Oana from Çengelköy

Thanks to Oana Jasmin for sharing her experience in Turkey with us.

Tell us about yourself
I was born in a village, in Romania. I am coming from a separated family and grew up with my grandmother. Everybody spoiled me so I came to be a very happy girl. Men were always persona non grata in our family. This means I was taught to hate them, never want to get married. I never had to cook or clean stuff around, all I had to do is study and prepare myself for the career. God, did I despise men!!! Excepting one or two phobia, I only have reasons to be simply happy.

What made you come to Turkey?
While 19, as I was working as receptionist in a hotel in Poiana Brasov (you must have heard of the ski resort in Romania) I met Orhan. Handsome, gentle and hot. After 3 wonderful years of coming and going, we decided we could not live without each other. So, as soon as I finished my school, in 2002, came here and here I am!

What do you do in your daily life?
I really am far from the professional life I was talking about. Presently I am trying to raise my daughter in a normal happy family. I want to show her the importance of being yourself and making your own choices. I cook a lot, clean around, chat some with my in-laws, basically a lovely home girl.

Family?
Oh, yes. This is the sensitive part. Lots!!!

Can you compare your first days here with today?
No way can I compare. Now I am myself, I belong to me again. When I came here (to stay, because the holidays were always so different) I was like landed from the outer space. Everybody so noisy/nosy, too many kisses, the strangest language, the cemetery so close to our home, to much fat in food, too many ridiculous behavior rules (from sitting properly in front of the elderly to clothes), chaos…

Now I speak the language, I am the one who sets the rules in my house (and the thumb rule here is there is no rule). I ignore the curious neighbors, I see my family when I invite them, I cook our food light.

Has living in Turkey influenced your approach to life?
Oh, yes. Firstly I finally got rid of my necrophobia… even that and it is enough to say it was worth coming here. Seriously now, I am surer of myself. I understand people are different and nobody has to suit me, so I don't have to suit anybody accordingly.

Turkish language?
That gave some hard times. What can I do, I am Latin. There was no way I could find any resemblance between the Turkish babble and what I had learnt so far. I started making a few understandable statements after about 3 months and got it fluent after a year and a half or so. I wish everybody luck about that. Really hard, but it is worth the while. It gave me a break with the family. I could finally speak out and be heard. Also it is very important to get around. Shortly, it gives one freedom.

Let's talk about the region you are living in?
I live on the Asian side, in a place called Cengelkoy. Lots of green, but really no place to go (the green is coming from a graveyard that separates us from the Bosphorus, not from a park where one could sit on a bench and reflect on immortality). But it is nice and quiet. No pollution, the kids can go out on the street and play. We can admire the straights in the evening from the balcony, with a nice cay and get in the mood for beautiful beautiful nights in Istanbul.

Have you traveled in Turkey? Tell us your discoveries
I have visited every single place with a beach, except for the Black Sea region. I loved a special place called Saklı Kent, somewhere at the border between Muğla and Antalya. It is a gorgeous wild mountain site and it also has an interesting story. I loved Halikarnas in Bodrum and diving in the blue of the Akdeniz (Mediterranean). Next on the list are Karadeniz (Black Sea) and some İç Anadolu (Central Anatolia). There must be some interesting stories there.

What is your preferred characteristic trait of Turks?
They are so honest. And whatever they do, they mean well.

What was the annoying one?
They just have to know everything about you. Asking so many questions, constantly, one gets tired and annoyed.

Turkish Cuisine?
Yummy, but too fat. Mercimek corbasi (lentil soup) was love at first sight. Also the cold recipes with olive oil. As I didn't really know how to cook before I came here, I can say I cook Turkish now, but try to keep it lighter.

Any suggestion to new comers to Turkey?
Forget everything you knew from home. This is another world. Be open for the new and try not to criticize customs here. They are the normal way for the Turkish and it order to stay sane, try to adapt yourself. You can really make it the time of your life.

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