Job Discussion Forums

[Ulysses]

is it nice? is it terribly unexotic compared to Byzantium?

[windstar]

By now, you must have improved your knowledge on Turkey.

[scot47]

Angora is an Anatolian village.

[Ulysses]

..not an alternative to Fair Isle?

[ghost]

Ankara versus Istanbul

Advantages of Ankara:

1 Cheaper than Istanbul, and far fewer tourists.

2 The best T�mer language school in Turkey, located in Kizilay district, Ankara.

3 Easier to find a job as there is less competition from foreign native speakers.

4 If you study at T�mer then you can avail of the homestay program, and practice Turkish.

5 Ankara is well located in the centre of the country to travel to many places, including Black sea resorts and Eastern Turkey.

Note: Despite the fact that Istanbul receives millions of tourists each year, I have found Istanboulites to be friendlier, in general, compared with natives of Ankara, who tend to be less warm.

I worked in Eskisehir, near Ankara, and it was the only place in Turkey where the locals were not curious about foreigners and their business. In other Turkish cities and small towns the locals are all over you, offering tea and filled with questions, but not in Eski. or Ankara. For people who like privacy, Anatolia is a good option.

Prices in Turkey have gone up dramatically in the last couple of years, according to reports from people who have traveled there recently, with many of the prices quoted in euros, even though Turkey is not (and might never become) part of the European Union. Ankara costs, however, are more reasonable, probably as most tourists shun the city, and that is good for people like us who are not ordinary tourists.

Ankara is a University and Government town, so the choice of restaurants with very reasonable prices is excellent. It's a volume thing. Just be prepared to sit next to a bunch of Turkish office workers wearing suits which have seen better days.

Ghost

[Ulysses]

thanks very much, ghost!
:-)

[scot47]

Prices have certainly rocketed in Istanbul. Accommodation for visitors is still available at reasonable prices but food ! Wow ! I make a point of eating where ordinary Turks go but prices are still high.

My visits are always to Istanbul. I cannot comment on Ankara or other cities

[delal]

Brussels on a cold wet Sunday afternoon is by far more interesting than the insular capital. Plus at least in Brussels, when the bureacrats have gone for the weekend, you at least have beer, chocolate and chips to console yourself with. Forget that in Ankara

[studymylesson]

The Ankara Metro is interesting - it has a sterile atmosphere, but is modern, clean and cheap.
The city itself is pretty conservative to say the least. Just try booking in at a moderately-priced hotel with a girlfriend (as I did - she's now my wife!) to find out how conservative... When I queried the rejection, the reception staff said, ' Ask her...' pointing to my (then girlfriend, now wife) companion. As a result, we went upmarket at a high star hotel where the only question they wanted answering was, 'How do you want to pay...?'

[Kirkpatrick]

Just couple of questions about this city. Is $2,000 usd and free accomidation an o.k. deal? Also, how much could I save on this salary? How are turkish women? Are Americans welcome there? Hows does Turkey copare to Korea or Japan? Surely, it can't be as expensive as Japan ?

[scot47]

Do not expect to be loved in Turkey for being a North American. Part of the vvisible Islamic Revival of recent years is a dislike of Uncle Sam.