IICS New Teachers' Handbook 2011-12 - Istanbul International ...

IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 24 of 72
4.4.1. SECURITY IN BAHÇEȘEHIR
One of the first things you will have noticed when you entered Bahçeșehir is the security. By nature
of it being an upper-middle class neighborhood, Bahçeșehir has security guards at all the entrances.
This is not, however, a compound. Seeing military personnel is also a common sight, especially the
jandarma who are entrusted to keep the peace in outlaying areas where municipal jurisdiction cannot
reach or adequately cover.
4.5. HOUSING TESTIMONIALS
The purpose of these testimonials is to assist you in your decision of accomodation location.
4.5.1. SINGLE FEMALE #1 IN TAKSIM (TEACHING AT MARMARA)
“I live in a very old house in the Cihangir area and I love it. It is a 15 minute walk up to Taksim or
going in the other direction a 15 minute walk up to Tünel so it is handy to any meeting place on
İstiklal Caddesi. It is a 5 minute walk down to the bus stop so I don’t leave my house in the morning
until 7:05.
I have no Bosphorus view, but I do have a lovely back patio and garden and a fireplace. There is
generally something to be fixed in the house, but it is manageable.
I feel safe in the area, but am careful not to walk home alone late at night from Taksim. Sometime
taxis are reluctant to take me on as a passenger because it is such a small fare, but if you offer a bit of
extra money they will usually do it.
There is a Carrefour Express grocery store nearby which is pretty decent, as well there are cheaper,
more basic grocery stores in the area.
Obviously, it is a long commute to the Marmara campus and an MP3 music player is essential. But if
there are no traffic problems, it can be as short as a 50 minute ride which is good ‘snooze’ time on
the way home!”
4.5.2. SINGLE FEMALE #2 IN TAKSIM
“Advantages of my housing location is the access to the main shopping street, yet full of traditional
life such as the neighbors lowering a basket out the window to get groceries from the local bakkal
(market), live music, neighbors gathering on chairs in the evening on the street, vegetable dealers
hawking, and who can forget the distinctive cry of the scrap metal collector.”
4.5.3. SINGLE FEMALE LIVING IN BAHÇEȘEHİR, THEN TAKSİM (TEACHING AT
MARMARA CAMPUS)
“I lived in B-town for 1 year (it was mandatory my first year at IICS), but chose to live in downtown
after my mandatory 1 year in B-town. My B-town apartment was spacious and nice, however B-town
life is extremely sterile; it lacks character and cultural identity, and (even though the B-town
colleagues are VERY nice) it is very difficult to socialize with anyone beyond your colleagues who live
in B-town due to the distance and lack of late-night transportation. It is also extremely difficult to find
Turkish classes, dance classes, or any other kind of extracurricular activities in B-town. My
downtown apartment is older, more expensive, farther from school, and has many quirks, however
the more well-rounded quality of life makes living there 100% worth it!”
IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 24 of 72