Just Turkish

[wendya 0]

That is encouraging news!! (since Yilmaz and I still haven't heard anything on his waiver yet - 1 year and counting!!)

I really don't want to leave my family, but I am sure he is thinking the same thing!!

I have a very limited Turkish vocabulary. Even though I have taken some classes and had a private teacher (for a very short time) and I even bought the Pimsler CD's, but I am not devoting my full attention to it. So it is strictly my fault!!

Tanya, I know what you mean about being able to talk to his family. Yilmaz and his two brother-in-laws speak English (they were both in the Turkish Navy), but I really want to converse with his mom and sisters better. We do okay with a sort of charades, but I would really love to talk with them!! His mother told him that he needs to talk to me in Turkish more, because she wants to talk to me. I just love her!! His youngest sister is so funny, she will have me laughing and it is all done through pantomime.

Wendy....(((hugs))) to you also... I feel so bad for those of you who are in this position of having to wait to be with the one you love....

Thanks Deb for the virtual hug! I needed that!!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Onur and I have talked about me moving back to Turkey if for some reason he doesn't get his visa. Although, he would have to complete his military duty first, so I wouldn't move there until he was done with that. Or I suppose we could move to a third country...I've always wanted to go back to Costa Rica (I lived and volunteered there for 2 months and absolutely loved it). If I did move back to Turkey, I would want to live in Izmir or Mugla, closer to the sea. I am working on my Masters degree in education right now and I already have my TEFL/TESL certificate (took a course before I moved to Turkey). I was set to teach at an English language school in Istanbul, English Time, but our plans changed and it didn't pan out. But yes, there are plenty of teaching jobs available for those who are interested, although do some research into the quality of the place first and whether or not they will provide a work visa or expect you to travel in and out of the country every 3 months (do "visa runs") in order to stay "legal". If I do move back to Turkey, I would like to work in a private British/American elementary school (they generally require a degree in education), which pay quite a bit more as they are generally schools for children of expats.

I picked up a lot of Turkish while I was living in Turkey, but I need to work on my verb conjugation as well! Right now I can conjugate you and I in the present and past tense, but that's about it. I practice with Onur and his family and they are all very patient with me and try to use language that they know I'll understand, but I want to be fluent! It is a goal, and it will happen! Onur and I also want to raise our future children (thinking ahead hehe) bilingually - I think if a child has the opportunity to be bilingual it is a really great opportunity, and I want our future children to be able to communicate with his family too. My little 5 year old sister is bilingual (my father remarried a younger Ukrainian woman) - she speaks both Russian and English fluently and it's amazing (and adorable!)

A forum I used a lot while living in turkey was www.mymerhaba.com which is an informational website/forum for British and American expats (or others) moving to and living in Turkey. There's a lot of really good information there on everything from renting and buying property, finding a job to local arts and cultural events.

I wish I could go to Turkey right now, but my schedule and budget does not permit The next chance I'll have is in December...and I hope and pray that Onur has his visa before then - inshallah!

I'm ready to move on with my life...what's the quote..."When you meet the person who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible." So true, as we all know!

Edited August 15, 2008 by JULIAFERNO

[tanyakaraman 0]

Wendy - That's so funny what you mentioned about the pantomime! The first time I took my kids to Turkey to meet Ozzy, we all stayed at his place and his mom and brother came to visit. Later in the evening, the men (Ozzy, his brother and my son) all went out together to watch a soccer game. We women (me, Ozzy's mom, and my 2 daughters) stayed home and relaxed/cleaned etc. It amazed me how much his mom and I were able to communicate using the little vocabulary I had and pantomime! I was worried there would be an uncomfortable silence, but there most definitely was not!

I too am determined to get better...it's just so hard to find the time right now!

Here's a pic I just had to dig up (another of my favorites) of my kids in Istanbul with Ozzy and his mom...ahhh, such fond memories

[wendya 0]

Tanya, what a lovely picture of your family!! Your children are so adorable!! They look very happy!!

Julia, I have used mymerhaba and found it a wonderful website too. I wish you best wishes and hope that everything falls into place soon!!!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Tanya, what a lovely picture of your family!! Your children are so adorable!! They look very happy!!

Julia, I have used mymerhaba and found it a wonderful website too. I wish you best wishes and hope that everything falls into place soon!!!

Wendy - cok tesekkurler! I wish the same for you, as you truly deserve it!

Tanya - what a great photo! Your children are adorable! And the picture makes me miss Istanbul!

