Job Discussion Forums

[csfek]

Hi,

I recently applied for the English Language Fellows Program and have been told that I am being considered for some of their positions in Turkey. The places with the projects I am most qualified for are in Adana, Erzurum, and Denizli.
Does anyone know anything about these places? I'd like to know just general things about the character of the cities, what the people are like, what it's like for foreigners, etc. I'd also like to know how transportation is between these cities and places in Western Europe because my significant other lives in Western Europe.
Also, if there is anyone who has done the ELF program in Turkey, I would love to know about their experiences.

Thank you all in advance!

[windstar]

Erzurum is in the East part of Turkey, known to be a conservative city with a smile. It is one of the coldest, you can have minus 30. Adana is one of the hottest cities close to the mediteranean sea -about an hour drive. There is a big chunk of US military personnel. Denizli is in the West and rather small. Transportation to and from adana is not a problem and expenses are reasonable.
Do you have any specific questions?

[csfek]

Thanks for your answer.

I do have more specific questions. What would it be like as a foreign woman living in those cities? How are women treated there, both in classrooms and on the streets in daily life?
What is there to do in your free time in those places? I don't mean nightlife necessarily, just general things that people do for fun.
Also, what are Turkish people like as students? I would be teaching college and graduate students. And are people open and friendly to foreigners?
What are living conditions like? What would the standard of living be comparable to?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions later on, but these are the ones I
have so far.

Again, I appreciate any information that anyone can give me. Thanks!

[big3bc]

I taught at a university in Gaziantep for a year. Gaziantep is about a 3 hour bus ride from Adana, but is also a southern Turkish city with the same religious and conservative attitudes as those in Adana. I found the university students to be much less spoiled and much more productive than their counterparts in Istanbul. I became very close with many of them and ten years later, I am still in contact with several of them.
I traveled to Adana four or five times because the other foreign teacher at the university was married to a Turk, and her family was from there. Probably because of the American military presence, I found it to be less conservative. I saw several female American GIs at the "American market". There are several restaurants and bars near the base which cater to their personnel.
Adana is the hottest city I have ever been in, and I have traveled throughout Africa during the hot season. Mersin, which is on the Mediterranean, is about a 45 minute drive from Adana. There are many nice hotels and beaches there.

[csfek]

Gaziantep is another possibility for where I might be sent, so it's good to hear from someone who has lived there as well. Could you tell me a little more about the university there? You can PM me, if you want.

Again, I really appreciate the information. Thanks!

[big3bc]

When I was there (1997-9, the university was private. I believe the owner sold it to the government, so it would be difficult to get a job there now.
The university itself was a fairly modern one on the outskirts of the city. The students were mostly from Gaziantep.
It is almost as hot there as it is in Adana. I really didn't enjoy my stay there for several reasons, none of which had to do with the school.

[csfek]

Thanks for the info. When you say it's hot, how hot exactly are you talking about? I've been in hot places before, but it sounds pretty extreme. I don't have to worry about the job thing because if I do end up going to one of these places everything will already be set up.

For all of the places I've mentioned, I would be interested in knowing what accommodation is like in any of the places, if anyone has information about that.

Thanks again for your responses and for the information.

[windstar]

Hot means 35 and above or 40 and below celcius in gaziantep and adana. The difference between these two cities is proximity to the sea. Adana is rather humid whereas gaziantep is dry hot.

[big3bc]

My problem with the heat in Gaziantep was the fact it began in April and lasted until the first couple weeks of November.
My flat in Gaziantep was paid for by the school. It was in a new building in a nice section of the city. The school wasn't exactly generous with the furnishings- I had no washer, and the living room "furniture" consisted of an office sofa and chair.
My girlfriend had an unfirnished, one-bedroom flat in a new building. She paid about $100/ month. I'm sure rent prices have increased dramatically although I doubt they approach comparable Istanbul apartment rents.
The kombis are completely different, also. You have to light it manually anytime you want hot water.
Gaziantep had terrible water shortage problems when I was there. One time, there was no water for almost 10 days. The apartment buildings were also heated by oil which was stored in a large tank in the basement. This meant that everyone paid the same amount for the heat (as well as electric) regardless of how much heat you actually used. Another problem with this was, if you were unfortunate enough to have an apartment on the first floor (as I was), you had to find somewhere else to reside for 2 days after they filled the tank because of the fumes. Sounds like fun, huh!

[csfek]

Wow, no water for 10 days? That must have been unpleasant. Was that during the April to November hot season?