Sunday 18 January, 6:15 am, flight to Brussels. I’m on it with about 100 kg luggage without paying any supplement. Good bye Antalya. I learned that I can’t get a new working permit until 1 august 2009 so next summer I will work somewhere else.
Monday 19 January: it stopped freezing in Belgium but I’m still cold. I get my new passport and now ID: no problems for the next 5 years.
Tuesday 20 January, Ryanair flight 3745. That means Charleroi – Pisa.
I eat pizza and pasta, drink real good wine, taste extra virgin olive oil, ribollita, salami, raw ham. I eat and eat: lunch with friends, dinner with other friends. In between tea with some more friends. Choir rehearsal. Walking around in Florence to discover that there is something like “design” for clothes. After one year in Turkey I needed this.
One year in Turkey, it has gone so quickly, though there has been periods that were going very slowly.
Making plans for the upcoming next two months: waiting for an answer from Egypt, it’s not coming.
Selda (Turkish friend) let me know that she has got the visa but only for the period of the tourist fair in Brussels. So I will go to work there, but there will be no trip together in Europe.
Reading books: “3 men on a bicycle”. I keep on thinking: why 3 men and no woman? Bicycle. Paris. How far? Could I do it with my bike? I ask some advise at expert friends how to go by bike to Paris. This time no fast train or plane.
Next summer destination? A riddle. Probably it will be resolved in about 3 weeks. Hopefully it will be with the same coast manager I had last summer, at least that’s my preferred “destination”.
Next summer is still far away. First I need to enjoy this holiday before I floats away.
Someone has some suggestions?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
I have to go...
Yes, really, I have to go. I feel it like this: I HAVE to go.
It’s one year now I live in Turkey, and as you might remember, not everything has always been ok. At the end of the first six months I lived in Istanbul, I really wanted to go back to Europe.
But than I came to Kemer and slowly I started to accept Turkey and it’s people, and I started to live my life again. Kemer is beautiful and here I have found a real good job with a fantastic manager, lovely colleagues and very nice people in the hotels I was working for.
And now… I really feel sorry I have to leave Turkey. I might see back my colleagues and manager in another country, but my Turkish friends… I don’t know.
Since a couple of days I know that I can’t come back to work in Turkey before August 2009. Foreigners may only work for 6 months in one year in Turkey. My working permit started at the beginning of August 2008 and expires the 18 of January 2009. So I cannot come back to work before beginning of August 2009.
I will miss Nermin, Selda, Kerem, Maria, Sinan, Selami, Zeynep, Hüssein, Elmira and many many others.
But one day I will come back to say hello to those people that made me feel at home in Turkey
It’s one year now I live in Turkey, and as you might remember, not everything has always been ok. At the end of the first six months I lived in Istanbul, I really wanted to go back to Europe.
But than I came to Kemer and slowly I started to accept Turkey and it’s people, and I started to live my life again. Kemer is beautiful and here I have found a real good job with a fantastic manager, lovely colleagues and very nice people in the hotels I was working for.
And now… I really feel sorry I have to leave Turkey. I might see back my colleagues and manager in another country, but my Turkish friends… I don’t know.
Since a couple of days I know that I can’t come back to work in Turkey before August 2009. Foreigners may only work for 6 months in one year in Turkey. My working permit started at the beginning of August 2008 and expires the 18 of January 2009. So I cannot come back to work before beginning of August 2009.
I will miss Nermin, Selda, Kerem, Maria, Sinan, Selami, Zeynep, Hüssein, Elmira and many many others.
But one day I will come back to say hello to those people that made me feel at home in Turkey
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Christmas tree has disappeared!
6 December, Saint Nicolaus (the real Santa Claus!). Although the good man Agios Nikolaos was originally Turkish (from Myra, about 110 km from Kemer), there are no signs of him. Of course, we are in a muslim country…
In the meantime a Christmas tree had appeared in the restaurant of my hotel, complete with presents and… Easter bells. One can not have everything in life.
The day after a second tree was built up in the entrance hall of the hotel, this time with real Christmas balls and garlands.
I was about to make a picture of it but what happened… since yesterday the Christmas trees have disappeared. Nobody knows where they are. When I ask explanation at the reception they just say “I don’t know, it is gone”.
Probably it has to do with Bayram that is celebrated about 70 days after Ramadan and during which a sheep is sacrificed. I wonder if they will slaughter on the street like immigrants sometimes try to do or if they will go to the butchery. It doesn’t matter, I just hope I will get some sheep meat as I had enough of chicken, the rund meat a bit tasteless and pork meat completely absent.
And further… I only had 12 guests last week, not much, till 2 pm it’s still hot, up to 25° C, but it gets cooler and dark at 5 pm. I stay here until January 18th (end of the working permit), and afterwards… it will be a surprise…
In the meantime a Christmas tree had appeared in the restaurant of my hotel, complete with presents and… Easter bells. One can not have everything in life.
The day after a second tree was built up in the entrance hall of the hotel, this time with real Christmas balls and garlands.
