Job Discussion Forums

wyldfiregyrl · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

I am about to leave for Istanbul (for the first time) in about 2 weeks (wow, 2 weeks I better fill up on Burritos whilst the getting is good)....

I have opened a livejournal account to write about my time there and am looking for other expats in Turkey who also use live journal to list.
There are directories on L J, but being the cheap bastaad that I am, I have the free account and that option is not available to the charity cases like myself. Very Happy

My L J account is the same handle as here: wyldfiregyrl

I am looking forward to reading some of your personal accounts in Turkey.

Thanks!

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:22 am Post subject:

I just started mine, though it is pretty barebones at the moment...

http://www.livejournal.com/~yaramaz/

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I tried your link Yaramaz but it didn't work.
Welcome to Istanbul Wyldfiregyrl

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:46 am Post subject:

Dang it. I'l try again. Hell, just go to their site and type in yaramaz. Maybe that will work.

Infernal computers.

yaramaz · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:52 am Post subject:

Try: http://www.livejournal.com/users/yaramaz/

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Yip I went to the site and typed Yaramaz-that worked.
Still feeling drained? Never mind summer is on the way

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Yaramaz should try to go to the new prospective school in Istanbul for a few days and live and work with the teachers there, and see and talk with the students.

This 'trial run' will give her a much better idea of what to expect.

Yaramaz has so many pluses in Kayseri, that it is really worth exploring whether the pros. outweigh the cons. in Istanbul.

Yaramaz should also look at the University in Kayseri and see whether she might get on board there, part time.

johnslat · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 2:41 pm Post subject: No one

My stars and garters - I never thought I'd live to see the day: a "ghost" posting with no "one" in it.
Regards,
John

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

Yeah, but the use of "Yaramaz" was a bit impersonal. Maybe Ghost can't use 1st or 2nd person pronouns?
I saw your blog, Yaramaz. (1st link worked for me). Jeff Buckley - yes!!! 'Lilac Wine' and 'Hallelujah' are two of my favourite tracks.
Good luck with the ruminating. Try Istanbul - you don't know till you try.

yaramaz · Posted: Thu May 13, 2004 6:03 am Post subject:

FGT, glad to hear the link works. And you are right about just trying istanbul to see if I like it. It may just be what I need to kickstart my plodding brain. And yes, Jeff Buckley works well for ruminating...

Ghost is right too (wow, I've said that a few times in the past few weeks... what's happening???). Kayseri is a sweet deal for me and voluntarily giving it up would be hard. My department has been really supportive, really wanting me to stay. However, I really think, at this point in my life, that leaving is necessary for my sanity. Moving to the uni wouldnt help because it is the city and its people and narrow-mindset rather than my school which is the problem. I love my school. No problem there. I just miss having a life, having a night life, having silly diversions like pottery classes and cafes. I miss living somewhere where my interests and ideas are at least somewhat recognised if not nurtured. It is like comparing apples and oranges, trying to compare a language school job in Istanbul with a cushy k12 in kayseri. Its easy here, too easy, but not hugely fulfilling on many levels. Maybe I need a challenge. I think I just need to leap and see...

Anyways, will probably be going to Istanbul next week for a few days around wednesday (I am only working tuesday next week -3 lessons- , thanks to Youth and Sport days...woooooooo!) to check out the schools. If anyone wants to meet for a midweek/end of week beer, give me a call. dmb, that cafe in taksim has teachers discounts on thursdays right? The quiche place...

Lucy k, anita, dmb, anyone else .... Yabanci Rendez Vous Part Deux?

And lucy k, is there any chance I can crash on your couch for a night?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I'm up for a beer(just for a change)BTW we get the teachers discount all the time as our friend is going out with the barman Very Happy

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Yaramaz - Try to see as many schools as possible in Istanbul between now and the end of the school year in Kayseri. You have choices - but the chemistry needs to be good between you and the administrators, students and staff at your new prospective schools. Those are variables which cannot be looked at from a long distance...you need to actually sample them.

It is true that Yaramaz has a cushy number in Kayseri - probably the easiest schedule of anyone on this forum (18 hours a week for full pay..).

However, it is good that she takes it upon herself to go for the challenge of a more demanding job in Istanbul, where she will be confronted with students who want value for their money...

Also keep on good terms with Ali Guldas, explaining that this year in Istanbul `might` just be a sabbatical interlude prior to a possible return to Kayseri the following year....keep the options open, and do not burn any bridges....as this unfortunate poster had the misfortune to do.

yaramaz · Posted: Sat May 15, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

Ghost, I appreciate your comments but I must also let you know that by nature I am not a bridge burner. I have pretty much been informed that I can come back anytime. Which is great, though I'm not sure it would be in my best interest.

As well, I am used to students wanting quality for their money-- I taught avery successful evening course here and hve several happy private students. I also taught in language schools in Canada which were fierce in their value-for-money policies. Stressful but fulfilling. The work ere is less demanding but the surroundings and the students's behavior make it unnecessarily stressful because if you give a great lesson only a few kids even notice.

Anyway, it looks like I will be going to IH or whatever they are called now. I went there last year to check out the atmosphere and liked it. Will go again this week to double check. They have a good attitude, I think, and good teacher development. I miss being able to teach. 75% discipline is not fun.

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

Over the last 7 years I have met 4 people in Saudi who taught in Kayseri.
No one has much positive to say about the place.

One even said, "It was too Islamic so I came to Saudi Arabia."

!!!!!!!!

wyldfiregyrl · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 16

Yaramaz...

I was ın a sıtuatıon lıke yours ın Korea. I had a sweet job easy work lıght hours plenty of tıme off. But ı was the only foreıgn teacher ın a town of only 3 teachers ın a VERY conservatıve area. I hated ıt! I was so lonley and bored wıth my surroundıngs... I was really unhappy.

In Istanbul I have the typıcal language school sıtuyatıon and ı feel much happıer about ıt. ı am meetıng a lot of people and there ıs so much to see and do. I feel really productıve wıth my tıme here.

In short I would rather work harder to lıve ın a place that ıs more dynamıc ın my tıme off.... but thats just me. (sorry about fkd up typıng... stıll gettıng used to turk keyboards)