppie English. Do what Thurnbury did for winging it.

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

ok girls, need to push this thread up, cause there are more questions Wink

How about access to foreign newspapers in Istanbul? Will I have to travel to Sultanahmet or some other touristy part to get hold of an overpriced 3 week old newspaper?

How do you keep track of what's happening in the world when you don't speak Turkish? Ok, there is internet but I doubt I will surf the net every single day and it's just more convenient to watch the evening news while you have dinner.

How about socialising and making friends? As excited as I am about Istanbul I keep having flashbacks of those lonely first few years in Amsterdam when I did not know a single soul as the Dutch are extremely difficult to befriend with. It's not something I want to go through again.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

There is just a little bit more to Scot Thornbury's work than whinging it.

You can get bbc and cnn easily and cheaply.

Going out and getting tanked up with the other TEFLers is what is done.

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

Yes, BBC and CNN are easy to get. So are English newspapers, I think, in Istanbul. I can buy Newsweek and Time magazine around the corner and I am not in Istanbul, I imagine they are easier to find in the big city.

In Şişli(Osmanbey) and Taksim, as well as other places I guess, there are some pretty good bookstores. You will be able to find all sorts of things to read.

Socialising is very easy! Adult students are often into going on outings with their teachers. There are certain bars where teachers frequent. There are no problems here in meeting people.