11 hour work days aren't as bad as they sound.
Today was my second real work day, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, I left early to run an errand. I know those sound like slave hours and I'm being payed a third of what I would make in the United States for the same hours, but when you consider the free house, free food, and fun experiences, I think I'm coming out in the black. My job is to speak english at a bunch of 17-20 year old Turkish kids until they get it. I don't formally teach, I just hang out in the cafe.
The first questions in English I am asked by these students are without fail: "What is your name?" "Where are you from?" "How old are you?" And the surprise one from the ladies only, "Are you married?"
I'm learning Turkish a bit quicker than I thought I could learn a language. But I suppose it helps being constantly bombarded by the language and the cafe workers are also very eager to teach me. This morning on my way up the hill to work I picked up another one of these cinnamon rolls for one lira. That comes to about 75 cents, but looking at this thing, you'd only find it in a real nice US bakery and probably then for 4 USD. The prices here are all like this, even nice nice designer clothing comes out cheeper. Electronics are sorta another story, but I have all the electronics I need anyway.
Oh, I didn't mention it yet, but all those people who snickered behind my back when I said I never would get a cell phone were right. I have one of the devilish contraptions, but only because it was provided for work and a million other justifications I'm sure I could come up with for why I "need" it and don't just want one. Cellphones in Turkey are all pay as you go it seems. You buy units called Kontors on phone card type things, and then follow instructions in Turkish and add them magically to your phone. If anyone wants to call me international (it won't cost me to receive calls, but boy will it cost you) my number here is 0538 663 10 73. I have no idea what the country code for Turkey is.
The small differences aren't really bothering me. Sure the signs all look different, and the call to prayer goes up five times a day, but the city is definitely western. Maybe I will notice wide spread vibes that will freak up my mojo or something, but this city has been the coolest metropolis to which I have ever been. I get scared in places like San Francisco or Washington DC, but here when I'm outside I really feel outside. It's a feeling that is difficult to explain.
The first questions in English I am asked by these students are without fail: "What is your name?" "Where are you from?" "How old are you?" And the surprise one from the ladies only, "Are you married?"
I'm learning Turkish a bit quicker than I thought I could learn a language. But I suppose it helps being constantly bombarded by the language and the cafe workers are also very eager to teach me. This morning on my way up the hill to work I picked up another one of these cinnamon rolls for one lira. That comes to about 75 cents, but looking at this thing, you'd only find it in a real nice US bakery and probably then for 4 USD. The prices here are all like this, even nice nice designer clothing comes out cheeper. Electronics are sorta another story, but I have all the electronics I need anyway.
Oh, I didn't mention it yet, but all those people who snickered behind my back when I said I never would get a cell phone were right. I have one of the devilish contraptions, but only because it was provided for work and a million other justifications I'm sure I could come up with for why I "need" it and don't just want one. Cellphones in Turkey are all pay as you go it seems. You buy units called Kontors on phone card type things, and then follow instructions in Turkish and add them magically to your phone. If anyone wants to call me international (it won't cost me to receive calls, but boy will it cost you) my number here is 0538 663 10 73. I have no idea what the country code for Turkey is.
The small differences aren't really bothering me. Sure the signs all look different, and the call to prayer goes up five times a day, but the city is definitely western. Maybe I will notice wide spread vibes that will freak up my mojo or something, but this city has been the coolest metropolis to which I have ever been. I get scared in places like San Francisco or Washington DC, but here when I'm outside I really feel outside. It's a feeling that is difficult to explain.
posted by Alex Gray at 21:34
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