I was about to make a picture of it but what happened… since yesterday the Christmas trees have disappeared. Nobody knows where they are. When I ask explanation at the reception they just say “I don’t know, it is gone”.
Probably it has to do with Bayram that is celebrated about 70 days after Ramadan and during which a sheep is sacrificed. I wonder if they will slaughter on the street like immigrants sometimes try to do or if they will go to the butchery. It doesn’t matter, I just hope I will get some sheep meat as I had enough of chicken, the rund meat a bit tasteless and pork meat completely absent.
And further… I only had 12 guests last week, not much, till 2 pm it’s still hot, up to 25° C, but it gets cooler and dark at 5 pm. I stay here until January 18th (end of the working permit), and afterwards… it will be a surprise…
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Looking for a job.
No, I didn't leave Thomas Cook, neithber they licensed me.
But I'm a bit unhappy with the stand-by situation for the second winter half (15 January – end March). It means I don't know where I will go to, even not when. I could be 16th January but also a month later or... even nothing.
I need to be available so I can't go abroad.
Therefor I'm thinking of getting a non-actief position for that period: I will not be working for Thomas Cook and I'm free to do what I want: travelling, working, nothing,...
If someone has some idea for holiday, (temporarily) job,... please let me know. So I might finally go back to Italy or go to Egypt. Or go to Slovenia (It's years I have an invitation to go there.....) or who knows, maybe I can go to see a friend in Canada....
All advise is welcome... and I will inform you on my decision.
But I'm a bit unhappy with the stand-by situation for the second winter half (15 January – end March). It means I don't know where I will go to, even not when. I could be 16th January but also a month later or... even nothing.
I need to be available so I can't go abroad.
Therefor I'm thinking of getting a non-actief position for that period: I will not be working for Thomas Cook and I'm free to do what I want: travelling, working, nothing,...
If someone has some idea for holiday, (temporarily) job,... please let me know. So I might finally go back to Italy or go to Egypt. Or go to Slovenia (It's years I have an invitation to go there.....) or who knows, maybe I can go to see a friend in Canada....
All advise is welcome... and I will inform you on my decision.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Winter in Kemer...
Hmmm, big changes here.
Of course it's not a real winter: temperature during the day is almost 30°, only the evenings are cooler or even cold.
But it's winter season in tourism, and you can feel it.
A lot of souvenir shops are closed, the others have discount and fix prices.
Some hotels are closing down. That's somehow sad, especially for the last guests. No lights in the lobby, no animation, no music, cold water in the swimming pool and every day left overs on the buffet. These are the main complaints of the guests.
I went to say goodbye to the people at the reception desk or guest relations, to the security personal. Sad situation: most of them will not have a job during winter. And next year: they will work in the same hotel or in another one...
Also our little office in Kemer is deserted: no cleaning woman anymore, less drivers jump in to say hello and the Russian hosts living upstairs all have left.
Peri has left to and of course he has taken away all the pictures and announcements from the walls: it looks sad and empty.
Only Risa and Korhan are still working, but rather quiet.
Today I visited my “new” hotels in Antalya: my goodness, great things. Sheraton Voyager, finally a “real” 5 star hotel, and Hillside Su: every thing in and outside is white. I had to keep on my sunglasses as it was blinking too much.
I hope that I will have good contacts there.
Even our guests have changed: they seem to have I higher economical level, and we have a lot of grandparents with grandchildren. And some are here for a longer period: a couple of weeks or even months, to avoid the cold time at home.
And maybe I have to move to, to the “big city”. But I'm not sure that I want it: here in Kemer it's green and quite. Maybe also a little bit dead. There is defenetively much more to do in Antalya. But it is more chaotic and I don't know if I am already ready for it. But of course it is not like in Istanbul.
You see, I'm a bit nostalgic to the summer, the heat, the work and many guests, my manager and colleagues. But winters here are much shorter than in Europe, so everything will go quickly...
Of course it's not a real winter: temperature during the day is almost 30°, only the evenings are cooler or even cold.
But it's winter season in tourism, and you can feel it.
A lot of souvenir shops are closed, the others have discount and fix prices.
Some hotels are closing down. That's somehow sad, especially for the last guests. No lights in the lobby, no animation, no music, cold water in the swimming pool and every day left overs on the buffet. These are the main complaints of the guests.
I went to say goodbye to the people at the reception desk or guest relations, to the security personal. Sad situation: most of them will not have a job during winter. And next year: they will work in the same hotel or in another one...
Also our little office in Kemer is deserted: no cleaning woman anymore, less drivers jump in to say hello and the Russian hosts living upstairs all have left.
Peri has left to and of course he has taken away all the pictures and announcements from the walls: it looks sad and empty.
Only Risa and Korhan are still working, but rather quiet.
Today I visited my “new” hotels in Antalya: my goodness, great things. Sheraton Voyager, finally a “real” 5 star hotel, and Hillside Su: every thing in and outside is white. I had to keep on my sunglasses as it was blinking too much.
I hope that I will have good contacts there.
