Eskişehir, Türkiye
Wednesday (Çarşamba) 4 December (Aralik) 2024
Türkiye:
Above: Flag of the Republic of Türkiye
This richly historical land has some of the best cuisine you will ever taste, scenery from beaches to mountains, and the great city of Istanbul.
Above: Aerial view of the historical peninsula and modern skyline of Istanbul
A succession of historical figures and empires – including the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans – have all left their mark on this former stopover along the Silk Road.
Above: The unified Roman Empire (27 BC – AD 95) at its greatest extent
Above: The Byzantine Empire (330 – 1453) at its greatest extent
Above: The Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent
Above: The Silk Road (114 BC – AD 1450)
From the ancient port of Ephesus (Efes) to the soaring Byzantine dome of Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya), Türkiye has more than its fair share of world-famous ruins and monuments.
Above: Library of Celsus, Ephesus
Above: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Türkiye’s diverse landscapes, from Aegean olive groves to eastern steppes, provide a lyrical setting for its many great ruins.
Above: Central Anatolian steppe, Karapınar, Konya Province, Türkiye
The country’s most magical scenery is to be found in Asian Anatolia, where beautiful vistas are provided by the vertiginous Mediterranean coastline.
Above: (in green) Anatolia
Cappadocia’s otherworldly “fairy chimney” rock formations and wavy valleys, the alpine pastures of the Kaçkar Mountains and golden beaches, such as the 18km-long Patara.
Above: Cappadocia balloon trip, Ortahisar Castle, Cappadocia, Türkiye
Above: Kaçkardağ, the highest peak of the Kaçkar Dağları
Above: Patara Plaji on the Türk Rivierası (Turkish Riviera)
Whether you settle down with a çay to enjoy the view across mountain-ringed Lake Eğirdir or explore the hilly hinterland on the southwest coast’s many peninsulas, Türkiye’s landscape will leave a lasting impression.
Above: Eğirdir Gölü with the town Eğirdir (on the left) and the two islands (Canada and Yesilada).
Yes, Türkiye truly is a wonderous country to explore and discover as a tourist, but what about living and working here?
Above: (ın green) The Republic of Türkiye
A number of moments have prompted this blogpost, which may be developed into something more.
Conversations with friends and family who have never been to Türkiye or have only passed through it as tourists and as I am asked what is it like to be a stranger in this strange land have prompted this post.
The sense that I won’t remain in this Republic forever has prompted this post.
The need for assessing what it is that I hope to accomplish during my sojourn here has prompted this post.
There is the constant assessment from friends and family that I would make a good travel writer that has led to this moment.
Above: Your humble blogger, younger days
There is the encouragement from my good friends Hakan and Emir that I need to network my abilities both as a teacher and a writer with the idea of creating videos that highlight my creativity and imagination.
So, the notion of creating some sort of project (Working titles: Eskişehir for Lovers or Tales from Türkiye) that seduces the audience to the magic and splendor of both my Turkish city of residence and the Republic itself knaws away in the back of my thoughts.
Above: Sazova Park, Eskişehir
A classroom conversation with one of my students, Sinem Memiş (an industrial engineering student at Eskişehir’s Osmangazi University, whose hobbies are dancing and modelling) has made me consider involving the young beauty in a YouTube video series wherein, between the two of us – with her doing interviews in Turkish (subtitled in English) that I cannot and having the youth and vitality that I no longer possess – we would highlight the hidden charms of this oft-disregarded crossroads in the heart of Anatolia almost equidistant between Istanbul and Ankara.
To do such a project to raise both our profiles requires planning.
The goal is in one year’s time to begin producing videos, but Sinem needs to improve her English – she is only at an A2 level – and I need to learn the art of making videos – a challenge for someone who has been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century – BC not AD – and how to network.
The immediate impulse to create this post comes from the need to teach a new B2 group on Fridays, starting on 29 November 2024.
Their first Unit of four modules has them discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad (which is somewhat ironic as the vast majority of my students have never even travelled abroad on vacation), settling in a new culture, how different countries have different rules, and what it is to be an expat – a stranger in a strange land.
The reasons for working overseas are endless – from a love of new foods and the desire to travel, explore new cultures and learn new ways of living, to an interest in making new friends, improving your language skills, widening your professional experience and heightening your understanding of the world.
To work overseas is to gain a heightened sense of your own culture, to find a greater appreciation for home.
Along the way you develop pragmatism, initiative and the confidence to take on further challenges.
Life overseas can be a truly enriching experience.
