Job Discussion Forums

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

One of our teachers died last night of a brain aneurism. He was middle-aged. His family was not able to get here and he died intestate. He was really nice person and we are sorry that he left us so early.

However, the reason I am posting a new thread is to underline the importance of being ready for anything. Even if you don't have an official will, you should at least make sure that your school or friends have information on how to contact your relatives. You should at least make a list of your belongings that you care about and want to go to someone. Several years ago another teacher died in a motorcycle accident, also intestate. He was 36. A former teacher died last year of a heart attack. he was 43. These people did not expect to die so young and of course they were not ready to go. You need to be ready so if something should happen to you, you have instructions about where things are and how to dispose of them. I've already started my list and I urge you to start yours.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

http://www.brainaneurysm.com/

I didnt actually know what a brain aneurysm was.

calsimsek · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 775 Location: Ist Turkey

Alot of us have lost friends here and Molly has brought up a very important issue. The locals can help only so much, it's often up to your mates to make that call back home. God Help all of your teachers freinds and family Molly.

sandyhoney2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 189

I was at ET when Bill died in the motorcycle accident. I was new to Turkey at the time, just a few months I think, but the outpouring of support while Bill was in the hospital was incredible.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

This might sound stupid. If I were to die how would my next of kin know who and how to contact people. The obvious is to look at my address book on my email account.... but they dont know the password. Sorry if this is in bad taste, but its just something I am thinking about.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Most insurance policies don't cover funeral expenses you say. Then choose one that does. Not connected to cash-Wrong. You need the cash to pay for the policy. Not 3 hours away-then you really do need a good policy which you say you already have.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

if you wanr funeral expenses covered, you have to get that insurance. This teacher did have health insurance (through ET I might add), which covered his considerable hospital expenses. We have teachers fill in an information form with next of kin etc on it. In this case the son was not able to come because he didn't have a passport or money, though we would have helped with the money. The US Consulate was a great help and the head teacher was great, as she had to handle it all. Since no family was here, he was considered indigent, and the consulate took over. He had no will and now they have to sort all that out. It's kind of a mess, which is why I started the thread-- even young people, especially because they are abroad, need to tell someone where to find the piece of paper that lists the passwords, important papers, important possessions, etc.

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

thanks dmb and to other who have pm'ed me. this person had a good life and was pretty happy here, so of course the other message with this is carpe diem

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

I think that this thread is important - and that is probably why other moderators have not yet locked it. However, they all get the same PM that I got complaining about the thread, so we can guess the old lock is coming soon - if not tidied up.

How about moving back to the will issue - and away from personalities? And, perhaps ignoring irrelevant (or what you consider to be irrelevant) posts as a way to stay on topic?

ZIA! · Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 40

THis is important!

People really should make sure that their families know what they want to do. I know, after having a teacher die at my previous school and seeing the mess, I made a special effort to inform my family about what they should do in the case of my demise. It really is serious because the cost of taking someone home is expensive and if you are feeling that it is not needed you should let your family know and they do not waste the resources.

I found it a good thing to talk about to my family because I am now in possesion of what they want to do,when they die and I do not have to guess about the whole thing. I now know that one parent has it all in place and know who to contact and the other did not give it a thought at all....so I know with that one I will have to foot the bill and plan accordingly.....But hope that they will consider making a decision and decide what they will do.

I have made my arrangements and they are aware of what they would need to do. Also this thread reminds me to notify at least one person when I get in Turkey how to reach someone.

Cheers!

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I received another "heads up" regarding this thread today... The way I see it, I had three options on how to handle it.

1. Lock the thread (as a couple members discussed)

2. Remove the thread entirely (and dump it in the Moderator's forum for an indefinite period)

3. Edit the thread and remove all irrelevant content... That is, anything that does not have anything to do with the importance of preparing a will.

I've chosen option 3, as the advice is valuable enough to others reading it and some of the posts actually have some redeeming quality to them. However, having said all that, if the comments on here start taking the direction they were before, I WILL lock this thing or remove it entirely.

I hope this solution works.

JD2

P.S. If I've overstepped my bounds here, I do apologize.