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Mike_2003
Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 8:47 am Post subject: |
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After five years in Turkey, I�m considering moving on. This is no reflection on Turkey or the Turks itself, despite their faults and the deficiencies of the country as a whole, I�ve probably reached the point where I feel more comfortable here than I have in the preceding half-decade.
I too experienced many of the complaints that the people here have expressed, but it is, after all, a new culture and one into which none of us was born. Adaptation, understanding, patience and tolerance are the things which got me through the hard times here. I found a job which suited me and my skills and provided a more than adequate standard of life, I learnt the language so as to better fit into the community around me and understand in some way why Turks are as they are, I focus on the areas where professional development were possible and accustomized myself to the frustrations and disappointments.
In short, it�s all about making a balanced assessment of the potential of your environment, locating a niche where you can fit in and be happy, and then working on your own personal traits, strengths and weaknesses in order to fit into it. Once you become comfortable with where you are and the cultural diversity that surrounds you, you can concentrate more on those extra things you need to find a kind of happiness in this world.
Many of the complaints stated in these pages are true, but that�s not the be all and end all of it. There is more out there to be discovered, the things we seek do exist, but in many places, especially those in which we are not naturally a part, they will rarely fall directly into our laps.
Make a list of what you want from life, from your social life, your professional life, and patiently and conscientiously work towards finding those things in your country of choice. Sometimes they will came quickly and naturally, other times it will take longer, and in some cases the two just have little chance of compatibility (in which case it�s time to either reassess your goals or think about moving on). If you simply turn up and expect it all to come together in the blinking of an eye, you�ll more often than not be disappointed. It�s no coincidence that the majority of the posters on these boards who are in the most part happy are those who have invested a lot of time and effort into their chosen lives.
Stick with it Theresa and weather this initial storm of disenchantment. Give yourself and your surroundings a little more time before packing up and moving on. |
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Theresa
Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 75
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2004 7:38 pm Post subject: I agree |
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Even ın my worst moments here Ive consıdered stayıng ın the country . I do love thıs country , ıts hıstory and culture.Its not my fırst tıme here and Ive travelled quıte a lot. When I fınally made the decısıon to leave Russıa I had the world at my feet and chose here because Im quıte at home here. Here ın Antalya I walk through Hadrıans gate at least twıce a day and am transported back ın tıme.Theres the sea and the mountaıns as well. Thıs country has SO much to offer :I dont want to sound trıte but ıt really ıs a questıon of beıng open to ıt Its true that sometımes beıng female ıs a paın here but after a whıle you become ımmune to the negatıve male attentıon . Its a questıon of fılterıng . At school theres a really great bunch of teachers who are very frıendly and supportıve whıch counts for an awful lot, the majorıty beıng Turkısh. Wıth regards to my orıgınal complaınt about student complaınts Id just had the flu and wasnt feelıng 100% so dıdnt handle ıt very well. Now that Im better Im focusıng on the posıtıve aspects of my job and ıts actually good. I have absolutely no ıntentıon of jumpıng shıp. Wıll Ghost be happy ın Catalunya? Maybe hell be better off ın a European country  |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:18 am Post subject: ı |
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Please do something about the ı problem !
What I have done in the past is use the letter 1 instead of the 9th lettter of the English alphabet.
It looks odd but is more legible than using ı |
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Mike_2003
Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania
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Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 10:56 am Post subject: |
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If you are using a Turkish keyboard, you should find that there are two "i". Try to get into the habit of using the dotted one (probably centre right of the keyboard) for lower case, and the undotted one (next to the "u") for the capitals. I struggle with normal keyboards nowadays!  |
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SweetOne
Joined: 19 Jul 2003 Posts: 109
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: The true picture |
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ghost wrote: |
you gradually turn into one of those half crust ESL survivors in Turkey...just living a life of utter boredom and frustration. At the end of your stay here you will have only learned that teaching in Turkey is a glorious waste of time and effort. . |
Oh, bloody Hell!!! This is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I say again, you get what you give. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 12:37 pm Post subject: Spooks |
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Now that the ghost has gone to haunt the Spaniards I feel safer heading off to Istanbul.
How long before we see postings on the Spain Forum beliitling the natives of the Iberian Peninsula ? |
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grahamb

Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:21 am Post subject: Moan, moan, moan. |
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Funny you should say that! I spent much of my three years in Spain grumbling about one thing or another: my boss, the students, other teachers, the food and the weather (it rains like b*ggery, despite what the Spaniards say). I also met some great people, laughed a lot, drank plenty of excellent wine and improved my Spanish into the bargain.
As SweetOne says, you get what you give. |
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Theresa
Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 75
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Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 6:13 pm Post subject: Oops |
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Yeah really sorry about the 'i's. Believe me the one middle right is the one Ive been using!!!!!
I agree that that what you give is what you get or maybe you find what you look for and also that is very easy to get lost in the downhill spiral os complaining and finding fault. As Sweetone says its a truly beautiful country. The day before yesterday we went to Olympos and had a picnic on the beach in the sun. What more can one ask from the beg of Feb!!!!!! |
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nimra_ghalat
Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 25
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Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Therese-
If you're using Windows, there should be a TR at the bottom right of your screen, that if selected, will allow you to use English, "EN", as your keyboard language. |
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scot47

Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 10:45 am Post subject: Complaining |
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Complaining incessantly is also a characteristic of Bulgarians and other Balkan Nationalities. Maybe if you lived in one of the successor states of the Ottoman Empire you would complan all the time too.
There is nothing like a good moan ! |
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dmb

Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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But some people don't know when to stop moaning |
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