I'm getting pretty excited about everything. I just got an extra job completed last week, I spent this week pretty low-key with much less to do. I should work on my thesis sometime soon, but for the moment, I'm enjoying some off time.
I can't wait for next year ! I really want to start job hunting, start doing the paperwork and all that. Sometimes I feel a bit down, since the country I live in has terrible politicians whose bad decisions impact so many peoples' lives. I'm desperately waiting to go to a better place, my home country where there is less corruption and more human dignity. Taiwan is my home, I've only been there as a tourist since my late teens, but I'm homesick already. I can't wait to go with Doruk and start an adventure over there !
There are many qualified people, some of which are my friends, and it's shocking that here in Turkey they live in such poor conditions and do not get the salaries they deserve, no matter how hard they try. This city is ridiculously expensive due to taxes, so even if you earn lots, you have to be pretty careful when spending. The gas price has rocketed up to 5,14 liras per liter today, and the USD is almost 2 Turkish liras.
Step by step, day by day, I feel I'm approaching to my dream country. I'm feeling happy, and extremely lucky. All I need is some patience. That would be great.
We are a couple who will be moving to a completely new world and culture, to Taiwan (for good) Summer 2014. This blog is about our last year in Turkey, about all the paperwork process, how we will be selling our stuff, our new experiences in Taiwan (when we get there) and sweet memories that will be made on the way. We can't wait to leave our city and start a new life !
Friday, August 30, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Clearing a hurdle
You don't look so excited...
You must swamped with chores now (add sympathetic frown)
Why aren't you throwing a fancy wedding?
She won't be wearing a wedding dress!? (Gasp!)
You won't be going on a honeymoon?? Are you crazy?
What do you mean you're giving away the TV set once you get married?
WHY AREN'T YOU EXCITED DAMNIT!
The greatest difficulty I faced ever since me and Irene decided to get married has been trying to answer the ridiculous questions thrown at me by narrow-minded people.
For one, I do not believe in making a huge deal out of an bureaucratic procedure. The state wants to keep tabs on who's having sex with who, that's fine by me. But I really think the "ooh"s and "aah"s and the fireworks and the cake and the balloons and six thousand doves released to symbolize our endless love... yeah, I think that's a lot of bullshit.
I want to get married to Irene, I love her, and we would have gotten married eventually. But right now, it's just another hurdle to clear in order to move to Taiwan.
And so far, we're doing great. Wedding date is set, invitations are almost done (hand-made I might add), outfits are already chosen.. and yes.. that's it.
Once we are married, we're going to apply to the Taiwan consulate to start our immigration procedures.. Now, that's something to be excited about.
You must swamped with chores now (add sympathetic frown)
Why aren't you throwing a fancy wedding?
She won't be wearing a wedding dress!? (Gasp!)
You won't be going on a honeymoon?? Are you crazy?
What do you mean you're giving away the TV set once you get married?
WHY AREN'T YOU EXCITED DAMNIT!
The greatest difficulty I faced ever since me and Irene decided to get married has been trying to answer the ridiculous questions thrown at me by narrow-minded people.
For one, I do not believe in making a huge deal out of an bureaucratic procedure. The state wants to keep tabs on who's having sex with who, that's fine by me. But I really think the "ooh"s and "aah"s and the fireworks and the cake and the balloons and six thousand doves released to symbolize our endless love... yeah, I think that's a lot of bullshit.
I want to get married to Irene, I love her, and we would have gotten married eventually. But right now, it's just another hurdle to clear in order to move to Taiwan.
And so far, we're doing great. Wedding date is set, invitations are almost done (hand-made I might add), outfits are already chosen.. and yes.. that's it.
Once we are married, we're going to apply to the Taiwan consulate to start our immigration procedures.. Now, that's something to be excited about.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Consumerism
So, we all do this.
Don't deny it, everyone who has had a facebook page has probably stalked people at least once. I went through the profiles of several old high school mates who are not on my friends list.
I thought about how much people belittled me back then. I happen to be from a very pretentious private french high school in Istanbul, in which most of the students were and still are, filthy rich. It's quite disturbing to see how they define happiness. It's more based on the experiences they purchase, or the clothes they get to wear, the events they get to attend.
It's good that I no longer have them added, because our aspirations are so different. We get to talk with my boyfriend Doruk about this a lot. How different our plans for our future, our desires are different than others. I refuse to fall into the consumerist trap. Happiness is not something to be bought. What people don't see is that it is no commodity.
Istanbul is a heavily consumerist city. Just like many others. And I imagine Taipei is a great shopping haven too. But here's the catch, there are alternatives for people who are not wealthy. There are cheap alternatives, possibilities which are just as fine as the expensive ones.
