February 05, 2008 - Permalink - 3 comments
At the NHL University, I am famous for my ‘sterke verhalen’ (strong stories). Today in Istanbul, I could use my storytelling skills to get a free ride with a taxi.
This evening, we would meet with Fiko at the trainstation near the airport. However, I couldn’t come. I had some problems with my visa (wrong dates) at the foreigners police. It would take time to solve this problem. But Fiko couldn’t await us due to circumstances. Therefore, I let Jaap Ruurd and Arne go. I would come alone later.
Around eight ‘o clock in the evening I had the problem solved. I decided to take a taxi from Sultanahmeth to Tuzla Piyade Okulu Arazisi. This is quite a short ride. I knew it wouldn’t cost more than 10 YTL. The taxi-driver was a very nice man. We had a good conversation. He even considered me as his friend. When we arrived at the trainstation I asked how much the ride was. My friend Ahmed told me that the prize was 120 YTL, but because I was his friend, I would only have to pay 100 YTL. This is around 60 euro’s, ten times more that it should cost. I trusted this man. I felt the adrenaline flowing. I wanted to kill this man. This fucking asshole was trying to delight me.
I was thinking… then I told him something like this: “Ahmed. You are an amiable driver. I think we had a really nice conversation during the ride. It pleases me. I have been through a lot throughout my life. Nowadays I am doing quite well. I decided to stay on the right path. I need these refreshing conversations we just had. However, some people sometimes give me a hard time staying on the right path. I hope you understand, my friend. So, Ahmed, I will ask you again: how much do I have to pay for the ride?”
He looked into my eyes. Then he responded uncomfortably by pardoning his calculations. “Oh sorry, sorry, I meant 10 YTL. I worked all day and I am very tired. Blablabla.”
LIAR. I know these tricks, I read about them. Sultanahmeht’s taxi-drivers are famous for fraud. My human-knowledge confirmed the presupposition that this man was trying to delight me. In psychology, looking to your left means constructing thoughts. Looking to your right means remembering thoughts. He looked to his left while he was responding. So, he was making up a story.
I told him this straight in the face. I dared, because I felt to be in a more powerful position.
As I opened the door I said: I do not pay for anyone that tries to fuck with me, only girls may do so. Then I walked away.
This taxi-driver did better put a secure window between the front and back-seats, and let the passenger sit behind that window so that the taxi-drivers like Ahmed are safe from people like me.
Then I took the boat to Hasydarpasa and the bus to Pinar (my dostum).
Note: This is a story from the Strong Story Series. These stories are fictional. I base them on events I experienced. Strong stories are recognizable by a [X] after the title, where X represents the number of previously written Strong Stories. This note will not be present in the next Strong Stories. So if people don't read this note or forget it, they will get fooled. And I will laugh my ass off when they start talking with me about what they've read.
Tags: 
Eskisehir, 
Strong stories, Turkey
Rating: 2.90909090909/5 (11 ratings, 1150 views)
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February 03, 2008 - Permalink - 3 comments
The day before we went to Eskişehir we visited Pinar her family. You probably know Char. Pinar her sister was someone like her. She predicted our future. We were astonished from what she could tell about us. Keep this in mind: I will marry earlier than JR and Arne. More important for me was to meet her family. This visit was gold for me, I loved it.
Now I am in Eskişehir. The 5 hour train ride from Istanbul was enjoyful. There was a bar in the train. Here I met a theater-maker and a director of a foreigner prison. They couldn’t speak English, but we spoke for an hour using body language and simple words. Afterwards we exchanged e-mail addresses. In Eskişehir we can go out together sometime. Things like this are happening every day many times. Too much happens in a short time. It’s overwhelming.
I noticed my Turkish develops rapidly. After half a year of studying language learning, I created a talent for learning a language. Turkish people are jaw-dropped-on-the-floor about my Turkish language-skills. And I am here only for one week now!
Yesterday we visited an interior architect. They need a new logo and a website. I also met a Turkish documentary maker, Hasan Özgen. He is international famous. I can contact him for internship. I will see about that, because I, Jaap-Ruurd, Arne, Fiko and Pinar want to run internship abroad in the same city, in the same country. We are arranging this now. (What are you saying? You want to go abroad for 5 months again when you are back in the Netherlands?) Yes. I want. I was very happy in the Netherlands, but I am even more happy abroad.
Every day we meet new people whom we go along with. For example, this afternoon we go along with Fiko and her roommates, tonight we go out to eat with our new roommates and after that we go get to know Pina and Aga (Erasmus students) better. But meeting people also means that one time you need to say goodbye. My best friend Pinar went back to Holland yesterday. I will miss her so much. Before she left we promised that we would meet again sometime (internship!).
I will get accepted in the Anadolu University. The campus is huge. It has an airport, cinema’s, club’s, theather’s, shopping center… it would be a pitty if it would get burned down. So, they’d better accept me. I will arrange this, I was told that it will be fine.
EDIT: it's all arranged and done now! And my permanent address has changed!
Hoşçakal (see you)!
