Job Discussion Forums

[justme]

No, but if he did, we wouldn't be allowed to tell him that it was in very bad taste because we have to respect him.

[bigbadsuzie]

Also if he ever came to live with you, you are not expected to ask how long he and his entourage will stay .No respect !

[justme]

Not only would I have to accept it with a smile on my face, I wouldn't be able to smoke or cross my legs in front of him, even though it's my own house, and I would be expected to jump up and fetch him tea or whatever whenever he asked while he sat around and smoked with his friends not letting me watch English-language TV.

Good thing he just stays in his costly flat on the Asia side. In fact, this is all something that would never happen. I don't even have a Mehmet Amca. The identity of the drinkers and money losers has been cleverly changed. But if any of this did happen, it sure would be annoying!

[thrifty]

I got back to Istanbul last friday from Middle East about 3 pm. M in law was waiting at our flat. I went out for a walk and when I got back my wife told me that her cousin who is from �inarcık but was in Bakırk�y for the day shopping with her fiance who is from Ist was coming over in half an hour to stay the night. I protested in front of M in law that it was just slightly inconvenient as we had no shopping, hadn't unpacked, were tired, the baby had been ill recently, I needed a bath and a shave etc. I was taken into the other room and my wife protested that what was her cousin supposed to do as it was too late to go back to �ınarcık. I asked her why her cousin hadn't thought of that before but this was met with absolute horror and incredulity. Cousin turned up and the prices of rent, getting married, traffic, job situation, costs of basic necessities etc. were talked about until midnight and continued then next morning.

Cousin then explained that she had nearly finished her degree in management at Zonguldak Uni but needed to be able to speak English. She protested that she knew English but just could not speak. I was then proferred as an expert on how someone who knew English but couldn't speak it, could rectify the situation and speak English perfectly with minimal expense and in minimal time. Of course I had to instantly produce a solution and was even blamed for her inability to speak English even though she knew English.

What can you do?

[dmb]

Welcome back Thrifty. I guess you'll be keeping us up to date on the best beer deals in Sok and Gima.

[Baba Alex]

[capricious]

I suppose no one can deny how hospitable the Turks are. The Turks will do for you what our ordinary Brit wouldn't even dream of doing! However, thrifty's experience seems to have stemmed from this cultural trait named "hospitality". Am I wrong? If not, is being "hospitable" really a "good" thing?

[Golightly]

I came over to Turkey this august, and we stayed with friends in their villa in Parkkoy. It couldn't have been nicer or more hospitable - we were allowed to do exactly as we pleased, which in my case involved doing b.ugger all and drinking raki. Our hostess begged us to come more often, as she had given strict orders that no relatuves were to visit while we were over. She was p.issed off with relatives turning up as and when and expecting to be watered, fed and entertained, and washed and ironed for free for a fortnight.

[justme]

[thrifty]

In my wife's family staying in a hotel is an unimaginable horror. To not stay with relatives no matter how inconvenient it is is considered the norm.

[misterkodak]

That brings back some memories. Ages ago during my military days here, a friend of mine married a nice Adana girl. The only problem was family. They had a habit of showing up whenever they liked and pretty much eating them out of house and home. So, my friend resorted to some pretty crazy antics to make them leave.. watching girlie films on tv in front of hajii baba, listening to Judas Priest at the highest allowable volume, frying up some bacon.. ahahahaha. I'm lucky my wife's family is almanci and has at least the courtesy to phone before coming by.

[Baba Alex]

[thrifty]

Next time I get some unwanted visitors I will send them down to you in Suadiye. I am sure they will enjoy the luxury.

[Baba Alex]

[thrifty]

I meant the Turkish ones.