While you cannot escape the hardships and challenges of adjusting to a new environment, most people find that they gain immensely from the experience.
I have spent extended time outside of my home and native land of Canada in the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany, Switzerland and Türkiye.
This does not at all mean that I am an expert on living and working overseas, but I have learned a few things….
An overseas job provides variety and job satisfaction that you don’t get in a large corporation at home.
Many overseas jobs allow you to have a greater impact than you would at home.
Living overseas provides a much richer experience than merely travelling abroad or taking an extended vacation.
It can be easier overseas to move among social classes.
It does take time and patience to make friends abroad, though other expats can provide rich opportunities for friendship.
Living abroad helps you appreciate life back home and recognize real priorities for a contented and productive life.
Management styles vary throughout the world.
You have to adapt to the workplace conditions you find.
Basic resources that you take for granted at home are not available in many parts of the world.
Workplaces can be much more hierarchical.
Many Westerners overseas take their job too seriously and miss out on other aspects of their stay.
Many Westerners overseas try to carry out all the work themselves for the sake of efficiency.
They forget that human and social relationships are nearly always more important than efficiency.
You must make your priority human dignity and respect.
Skills of mediation, compromise and quiet authority are what earns you respect.
A boss is a boss is a boss.
No matter where you go in the world, your boss will make or break your job.
Your boss can turn the job of your dreams into the job of your lifetime or into a daily nightmare.
People often promise a lot but not everyone delivers on their promises.
You must learn to accept the work pace and habits overseas if you want to adapt.
You must be prepared for a learning experience.
So much can throw your work off.
Patience and lots of it are needed.
You cannot avoid mistakes.
You are very vulnerable emotionally, socially and professionally.
Make mistakes and learn from them.
Learn from your environment.
Working overseas can increase your confidence and provide you with an opportunity to develop skills that you simply wouldn’t get at home.
I have made mistakes.
I should have made every effort to speak to others who have lived in the country where I planned to live before I left.
I should have given some thought to the possessions I have – or, more precisely, perhaps shouldn’t have.
At present, I have libraries of books in Canada and Switzerland and Turkey.
A wiser man would have only brought (and be content with only that) which can be carried in a backpack.
That being said, I have done some things right.
I have tried to absorb as much information as I can about my host country to find out what is important and to start getting a sense of where people are at.
Everyone from abroad experiences culture shock.
It does eventually pass if you help yourself through it by being attentive to your surroundings.
Many people are surprised at their own clichéd ideas of other cultures.
Manners vary from country to country, but it is usually better to ignore, if possible, what you find negative in the foreign culture and concentrate on what you find positive.
You’ve got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum.
Bring gloom down to the minimum.
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene.
To illustrate his last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
Just when everything looked so dark?
Above: Jonah and the Whale, Pieter Lastman (1621)
Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between
No, do not mess with Mr. In-Between
Do you hear me?
Oh, listen to me children and, uh, you will hear
About eliminatin’ of the negative and an accent on a positive.
And gather ’round me children if you willin’.
And sit tight while I start reviewin’ the attitude of doin’ right.
You’ve got to accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
Above: American entertainer Bing Crosby (1903 – 1977)
You got to spread joy up to the maximum.
Bring gloom down to the minimum.
Then (otherwise), otherwise,
Pandemonium’s liable to walk upon the scene.
To illustrate
(My last remark) you got the floor
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
(What did they say?) What did they say?
(Say, when everything looked so dark?)
Above: Noah’s Ark, Edward Hicks (1846)
Man, they said we better,
Accentuate the positive.
Eliminate the negative.
Latch on to the affirmative.
Don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
No, don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.
Above: The Andrews Sisters (left to right – Maxene: 1916 – 1995 / Patty: 1918 – 2013 / LaVerne: 1911 – 1967) with Bing Crosby
Of course, living and working overseas has its down sides.
It can be very difficult to integrate into the local community.
Your social life may be quite different from at home.
In some cultures you may feel like nationals want to know everything about you.
You will find yourself answering very personal questions from people who seek to understand how it is that you are so different.
Trying to find out everything you can about your host culture can only enhance your experience, for it reinforces the idea that you are there to work together with them allowing them to improve their future on their own terms without sacrificing their own values.
Of course, many people experience loneliness and feelings of isolation during their stay overseas, but learning the local language can help to break down some of the barriers between people.
Employers want effective employees who know how to get the job done in a culture other than their own.
It is not enough to know the technical aspects of your work.
