Ok…let me get this straight….The American-Indians want ‘Turkey’ to fund the building of new roads, sewer systems, schools….in America????? Just send them a check??? Is Turkey all completed on these concerns??? And Turkey is good with this deal????  Uh…wouldn’t you think they already asked for funding from the actual Americans who live right-next-door and are in the same country???   .....Hmmm….sounds fishy…..maybe I missed something…

OK - I know this is a shot in the dark, but I´m looking for "serious" Turkish language classes in North New Jersey.  I would really prefer a classroom setting, but I´m open to options.  Yes, I know that they are offered in the NYC ...but I hate having to cross the river for just a few hours (parking is such a drag). 

Anyone know of any "real" tutors / classes???  Maybe the Clifton, Paterson, Edgewater or West New York area??

Please advise.

Hey!  I’ve read all these posts about marriage and these young girls – but no one has mentioned SEX!!!!!

What about teaching sex education to these young girls in school!  What does a 12 year old TURKISH girl know about sex – the actual consummation of a marriage?   Can you imagine the incredible fear and pain that those poor girls experience when on their first day as a wife –they have this much older man do strange things to them?  - and worse yet,  knowing that this experience will happen for the rest of their lives…! ( I wonder what he suicide rate is...)

Let me explain, I’m not talking porn flicks, I’m talking about the fundamental knowledge of the female body and the explanation of why they experience changes and what is “normal.’ It simply explains (medically) basic sex, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy.

Here in the US sexual education is core to overcoming the sometimes stupid, but mostly horrific thoughts young people have about their sexual growth. C’mon – everyone talks about it; everyone does it…even dogs n cats.  So let’s grow up. Let’s teach these girls that sex is OK and this is part if growing up.   If they can’t have the luxury of falling in love, desiring another human being or even enjoying the bliss of a romantic honeymoon  - let’s at least give them the decency to talk to them about what they are expected to do and how sex should feel.   Anything less is closer to rape than intimacy.

Ok – my two cents (like anyone asked, eh?)….

I am not a feminist, although I am a product of an incredibly strong woman who single-handedly put her two daughters through private Universities, but I dare say that I am a “Humanist.”

I believe, and live my life, by the basic Beatles motto, “Live and Let Live.”  Everyone, aside from their beliefs, SEX, race…., should be free to live THEIR life as THEY well please.  If anyone is so against how a person lives their life – they should not simply do the same – what’s the issue?

My fascination with the Turkish culture is that I cannot seem to wrap my head around the patriarchal society and how it continues to exist in this modern world.  Not that the Turks are alone in this, but I have recently met and socialize with a few Turkish men who seem to have such an ingrained way of referring to a woman’s “place” whilst continuing to gawk and admire strong, successful (and beautifully shaven) women in western society.  Their verbalized thoughts are simply that those amazing women are wonderful (and oh-so fantasy worthy), but never ‘good enough’ to take as a wife.  Go figure!  It’s like saying that filet minion is an amazing piece of meat, but I would never dream of eating it! 

Reminds me of that old joke:  Man asks God why he made women so soft and beautiful…God replied, “So you would like them.”  When he then asked why he made them so simple-minded…God replied, “So they would like you.”

Anyway, hats-off to all you women out there that are independent, strong and self-sufficient.  Should you look for a spouse (aka partner-in-life) that meets your criteria – may he lead, follow or get the heck out of your way!

Can´t wait!

Daydramer...you are amazing!!! 

I support 110% anyone´s right to marry who ever (and even whatever) they want - at the end of the day, we all die alone; so who we choose to love and share our short time on this planet with is up to the individual.  Sadly, my great country is a bit slow on this matter (It was only 1967 that they woke up and realized that it was unconstititional to ban marriage based on skin color, especially since there are a milion shades of beauty).

My last thought...if anyone is against marriage to the same sex - then they should be free to marry someone of the opposite sex.  Issue closed - everyone´s happy!

fyi...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBR0dq0XXk

for anyone who really wants to delve into this matter...educate yourselves...

"can´t we all just get along?" -  Rodney King 2007

Mama, I beg to differ.

Our Lady Liberty boasts: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door." – AKA the symbol of hope and freedom for immigrants….

I think that the "pull" for people looking for US Visa´s is all about the "American Dream" as depicted in stories and movies that span the globe.  For example…Dare I mention the dreaded “Sex in the City” shows an image of living in New York City as an exciting (and oddly clean) place full of beautiful, hot women who dine out daily, live on 5^th avenue, don’t really work at stressful jobs and have a fabulous sex life to boot.  Many people erroneously think that they can just arrive here, instantly get a great paying job and support their families in their homeland with US dollars.  Good luck with that!  Not to say it doesn’t happen, but you reap what you sow.  As you do everywhere in the world.

On the other hand…if I were to leave the county – I’d swim to France (the goofs who wrote those lines on the statue) … I’d spend all my days sitting in a café in Paris where EVERYONE is beautiful, thin and dress impeccably.  Since no one works, I’d spend every day watching the artists sketch the Eiffel Tower with the sweet music of live violins that fills the air.  That IS what Paris is like, isn’t it?? 

Really??  I´m a bit skeptic about you reading 200 books about philosophy and theology....that´s a lot of time invested in making a decision about what you believe or “feel.”

Two words of advice if I may…Ipod and Audiobooks.

It’ll let you walk around and socialize whilst you ponder the meaning of life.

My two cents…

I think a webinar is a very productive way to answer the most questions, from obviously interested parties, as efficiently as possible – it’s the American way.

And about America being the ‘root of evil”…it very well may be – but I have yet to hear of ANY country that has immigrants risking their very lives by jumping borders or walls, swimming or making makeshift rafts to cross the vast oceans, hiding in the freezing cargo pit of airplanes…just for the simple opportunity to enter the country…Where an immigrant can raise a family and even have a child who grows to be the 44^th President…

Yup….evil can be verrrrry attractive!  (but some of us already know that)

- best regards from the States....

Geez!   Isn’t posting an “I hate people” note on a ‘public’ forum a bit of an oxymoron?

Found a great Turkish learning game...

http://www.digitaldialects.com/Turkish.htm

Lots of other languages too...just thought I´d share.

ok, now I feel totally left out! I just saw this old posting and think it´s a great idea. Did this group ever start? I´m a bit new to all this "group chat" stuff...so if anyone is actually doing this, please let me know how and when so I can jump in. I´m eager to be able to see/practice conversational Turkish. Thanks. -Doris

 - oops...BTW, speaking of dim - please excuse my typo´s!

 Also on those "not so bright people" - I also use...

- Not the sharpest tool in the shed

- Not the brightest color in the crayon box

- Light´s are on, but no one is home

- Wheel is spinning, but the hamster died

- A few cards short of a full deck

- A few fries short of a Happy Meal

..... ok, maybe I use too many of these, too often (sorry, lots of dim people around here..)  Just tought  I´d share....

I keep being told by my ´Turkish´ friends that the pronunciation is similar to Spanish, so I´ve been trying to learn - but I get corrected by them so often that I beg to differ.  Is there any site that has an audio of the letters and the sounds? - obviously, I´m still not getting it.