[tanyakaraman 0]

Thanks Wendy! It really was a wonderful adventure for them...and me too! I wish I had had the same experience at their age...

Julia...I too love the idea of bilingual (and bi-cultural) kids. We have been teaching my kids little bits and pieces... but when (Insallah) Ozzy and I have a child together I certainly want him/her to be raised bilingual also, from birth. Which will mean my Turkish language skills will need to be advanced in the near future! Or maybe I can learn at the same pace as our (future) child lol. Also, I really just love the Turkish culture. In families where the true culture is still intact (which is becoming more rare, unfortunately), there is just such a wonderful "respect" between family members. I have a hard time explaining/putting it to words, but I just love the way I feel when I am there among his family. They are just so down to earth and honest. I always have a very hard time readjusting to US culture when I return...

Wow, I've heard that Costa Rica is very nice too. What was your experience like there? I wonder how difficult it would be to obtain a visa for there for a Turkish citizen? It sounds like your family is very culturally diverse Hopefully, as a result, they are supportive of you and your relationship with Onur.

Well, thinking of you guys & hoping to hear some good news soon!

Tanya

[tanyakaraman 0]

Thanks Julia! I miss it there too. There's just something so romantic about that city, with its ancientness and historical significance...when I am there, I often imagine the townspeople and conquerers and crusaders who walked and fought in the same streets a thousand or so years ago. Thats probably a lil (or a lot) corny but...I think I fell for Istanbul and Ozzy almost simultaneously

Tanya, what a lovely picture of your family!! Your children are so adorable!! They look very happy!!

Julia, I have used mymerhaba and found it a wonderful website too. I wish you best wishes and hope that everything falls into place soon!!!

Wendy - cok tesekkurler! I wish the same for you, as you truly deserve it!

Tanya - what a great photo! Your children are adorable! And the picture makes me miss Istanbul!

Edited August 16, 2008 by tanyakaraman

[kennyandhandan 2]

I hope everybody is well. I have just returned from Turkey. I took my mom there so we could bring Handan home and we had an amazing wedding party. Finally we are together. Best of luck to everybody here.

[wendya 0]

I hope everybody is well. I have just returned from Turkey. I took my mom there so we could bring Handan home and we had an amazing wedding party. Finally we are together. Best of luck to everybody here.

Tebrikler Kenny and Handan!!! Wishing you both all the best as you continue your adventures together!!!

My parents have recently got their passports and I am hoping they will be able to meet Yilmaz's family someday!!

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Tanya - I know what you mean, there is so much history in Turkey and in Istanbul especially! When you are there, you feel so connected to something so rich a deep.

Costa Rica is actually one of the countries that Turks can visit without a visa - of course if Onur and I ever decided to move there, he'd have to learn some spanish. But he pretty much taught himself English on his own, and apparently after being fluent in two languages, picking up a third is a lot easier.

My family is pretty multicultural, which we joke about a lot. My brother's wife is a first generation American and she is Turkish too (complete coincidence!) Although, her and her parents have been the most judgmental of my and Onur's relationship. She really doesn't make any attempt to get to know him and my relationship with her did a 180 after I met Onur and moved to Turkey. I don't really understand it. I'm so happy with him and I just don't know why she disapproves or why it bothers her. Sigh. My Dad is the only one who has met Onur in person and he likes him a lot - he always says that he seems so genuine and honest. My dad always jokes, "I never imagined I would end up surrounded by a bunch of Turks!" hehe. My mom was very skeptical at first and even wrote Onur a letter before the first time I went over there telling him very rudely to leave her daughter alone Now she loves Onur and they talk online all the time. She apologized for that letter a long time ago Everyone has their own opinions, but the people who truly love me, support me, because they see how happy I am and how I've never been this way with anyone before. I hope that the unbelievers will come around once Onur is here, but I'm not holding my breath!

Kenny & Handan - Congratulations on your marriage! Is this Handan's first time in the states? Let us know how the adjustment goes!

Wendy - any plans to visit Turkey anytime soon? Maybe someday we can all plan seaside vacations along the Mediterranean together - wouldn't that be fun?

Ok, time to make my morning coffee! Happy Saturday everyone!

[kennyandhandan 2]

Thanks, wendya and Julia.

