Job Discussion Forums

[tess41]

Hello

I am arriving in Istanbul in a few days to begin work as an ESL teacher at a private college, and I need your advice. I was told by the school a month or so ago that I would be working at one of their branches on the European side... Based on that information I have had a friend looking for somewhere for me to live. Today, I find out that they have had a change of mind and that I will be working at their branch on the Asian side (Suadiye)...

I'm bitterly disappointed because everyone I know in Istanbul lives on the European side, and in reading lots of old posts I've heard about the difficulties travelling betwen the two etc etc

Have I got it all wrong? are there many positives to working on the Asian side that I'm not aware of? is travelling from Asian to European side not the nightmare that it is sometimes made out to be?

Any thoughts / advice greatly appreciated.

Finally - could anyone give me any info on the job situation there at the moment if I decided to try and look for a job with a school on the European side? Because the teaching year has already begun, would it be difficult to find a job if I were to cold canvass schools?

I'm sure I sound a touch neurotic about all of this, but to be honest, this incident, combined with a few other incidents / communications with them is making me fairly nervous - something doesn't feel right to me, so I'm keen to have a "Plan B".

Thanks

[thrifty]

I don't think which side you live on is really a problem, rather your problem seems to be your school and how honest they are. It might be advisable for you to post the name of your school and salary and how you are paying for your accomodation etc. or at least PM one of the posters here for more detailed advice. Getting work should not be a problem but it depends on your qualifications versus your expectations, especially with regard to savings and what type of accomodation you expect.

[yaramaz]

I lived on the asian side for a year and enjoyed the low key nature of it. Kadikoy is underrated as a place to go out compared to Taksim- bar street has some lovely places with great energy and less trendy crowdedness. If you really want to meet up with friends in the euro side, there are regular dolmuses from Bagdat street and minibus street (near the school, if you are going to EF) that go directly to Taksim and Kadikoy. It can be relatively quick or slow, depending on rush hour. I didn't find it to be that much of a hassle, and I actually really appreciated being able to come home to a calm, leafy neighbourhood by the sea after a late night out- something affordable in Asia but rarely in europe.

[thrifty]

There are just as many affordable places on both sides-it just depends how far out you want to live. Beylikduzu, Buyukcekmece etc. are very very cheap areas and have lovely, quiet leafy parts but no good if you like the nightlife either in Taksin or Kadikoy.

It is the OP's employer that seems to be the problem not on which side the job is.

[tess41]

Thanks for your advice Thrifty and Yaramaz - much appreciated.

I feel a lot better now, hearing your thoughts about life on the Asian side - nightlife isn't a huge thing for me (although I don't mind the odd night out) - it was more about being able to easily visit friends.

Thrifty, I think you've touched on my other concern - and that is about the way things have been handled, but I guess for the moment I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I'm aware that things are more likely to make me worry that wouldn't normally set off alarm bells because making the move to Turkey is such a big deal for me - yet getting new teachers on board is just day to day business for a school. Because of this, I possibly have expectations around communication that are unreasonable... That said, rest assured that I'm on high alert and will see how it all unfolds once I actually arrive. If I still don't feel comfortable, I think I will have to reassess my plans.

Thanks again - I am very grateful for your advice.

[thrifty]

It is worth bearing in mind that if you are working for a private college (high school) then you must wonder why they are recruiting another teacher or teachers at this time. Of course there could be an innocent reason. If they are a chain as they seem to be and are looking for teachers at different schools as they seem to be then it is a bit worrying.

[Kodak]

Tess, I'm moving to Kadikoy in 4 weeks also. I actually wanted to be on the Asian side rather than the EU side. Like the others have said I've heard from loads of people that it's easy to get from one to the other.

[Kodak]

You know what I mean, I always called the continent of Europe just EU for short. Think of it as a shortening of 'Europe' rather than an abbreviation for European Union

Also, I suppose it could be called the European Union side of Istanbul, being that it's the side closet to the European Union. Like you'd say "I'll meet you on the fish and chip shop side of the road"

[dmb]

[dmb]

I think the salt and sauce is an east coast Scotland thing. The sauce is made from one third HP sauce and two thirds water. I worked in a chippie during sixth form, that's how i know.. It is far tastier than vinegar.

[thrifty]

Recently heard on a Hallmark (bringing great stories to life) made for TV movie:

"Eeewww in Europe they put vinegar on their French fries. That totally weirds me out."

On that cheeky Turkish dish piyaz it needs vinegar.

[dmb]

Is that why you don't get vinegar in McDonalds? Those nasty Americans

[Baba Alex]