You must understand the people, their country and their culture.
Once you understand the “what” and “why” of a new culture, you will have a greater chance of succeeding in that context.
Your International IQ is made up of your awareness and ability in four areas:
- Political, economic and geographical knowledge
If you can converse intelligently about international news and world events, you are probably sufficiently aware of world politics and world economics.
You also need a firm grasp of world geography and knowledge of the world’s ethnic groups and their distribution.
You need detailed knowledge about the country in which you hope to work.
To increase your knowledge, consider the following:
- Listen regularly to international news broadcasts.
- Keep a good, up-to-date world atlas close at hand.
- Subscribe to international magazines or newspapers.
- Join a multicultural group in your community.
- Vacation in offbeat places.
- Enroll in courses on the politics or history of regions in which you are interested.
Above: Frontispiece of the 1595 Atlas of Mercator
- Knowledge about the international aspects of your field
Know which organizations work internationally in your field, what jobs exist and what aspects of your work have an international application.
This information is extremely important in your job search and in managing your career path.
Knowing how your specialization is practiced in an international setting allows you to focus your education, your job research, your networking contacts and your discussions with peers on landing the right overseas job for you.
- Make phone calls to international organizations in your line of work.
- A bit of research will tell you what trade magazines you should be reading.
- Join an international trade association.
- Learn where international conferences take place.
- Talk to people in your field who work or have worked overseas and find out which skills and what types of experience they think are important.
- Cross-cultural knowledge and skills
Know what it takes to be effective in another culture.
Find out about that country‘s belief systems, modes of behavior and attitudes.
Have a sound knowledge of the local culture.
Apply this knowledge in your workplace.
The ability to speak the country’s main language will be a great asset to you.
You can generally acquire these skills at home:
- Seek out people from other cultures.
- Become active in cross-cultural groups.
- Learn languages.
- Personal coping and adapting skills
Improve your personal coping and adapting skills.
People who enjoy living and working overseas are adaptable and tend to embrace challenges.
You will face changes in culture, friends, work and climate.
Therefore, having a sense of adventure, as well as humor, curiosity, and a great deal of patience, is invaluable.
To prepare yourself:
- Do volunteer work or participate in organizations that put you in contact with other cultures.
- If you have never visited a country where the culture is radically different from your own, you should try to do so before embarking on an international career.
Are you suited for overseas work?
The following skills and traits can usually be found in successful overseas employees:
- enjoyment of change
- desire for challenges
- street smarts
When in a foreign country, you need to know when to remove yourself from the company of others, when to turn back and leave an unsafe situation, and when to say no to the overtures of strangers.
Living and working overseas is all about interacting with new people, but there is a fine line between being open to new things and putting yourself at risk.
This can be particularly hard to gauge in a new culture.
Remain aware of your surroundings in unfamiliar places.
Avoid being a victim.
- a sense of adventure
- an open mind
- patience
- curiosity
- emotional stability and the ability to deal with stress
- an understanding of culture shock
- receptivity
Learn to stand back, observe and adjust your behavior accordingly.
Observe, react sensitively to new situations and come to understand how local customs affect behavior.
A stranger is like a child.
- flexibility
- humor
- self-knowledge
- tolerance
- sensitivity
- listening and observing skills
- nonverbal communication skills
- second language speaking skills
Don’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book
Don’t know much about the French I took
Above: Paris, France
[Chorus]
But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be
Don’t know much about geography
Don’t know much trigonometry
Don’t know much about algebra
Don’t know what a slide rule is for
Above: A slide rule
[Chorus]
But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be
Now, I don’t claim to be an A student
But I’m trying to be
For, maybe, by being an A student, baby
I can win your love for me
Don’t know much about history
Don’t know much biology
Don’t know much about a science book
Don’t know much about the French I took
[Chorus]
But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be
[Bridge]
La-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta (History)
Hm (Biology)
Wa-la-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta (Science book)
Hm (French I took), yeah
[Chorus]
But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be
- independence and self-discipline
- training experience
- resourcefulness
- versatility in work
- persistence
- leadership
- energy
- calm demeanour
- project planning skills
- writing skills
- verbal communication skills
- diligence and dedication
- loyalty
- diplomacy and tact
- commitment to a cause
Can you hear the drums, Fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this.
In the firelight, Fernando,
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar,
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar.
They were closer now, Fernando.
Every hour, every minute, seemed to last eternally.
I was so afraid, Fernando.
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die.
And I’m not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry.
