The Sky Got Pierced

I found a job, applied for my residence permit, and the rainy season has started.

Job Search!

Upon return from the week vacation to Southern Turkey, I submitted my abridged resume to 5 international language schools in the area along with my TEFL/TESOL language certificates.

By abridged resume, I mean that I took off pretty much everything except for my most recent job at the tour operator and re-added my previous teaching experience from 10 years ago. TEFL / TESOL certification means Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). I obtained my TEFL / TESOL certificates prior to leaving the U.S. These were received after completion of an 180-hour online course, and certifies that I have the professional training required in order to lead a class. The course was approximately $200 and was a really great refresher and gave me some great resources for future use. The certificates also prove to employers that I have a particular skill set in order to properly explain the English language.

Just because you are a native speaker, does not mean that you will be a great teacher. There are things that we inherently know as native speakers, that you may not be able to explain in English. You also have to love to teach, and have a ton of patience! A ton. A ton.

While I do love to teach and have a ton of patience, I prefer to teach adults. By signing up for the classes, they have the motivation to learn English - instead of students being forced to learn through school. It is also easier to talk to them about common themes or topics happening in the world today, which I find more enjoyable to explain and receive different opinions on.

Some other interesting differences in applying for a job here in Turkey:

1. It is common to add your picture to the top of your resume.

2. They are able to ask your age in the interview - it is not illegal

3. They are able to ask if you are planning on having children in the near future, in the interview. It is not common, but it is also not illegal.

What type of job is it?

I checked language schools first. The best way to describe a language school: There are these buildings that feature multiple floors of classrooms, run by a company. These classes are attended by adults looking to improve their English for personal reasons, or for professional advancement. Alternatively, they are also attended by high school and university students looking to take one of the international English-exams which is required prior to them becoming accepted at a school abroad (IELTS / TOEFL).

This is exactly what one of my classrooms looks like

My co-workers are mostly international teachers from various countries around the world. So far I’ve met colleagues from Sri Lanka, Syria, UK, Iran, Azerbaijan and of course, Turkey. As far as I can tell, my accent is the only one closest to the Midwestern/Canadian/Wisconsin at the moment. The textbooks used are teaching UK English however, which is the original form of English (yes, I said it), so I have to adjust some of my vocabulary - or I’ll be teaching the students some new words!

Some examples:

Tin = Can -- For example, “A tin of tuna fish”

Windscreen wipers instead of Windshield wipers

Nappies = Diapers

I was hired by one of the largest language schools in Istanbul. Wooo! I was so excited! They have a lot of branches in the city, and I will be working at 3 of them, an average total of 32 hours in a week. The salary is paid monthly. It is lower than I expected, but still enough to cover my cost of living. It is lower because I do not have the experience yet. Teaching at a school 10 years ago, is not the same as 1 year ago admittedly. Plus, they promised to train me in academic teaching, and assist in getting a work permit if everything works out for this year.

A work permit is international gold! That will allow me to stay in the country over a year, and obviously mean that I still have a job. Many of the teachers I spoke to said that they enjoyed working there and had been there for a number of years.

What else am I doing in my spare time?

I have also picked up a second job teaching English on Cambly. Cambly is an online English application which pays $10 (yes, dollars) an hour for native English speakers. It consists mostly of 30 minute free-speaking conversations which means that there is no predetermined lesson or topic. I make the distinction of dollars because although $10 is not a lot in the U.S. it is a lot here. (Keep in mind that I can buy a weeks worth of groceries for only $13)

Do I really need to work that much? Am I desperate for the money?

No. Definitely not. But I’ve already explored a lot. I have been walking a lot on a daily basis. I’ve definitely lost a lot of weight again. Which is good, because I gained 20lbs over coronavirus lockdown. The map below shows you where my 3 work branches are - 1 in Kadikoy, 1 in Besiktas, 1 in Mecidiyekoy.

I don’t walk all of them, and clearly, I do not swim across the Bosphorus but it does require some effort daily. Not including grocery shopping without a car, meeting friends in various areas, or running to god-knows-where for cover when the rain starts. Yes, Istanbul has entered the rainy season, which means ALWAYS carry an umbrella with you. ALWAYS. Even if it is sunny…

Which brings me to the next part - the cost of living is really manageable here. And it really makes me

1) so glad that I came

2) wonder wtf is going on in the U.S.

I knew the groceries and rent were going to be less expensive. But my real wake up call was when I was able to buy the SAME, sameeeee, SAME eyeliner that I used in the U.S. here in Turkey. In the U.S. I was paying $8 for Maybellene Waterproof Eyeliner in the U.S. Here, it was available for 14TL (Appx $1.25). And you want to tell me corporations aren’t playing a game…

… that’s not even the best story.

You know those laser hair removal treatments that cost $100s or even $1,000s in the U.S. It is pennies here. Pennieessss….

Ok, this is about to get personal, but if laser hair removal is something you were ever thinking of keep reading … it will be useful.

Before coming here, I knew that Turkey was well known for cosmetic surgeries. For example, hair plugs, hair transplants, hair regrowth, plastic surgery, etc. You see guys walking around here all the time like this…

Because people LITERALLY fly here to get the procedures done since it is so cheap. And it is the same quality that we are paying $100s & $1000s for.

So, one of my friends told me that she had an appointment for laser hair removal and asked if I wanted to go. It was not something that I had honestly considered before, due to the price in the U.S. but I have a number of friends who had also done it, so I knew that treatments were generally effective. It was her 4th time going, and she picked a place in Nisantasi (which is like the Beverly Hills 90210 area of Istanbul). Needless to say, it was a reputable place, I could see that her past treatments were working well, and her body parts were not falling off…

So when she told me the price, I was in disbelief. For 305 TL ($37 USD - yes, thirtyyyy sevennn total dollars) I got facial hair and bikini area done. And by done, I mean gurllll….. Everything is gone. Like if I want to go to the beach… all I need to pack is my swimsuit. And tanning lotion.

$37. You can’t get ANY area even waxed in the US for that much. And with waxing, IT COMES BACK. This is permanent. I’ve gone for 2 sessions, and now I have check-up sessions every 1.5 months for the remaining 3 sessions. After the total 5 sessions - I’m done. Doneeee for my life.

I also applied for my residence permit. When I lived in Turkey 10 years ago, the school assisted in getting the permit and we went together as a group. I am waiting for the confirmation and next steps from them and will let you know how it goes!