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

IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 29 of 72
4.6. TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM SCHOOL
The school provides shuttle service between B-Town and the Marmara campus. Overseas hire
teachers living downtown who work at Marmara campus are transported to/from school providing
they live in areas on the school’s approved bus route.
4.7. SETTLING IN
Upon your arrival to your new home, you will probably want to settle in and adjust to the “first day”
changes. Keys to your new apartment will be provided by the person who takes you to your home. If
you have any questions, ask them before he/she leaves you or you can also look up the contacts
provided in the back of this booklet.
4.8. UTILITIES
All Bahçeșehir apartments have telephones, ADSL internet connections, and central heating.
Teachers must pay their own utilities, heating, telephone and maintenance costs, unless they live in
Bahçeșehir, where heating, water and maintenance costs are paid by the school. Depending on the
location, central heating may not be turned on until late October or early November.
If you are in an apartment that was occupied by an IICS teacher the previous year, you should find a
working telephone. You can make long distance calls by dialing 00 before the country code. If your
phone is not working, the logistics office at school may still be in the process of opening a new line.
Be aware, though, that long distance calls here are quite expensive and it quickly adds up.
4.9. FURNISHINGS
Depending on the apartment’s available space, the basic furniture provided includes: living room set;
dining table and chairs; coffee and end tables; 1 single and 1 double bed; writing desk; refrigerator;
washer; gas stove and oven. There will not be a television or stereo. You may purchase these in an
electronics store, or you may choose to wait until there is a shopping excursion organized by IICS
for all the newly arrived teachers. You will find basic bedding, towels, dishes, and cookware, but you
will need to bring or buy extra if you plan on having guests. You will probably want to buy more of
these items. There will also be some basic food supplies in the fridge and cupboards as well. Make
sure you have a battery-operated alarm clock. The IICS settling-in allowance of $1000 is provided
immediately upon arrival to help meet the costs of establishing your home in Istanbul. It is up to the
teacher to provide the extras which make the difference between an apartment and a home.
Turkish import regulations, though they change frequently, usually make a clear distinction between
personal effects and household goods. Under present Turkish laws and regulations, electronic
equipment brought into the country is registered in your passport and kept in the custom office's
files. You will be asked to take all of these out of the country when you finally leave. Therefore, you
cannot sell or otherwise dispose of any of the articles which have been registered in your name.
These regulations are strictly applied. The operational services department offers assistance and
supervision of the customs broker, but the actual clearance is handled by a broker at the teacher's
expense. It is very important that you seek advice before you take any action (contact Pınar
Demirkan at pdemirkan@iics.k12.tr). The cost coverage of either your personal or household
shipment is specified in the Board's policies.
IICS New Teachers’ Handbook 2011-12 Page 29 of 72