Job Discussion Forums

[delal]

Hi
Has anyone worked in Erzurum recently?
Apart from the cold, what are the pros and cons?
Thanks

[cartago]

It's a really religiously conservative city by Turkish standards but there are lots of students at Ataturk University from other parts of the country who aren't like that.

Not only is it very cold but ice often covers the streets and sidewalks making it very slippery and easy to fall.

There are some places to go skiing and you're not really all that far from Georgia if you want to visit for a holiday.

[crobizzle]

I spent 2 years teaching in a high school in Erzurum. As a single female who was living and working there, I found life in Erzurum difficult. Culturally, people are far more conservative & I had many experiences where I was ignored or treated differently because I was a woman & a foreigner. Erzurum is also a city that can be difficult to get away from since there are a very limited number of flights, which go daily to Ankara & Istanbul, & when I was there, 3 times a week to Izmir. With a regular teaching schedule, there were very limited options for getting away for a weekend. The one good thing when I was there was that the school where I worked had very high standards, and the students I taught were probably the hardest-working, most motivated students I've ever taught. However, the school itself wasn't perfect either, and there were a number of issues between the administration and teachers.

I have friends who are still living and teaching happily in Erzurum, so I understand that my experience is not the only experience. If you are very independent and don't need much in terms of a social life, you might enjoy the city. It's also very picturesque with the mountains, but it's also cold and rather isolated.

I hope this helps!