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

Yes, we would know. Many of us are married to Turks and have Turkish friends and relatives.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

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

I doubt that a Suadiyen would eat slice white bread and marg whilst reading.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

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

How come you two don't hang out at all those posh cafes on Bagdat?

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Most Turks do not read, compared with similar groups of English, American or Northern Europeans.

Yes, Turks love to read their trashy newspapers with gory headlines and photos as support, but books.....most Turks will confess that reading books is `boring` (cok sikigi.....).

The above was confirmed when ghost taught in Eskisehir, and the students at Anadolou University, according to a Professor who taught there, hated reading, and anything in print which involved long passages.

The fact that most Turks don`t read much, apart from the afore mentioned trash found in the popular press, contributes to a general lack of knowledge of the outside world, and/or stereotypical views about things pertaining to the outside.

In a class of graduate students (which one would think would be a select, elite group of thinkers) which ghost taught, when quizzed on their opinions of African-American people, the students came out with statements like ``they are savage`` ``uneducated`` ``criminal`` and other unflattering portraits. The debate soon went to a rapid conclusion, because when Turks make up their mind about something, it is very hard, if not impossible, to make them (the Turks) think otherwise.

Despite the above, when African-Americans do actually set foot in Turkey, they do not experience the level of racism that they would receive in other countries - such as the former Soviet Union, for example, where racism, even today, is much more blatant and frightening.

It is just the level of ignorance, and misinformation, that is of concern in Turkey. Actual racism is not a big concern in Turkey, and Nigerian players in the Super League, are generally well received by most Turks.

Ghost

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

this might sound weird but i am gonna miss the 4 flights of stairs in my old school. My classes were all over the place and I had feckin gorgeous buttocks!!

Does anyone know if there is an ice rink anywhere in Istanbul open to the public? Or a swimming pool that's not too gross??

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

There's an ice rink in Galeria shopping mall in Atakoy/Bakirkoy...

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

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

The primary source is your eyes.

A city of what, 18 million. How many good bookshops are there? Ones like Robinson Crusoe/Pandora etc. are typically aimed at foreigners or uni students. ''Bookshops'' are usually stationer's or newsagents in reality.

How many lending libraries are there in Istanbul?

In Turks' houses, do you see books other than the koran or a a memorised copy of Jane Eyre and a Murphy's in a teacher's house?

Do you see them read on the bus/train/ferry other than a magazine or a shite newspaper.

I cannot remember a single Turkish teacher read a book during the 3 years I spent at a private uni.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232