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Big, Beautiful, and Loud

Most North Americans usually don't see places of worship like this! They are big, beautiful, and loud.  I hear the "Call to Prayer" (Azan) five times a day. The Azan or "Call to Prayer" should be looked at in a similar way to church bells.  They both make a lot of noise, and do the job of keeping one religion, or another, on our minds.   In Istanbul there are thousands of Mosques, you are always in earshot of one of my favorite things about this city... The Azan : )

Turkey....Not The Bird!

What do you know about Turkey? Not the bird, the country!  Oh yeah, that Turkey!  Well my name is Anthony, and I have been living here in Istanbul Turkey for the last eight months.  I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and I lived in Florida after university.  I spent three great years in the "Sunshine State" and decided I wanted to see more of the world.  I signed up for a tefl course (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)  in Prague, and became certified to teach English.  I moved to Spain when my course was completed to find a teaching job, but ended up working at a bar for three and a half months.  At the end of last summer I was tired of the bar lifestyle, and really wanted to try something different.  So I said good by to the friends that I had made and to the wonderful city of Barcelona; and moved to Istanbul!!!  I wanted to use my teaching certificate, so I arranged a job before I left Spain; by the way with a "tefl" certificate it is very easy to do. 

So here I am, what contrast I see everyday.  I love this city!  Turkish people are by far the most hospitable I have come across.  This country fits every stereotype you can think of when you think of a "Muslim  country", but it also breaks all of the same stereotypes!  The other day I was teaching and noticed one of my students wearing a miniskirt.  That wasn't odd, but the fact that she was sitting next to a woman wearing a head scarf, and the only parts of her body you could see were her hands and face.  This scene is not at all strange here in Turkey, but it is a great example of how they strive to be modern yet hold on to traditions. The contrasts vary: from clothing, to old vs new, and the extreme differences between the wealthy and the poor.  Turkey is 99% Muslim, but secular, and they are very serious about their secularism!!!  Whatever you do when you are in Turkey, don't call it a Muslim country, it is a "Democratic Republic whose people just happen to be a part of the Islamic Faith".  Any Turkish citizen will correct you very quickly if you happen to make that mistake. 

So far my life here has been comfortable and happy!  If anyone is thinking about visiting or living here in Istanbul, post questions and I would be more than happy to give answers and feedback.   Istanbul has a lot of history, great food, friendly people, and an energetic atmosphere.