Job Discussion Forums

[esl_teacher1973]

I'm going to change this topic if you don't mind. I really would like to know if anyone knows if it's possible for Teflers to own a dog while in Turkey? Is it possible to have one if staying in teachers accomodations or would I have to get my own place for that? How do landlords take to having a dog?

[dmb]

we've got two cats with no wheels

[bron]

The way traffic is here, you don't want a car in İstanbul. You really don't. There are too many of them anyway.

I used to have two cats, a friend of mine's taken them on.

[calsimsek]

Please stop all this crap about driving in Istanbul. Once you get use to it, it's really no problem. I've had three cars in Istanbul, and once drove my old beat up Kartal to Izmir and beyond.

The Traffic is more intense than what you would find in Melb, the U.K or maybe north America, but it's nothing really. Turkish drivers do stop at the lights and follow the traffic rules. Most people think that cab drivers are the norm, but cab drivers every where are p***ks on wheels.

To buy and drive a car is simple. So if you want to rent one feel ok about it.

A word to the wise if your not use to driving on highways at night, then drive during the early moring on the may roads around Turkey.
Most Trucks can not enter the big cities till after midnight so they tend to come on the road at night

[justme]

I admire your bravery, calsimsek. To me, the driving here seems like utter chaos, but a controlled kind of chaos, like if people started driving in the defensive and predictable ways of North Americans, the whole system would crumble.

But I should also mention I don't drive. Never have. Never had a license, gave up after failing the test once in a California backwater called Truckee, on the Nevada border, which was considered *the* place to get a California license without the difficulties of a California driving test. Didn't even make it out of the parking lot, and decided it probably wasn't for me. Which probably means I'm easily intimidated.

Actually, I think my brother nailed the nature of Istanbul driving after he'd been here about 20 minutes, which was, 'You can do pretty much whatever you want, just do it veeeeery slowly.'

Sorry if my post with the excerpts from the consulate page about driving here riled anyone. I just thought it was funny.

[dmb]

The driving here is safe compared to the Gulf.

[gelin]

I've lived in both Ankara and Istanbul. I've driven in both cities. Ankara has the worst drivers, believe it or not. In Istanbul you have more traffic, but you can tell what the driver ahead of you is going to do (or not do). In Ankara it's a lucky guess. Gas is expensive and you have to pay that "tasit vergi" all the time, but I enjoy the freedom I have with a car.

[corall]

[justme]

I'm curious about dogs too-- do any of you have one?

I'd love to get one myself, but I think it's a bit unfair for the dog to live in an apartment-- in my experience, that makes them a bit neurotic, especially if the owner is out most of the day. A small dog is more possible I suppose, but I don't like them much...

If you have a dog in an apartment, how do you deal with walking it? Has anyone raised a puppy in an apartment here?

[scot47]

In the Gulf countries a dog is a no-no unless you live on a compound. The locals are pretty much anti-dog ! Not sure about Turkiye.

[justme]

A lot of them are scared of dogs-- it funny to see grown men shying away from even small dogs. But if I go by my students, most of them have been bitten by a dog at some point. I can see why-- I always see people running in fear from barking dogs, and really, there's no better way to cause an angry dog to chase and bite you than to run away from it.

And when they pet dogs, they don't really get into it. It more like timid patting on the head, which most dogs don't really like. No way for letting a dog lick you, you'd probably die from the germs.

And most people seem to think dogs don't have feelings.

[dmb]

I used to have a dog. I was lucky enough ın that my school was 5 mınutes walk from the flat. So I could pop home ın the mıddle of day to take hım walks. He usually got walked in the mornıng and at night. The biggest problem was when I wanted to go away for the weekend or holidays, not too many volunteers.
Keeping one is fairly expensive too, especially if you buy a puppy-all the jabs add up. Also even though ı tried to walk him three times a day, he was still at home alone most of the day, obviously bored, and chewed through furniture,cables etc.
I loved the lıttle guy. (one night he ran a way. I used to take him to a car park and let him run around as it was enclosed. Anyway one night he found a hole in the fence and gained his independance. This was almost 3 years ago. He was a healthy dog weraring a collar,obviously not a street dog, so I hope some one took him in.
Looking back now I think it is unfair to keep a dog in a flat all day long on its own. Dogs need company. My dog was a boxer, whıch are very friendly.
Oh generally turks dont like them. He was only a year old when he ran away so still quite small. People used to cross the street to avoid him.
On a bright note gentlemen, if you walk a dog in the park it is amazing how many young ladies you'll meet while walking it.

[justme]

Oooh, I'm so jealous! Boxers are in my top 5 dog choices, they're great! Sorry he ran away though. I'll join you hoping someone took him in...