Above: Scenes from the Mexican Revolution (1910 – 1920)
There was something in the air that night.
The stars were bright, Fernando.
They were shining there for you and me,
For liberty, Fernando.
Though I never thought that we could lose,
There’s no regret.
If I had to do the same again,
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again,
I would, my friend, Fernando
Above: Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh (1889)
Now we’re old and grey, Fernando
And since many years I haven’t seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums, Fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the Rio Grande?
I can see it in your eyes,
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land.
There was something in the air that night.
The stars were bright, Fernando.
They were shining there for you and me,
For liberty, Fernando.
Though I never thought that we could lose,
There’s no regret.
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando…
Are you ready for life overseas?
Are you prepared for major adjustments in your home and work life?
Are you prepared to be separated from loved ones?
Are you prepared to give up all the services and facilities you take for granted at home?
Are you willing to try new foods?
Are you willing to live without television, your daily newspaper, even your telephone?
Are you prepared to live with new security considerations?
Are you prepared to live in a different climate?
Are you prepared for living in a culture very different from your own, with customs and attitudes you have never encountered before?
Are you prepared to be patient in a way you never had to be at home?
Are you prepared to frequently misunderstand and be misunderstood?
Are you prepared to put into storage or divest yourself of your belongings?
Are you capable of dealing with the tremendous contrast of poverty of wealth existing side by side in some countries?
Are you ready?
Culture shock is real.
Everyone goes through a painful process of adapting to a new culture and this can range from mild irritation to extreme trauma.
Culture shock is a rite of passage.
The cues and clues you knew are gone.
Experts in culture shock speak of four stages:
- Honeymoon stage
You are finally here!
You just can’t wait to see, feel, taste and experience everything!
You have great expectations and a positive outlook.
2. Anxiety stage
The need to build a new social structure to replace the one you have left behind takes precedence.
You react to small differences as if they were major catastrophes.
You may suffer from some of the following symptoms:
- homesickness
- boredom
- withdrawal – spending excessive amounts of time reading, only seeing other Westerners, avoiding contact with the locals
- need for excessive amounts of sleep
- loss of appetite
- compulsive eating
- compulsive drinking
- irritability
- exaggerated cleanliness
- marital stress
- family tension and conflict
- patronizing behavior
- stereotyping of the locals
- hostility towards the locals
- loss of ability to work effectively
- uncontrollable weeping
- physical ailments: intestinal problems / insomnia
Above: Anxiety, Edvard Munch (1894)
3. Regression / rejection stage
Everything is frustrating.
The novelty has worn off.
New people, new places and new sounds strain your patience.
You may suffer from some of the following symptoms:
- depression
- anxiety
- confusion
- anger
- loneliness
- homesickness
- disenchantment
- suspicion
- physical symptoms: colds / headaches / prone to take sick leave
4. Adjustment stage
There are four possible outcomes from the regression stage:
- Participation: very effective / very involved / high performance
- Adjustment: self-satisfied / adequate job / may reject environment
- Escape: rejection of the environment / seek identity amongst other foreigners
- Return: inability to cope with foreign environment / emotional problems / the need to return home
How can you cope with culture shock?
- Participation: Meet the locals. Try to learn all about your new country.
- Tolerance: Let them be them.
- Language: Learn the lingo of the locals.
- Find a sympathetic local.
- Gather information.
- Take a break.
- Maintain contact with loved ones back home.
- Be imaginative in finding solutions.
- Learn to laugh, particularly at yourself.
- Learn to relax.
- Learn from your mistakes.
- Get into shape.
- Exercise the mind or learn a new skill.
- Spend time in the company of others.
- Volunteer to help others.
- Travel.
Avoid the expatriate ghetto, that community of complainers.
Think of yourself as an ambassador of your country.
Try to be accepting and open-minded.
Above: (seated) Winston Havelock (Bernard Fox: 1927 – 2016), The Mummy (1999)
With the tragic destruction of Syria, the insane tragedy of Israel’s conflict with Palestine/Gaza and Lebanon, and civil war raging in Yemen…
Above: Flag of Syria
Above: Flag of Israel
Above: Flag of Palestine
Above: Flag of Lebanon
Above: Flag of Yemen
With the Russian – Ukraine war raging on just the other side of the Black Sea and an uneasy truce between old enemies Armenia and Azerbaijan, Türkiye almost seems to be an oasis of sanity compared to the chaos and calamity that rages around it.
Above: Flag of Russia
Above: Flag of Ukraine
Above: Flag of Armenia
Above: Flag of Azerbaijan
Granted that Türkiye is not free of worries.
