Job Discussion Forums

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:51 am Post subject: Try another city

I know I've said it before ,but ,there are other cities in Turkey where life is easier ,cheaper ,and sweeter .

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject:

Oh Babba,you're so reasonable, and drunk too,what a better place this will be when you sober up !

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

Golightly · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 1:59 pm Post subject:

yeah, there are far too many people living in Istanbul now, and more arriving each day - something like 8 - 10,000 EACH WEEK, if I recall my statistics correctly. And of course, they are almost all at the poorest end of the life spectrum. and of course, with poverty comes crime, because the poor sods need to live. I once proposed, in jest, that there should be some kind of border control on the outskirts of the city. Entrance would be allowed if the applicant could pass a simple pronunciation test: being able to differentiate between the sounds 'g' and 'k', 'i' and 'u':
Customs officer: Please say this (points to a sign that says 'Koyden geldim' )
Immigrant: Goydan Gelduum.
Customs officer: sorry, you're not allowed in.
Immigrant: nuuh?

scb222 · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 175 Location: Brisvegas, Oz

forget all that!!!!!!!!!!!! the biggest risk to your health here are the damn, noisy, rude, and very demanding children. advice: teach ONLY adults!!!!

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

Delpha · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 32 Location: USA

Yeah - I just moved to my place in Kocamustafapaşa last week and there was a bombing that killed someone and injured a few - only 150m from my house! I step off the bus near the spot every day!

Many of my friends have told me HORROR stories about crimes commited in Istanbul. One of which was a story about being robbed at night by men who put gas under the door so that their sleeping victims don't wake up!

(Not one to write home about)
-Delpha

yaramaz · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:17 am Post subject:

Hey, how about that hostage situation on the weekend at the taksim square burger king? Swat team in riot gear up on the teras, gunshots fired and it wasn't even a Laz wedding! Golly, was I glad I decided not to meet up with my friends there!

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

Yes everyone.. believe it or not.. there is a lot of crime here in Istanbul. Much of it is not on the news because the turks don't want to scare the tourists away. The difference between being here and in our home countries, in reference to crime and being a victim, is that at home we probably tend to be relaxed because of our familiar surroundings whereas here, we should always be on our guard and aware of our surroundings. Unfortunately for me.. or maybe Istanbul.. hehe Laughing

I happen to still like being here and enjoy the adventures and I am not ready to leave this interesting city regardless of muggings, shootings, robberies - home and car-, bombings, hostage situations, crazy postal ah.. I mean burger king.. hostage taking employees, crazy drivers, and dangerous walking conditions just trying to get from point A to point B anywhere on Istanbul's streets. If you want adventure, you're in the right place. If you want peace and security, then.. I don't know where you can live. Rolling Eyes

Laura777 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Istanbul Turkey

Every major metropolitan city has crime its just a bit more varied here! Shocked

The korean story was this - the guy was going home and let his relatives know he was coming that day... later that night he went out and he accepted a ride from strangers (so they say) to go out and have some beers and party a bit, and never returned... sadly... I know some Korean folks here and they told me what happened.

Lesson to be learned - dont take rides from strangers and dont trust easily people you do not know... Very sad, very tragic...

in regards the bombing yes its going on... and yes things are unstable.... no comment on this one. Its self explanatory.

I am from Los Angeles and lived in Venice for 7 years plus before I came here... in regards to violent crime - what with gang violence and it out-ranks Istanbul in my opinion.

However I wouldnt let it stop you if you really want to come. Life is full of risks...

almuze · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 125

I think it's kind of a mixed bag...when I first came here, (8 years ago?) the whole taxi kidnap/ransom/murder seemed to be a big concern, isn't anymore.

On the other hand, also 8 years ago, one of my UK friends got so raging drunk one night he dropped his wallet on the sidewalk in front of the bar, didnt notice till he recovered in the am. This was a problem because in his wallet was a) his entire paycheck and b) his passport. hmmmmm. He rushed back to the bar, and sitting in front of the bar was an old guy who had been checking faces against the passport photo all morning, waiting for the correct owner to come back!
wow. But I don't think anything like that would happen now, your wallet would be lost and gone forever.

Also, I think a lot of the violence is happening more in the city center (the interesting places to live, anyway) we live in an area where I am the only person who even dresses a little bit differnt, let alone speaks differnt, and there is nothing interesting here at all. Probably could drop my wallet in a drunken stupor and the whole street would know about it, and then come in a pack to give it to me.

maybe I'll go try it...

almuze · Joined: 25 Oct 2004 Posts: 125

I take it back, the gas-under-the-door-to-rob-you thing is popular in my nieghborhood. But all I've ever heard of them doing is robing you, I mean, there doesn't seem to be any physical violence involved (thus the use of sleeping gas, perhaps?)
my husband said, use the chain lock (in addition to deadbolts), that way they'll have to make so much noise when they break the door our nieghbors will wake wake up.
ah, words of romance and comfort! Smile

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Is this the new danger in Istanbul?

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/4236428.asp?gid=74

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

And don't forget the big summer danger for you non-swimmers: Construction companies stealing sand from the Bosporus, creating large, surprising drop-offs...