THE FIRST WEEK
The Arrival
I did encounter several problems before I got here, or I should say, along the way, that included missing a flight (oh Monica is right) and thus my luggage taking off elsewhere. Luckily, they were found and brought to me and I also got to fly first class for the first time and whoever said that first class was the only way to fly was right. So, I arrived very late on Sunday and of course was really tired from all the travelling (20 hours).
Now let me back up a bit. For those of you that don’t know, I am here in Turkey for an internship for six months. Yup, through Aiesec, an international student run non for profit internship organization. I got a job in Istanbul. I am working in the export department for Carbone Lorraine, a French multinational specializing in electric motors and carbon products.
I have been here for a few days now and am getting the swing of things. Istanbul is a city of 15 million people. That is overwhelming in itself for those of us from small towns like Ottawa. Heck, for any Canadian really. It is the only city in the world located on two continents, the European side and the Asian side. The two sides connect through a bridge the Bosphorus Sea. If you are thinking that the traffic must be insane, yup you are right.
Housing
I am living here with a host family. They are very nice people. Olcay (pronounced Oljai), the wife, works for Carbone Lorraine also in the accounting department and Mehmet, the husband, works for a huge telecommunications company. They have a four year old daughter, Elif, who is super cute. We live in Atasehir which is on the Asian side in a very nice two storie apartment. Houses are uncommon here in Turkey and are very expensive. Now by houses, I mean villas. Most people live in apartments.
The Company
The company is located about a thirty minute car drive away. It is a small company here with about 50 people and most of them are in the manufacturing, production departments. The Turkish office services the Middle East. It has clients in countries such as Saudia Arabia, Iran, Syria, Kazakistan, UAE, Ubakistan. They speak in English with international clients. The raw materials are imported from France and other countries, manufactured in Turkey and then sent away to wherever. I learned today that in Muslim countries (besides Turkey) that the days off are Thursday afternoon and Friday. They work Saturday and Sunday. My work is a pretty relaxed atmosphere. I have my own desk, computer and phone. I’m learning at a good pace here. I am the second trainee the company has taken. The one before left in July and was from Brazil. The hardest work related adjustment has been the loong work days: 8:30-5:45 (not including commuting time).
Food and Coffee
In Turkey, the company provides lunch to the employees. Lunch is less than an hour. The food is very good. Usually, soup is served, a meat dish and a side plate; there is a small salad bar and desert. It sounds like a lot but but you need quite a bit to last until dinner time which is usually around 7pm. Turkish coffee has an excellent reputation world wide and for a good reason. The coffee is actually imported but the method of preparation is Turkish. It is served expresso style with the coffee grinds at the bottom and a layer of foam on top. The coffee is considered not good if it is served without this layer of foam. After you finish drinking the coffee, you place the bottom plate on top of the cup, swirl it counterclockwise three times and flip the coffee cup and let it cool.
The pattern in the cup is then used to tell a fortune.
I had mine told the other day from a coworker. It is a fun practice and the patterns that the coffee grinds make are actually pretty interesting.
Perceptions
Most people have the wrong perception of Turkey, because it is primarily a Muslim country. However, it is very much a secular country and the large cities are very cosmopolitan. For example, you can see some women wear head scarves and others not, some dressed very European and stylish and others more traditional. Although it is banned to wear headscarves in univerisities and government buildings, the choice is a personal one. Also, unlike other Muslim countries, Turkish people drink alcohol and many people smoke cigarettes (a lot of ciggies). You can pretty much smoke everywhere. I had some raki the other day actually which tastes just like Sambuca or black licorece. It is mixed with water which makes it appear a cloudy white colour. Pretty potent stuff, it’s alright but I still prefer beer and wine. I haven’t had time to do much touristy stuff yet. I will this weekend for sure. So far so good. I am attempting to learn Turkish. Damn, it’s hard.
Here's a preview:
thank you - teşekur ederım (ş pronounced sh)
I don't understand- anlamadım
good evening- iyi akşamlar
Well, I hope to get a website up sometime in the next few weeks. And definetly more to come soon.