The restlessness of the Kurds, the questionable existence of Northern Cyprus, the quiet conflict over oil drilling rights in the Mediterranean…
Above: Flag of Kurdistan
Above: Flag of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
There are many unresolved issues that remain to be solved, but by comparison with other Middle East countries that have been rendered off limits, Türkiye still seems calmer by comparison.
Türkiye is a wonderful country to travel in, with a wealth of historic sites such as Troy and Ephesus, marvelous food and warm friendly people, but its tourist industry is still recovering from the decimation to the country’s image by the occasional terrorist attack, the lingering scars in the aftermath of the unsuccessful military coup (2016), the controversial reputation of President Erdoğan’s authoritarian and pro-Islamic tendencies which killed the nation’s bid to join the European Union.
Above: The walls of Troy, Hisarlik, Türkiye
Above: Bosphorus Bridge (now the 15 July Martyrs Bridge), Istanbul
Above: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Immediately following the attempted coup, President Erdoğan declared a state of emergency and suspended more than 15,000 people working in education accused of having links with the Gülen Movement, which he blames for masterminding the coup.
Above: Fethullah Gülen
There is a not-so-quiet suspicion that the purges were an excuse to strangle political opposition.
The economy has suffered due to the effects of the President’s questionable monetary policies, and the effects of the COVID-19 virus pandemic (2020 – 2023*) and the 2023 earthquake upon the Turkish economy.
Above: Atomic structure of the Corona Virus
Above: Scenes of the 6 February 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake
Nevertheless, Türkiye’s ELT (English language teaching) industry continues to absorb an enormous number of globe-trotting English teachers.
Türkiye remains a promising choice of destination for English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers.
For several decades now, Türkiye’s prosperous classes have been eager to learn English.
Expat teachers routinely earn good money (if they are both lucky and smart) for English lessons – especially of a private nature.
The boom in English is not confined to private language schools (dershane) that cram students for university entrance, but there are dozens of private secondary schools (lises) and a few universities where English is the medium of instruction.
Most of the mainstream schools will expect to see a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate of some kind, preferably the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults)(its original name) or the TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) certificate, in addition to a BA (Bachelor of Arts).
This may apply to the established chains, such as Wall Street English (WSE) and Amerikan Kültür (AK), but there are still dodgy operators and swashbuckling employers (perhaps even inside the established chains) willing to hire (and exploit) others.
You will want a school that is professional (with good resources, support and teacher development) and offers a good package (salary, accommodation, holiday entitlement) and has a timetable to suit you.
As aforementioned, finding such a prize depends upon the teacher’s job-hunting discernment and pure happenstance.
Above: (dark blue) States where English is the national language or the native language of the majority / (light blue) States where English is an official language, but not the majority language
Istanbul is the commercial, financial and cultural nexus of Türkiye, so this where most of the EFL teaching goes on, but there is much more competition from other travelling teachers here (and in Ankara and Izmir) than in the less obvious cities such as Bursa, Eskişehir and Mersin.
Above: Istiklal Sokak tram, Istanbul
There is a real need for language teachers in Türkiye.
Above: Ankara
There are teachers teaching without contracts, work permits or set amounts of teaching hours.
Many schools offer minimum wages (lower – if they can get away with it).
Classes may be at nights and/or weekends and split between teachers – which has been my situation.
Above: Izmir
Students may be very passive in their learning (I am being polite.), unwilling to participate in activities (absenteeism either physically or mentally) and are sometimes in the wrong level (of competence, but not of income), frustrating both their learning process and your teaching progress.
In the end, however, that does not take away from the genuine interest and need that Turkish people have to learn English to either improve their opportunities here or abroad.
Above: Bursa
Some students bond to their teachers like kittens seeking affection, but once they have surpassed their limitations they are eager to go along with all you have to offer.
Above: Porsuk River bridge, Eskişehir
Teaching in Türkiye can feel very rewarding, if one can navigate the bumps along an uncertain road.
Above: Mersin
Over the years many employers have come in for criticism, with words such as “cowboy school“, “unprofessional” and “untrustworthy” being bandied about by disappointed teachers.
Browsing the Web will eventually bring you to sites which name and shame schools that sack their teachers to save money, slash wages or pay late, fail to honor contracts, assign inflated marks to students to keep or attract custom, do or say that which is questionable to prevent staff from leaving, expect teachers to work on a tourist visa, and so on.
