FAQ

Well, these aren't technically Frequently Asked Questions, but they were asked, so I thought, "hey, why don't I blog the questions and answers in case someone else wanted to know the answer to this question?"

Has your body stopped rejecting the environment?

Thankfully, yes.

Do they drive on the right or the left there?

It's exactly as it is in the States, albeit without lanes. Well, there are lanes here, but people sort of make their own lanes.

Are there busses? Is a bicycle an option?

There are buses, but at this point in time, it’s like a really confusing labyrinth to me. I’m thinking of just getting on the bus near where I live and riding it around Ankara, just to see where it goes.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve only seen one person on a bicycle. That may change on campus once students arrive. Honestly, though, the campus is only comprised of three or four buildings, which are all within an easy walking distance of each other.

How about your phone, did you set up international before you left? Or are you going to get something there?

I brought my cell phone with me, but only to update Facebook during my U.S. flight legs. We, the other American teachers and I, can’t get cell phones, or even Turkish bank accounts, until we have our residency permits. We won’t receive those until September 25.

I'd love to see the room you have.

The site is in Turkish, but you can click on the first picture and then click the red arrow to go to the next photo. I’ll be perfectly honest, I was a little nervous at first. You know, sometimes accommodations in the U.S. will show these beautiful, shiny rooms in photos. Then you arrive, and the room looks closer to something out of a horror film. My fears were unfounded, though, since these photos are an accurate representation, eliminating the need for me to take my own photos of the room.

http://www.antikyapi.com.tr/tr/belge/1-123/tobb-ekonomi-ve-teknoloji-universitesi-yurtlari.html

When do you start teaching?

I’m not sure. It will depend on what I’m teaching. The lower level English classes begin on Tuesday, September 10 (or 10 Eylül, Salı). The upper level English classes begin on Tuesday, September 17 (or 17 Eylül, Salı). I won’t know what I’m teaching for another week or so. I’ll update everyone at that time.

Are you going to be missing any special show?

Not really. I don’t watch a lot of TV and I tend to ignore my Facebook family when they discuss weekly shows en masse (i.e. Game of Thrones, Honey Boo-boo, The Walking Dead, etc.) I do miss my Gilmore Girls, but all my DVDs are in the States.

What's the weather like in Turkey?

It’s a dry climate, which is a nice change from the Carolinas, where I’ve lived since 1989. However, it’s summer, so it’s still hot, in the 90s every day.

I should mention that the weather forecast for the next few days seems to be cooling down. It's currently 6:30 A.M. in Ankara, and it's 65 degrees. I’m looking forward to September since we should have some really nice weather.

I know your city isn't all that close to the border, but PLEASE be safe!!! I fear it's about to get crazy where you are and I am concerned for you.

Ankara, which is where I am, is about an 8-hour drive from the Syrian border. So, we’re talking the same distance from Columbia, SC to Washington, D.C. Damascus, which is where the most recent clash happened, is a 13-hour drive from Ankara.

Rest assured, I am taking the precautions that I feel are necessary. I receive emails from the U.S. Department of State whenever something is going on in Ankara that they feel I need to know. I’m also smart enough to know that in this situation, I need to steer clear of any protests.

That being said, I need for all of my friends and family to understand that I am not the kind to live my life in fear simply because of a possibility that something might happen. If I lived like that, I would never leave the house. But I do appreciate your concern; in fact, I might be offended if my friends and family weren’t concerned.