Foreigners Beware!!

Interesting article explaining Turks' attitude against foreigners.

...The population exchanges in the early days of the Republic and the anti-Greek riots in Istanbul in 1955 that reduced the Greek population from over 150,000 to today's population of around 5,000, as well as the tensions with the Syrian Orthodox in the Southeast, were consistent with the prevailing mood and what became an unspoken “foreigner policy.” In fact, the state appears to have employed a consistent “homogenization” policy that seeks to coax the religious, ethnic and linguistic “wrinkles” out of the fabric of Turkish society.

Today’s diplomats and policymakers clearly consult the “rearview mirror” of recent history as they ply the waters of present-day policy and foreigners are consequently viewed with suspicion. The miniscule number of foreign workers allowed to operate businesses in the country over the last 25 years is further proof of the unspoken “foreigner policy.”

As someone who has experienced the incredible generosity and hospitality of Turks first-hand for over 11 years in many different parts of Anatolia, I do not make this statement lightly, but the fact remains and it has been described to me on numerous occasions how foreigners living and working in the country are almost always suspected of being foreign spies with a sinister agenda to undermine Turkish sovereignty. (more)

Life in Turkey

If you ever wondered how life is in Turkey, here is a bit from Turkish Daily News:

These are the thoughts of MaryAnne, 33, an assistant director of studies from Canada:
"I have been in Turkey for six years. I started in Kayseri, teaching in a 'kolej,' then moved to Istanbul after two years.
I feel like I have lived in two different Turkeys. For me, living in Kayseri was very different from living in Istanbul, for good and bad reasons.
In Kayseri, I experienced amazing hospitality and generosity from the people I met. I was invited into people's homes and fed wonderful Turkish food and treated kindly.
Unfortunately, because it is very traditional, it wasn't easy to make close friends: women my age (early 30s) were all married and usually at home with their children so I rarely met them.
There were a lot of men, but they couldn't understand that a man and woman could be friends so often when I talked to men; they thought I wanted to be their girlfriend (even the married ones!). Living in Kayseri was fascinating but lonely for me.
My life in Istanbul is very different. It doesn't feel much different from living in London or Cape Town or Vancouver.
I have a lot of foreign friends and colleagues, my flat is modern (no Turkish toilet like in Kayseri, and no bare concrete floors covered in kilims!), and I can easily drink cappuccinos or order pizza or Chinese food.
All of these things were impossible in Kayseri when I was there. These things make life easier here, but I miss living in a place that is very different.