Bruno from Datça
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Thanks to Bruno for sharing his experience in Turkey with us.
Tell us about yourself
I am 34 French and recently became Turk, married with a lovely Turkish lady
and we have a beautiful 3 years old daughter.
What made you come to Turkey?
That's a long story ! When I left university in France, I traveled in UK and
Ireland to learn English in order to travel around the world. I start working
in cruise ships in Caribbean north and south America, then in Europe etc..
I met Semra my wife, in Fort Landerdale in Florida; we shared a melon together
at our breakfast table in a hotel and we join the same ship for a world cruise.4
months later in Roma after visiting, the all world, Semra told me she was living
in paradise and she would love to have me to help her in her restaurant! Two
weeks later I was in her restaurant already working very hard!!. That was in
2001.
What do you do in your daily life?
Summer time I am taking care of the bar serving drinks, and if there is anything
to repair I can do it; I am also busy with the web site of our restaurant, and
also few others.
Wintertime, we are in France, and I am developing web sites for boat charters
plus our house for rent when we are in Turkey.
Family?
My Turkish family is wonderful, even if we don't have always the same point
of view, we all love each other, they really have lots of love in their blood.
They have worked all their life, starting from nothing at all, they built up
a family restaurant which today has a real name and reputation, I really have
a lot of respect for that. Ogün, my brother in law has a lot of energy but not
organized, his brother Kadir is very lazy, my wife is a workaholic and me I
am a mix of all of them !!
Can you compare your first days here with today?
In Five years, lots of change, lots of new buildings, ADSL arrived!! We are
no more millionaires!! My Turkish improved quite, and also I made few changes
in the organization of the restaurant, which help a lot.
Has living in Turkey influenced your approach to life?
Not at all, well I don't really think, I still don't drink much tea, only when
my wife is making some, I still don't drive bare foot, and I am still made when
I sea electricians or plumbers working.
Turkish language?
Geliyor, that not that difficult but it needs time. I can converse a bit but
not too long !!
Let's talk about the region you are living in?
We are living in our restaurant pension by the beach, on the peninsula of Datça,
Mugla district in a small village called Mesudiye.
This is as my wife described a little paradise! The village has 600 inhabitants
and two bays. Hayit Büküwhere we are and Ova Büküthe other one.
This area is also very good for sailors.
Have you traveled in Turkey? Tell us your discoveries
Istanbul, Izmir, Mugla, Marmaris Bodrum, Dalyan and Datça, that's all. I loved
Istanbul, a mix between past and future, very stressful and relax also, well
a mad city !! I didn't like Izmir, seems too much concrete, gray and without
much interest, but I didn't stay long, so I might have missed some nice places!
What is your preferred characteristic trait of Turks?
Whenever you go to the bank, doctor, Belediye (municipality) etc... they offer
you a glass of tea!! You don't have to help yourself at the gas station !, they
are always very helpful and welcoming.
What was the annoying one?
They don't care about details, and the quality of most of Turkish building,
is really an approximation, it looks nice, but when you look closer, that is
not good at all !!
Turkish Cuisine?
Çok güzel! Very nice cuisine, only good choice of cheeses is missing.
Any suggestion to new comers to Turkey?
Bring a toolbox with you; down here it is very difficult to get any good tools.
Any suggestion to people planning to visit your region?
If you come to visit me, bring me some roquefort and camembert !!