There have always been and will always be dodgy operators and unscrupulous employers.
Roll the dice.
Take your chances.
For every teacher who has grumbled about employers breaking their promises, rundown accommodation and so on – the litany of complaints and the community of complainers continues to grow – each teacher concludes by saying that Turkish people are amazingly hospitable and the country fascinating.
(Childcare and tourism are also opportunities for the foreign traveller wishing to linger in the Republic.)
Above: Lycian Way – a 760 kilometers (470 mi) long hiking path in southwestern Türkiye
What is important is to recognize why you are in Türkiye – for the experience – and try to enjoy that.
Türkiye generally is a great place to live and work.
The weather is great – depending on where you choose to live.
Above: Kars
The sinking value of the lira and the rising cost of living is daunting, but it is still cheaper to live here than in most of Western Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand.
Living in Türkiye suits people of adventurous disposition who prefer not to know exactly what is going to happen every day.
The only thing that is certain in Türkiye is life’s unpredictability.
The culture is famously welcoming and foreigners fall in love with the country because of the warmth and hospitality they experience here.
Above: Topographical map of Türkiye
It is a fascinating country, full of contradictions, as befits a land that is the bridge between East and West.
It is an Islamic country, but Türkiye (depending where you live in the Republic) wears its faith lightly.
Above: Camlica Camii (mosque), Istanbul
You can choose to drink alcohol or be a teetotaler.
To cover or uncover your head, to dress conservatively and modestly or wear clothing as revealing and risqué as anywhere in the West remains a personal choice.
Above: Feminist protest, Kadıköy, Istanbul, 29 July 2017
However, while Türkiye can seem superficially very Westernized, the reality is that the Turkish mindset is often very different from that of the West.
Scratch the surface and you will quickly be questioning your assumptions.
The Turks are generally more gregarious than Europeans and North Americans, but individuality is not a prized virtue.
Rather, people are admired for fitting in with their family, friends and neighbours.
The solitary are seen as antisocial and the desire to eat alone, go to the cinema alone or do anything alone is simply viewed as “odd“.
Marriage and children are hugely important in Türkiye, even if divorce is becoming more common, a woman’s status can be very dependent on her marital status.
Turks are sometimes more direct than Americans and Australians.
How much did you pay for your watch?
What wedding gifts did you receive?
They will remark on any weight gain or signs of exhaustion or ageing that you may show.
Men and women are still generally segregated – for example unrelated men and women are not seated next to each other on buses.
Elderly people are respected and “Teacher” is said in respectful tones.
The Turkish language contains a series of set phrases to deal with routine activities and greetings and farewells can feel quite time-consuming for those acquainted with more functionary efficiency.
“Turkish time” is more of an approximation than a fixed point in time.
Many Westerners think of Türkiye as a developing country and this is evidenced by the up-to-the-minute Swiss stopwatch punctuality of the Eskişehir tram or the Istanbul Card used for public transport or the presence of international brand name stores inside ultramodern shopping malls.
Above: Eskişehir tram
Yet you can still glimpse mud roofs and women swathed in blankets, broken pavement in gloomy lamplight or long lines waiting for something – anything – to happen in the foreseeable future.
It is difficult to define – whether Türkiye is a country of tradition with pockets of modernization or a modern nation with remnants of the past ever present.
Above: Odunpazari, Eskişehir
Socially, the expat community remains self-contained, but the isolated tendency of expats also means that once another expat is out of sight he then becomes out of mind.
I am not disputing that modern life is time-consuming, but it has been my experience that if something or someone is important to you, you will find time, you will make time, for what or who truly matters to you.
Absence does not make the expat heart grow fonder.
I will be blunt here.
If you have to repeatedly chase after someone for their attention, then perhaps you don’t matter to them as much as they matter to you.
We judge people by their actions (or failure to act).
If anything Time has taught me is that we must not take those we love for granted, for one day either they or yourself will no longer be around.
You can’t hurry love, true, but this does not mean you should wait around for it forever either.
Happily, the natural gregariousness of the Turks may mean the acquisition of Turkish friends into the solo expat life, but the introverted individual can remain isolated if that is what they so choose.
Being alone is a choice.
Feeling lonely may its consequence be.
Ultimately, your life is the sum of your decisions and the circumstances your decisions have placed you in.
Baby, life’s what you make it.
Can’t escape it.
Baby, yesterday’s favorite.
Don’t you hate it?
Baby, life’s what you make it.
Don’t back date it.
Baby, don’t try to shade it.
Beauty is naked.
