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

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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
IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 25 of 72 4.5.4. SINGLE MALE #1 IN TAKSIM (TEACHING AT MARMARA CAMPUS) “I took over my house from an outgoing teacher this year and I am very happy with it. It is spacious, two bedrooms and has a nice view of the Bosphorus strait from a very small balcony. The location is also perfect for me, by Galata Bridge, which is very Turkish, but the apartment is also close to İstiklal (the main street downtown). I am a 10–15 minute walk from Galatasaray Lisesi and pay $900 for a month for my flat. I am also the last one on the bus in the morning and the last one off it. My journey to work is around 50-60 minutes (door to door) and in the afternoon around 15 minutes longer. The only downside is the furniture in my flat which is in poor condition.” 4.5.5. SINGLE MALE #2 IN TAKSIM (TEACHING AT HISAR CAMPUS) “I work at Hisar Campus, which is about 20-25 minutes from Taksim Square (the city centre). Some days the traffic is bad and will take up to 45 minutes to get home, but that is a rare occasion. I absolutely love my apartment! I’m on the fifth floor have a great view of the Bosphorus. My apartment is fairly new, which means there are not a lot of problems. The only disadvantage is that depending on the contract, the landlord might not pay for repairs, which means you have to request the school to pay. My apartment is $850 and has not gone up in rent in the 3 years I’ve been there. I hope it stays this way.” 4.5.6. YOUNG COUPLE IN TAKSIM (TEACHING AT MARMARA CAMPUS) “We actually see nearly only advantages to our flat: • Very nice area (very close to the Galata Kulesi); • The flat is situated in a closed pasaj (good for security and quietness); • I’m last on the bus in the morning and first off in the evening; • Short walk from home to bus stop (5 minutes); • Close to French school; • Cool landlord who has excellent English so we can communicate. Disavantages: • A bit small (1 bedroom) for the price of 1000$ given that some friends of ours have 2 or 3 bedrooms for the same price in the area or elsewhere; • Insulation is not so good, so the flat can be difficult to heat up.” 4.5.7. MATURE COUPLE WITH TEENAGER LIVING IN TAKSIM (TEACHING AT MARMARA CAMPUS) We enjoy living in Cihanger. It is a community that has a lot of ex pats in it so many of the shop keepers speak some English. It is close to all public transport - metro, tram and ferries so it is easy to get around the city from there. Our teenager has enjoyed meeting with school friends who also live downtown during the weekend. It is a busy neighborhood so don't expect it to be quiet - we found that sleeping with earplugs in was essential in the first few weeks but now we are used to it. The bus ride to school is one hour each way. We decided to live downtown knowing that we would have that extra time traveling because we wanted to explore the city and we have many friends coming to Istanbul who stay with us. IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 25 of 72
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