Turkish Property Sales

Archive for September, 2010

Finally…! I have finally booked myself onto an intensive course of Turkish in a bid to get to grips with this infernal language once and for all.

I’m not a complete novice – I can hold my own in basic conversations, shops, asking for help etc. But really, after nearly 10 years of being here, I really should be pretty fluent by now. And it is not as if I am a language novice – I am fairly fluent in French and have learnt a smattering of both German and Russian. It is more a case of not being able to think like a Turk, and not getting to grips with the rythm of the language.

So I took it upon myself to book a series of intensive one on one classes at the Didem language school here in Didim.

And I wish I had done it years ago.

Years of self teaching and half watching the various ‘dizis’ (soap operas) in Turkish has given me a grounding and good understanding, but to actually hold a conversation during which I can make intelligent observations other than everything being ‘cok guzel’ has long been beyond my reach. During the two hours of my first lesson I made more progress than I have done during the last few years.

Of course it may be another story in a few weeks. I shall no doubt hit that brick wall of learning and wonder whether I will actually break through the barriers of mere communication to actual indepth understanding and knowledge, but I have got the bug again, and am determined.

So did I enjoy my wet August back in the UK? – possibly for a short while, but I must be honest the novelty wore off after a while! I was quite pleased to get back to the blue skies and warmth that will embrace my life here in Didim for the next few months.

It is always good to come back home after an extended (one month) period away. I love catching up with family and friends, but it is difficult being a guest for such a long time. I stay in my old childhood home. We have a fab back garden which is great, and safe, for the kids… if they actually manage to get out there between rain showers. I try and sneak off at least once to do some late night shopping in that temple of consumerism – the shopping mall – and follow it with the same old dishes in my favourite Thai restaurant. The Saturday night curry takeaway has been de rigeur in my family household since we were kids, and the tradition has not changed 45 years on! These are all the things I miss when I am in Turkey – family rituals that give comfort and familiarity and a sense of belonging.

But them being away too long makes me miss those rituals that Yildiray and I have created in or own home. Rituals that arise out of the daily routines of our life here in Turkey – work, the children, meals round the table, favourite trips out, plans for the future. This is the family home that we are creating, that I hope will be as secure and comfortable as that my own parents created for us.