I arrived in the Izmir region in 2000, when I had a 5-month seasonal job in tourism. In 2002, thanks to my network, I was offered a permanent job in another sector. I wanted to moveto Turkey , so I jumped at the chance!
The main difficulty is the language. When you don’t speak Turkish, it’s hard to find an apartment, understand the classified ads in the newspapers, know where to pay the bills, install the cable, shop at the corner store, etc. Fortunately, Turks are rather warm and hospitable. When they do help, they often do it from the heart and expect nothing in return. I also had a hard time getting my work permit: it takes a long time, they ask for a lot of money, supporting documents and papers, and the long hours of waiting are part of the package! To be repeated every year…
I love the warmth and hospitality that most Turks radiate. The daily change of scenery, the cuisine, the beauty and diversity of the landscapes, the cheap stuff, Istanbul.
I hate… Not much, to be honest, apart from the constant honking of horns, the dangerous driving of cab drivers and the large number of smokers who can smoke anywhere! I don’t like the Turks’ changes of mind/plans either. They’ re not as “square” as us Europeans. They plan things the weekend after, cancel them, then go back on their decisions.
Marie-France Gilles
