Job Discussion Forums

[JacobTM]

I'm just wondering, my parents are Kurds (from Iran) but I was born in the US and have a CELTA. Would I need to take any precautions about wearing shirts with Kurdish script or dating Turkish girls?

[gloomyGumi]

I'm sorry but I had to laugh ... I can just picture a Kurdish guy with a CELTA (like that will affect the t-shirt or dating fronts) walking around in Turkey with a Kurdish script t-shirt ---maybe a "Peshmerga Power!" or "Mustafa Barzani the Kurdish Hero"---and trying to date Turkish girls. Sorry....is this a joke?

[cartago]

There are lots of Kurds in Istanbul but I think wearing a shirt in the Kurdish language would be considered a provocative statement. I think you wouldn't have a problem in Turkey or dating Turkish girls as long as you stay away from the political aspect. I have some friends from Istanbul who are Kurdish/Turkish and a Turkish friend with a Kurdish girlfriend. In Istanbul you can find some very open minded people.

I would say only talk about Kurdish nationalism with Kurdish people, most of whom will agree with you. Otherwise, Turkey isn't the place for that, it could get you in trouble.

Out of curiosity, do you speak Kurmanji? That's the Kurdish dialect most common in Turkey and they can't understand Sorani or Zazaki.

[JacobTM]

[Englishteach]

You will not find a shortage of Turks in Istanbul who need little excuse to be aggressive with you. Just a little provaction will get you a lot of response. Be careful and don't test their short fuses.

[bulgogiboy]

I would equate your wearing a pro-Kurdish-sloganed t-shirt on the streets of Istanbul to walking into a packed Scottish pub at 3am wearing an England football strip. Almost guaranteed to cause some negative reaction.


Do you really care that much about it? Or are you just looking to provoke? If so, don't bother going there. If you show respect to their sensitvities, you'll have a great experience with Turkish people. They are some of the friendliest and most accommodating people I've ever met. They are particularly hospitable to foreigners.

However, inside the average Turk lurks a shockingly fierce sense of national pride. They are all basically Fascists at heart. I've worked in quite a few countries, and nationalism, though strong throughout the globe (unfortunately), is particularly virulent within Turkey. If you walk around with pro-Kurdish slogans on your clothing then at best you can expect raised eyebrows and muttering, and at worst you can expect to be beaten up. Oh, and the police will have just oodles of sympathy for you when you get beaten up wearing a pro-Kurdish t-shirt. Enjoy.

[cartago]

I have met some Turks who are against the fascist/nationalist ideology but from my experience the majority support it to varying degrees. Sometimes I think it's worse than in America but then periodically I see some comments online from Americans that makes me think otherwise. It's definitely legally enforced much more so than in the US.

I know some ultra nationalist Turks and from checking out facebook pages I've seen things like - speak Turkish or shut up, a gray wolf trampling the Kurdish flag and when there was a campaign to have facebook in Kurdish there was a counter campaign against it (eventually the pro-Kurdish facebook won and you can now use facebook in Kurdish.

The crap people put up on facebook may or may not be a good barometer of how people really feel. Either way, just expressions of Kurdish culture and language is controversial. Newruz was banned for a long time in Turkey as was the Kurdish language(s). While I don't agree with this, it is true that expressions of Kurdish culture often have political undertones so the whole thing is a really messy situation.

[kazpat]

I asked some of my Turkish friends living there as I have not lived in Istanbul for about 8 years and am not in touch with the current climate. The answers ranged from nothing, to laugh, to severely beat his ass. So have at it if you wish but please come back and post the results. Almost everyone asked about what is your motivation; I guess I have the same question.

In all of the countries I have either lived or traveled in I have found it beneficial to keep a low profile and blend in as much as possible even though my appearance makes this difficult at times. But then I am only an attention *beep* when it will not possibly result with me in the hospital.

My 2 cents, stick to the babes and leave the T-Shirts at home.

Good Luck

[kazpat]

.................

[delal]

I agree with Kazpat
But should you decide to opt for attention, please make a reality TV show out of your experiences (along the lines of what to do and what not to do when living in a foreign country)