Although I now feel ready to leave, I still have much to say about Turkey and my expat experience here. So I’m going to continue kloeamongtheturks for a while, and also talk about re-entry into American life.
I’m cleaning one room at a time; office, kids’ rooms, and living room are done. I need to see lots of friends this week, finish my paintings, give away all the art supplies and books in my office, drink the rest of my raki. I need to pack, and it looks like it’ll be expensive taking back some of my artwork, but wtf, I’m an artist, I never travel light.
I’ve written some posts that I haven’t published cause I thought them harsh, but maybe now’s the time. So here goes one:
Lest I Make Turkey Seem too Good to be True
Let me assure you, this is a third world, or more politically correct, developing country (photo is of a porcelain factory in Kutahya).
Where women are second-class citizens.
Where domestic violence is rampant.
Where the handicapped, mentally and physically, are kept at home by their families and there are almost no facilities to accommodate those with special needs.
Where people throw trash in the streets and rivers.
Where people smoke like chimneys and don’t care who breathes their second-hand smoke.
Where people drive like maniacs, few wear seatbelts, and pedestrians have no rights.
Where who gets the job depends on who you know.
Where unemployment is very high.
Where education often equals memorization.
Where intellectuals are assassinated.
Where there is no safety net.
Where you are old at 60.
Where many people feel trapped in their lives, with no way to start over.
Where women who experience sexual pleasure may be considered whores.
Where superstition reigns.
Where there are few gays or blacks or anyone openly different.
Where you don’t rock the fucking boat.
And for Fairness Sake, SoCal:
Where we consume ten times more than we need.
Where we produce mountains of trash.
Where we drive huge cars that drink gasoline.
Where the rich are so rich and the poor are poorer than the poorest Turks.
Where kids grow up way too fast.
Where kids graduate from high school barely able to read or think.
Where murders and kidnappings and rapes happen every day in every community.
Where public transportation is poor.
Where youth, physical beauty, and wealth are worshipped.
Where the elderly are disrespected.
Where racism is just below the surface of daily life.
Where we want to colonize every other country.
Where we arrogantly believe everyone else in the world wants to be just like us.