Yes, it's her first time in the US. The long flight was excruciating for her (well, for all of us I guess... flying sucks these days) and then I had to return directly to work. We were able to do some grocery shopping one morning and she loved it in our supermarket. I'll have 2 days off starting tomorrow so we can spend time together. My family has been taking wonderful care of her while I have been working. She's really been having fun and I think we both feel a bit relieved that it's not just way too shocking. There is no Turkish population here, but we have found groceries easy.

The white mexican cheese is an exact substitute for village cheese

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Thanks, wendya and Julia.

Yes, it's her first time in the US. The long flight was excruciating for her (well, for all of us I guess... flying sucks these days) and then I had to return directly to work. We were able to do some grocery shopping one morning and she loved it in our supermarket. I'll have 2 days off starting tomorrow so we can spend time together. My family has been taking wonderful care of her while I have been working. She's really been having fun and I think we both feel a bit relieved that it's not just way too shocking. There is no Turkish population here, but we have found groceries easy.

The white mexican cheese is an exact substitute for village cheese

I'll have to keep that in mind about the cheese!

[wendya 0]

Tanya - I know what you mean, there is so much history in Turkey and in Istanbul especially! When you are there, you feel so connected to something so rich a deep.

Costa Rica is actually one of the countries that Turks can visit without a visa - of course if Onur and I ever decided to move there, he'd have to learn some spanish. But he pretty much taught himself English on his own, and apparently after being fluent in two languages, picking up a third is a lot easier.

My family is pretty multicultural, which we joke about a lot. My brother's wife is a first generation American and she is Turkish too (complete coincidence!) Although, her and her parents have been the most judgmental of my and Onur's relationship. She really doesn't make any attempt to get to know him and my relationship with her did a 180 after I met Onur and moved to Turkey. I don't really understand it. I'm so happy with him and I just don't know why she disapproves or why it bothers her. Sigh. My Dad is the only one who has met Onur in person and he likes him a lot - he always says that he seems so genuine and honest. My dad always jokes, "I never imagined I would end up surrounded by a bunch of Turks!" hehe. My mom was very skeptical at first and even wrote Onur a letter before the first time I went over there telling him very rudely to leave her daughter alone Now she loves Onur and they talk online all the time. She apologized for that letter a long time ago Everyone has their own opinions, but the people who truly love me, support me, because they see how happy I am and how I've never been this way with anyone before. I hope that the unbelievers will come around once Onur is here, but I'm not holding my breath!

Kenny & Handan - Congratulations on your marriage! Is this Handan's first time in the states? Let us know how the adjustment goes!

Wendy - any plans to visit Turkey anytime soon? Maybe someday we can all plan seaside vacations along the Mediterranean together - wouldn't that be fun?

Ok, time to make my morning coffee! Happy Saturday everyone!

Julia, planning a trip along the Mediterranean sounds like a wonderful idea!!!

[wendya 0]

Thanks, wendya and Julia.

Yes, it's her first time in the US. The long flight was excruciating for her (well, for all of us I guess... flying sucks these days) and then I had to return directly to work. We were able to do some grocery shopping one morning and she loved it in our supermarket. I'll have 2 days off starting tomorrow so we can spend time together. My family has been taking wonderful care of her while I have been working. She's really been having fun and I think we both feel a bit relieved that it's not just way too shocking. There is no Turkish population here, but we have found groceries easy.

The white mexican cheese is an exact substitute for village cheese

So good to hear that she has the support of your family while you are at work. I remember when my Uncle married his wife (she is from Tawain), we showed her around and had fun while he was at work.

I have been trying to find other Turkish events and people in our area, so when Yilmaz comes over he will have familiarity. Our local Subway is own by a lovely Turkish couple. When I go in I will say a few words in Turkish to her and she is very sweet to me. She will always ask if Yilmaz is here yet.

[ErikaAndHamit 73]

How is everyone doing?

Juliaferno: did you ever find out how long you may have to wait-any guesstimates at least?

tanyakaraman: How did your review go? You had it on the 14th, no?

kennyandhandan: Congratulations! I am so happy for you two...wow...exciting!

Everyone else I hope is doing well....I am ok. The only thing keeping me going is the fact I'm going back to Turkey next month and trying not to read to much or too deeply into the visa denials on VJ-I was driving myself nuts with all the possibilities for my case. Not a good idea

Hello Mina! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and thanks for wishing me luck a while back somewhere here on VJ. ME and Rene never did meet, but maybe that will change when we have some time. Thanks for introducing us! You are a sweet person.

AND good luck and easy waiting to ALL!