Baby, life’s what you make it.
Celebrate it.
Anticipate it.
Yesterday’s faded.
Nothing can change it.
Life’s what you make it.
And, of course, a little bit of luck.
The Lord above gave man an arm of iron
So he could do his job and never shirk.
The Lord above gave man an arm of iron, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck
Someone else’ll do the blinkin’ work.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck you’ll never work.
Above: Scene from My Fair Lady (1964)
The Lord above made liquor for temptation
To see if man could turn away from sin.
The Lord above made liquor for temptation, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
When temptation comes you’ll give right in.
Above: Scene from My Fair Lady
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck you’ll give right in.
Above: Scene from My Fair Lady
Oh, you can walk the straight and narrow,
But with a little bit of luck you’ll run amuck.
The gentle sex was made for man to marry
To share his nest and see his food is cooked.
The gentle sex was made for man to marry, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
You can have it all and not get hooked.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck you won’t get hooked
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of bloomin’ luck.
Above: Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn: 1929 – 1993), My Fair Lady
The Lord above made man to help his neighbor,
No matter where, on land, or sea, or foam.
The Lord above made man to help his neighbor, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
When he comes around you won’t be home.
Above: The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo (1512)
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck, you won’t be home.
They’re always throwing goodness at you,
But with a little bit of luck a man can duck.
Oh, it’s a crime for man to go philanderin’
And fill his wife’s poor heart with grief and doubt.
Oh, it’s a crime for man to go philanderin’, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
You can see the bloodhound don’t find out.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck she won’t find out.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of bloomin’ luck.
A man was made to help support his children,
Which is the right and proper thing to do.
A man was made to help support his children, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
They’ll go out and start supporting you.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck they’ll work for you.
He doesn’t have a tuppence in his pocket,
The poorest bloke you’ll ever hope to meet.
He doesn’t have a tuppence in his pocket, but
With a little bit of luck, with a little bit of luck,
He’ll be movin’ up to Easy Street.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of luck, he’s movin’ up.
With a little bit, with a little bit,
With a little bit of bloomin’ luck.
This blogpost is about Türkiye, but it is also about living and taking things as they come wherever you may be.
As a teacher I don’t want to just teach my students how to communicate in English, but rather I want teach them how to learn for themselves, how to think for themselves, regardless of their progress with my mother language.
Above: The Thinker, Auguste Rodin (1904)
Life is difficult.
Nothing much is familiar when we get to wherever we are going.
For many people, life is a strain.
Because they don’t understand everything that is happening, they try to diminish the experience, to make it unimportant or less real.
Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality.
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see.
I’m just a poor boy, I need no sympathy.
Because I’m easy come, easy go,
Little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.
We need to learn how to accept, as calmly as possible, the sights and experiences of that strange place, Life.
The Internet and other audio/visual media tend to either distract you with entertainment or disturb your composure with dire nerve-wracking news that you cannot control yet nonetheless worry over.
Whether Life’s journey keeps you bound to the familiar or finds you exploring the foreign, you need to be both aware and appreciative of what you see and experience.
Life is either a lesson or a blessing.
And, often, Life can be both.
It is you who determines what your life is based on your attitude to Life itself.
Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best
And
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the light side of life
If life seems jolly rotten
There’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you’re feeling in the dumps
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that’s the thing
And
Always look on the bright side of life
(Come on)
Always look on the right side of life
For life is quite absurd
And death’s the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin
Give the audience a grin
Enjoy it, it’s your last chance anyhow
So always look on the bright side of death
A just before you draw your terminal breath
Life’s a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life’s a laugh and death’s a joke, it’s true
You’ll see it’s all a show
Keep ’em laughin’ as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the right side of life
(C’mon Brian, cheer up)
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you come from nothing
You’re going back to nothing
What have you lost? Nothing
Always look on the right side of life
Life presents many obstacles to happiness, but there is a definite link between gratitude and happiness.
Grateful people are generally more resilient, are less stressed and are more satisfied with their lives.
Feeling gratitude for the things we are blessed with in life can positively contribute to a sense of happiness.
Expressing gratitude to those we are grateful for can actively improve those relationships.
If you let those close to you know how important they are in your life, you won’t regret it.
They will either bring blessings to your life or their actions will teach invaluable lessons.