Even our guests have changed: they seem to have I higher economical level, and we have a lot of grandparents with grandchildren. And some are here for a longer period: a couple of weeks or even months, to avoid the cold time at home.
And maybe I have to move to, to the “big city”. But I'm not sure that I want it: here in Kemer it's green and quite. Maybe also a little bit dead. There is defenetively much more to do in Antalya. But it is more chaotic and I don't know if I am already ready for it. But of course it is not like in Istanbul.
You see, I'm a bit nostalgic to the summer, the heat, the work and many guests, my manager and colleagues. But winters here are much shorter than in Europe, so everything will go quickly...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Hello, I'm back in Kemer, with my new laptop.
I really enjoyed the short week in Belgium: I have picked up a suitcase of 40 kg that friends had brought to Belgium, I went for a dinner to another couple of friends that cooked divine, I was in Holland to meet Franco (my ex-Italian-boss) who had run the marathon of Amsterdam, and spent some time with my nefues that really were surprised and happy with my presence. And of course I cannot forget my mother that cooked all those delicious dishes I miss here so much.
Here I am with my new computer: it's really easy now to access to the internet. Unfortunately Blogspot and so also my blog pages were blocked for a couple of days by the Turkish government: I wonder what kind of information offended the Turkish state (on another blog, not on my pages).
Here, things are changing.
First of all, it gets colder. In the mornings and in the evenings I need to wear a jacket. Though during the day we still reach temperatures of 25° and it seems that by the end of the week we will have 30° again.
Zoë has left, is back home, so I have to manage the whole coast (about 30 km): I'm driving a lot...
Fulya is also ending, she passes me the arrival lists of the Germans. ... brr... the idea though to have meetings in German scares me: I'm still not convinced my German is good enough. So I started reading a German travel guide and newspaper.
Marjorie is having the last shows in her hotel.
And Peri seems to be a bit nervous: the end of the season also means a lot of statistics and reports.
And I... well, although I need to do a lot of hotels on the whole coast line, I have a lot of free time. Tomorrow only two meetings and nothing the day after... maybe some time to read a book or watch a film or who knows, to start a course... We will see.
My future is sure and insecure. From the first of November on I will have a Swiss contract. That means I will have (slightly) higher wages, but more social advantages: pension savings and health insurance now will be paid by the company for me. And I also will get a bonus for my languages. But I have taken back my official residence in Belgium, something I really don't like: I feel Italian from may hair to my toes. But there was no other choice.
Future is insecure as I know I will only be in Kemer till half January. Afterwards... we will see. I am "stand by" to go to any destination where I could be useful. Easy for the company: where ever they need someone speaking one or more of the 3 languages I speak, I can be dropped. For me it means that the next destination could remain a surprise till the last moment. On the other hand, in this way it might be possible that for next summer I get one of the destinations I had asked for: Sicily, Amalfitanian cost or Sardegna.
For now I will go on: I'm glad and satisfied about the last 3 months, about the persons I met and all the things I have learned.
And the future: I think it's just a matter of faith.
Or what do you think?
Here I am with my new computer: it's really easy now to access to the internet. Unfortunately Blogspot and so also my blog pages were blocked for a couple of days by the Turkish government: I wonder what kind of information offended the Turkish state (on another blog, not on my pages).
Here, things are changing.
First of all, it gets colder. In the mornings and in the evenings I need to wear a jacket. Though during the day we still reach temperatures of 25° and it seems that by the end of the week we will have 30° again.
Zoë has left, is back home, so I have to manage the whole coast (about 30 km): I'm driving a lot...
Fulya is also ending, she passes me the arrival lists of the Germans. ... brr... the idea though to have meetings in German scares me: I'm still not convinced my German is good enough. So I started reading a German travel guide and newspaper.
Marjorie is having the last shows in her hotel.
And Peri seems to be a bit nervous: the end of the season also means a lot of statistics and reports.
And I... well, although I need to do a lot of hotels on the whole coast line, I have a lot of free time. Tomorrow only two meetings and nothing the day after... maybe some time to read a book or watch a film or who knows, to start a course... We will see.
My future is sure and insecure. From the first of November on I will have a Swiss contract. That means I will have (slightly) higher wages, but more social advantages: pension savings and health insurance now will be paid by the company for me. And I also will get a bonus for my languages. But I have taken back my official residence in Belgium, something I really don't like: I feel Italian from may hair to my toes. But there was no other choice.
Future is insecure as I know I will only be in Kemer till half January. Afterwards... we will see. I am "stand by" to go to any destination where I could be useful. Easy for the company: where ever they need someone speaking one or more of the 3 languages I speak, I can be dropped. For me it means that the next destination could remain a surprise till the last moment. On the other hand, in this way it might be possible that for next summer I get one of the destinations I had asked for: Sicily, Amalfitanian cost or Sardegna.
For now I will go on: I'm glad and satisfied about the last 3 months, about the persons I met and all the things I have learned.
And the future: I think it's just a matter of faith.
Or what do you think?
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