Job Discussion Forums

[bulgogiboy]

Hi all, i'm coming to live in Ankara next month.

A few things to ask about:

1. I've heard people like to fire off guns at weddings alot(killing people via the law of gravity), and that guns are easily purchased, with lax gun laws. Any thoughts? Bear in mind i'll be in Ankara.

2. Are men and women segregated on buses? I spent 2 weeks in Marmaris and didn't notice this but maybe that area is given special leniency for the tourists?

3. Do you need a marriage license to spend a night in a hotel with a woman? I'm not actually bothered if I do or dont cause I doubt it'll be an issue for me, just worries me if it is true.

Thanks for all comments,

BB.

[yaramaz]

You can purchase special protective gear designed specially for weddings at most Black Sea outfitters. Most people just stay indoors til weddings are safely over.

Men and women are segregated on all public buses. There are special seats for women up front. If a man sits up there, he will be arrested for adultery and fornication. Last time I checked, the punishment was thirty lashings. If a women goes to the men's section, she is usually stoned to death. You may not have noticed it in Marmaris because of the large transsexual population. It was probably only men on the buses because women are generally kept in purdah.

You can obtain a temporary marriage license for the duration of whatever sexual dalliance you plan to engage in. The hotels will accept these; if you don't get one and try to bring your girlfriend with you to a hotel, you will be reported to the police and deported. She will probably be stoned to death.

Good luck in Ankara!

[runeman]

YARAMAZ!!!

Aptly named.

[tarte tatin]

Hi Bulgogi Boy - I will try and be more helpful cos I do like a poster named after foodstuffs, and I like bulgogi.

Gun laws are fairly lax here and guns are fired at some Turkish weddings but I don't think deaths always ensue!

As for segregation on buses - on public buses no, people sit wherever they can get a seat. If you take a long journey on a luxury coach, whoever issues the tickets will seat you next to a man unless you have a female companion with you.

The marriage licence thing is still officially law but I travelled all over with my Turkish boyfriend and no one ever asked for one. I think most hotels are just interested in getting your money, very few will turn away a paying customer. (Turkish people love money more than anything else and talk of little else - but as I guess you have been in Korea you will be used to that mentality).

Good luck in Ankara.

[bulgogiboy]

Thanks tate tartin,



Thanks for your advice. Appreciate it.


I'll say up yours to the other two useless wa nkers.

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

Weddings and guns ... brings back some bad memories ... they marred our otherwise enjoyable ceremony on a rather pleasant Bosphorous cruiser ...

I had organised for a pom-pom gun to be installed on the boat so that I could let rip and declare my undying love for my bride by opening a hole in the over-developed part of Uskudar's east bank ... and take down any passing jumbo's while I was at it to keep the mother-in-law sweet too ...

... but everything was spoiled by a last minute official who saw us loading the shells onto the boat, and the missus had to settle for a peck on the forehead instead ...

[dmb]

I remember a while back in Izmir. Turkey had won a footie match and people were firing off guns in celebrations. I think 6 people died that night. Their crime? Being on their balcony.

[Baba Alex]

I heard a story about one more tradition Turk who was so exicited about his wedding night that he shot his load in the middle of the ceremony. I'm not sure if anyone was hurt.

[dmb]

[tarte tatin]

Is there some law about avatar theft on Daves??

Suppose I should be flattered - you are doing free publicity for me!!

BTW it is a very BIG avatar isn't it? I didn't realise that when I chose it.

[dmb]

TT, how is the EFL scene in Samsun. I don't believe we have a had a poster from there before.

[tarte tatin]

I am not actually teaching in Samsun. I have just set up an agency with my fiance (yurtişi eğitim danismanliği - not even trying to use the right i's on this keyboard). We have language schools all over the world.

There are one or two language schools here but don't seem to employ native speakers as far as I know. I guess I could do some privates but have avoided it so far.

I was teaching in Korea before I came here and have taught in the UK for many a year. Might head back to the UK for the summer and do a bit of teaching - I miss all the classroom highjinks.

The Black Sea is very culturally authentic and the people are nice but entertainment options limited and international food non-existent.

[dmb]

I guess the hamsi is fresh though

[Baba Alex]

This reminds me of a story one a Turkish friend once told me. He'd somehow started communicating with a young lady in the USA over MSN messenger. When she found out that he was living in Turkey she started to ask various questions, here are some of the highlights.

- do all Turks have to have arranged marriages?

- can Muslims impregnate "normal" people?

- why don't Muslim children go to school?

- can you speak "American"? (this is after their communicating on a regular basis for around a month, in English)

- do they have televisions in Turkey?

(he answered �no� to this only to be asked)

- wow! Do you have computers?

(he answered �no� and added that �there was no internet either�. The only reply to this was)

- so I guess you can't buy cheap holidays

True story.


On the flip side, one of my colleagues commented on how well I'd adapted to Turkish culture on drink a cup of tea one morning. He simply wouldn't believe or accept that, not only do we drink tea in the UK, but also we drink more than Turks per capita. He was actually rather offended by this suggestion.

[bulgogiboy]

Tarte Tatin,


Were you referring to me as being "uppety"? If so, I dont understand. I thanked you for your advice and said I appreciated it.