Living in Turkey

[missmac]

Hello everyone!!

My name is Alicia and I will(hopefully) be moving to Ankara in August to teach English at a university. I am from the US and I am in my twenties. What advice do you have for a young woman living in Ankara? Dress codes? Nightlife? Social conduct, etc. Anything and everything I should know about Turkish culture before moving there.

Thank you very much!

[davcamp1]

Alicia,
Advise you to dress normal western clothes...just like NY, LA, Chicago.
For work...same as you would here teaching ESL or any classroom (modest..business casual).
Weekends is same...jeans, sweatshirts in winter....jeans or capris pants, shorts ( not too short) in summer with T-shirts.

Ankara is a very modern city....you will like it.

Dealing with opposite sex...same...use common sense - same as any US city:
Do not make long eye contact with strangers...but, do make good appropriate eye contact with those you do know as you engage in conversation.
Carefull to not confuse Turkkish-friendliness with romatic overtures...and vice-versa.
This is a fine line in this culture.

Suggest you read http://www.expatharem.com/ Author is Americam excavator in a villigae situation interacting with same/opposite sex. She also offers cultural insight with city men.



davcamp http://web.mac.com/dav_camp/Site/Istanb ... Guide.html

[carrie]

I can just add that there are 2 great web sites that help out new Ex-pats to Turkey

1. http://www.mymerhaba.com/
2. http://www.turkishliving.com/forums/

also give them a try..

also a forum for expats;

http://www.merhabaforums.com/

[Tosun Saral]

I wish you good luck in my city Ankara. You will face many difficulties in means of different religion and habits. In the first days you will be confused, angry and lonely. If you dont bother with such problems you will be one of us. You will be very happy. You will love this country. This god-dammed country ( ) has a special charm, has a different attaction. It will be a unique adventure and life experience.

In the Uni you will meet people, students, first class academics and officials. Every Uni in Ankara have also a first class campus.There are 8-10 great Unis in Ankara.
In the Uni you will meet people like me and my family:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7d696/
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7d696/1c4b87/

We like in Turkey stern looking teachers. The students at classes are differnt then students of USA. The students have great respect to teachers. If you be someone half american- half Turkish you will be succesful. You will learn how to behave in class in a short time.
Good luck

[kworld]

We like in Turkey stern looking teachers. The students at classes are differnt then students of USA. The students have great respect to teachers. If you be someone half american- half Turkish you will be succesful. You will learn how to behave in class in a short time.
Good luck

It is interesting to hear the differences in school conduct and what turkish students expect, as opposed to american students and schooling. I have heard though that teachers and teaching in general in europe is more strict, as opposed to the US. I don't know which is better in terms of education quality though..