Update : New Flat !

We finally found a new flat. It's exactly the way we wanted it to be. Small, efficient, cozy and comfortable. I'm over the moon.

Deciding to move to another country sometimes puts you into a very different mindset. You postpone so many things.

- Oh we'll get nice furniture when I move to Taiwan.

- Nice decorations? That's for when we move !

- A better mattress? Who needs a better mattress when we're only going to stay for a year?

- Oh we can eat out when we move to Taiwan since it's much cheaper there.

- Who needs new clothes ! I can totally go to Taiwan and buy that stuff for so much cheaper !

The list goes on, you get the point.

To some extent it's true. We have to save up and we really don't want to splurge on things we don't need. But I've decided not to guilt myself into every single purchase I make. Especially when it comes to the essentials.

We are going to move, and yes, we need to be careful about our expenses. But what's more important than anything is to enjoy the day, live in the present, and treat ourselves better.

Since our flat is small, we will save up a lot on rent, electricity and heating. We will need much less furniture and appliances, and I'm extremely excited about it. Luckily I took a summer job in my university which had a decent pay, so we're going to buy furniture with the bonus I earned :) It was definitely worth all the effort after all. Our parents are pooling in and helping us out too. They will buy the mattress and appliances for us, which actually costs so much less than an average wedding reception, or the wedding ring itself, or even a wedding gown (none of which we have purchased since we refuse to spend so much money on something which will be useful for only a day).

It's hard to live in such a corrupt, impolite and relatively dangerous place. But I think I need to relax, chill, enjoy the good life. We will be living right at the bay towards the north of the city, away from conflict. I guess although we will be staying here only for another year, we might as well spend some quality time and rethink our priorities. 

In my opinion both Doruk and I did a great job the past two years. We were super careful about our priorities, about our expenses. I'm 100% positive that this is going to continue, but I guess we deserve the life we earned the past two years. I'm ready to welcome my new life, and new apartment, new furniture, new flowerpots and all the objects that surround me even if the duration of them is only a year. I mean, when one thinks rationally, you don't have to live in a shack and stick with half broken appliances for an entire year just because you'll be leaving. I think we worked hard for a good life in Istanbul, and I'm ok with spending money for the year ahead, although it's only for a year. It's a short term investment worth every single penny. I'm so happy. So my mantra is this. ENJOY SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY IN A SMART WAY. It's ok, it's ok to buy new stuff, since we deserve to live in decent conditions. Then we're going to reconstruct everything in Taiwan, all over again this time in a more permanent fashion. I'm so happy and excited ! Life's good.

Finding an apartment

We are house-hunting!

But finding a decent place to live in Istanbul can prove to be a challenge.

Most buildings in the city are constructed without permit; haphazardly built blocks are given permits prior to municipal elections to grab votes. Finding a safe place to live is not easy. 

Our way of living add a second challenge to our apartment-hunting: We want to live small. We want to switch our refrigerator for a mini-fridge. We would love to get rid of the dining table for a folding table bolted to the wall. And the thought of kicking out the huge-ass LCD TV... is just priceless.

We would like to minimize, or edit, so to say, our dwelling to take up the least amount of space with minimum clutter. 

But apartments in Turkey are HUGE. We're talking about 120 square-meter homes to accommodate a family of four. 4-bedroom apartments with giant balconies and a second bathroom that nobody uses... that's the Turkish standard. 

Once again we are reminded that this is a country of families, not individuals. 

Patience...

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.

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.

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.

Endure

Endure,
march on my soul. 
For I must:
Overcome the ruthless crowd,
triumph over mediocrity.
And breathe meaning into a lifeless shell.
Listen! To the incessant nagging, 
telling me there is more,
more to life than the soul-crushing rigor of servitude.
Endure.

We're getting married !

Dear blogheads !

So, bureaucracy is really pathetic right? To avoid it at the fullest, we have plunged into a big task, we're fighting bureaucracy with even more bureaucracy. We're getting married ! :)

The past couple of weeks has been pretty hectic. We've finally set the date though. We're getting married in three months. Its been really busy since we had to gather all sorts of documentations, health reports and all that. But at least we're going to benefit from this since it will ease our process for moving to Taiwan. 

Now it's all wedding preparations + my side job + supposed thesis readings, which end up being pushed aside. But all will be fine. That I'm sure of.

Life's been very beautiful. Lots of hugs to you all. Will keep more updates coming.

XOXOXO

Irene