Hello,
I am currently a student, and I need to do sample interviews for my journalism course. I would love it if any people that are currently living in Istanbul could answer these questions for me. Teşekkuler

Name:
Age:
Place in Istanbul:
Occupation:

1. How long have you lived in Istanbul?

2. Are you a native to Turkey? If so, how has it impacted your experiences in Istanbul?

3. How do you find the people to be in Istanbul? What is the general mood around the city?

4. What is your opinion (briefly) of Abdullah Gül?

5. Any favorite places to eat?

6. Favorite places to visit/ hang out?

7. If there is one thing that you would want a foreigner to know about living in Turkey, what would it be?


Teşekkuler...

-Miranda

anyone in istanbul?
thanks

thank you very much, it was helpful
~Miranda

most of the people are hospitable in istanbul.if you ask for some information about the areas before you go or if you dont go anywhere that you dont know alone,that would be better for you.the most popular place to go and hang out is taksim which is my favorite, cuz there are so many bars,clubs.cafes and restaurants in taksim.you can find many kind of food and drink and many kind of music(live,turkish,english) there.after drink you can go to tophane and smoke nargile(turkish water pipe) which is fruity then lie on the big pillows and see the stars and relax

Name:Onur
Age:27
Place in Istanbulragos
Occupation: Manager in a Int. Media Company

1. How long have you lived in Istanbul?
Since i was birth

2. Are you a native to Turkey? If so, how has it impacted your experiences in Istanbul?
Istanbul is a so mixed and different city in the world. You can see so much buildings, people and language of every culture.

3. How do you find the people to be in Istanbul? What is the general mood around the city?
Its a so strange and hard question. Because Istanbul has different cultures.. Turks says "Everyone lives in a different Istanbul"!

4. What is your opinion (briefly) of Abdullah Gül?
His past includes lots of thinks about Turkey and Mustafa Kemalk Ataturk. He hates modern Turkey and laic government / laic life style. So he is not a good man for Turkey and for me!

5. Any favorite places to eat?
Bagdat Caddesi and Caddebostan

6. Favorite places to visit/ hang out?
Roads near beach of Asian Side..

7. If there is one thing that you would want a foreigner to know about living in Turkey, what would it be?
Turkey is like a Arabic country? SO many people dont know who we are. And they know only from Midnight Express.. Thats so pitty..

Name: Meltem
Age: 24
Place in Istanbul: Fenerbahçe (Kadıköy)
Occupation: Student

1. How long have you lived in Istanbul? since birth

2. Are you a native to Turkey? If so, how has it impacted your experiences in Istanbul?
Yes, I'm native.

3. How do you find the people to be in Istanbul? What is the general mood around the city?
The people and the atmosphere really changes from quarter to quarter. It's a city of contradictions and extremes(poor, rich; ultra religious, ultra liberal) that consists of all kinds of people from all around Turkey. In Istanbul, when people meet eachother, they ask "which city are you from". The old İstanbul (around Haliç and also Kadıköy) is very historical. The mosques, the churches are magnifiques. There's a problem of over population, and a need of public transportation. The "gecekondu" is really a very big problem. They are the buildings who are very quickly put up without permission by the immigrants that come from other cities. They're usually poor and ugly districts, they should be destroyed. The center of Istanbul (Taksim, Beyoğlu, Ortaköy) is 24 hour living and the night life is very good.
4. What is your opinion (briefly) of Abdullah Gül?
I do not support him, his political views do not match mines.

5. Any favorite places to eat?


6. Favorite places to visit/ hang out?
I like Ortaköy and Taksim. They are two famous 24 hour living districts.

7. If there is one thing that you would want a foreigner to know about living in Turkey, what would it be?

Choose your city and region carefully. The culture could be foreign to you, so before coming learn about the culture and society. Turkey is a very beautiful country, but it is not a fully developed country, so be aware of the problems (all kinds of).

I will take the question on Abdullah Gul, only....

I LOVE HIM. HE IS A GREAT COMEDIAN...I AM A LTTLE CONFUSED ABOUT HIS POLITICAL VIEWS...YOU CAN HEAR HIM SAY THE OPPOSITE OF WHATEVER HE MAY HAVE SAID BEFORE, ANYTIME...AND WITHOUT A BLINK OF THE EYE.

I WISH HE WAS ON TV MORE.............

Name: Marion
Age: 40 (ouch just turned it 2 weeks ago)
Place in Istanbul: Kadikoy
Occupation: Own Greenhouse Bookstore

1. How long have you lived in Istanbul? 13 years

2. Are you a native to Turkey? If so, how has it impacted your experiences in Istanbul? No

3. How do you find the people to be in Istanbul? What is the general mood around the city? I am used to big cities as I come from London. People are friendly and helpful, as long as they are not driving their cars, when they become aggressive and unhelpful! You cant really give a general mood for a city this big: the slums are full of people who are desperate for a better life, the swanky shops and restaurants and health clubs are full of people confidently enjoying their lifestyle.

4. What is your opinion (briefly) of Abdullah Gül? As a foreigner who has become a Turkish citizen I think it is politest for us not to express opinions about individuals. I dont think I will vote for Ak PArty on Sunday though.

5. Any favorite places to eat? Any of the Divan chains or Niyazi BEy chains for Turkish, Chinese from Chinese in town, MExican from El Toritos, chessecake from my bookstore and cafe in Kadikoy

6. Favorite places to visit/ hang out? I love Sabanci museum. My dog loves to swim in the stream at Riva or the sea at Caddebostan.

7. If there is one thing that you would want a foreigner to know about living in Turkey, what would it be? Be flexible! If you have a rigid approach you will get wound up. If you dont flex, you will break!

Name: Charlotte McPherson
Age: 53
Place in Istanbul: Kadıköy
Occupation: Owner of Greenhouse English Books; Author of Culture Smart Turkey; Columnist for Today's Zaman newspaper

1. How long have you lived in Istanbul? 27 years

2. Are you a native to Turkey? If so, how has it impacted your experiences in Istanbul? I have dual citizenship.

3. How do you find the people to be in Istanbul? What is the general mood around the city? Friendly and helpful.

4. What is your opinion (briefly) of Abdullah Gül? Not in a position to answer

5. Any favorite places to eat? Yes. Sahan; Il Padrino (atasehir), Greenhouse - cheesecake

6. Favorite places to visit/ hang out? Swimming pool and tea gardens near Bosphorus.

7. If there is one thing that you would want a foreigner to know about living in Turkey, what would it be? I would suggest the book Culture Smart: Turkey-for a quick understanding on customs and Turks.