If you are not upper middle class, or white collar in Istanbul, if you live below that, you're doomed. Everything is disgustingly expensive. That's the problem. Eating out in a restaurant is considered a luxury. Going to dance class, or piano, or yoga if we have to stretch the examples, every kind of extra-curricular activity is directly addressed to the rich. The public pools are far away in the suburbs and the public transport is a mess. You can spend hours in that ridiculousness, being pushed around by the masses, trying to get from point A to B, via C, D and E. I don't even want to mention the lack of libraries.
Yes, I don't desire many materialistic stuff, vacations I can post on facebook in order to boast off. I don't desire to acquire the latest technological asset, but if I do, I make sure I use it as long as possible. Same thing with furniture. I used to get caught up with all these magazines and advertisements, featuring beautiful objects, but yes, they are nice, but I don't necessarily carry the desire to obtain them. As long as I have sturdy, useful and efficient objects, which are aesthetic looking enough, tools and materials to carry on with my life, that's fine.
The worst thing about the society I live in Istanbul is greed. Unbridled greed. Everyone just wants more and more. And "stuff", eating out, hobbies, a car, vacations can sky rocket to insane prices, and people are STILL willing to go for it, spend their hard earned money on ephemeral stuff. Which don't necessarily feed your soul. I try not to judge, but I'm out of this, I won't fall for this. The consumerist trap is a beautifully packaged deceiver. So many unsatisfied people, stuck in this chaotic city in the buyer's trap. Stuck with all their stuff which prevent them from moving from one place to another.
Everything has become an object and a means of boasting. A concert, a nice meal out, a book, a DVD, going to the film festival, going to the museum. The most mundane activities which one could regularly do in a normal city. Istanbul is far from normal.
Anyways I guess I've rambled enough. I will dwell upon this subject again I guess. I just can't wait to leave this city.
Don't deny it, everyone who has had a facebook page has probably stalked people at least once. I went through the profiles of several old high school mates who are not on my friends list.
I thought about how much people belittled me back then. I happen to be from a very pretentious private french high school in Istanbul, in which most of the students were and still are, filthy rich. It's quite disturbing to see how they define happiness. It's more based on the experiences they purchase, or the clothes they get to wear, the events they get to attend.
It's good that I no longer have them added, because our aspirations are so different. We get to talk with my boyfriend Doruk about this a lot. How different our plans for our future, our desires are different than others. I refuse to fall into the consumerist trap. Happiness is not something to be bought. What people don't see is that it is no commodity.
Istanbul is a heavily consumerist city. Just like many others. And I imagine Taipei is a great shopping haven too. But here's the catch, there are alternatives for people who are not wealthy. There are cheap alternatives, possibilities which are just as fine as the expensive ones.
If you are not upper middle class, or white collar in Istanbul, if you live below that, you're doomed. Everything is disgustingly expensive. That's the problem. Eating out in a restaurant is considered a luxury. Going to dance class, or piano, or yoga if we have to stretch the examples, every kind of extra-curricular activity is directly addressed to the rich. The public pools are far away in the suburbs and the public transport is a mess. You can spend hours in that ridiculousness, being pushed around by the masses, trying to get from point A to B, via C, D and E. I don't even want to mention the lack of libraries.
Yes, I don't desire many materialistic stuff, vacations I can post on facebook in order to boast off. I don't desire to acquire the latest technological asset, but if I do, I make sure I use it as long as possible. Same thing with furniture. I used to get caught up with all these magazines and advertisements, featuring beautiful objects, but yes, they are nice, but I don't necessarily carry the desire to obtain them. As long as I have sturdy, useful and efficient objects, which are aesthetic looking enough, tools and materials to carry on with my life, that's fine.
The worst thing about the society I live in Istanbul is greed. Unbridled greed. Everyone just wants more and more. And "stuff", eating out, hobbies, a car, vacations can sky rocket to insane prices, and people are STILL willing to go for it, spend their hard earned money on ephemeral stuff. Which don't necessarily feed your soul. I try not to judge, but I'm out of this, I won't fall for this. The consumerist trap is a beautifully packaged deceiver. So many unsatisfied people, stuck in this chaotic city in the buyer's trap. Stuck with all their stuff which prevent them from moving from one place to another.
Everything has become an object and a means of boasting. A concert, a nice meal out, a book, a DVD, going to the film festival, going to the museum. The most mundane activities which one could regularly do in a normal city. Istanbul is far from normal.
Anyways I guess I've rambled enough. I will dwell upon this subject again I guess. I just can't wait to leave this city.
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