Monica
I did encounter several problems before I got here, or I should say, along the way, that included missing a flight (oh Monica is right) and thus my luggage taking off elsewhere. Luckily, they were found and brought to me and I also got to fly first class for the first time and whoever said that first class was the only way to fly was right. So, I arrived very late on Sunday and of course was really tired from all the travelling (20 hours).
Now let me back up a bit. For those of you that don’t know, I am here in Turkey for an internship for six months. Yup, through Aiesec, an international student run non for profit internship organization. I got a job in Istanbul. I am working in the export department for Carbone Lorraine, a French multinational specializing in electric motors and carbon products.
I have been here for a few days now and am getting the swing of things. Istanbul is a city of 15 million people. That is overwhelming in itself for those of us from small towns like Ottawa. Heck, for any Canadian really. It is the only city in the world located on two continents, the European side and the Asian side. The two sides connect through a bridge the Bosphorus Sea. If you are thinking that the traffic must be insane, yup you are right.
Housing
I am living here with a host family. They are very nice people. Olcay (pronounced Oljai), the wife, works for Carbone Lorraine also in the accounting department and Mehmet, the husband, works for a huge telecommunications company. They have a four year old daughter, Elif, who is super cute. We live in Atasehir which is on the Asian side in a very nice two storie apartment. Houses are uncommon here in Turkey and are very expensive. Now by houses, I mean villas. Most people live in apartments.
The Company
The company is located about a thirty minute car drive away. It is a small company here with about 50 people and most of them are in the manufacturing, production departments. The Turkish office services the Middle East. It has clients in countries such as Saudia Arabia, Iran, Syria, Kazakistan, UAE, Ubakistan. They speak in English with international clients. The raw materials are imported from France and other countries, manufactured in Turkey and then sent away to wherever. I learned today that in Muslim countries (besides Turkey) that the days off are Thursday afternoon and Friday. They work Saturday and Sunday. My work is a pretty relaxed atmosphere. I have my own desk, computer and phone. I’m learning at a good pace here. I am the second trainee the company has taken. The one before left in July and was from Brazil. The hardest work related adjustment has been the loong work days: 8:30-5:45 (not including commuting time).
Food and Coffee
In Turkey, the company provides lunch to the employees. Lunch is less than an hour. The food is very good. Usually, soup is served, a meat dish and a side plate; there is a small salad bar and desert. It sounds like a lot but but you need quite a bit to last until dinner time which is usually around 7pm. Turkish coffee has an excellent reputation world wide and for a good reason. The coffee is actually imported but the method of preparation is Turkish. It is served expresso style with the coffee grinds at the bottom and a layer of foam on top. The coffee is considered not good if it is served without this layer of foam. After you finish drinking the coffee, you place the bottom plate on top of the cup, swirl it counterclockwise three times and flip the coffee cup and let it cool.
The pattern in the cup is then used to tell a fortune.
I had mine told the other day from a coworker. It is a fun practice and the patterns that the coffee grinds make are actually pretty interesting.
Perceptions
Most people have the wrong perception of Turkey, because it is primarily a Muslim country. However, it is very much a secular country and the large cities are very cosmopolitan. For example, you can see some women wear head scarves and others not, some dressed very European and stylish and others more traditional. Although it is banned to wear headscarves in univerisities and government buildings, the choice is a personal one. Also, unlike other Muslim countries, Turkish people drink alcohol and many people smoke cigarettes (a lot of ciggies). You can pretty much smoke everywhere. I had some raki the other day actually which tastes just like Sambuca or black licorece. It is mixed with water which makes it appear a cloudy white colour. Pretty potent stuff, it’s alright but I still prefer beer and wine. I haven’t had time to do much touristy stuff yet. I will this weekend for sure. So far so good. I am attempting to learn Turkish. Damn, it’s hard.
Here's a preview:
thank you - teşekur ederım (ş pronounced sh)
I don't understand- anlamadım
good evening- iyi akşamlar
Well, I hope to get a website up sometime in the next few weeks. And definetly more to come soon.
Monica
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