Job Discussion Forums

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Thanks for any information.

capricious · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 24

Hi Blondie, I shall answer your questions briefly in order.

1)My boyfriend (when I went back to fetch him, he wasn't there!)

2) Electrical goods, perfume and cosmetics

3) I miss the pavements (sidewalks) and drivers. In Turkey, be prepared to step on loose paving stones and have the knee-down drenched in muddy water. Be extremely cautious whilst crossing the road in any part of Turkey. You will be faced with crazy drivers who drive 10 times over the speed limit, who don't know what the function of the brake pedal is and who think pedestrian crossings are just pretty little designs on the roads! If they see you struggling to cross the road, they will not slown down. If you cross you're lucky, if you don't, they'll turn you into "sucuk" (a kind of Turkish sausage).

4) In Ankara "yes", in Istanbul "no"

5) Bars, restaurants, cinema, and the occasional concert. Regular invites to dinners by Turkish friends. I must add that Turkish food is absolutely delicious! Turkish cuisine is one of the best, if not the best, in the world! And the hospitality is overwhelming! Summers are pleasant for going out but winters are snowy and bitterly cold, so don't expect to have much of a social life during the winter months!

6) Yes, I've travelled quite a bit in Turkey and it's definitely a place to be explored all over. As they say, it's a country of four seasons. The historical richness and natural beauty of the country has to be seen. Istanbul, Izmir (Efes), the Black Sea region and South-eastern Turkey are a must!

Good luck![/quote]

mongrelcat · Joined: 12 Mar 2004 Posts: 232

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Thanks Capricious and Mongrelcat for your answers, anything else you wish to share would be appreciated.

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

What did you leave behind and wish you would have brought with you?
Nothing really. Almost all western items can be bought in Turkey. Perhaps a good quality pillow.

What is expensive in Turkey but inexpensive in your home country?
laptop and electronics, camera etc.

What do you miss most?
uncrowded streets.

Do you feel safe?
so, so. the people on buses and the metro can look downright unfriendly and nasty, but generally that is just the stern look of the turks. theyre not really as scary as they look. istanbul is as safe as any big city in the west, safer than some, though women can be harrassed late at night esp. if youre leaving a club alone or with another female. not such a good idea. but that's not a good idea in any big city anywhere in the world.

What do you do for entertainment?
have cable tv, it's excellent (digiturk), go to clubs, bars, cinema, same as at home.

Have you been able to travel? If so, where and was it worth it?
yes and yes. traveling in turkey is cheap and good.

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

tvik · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 371 Location: here

it seems reasonable to assume that if a young calf can drink the milk of its mother and if humans also do the same then drinking the milk from a cow would be a good source of food.

I don't think that it was as simple as squeezing an unknown "dangly thing" and expecting it to be edible

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

baksana · Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 13 Location: istanbul, turkey

Caterinamh · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Istanbul

Hi Blondie,
I'm moving to Turkey at the end of the month as well. Which school are you going to be teaching at in Istanbul? Would it by chance be Fatih University? (that's my destination) Smile

. My husband is Turkish and we currently live in NYC about to make the plunge and relocate to Turkey. I will be alone for the first couple of months so I'm a bit nervous.
I think one of the biggest challenges will be finding a decent apartment and furniture. Also I'm a bit nervous about how long it will take to settle in with Internet, phone etc. ? Anyone care to comment?
I wanted to tell you unless your not full figured and wear a small bra size I'd suggest bringing a bit more with you. I've visited Turkey about 4 different times alone prior to meeting my husband and found that good quality clothes and bras are more expensive in Turkey. Thus I'm bringing about 400 lbs of clothes with me. he he. I'm a bit of a clothes horse to say the least. Smile

.
Anyhow I'd love to touch base with you as having friends is so important when moving to a new place. I myself being a Airforce brat don't seem to have much trouble. I'm also a southern girl at heart so very friendly and open comes natural to me. he he. Have a safe trip and contact me with anything you might like to know I have lots of Turkish contacts here that might be able to help you. Bye for now.

Caterinamh · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Istanbul

I love your little Turkish cat.

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Thanks to everyone that posted. Caterina, I am not going to be in Instanbul but I might visit there and maybe we could get together. Thanks for the information on the clothes.

Are there internet cafes in Turkey or do they have internet service to the apartments?

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Thanks to everyone that posted. Caterina, I am not going to be in Instanbul but I might visit there and maybe we could get together. Thanks for the information on the clothes.

Are there internet cafes in Turkey or do they have internet service to the apartments?

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

There are loads of internet cafes. DSL connection is cheap and easily available through TurkTelecom.

blondie10 · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 40

Thanks FGT

I have been sleeping on a Futon, what are beds like there?

Are fruits and vegetables cheap? Fruit in Japan and China is expensive but in Thailand they are cheap.

What do you wear in class? They told me there was a dress code in Japan but what they told me was not true. No real dress code in Thailand except you can"t be sleeveless.