That’s life (that’s life)
That’s what all the people say
You’re riding high in April, shot down in May
But I know I’m gonna change that tune
When I’m back on top, back on top in June
I said that’s life (that’s life)
And as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stomping on a dream
But I don’t let it, let it get me down
‘Cause this fine old world, it keeps spinnin’ around
I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet
A pawn and a king
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself
Flat on my face
I pick myself up and get
Back in the race
That’s life (that’s life)
I tell you, I can’t deny it
I thought of quitting, baby
But my heart just ain’t gonna buy it
And if I didn’t think it was worth one single try
I’d jump right on a big bird and then I’d fly
I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet
A pawn and a king
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself layin’
Flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get
Back in the race
That’s life (that’s life)
That’s life and I can’t deny it
Many times I thought of cutting out, but my heart won’t buy it.
The downside of the solitary life is the neglect of touch.
Touch boosts our sense of well-being and our levels of happiness.
Hugs strengthen the bonds between people, but even pets can produce the same beneficial effect.
I often tell my students that the two greatest days of their lives are the day they are born and the day they discover why.
Another key factor to happiness is being decisive.
I believe that there are three levels to the human condition:
- Subsistence
- Creation
- Interaction
Most of us exist in what is essentially a state of subsistence.
We do what it takes to stay alive.
This is the lowest form of human activity.
All living creatures are capable of this.
God only knows. God makes His plan.
The information’s unavailable to the mortal man.
We work our jobs, collect our pay,
Believe we’re gliding down the highway,
When, in fact, we’re slip sliding away.
Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know, the nearer your destination
The more you’re slip sliding away.
The process of creation wherein a painter may create a great work of art or a writer may create a great work of literature or a musician a great piece of music or a dancer or actor creating an unforgettable performance.
These are worthwhile endeavors.
Through works of creation, we are remembered.
But it is only by interacting with others in a public forum can your legacy be passed down through generations.
Only by doing something significant can a person’s memory achieve immortality.
Never underestimate the profound benefits of simple, even random, acts of kindness.
Being kind towards others greatly boosts happiness and well-being.
Giving to others, contributing to your community, greatly lowers depression.
In a world which seems to support the principle of always putting #1 first, more of a focus on being kind to others can only be a good thing.
Go out of your way to help others every day.
Be creative and see for yourself how good it feels to help others.
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say, but you can learn
How to play the game.
It’s easy.
Nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do, but you can learn
How to be you in time.
It’s easy.
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love
All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.
Nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where
You’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need.
We are all given one life.
It is what you do with the time allotted to you that can make a difference in your life and in the lives of others.
We need to decide what is important to us and make the decision to do something about it.
We cannot know what is important to us unless we express what we feel.
Getting some perspective in life is essential to health and happiness.
Expressing how we feel gives us that perspective.
Expressing how we feel can enable us to view our lives for the lessons and blessings they provide.
Talking with others or writing down what is on your mind can help you regain a sense of control over your life and get things into perspective.
I have often said to my students:
Why do we read?
Answer:
To know what we feel is not particular to only us, to know we are not alone in the Universe.
Why do we write?
Answer:
To know ourselves and what it is that we feel and think.
A lesson I have learned and keep learning is that Over There is no better than Right Here.
Because wherever you are, there you are.
So, yes, I am a stranger in a strange land, and yet….
Wherever I am is home.
For as unique as we all are from one another, there is more that is similar than is different.
We may do things differently from each other, but we are connected to one another by our basic humanity.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
Above: American entertainer Louis Armstrong (1901 – 1971)
I see trees of green,
Red roses, too.
I see them bloom
For me and you.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue
And clouds of white,
The bright blessed day,
The dark sacred night,
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by.
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying
“I love you.”
I hear babies cry.
I watch them grow.
They’ll learn much more
Than I’ll ever know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
Ooh, yeah.
Sources
ABBA, “Fernando“
Louis Armstrong, “What a Wonderful World“
Roger Axtel, Do’s and Taboos Around the World
Beatles, “All You Need Is Love“
Bing Crosby / Andrews Sisters, “Accentuate the Positive“
Carl Franz and Lorena Havens, The People’s Guide to Mexico
Susan Griffith, Teaching English Abroad
Susan Griffith, Work Your Way Around the World
Jean-Marc Hachey, The Big Guide to Living and Working Overseas
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, “With a Little Bit of Luck“
Lonely Planet, The World
Paul Simon, “Slip Slidin’ Away“
Frank Sinatra, “That’s Life“
Monty Python, “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life“
Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody“
Talk Talk, “Life’s What You Make It“
Sherrie Gong Taguchi, The Career Troubleshooter
Pat Yale, A Handbook for Living in Turkey