Tags: Eskisehir, Friends, Turkey, Work
Rating: 2.78947368421/5 (19 ratings, 1025 views)
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January 29, 2008 - Permalink - 2 comments
“when you told me this Jelmer... to me it feels you are in a real nightmare there right now”. The words of my sister after telling her this story:
Last night I was woken up by Michael, one of the two Swiss roommates. He said to me "I am in deep trouble"…
He and his friend were invited into a nightclub by a nice Turkish guy. He was very kind and would pay for the drinks. There were girls, drinks, fun… until the bill came. The Swiss guys had to pay 3500 YTL (2000 euro’s). Totally flabbergasted, they –off course- objected. They were taken to the back office of the nightclub and threatened with torture. The Swiss guy was very concerned about his friend, who was still in the nightclub. A gang would come to beat him and his friends if he didn’t bring the money in five minutes. I was shocked. Not only he was in danger, so were we and our belongings. Because, from what I understood, was that the gang would come to the hostel. He asked me what to do. I told him to report to the police immediately. He refused, because he believed the Turkish police couldn’t be trusted. For a number of reasons I didn’t agree to that, so I contacted the hostel staff. They contacted the police. It could take a while for the police to arrive. Afraid of the gang to come first, I ran back to our room and hide my belongings. Then I opened the window so I had an escape route, when necessary.
The police came first. The gang did not come. The police took care of everything. The other Swiss guy was saved. There was no chance the gang would come to our hostel another day. I didn’t ask for details. Everything was fine now.
The picture above is a panorama I made this afternoon, in front of a luxurious Fish Restaurant. We had dinner here (seabass) with our new Brazilian friend Vicente. Afterwards, I had an intriguing conversation with the owner of the restaurant. In Istanbul, waiters do everything to get costumers. Some of you might have experienced this, they can be very annoying. I told this man that I’d like to practise my communication skills. I told him that I could do what his waiters do better. Unfortunately, there was not a single tourist passing by that time. I couldn’t show my skills. Then he offered me a job to work in his kitchen to do the dishes. As I refused, he advised me to work in a travel organisation to guide tours. Better job, better paid.
Nevertheless, I have something else on my mind. Today I got an e-mail from the NHL International Office. My application is not completed, because some forms are missing. This means that I cannot study at the Anadolu University, because I am not registered. Registrations were closed at the 4th of January. Fuck that.
EDIT: This problem is solved now.
However, don’t think I feel bad! I do not experience my stay as a nightmare. If I would, it would be a nightmare in heaven. I really enjoy my stay!
Good night!
Tags: Istanbul, Travel, Turkey
Rating: 3.5/5 (16 ratings, 1047 views)
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January 28, 2008 - Permalink - No comments
The 1st set of 4 photo’s are made in the Basilica Cistern.
The 2nd set of 4 photo’s are made in a restaurant.
The 3rd set of 3 photo’s are made in the city.
Istanbul is magic!
Not many people are to be seen on the photo’s, but I tell you: we met a LOT. In the city, during travelling and in the hostel. We are staying in the same room with two Swedish, one Brazilian and one French guy. There are no locks on the doors. Therefore, it’s important to trust the people you are staying with. Fortunately, we do. I can tell a lot more, but I don’t have much time to do so, because the roof terrace is waiting for me. If you are bored: I noticed Arne has also a blog.
Görüsürüz!
Tags: Arne's blog, Istanbul, Travel, Turkey
Rating: 3.11764705882/5 (17 ratings, 912 views)
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January 19, 2008 - Permalink - No comments
Nog even genieten van Nederland, want Zondag is het zover: Istanbul! Dit item gaat over een toilet in Nederland. Als ik in Turkije ben, zal ik een item schrijven over een Turks toilet.
Deze week logeer ik bij mijn ouders. Zij wonen in een rijtjeshuis aan de P. K. Pelstraat. Gezien het onderwerp van dit schrijven is mijn visie daar ook op ingesteld. Zo bedenk ik mij dat de P. voor Piemel kan staan, en de K. voor Kut. Past mooi bij elkaar. Echter kan ik deze woorden niet gebruiken, want ze zijn grof. Ik mag ook niet meer de muziek hard aan, ik mag niet in de kamer zitten computeren als zij daar even willen zitten, ik mag het licht niet te fel aan... ik ben weer even thuis!
Anyways, in dit gebouw, en wel te verstaan het sanitaire gedeelte beneden, gename de W.C., heb ik een ernstige constructiefout in de toiletpot ontdekt. Ik voel mij verplicht u hierover te berichten, om te voorkomen dat u het volgende overkomt bij een bezoek aan mij op mijn nieuwe adres.
Als een persoon met een mannelijk geslacht zich op dit apparaat deponeerd, op de manier waarop vrouwen dat ook doen (zittend dus), zal hij een ongemakkelijk gevoel krijgen, zowel in de glans als het zenuwsysteem. De wand van de pot helt teveel naar binnen, waardoor er geen ruimte is om fatsoenlijk de pot vol te blaffen én daarbij een plens te doen. Om een te plonzen, moet de man naar achter gaan zitten, om te beren, moet de man naar voren schuiven en een hand voor de fluit houden om te voorkomen dat het kopstuk van de fluit tegen de potwand jengelt. Gezien het feit dat het geluid wat uit de fluit komt tegen de potwand tettert, is het niet fris als het kopstuk daarmee in aanraking komt.
Ik ben van mening dat een persoon van het vrouwelijk geslacht geen last ondervind van deze ernstige constructiefout. Als ik éen van mijn ouders was, zou ik onmiddelijk contact opnemen met de Woon Stichting.
Tags: Netherlands, Toiletverslagen
Rating: 2.73684210526/5 (19 ratings, 1106 views)
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