Many people have asked how I ended up with a position in Turkey. Back in February when my contract negotiations with ASU failed I began applying for positions abroad–some in Asia (Korea, China), some in Europe (Bulgaria, Estonia, Albania, Czech Republic), and a couple in the UAE. I believe I applied for 12 positions. I’d also made my profile on TIE Online “active” which made my resume, recommendation letters, and contact information visible to potential employers. About a week into applying for jobs I received an email with the following in the subject line: “Interview request for librarian position at ACI in Izmir, Turkey.”
Hmmm, I thought. I don’t know about that position. I don’t know anything about Izmir or Turkey either! I hadn’t applied for any positions in Turkey and hadn’t noticed seeing any during my search. The email from the Headmaster shared with me a little about the school and its students, about its operating foundation, and that many students are accepted to top universities. He said they were looking for a Head Librarian and stated briefly what the benefits are for foreign educators. He wrapped it up with the following sentence: “We are looking for a candidate with lots of energy, a love of reading and a strong research/technology background,” and asked for a Skype interview. That sounded like a position I’d love….so YES to an interview.
The rest is history. That email came in on February 14th, I interviewed on the 20th and had a contract offer on the 22nd. The following week I had requests for interviews from China, Jeju Island, Korea, and Albania. But it was too late. I had signed the contract with ACI (after researching a bit about life in Izmir, of course!). I was in email contact with various faculty who were more than willing to answer any questions I had. I was excited about this new location–a Mediterranean life just a few minutes walk from the Aegean Sea. My skin and hair are going to thank me!
All of my communications with people at ACI have been stellar and I’m excited that I’ll be meeting them in person very soon. But once the contract is signed then the real paperwork begins. This includes getting things translated and notarized, getting police reports (sometimes fingerprints!), and shipping it all to the new school. I was able to get most everything done here in Mongolia and my sister in Idaho was able to manage the one errant piece of paperwork that I needed from the U.S. (Thanks, Fawn!). Once the paperwork is received then the waiting period initiates–waiting for the Work Visa window to open (can only apply so many days prior to arrival).
I was fortunate for this next phase. My friend (and former principal) just happened to have a friendship with the current Turkish ambassador to Mongolia and his wife (I’ll refer to them as “Ambassador” and “Spouse” for the rest of the piece). I had the pleasure of meeting them both a year ago when I attended the Turkish Embassy’s Children’s Day event in the UB Children’s Palace. As luck would have it Izmir is about 30 kilometers from where Spouse’s parents live! My friend initiated contact and made them aware of my upcoming Visa needs. When the necessary paperwork arrived from ACI/Turkey, I was off to the Turkish Embassy in UB. The Second Secretary had been notified of my visit and he (and his wife and staff) were MORE than accommodating. I needed to complete an online Visa form that I hadn’t been notified about. No problem–I was allowed to sit in his office and fill out the form right then and there. I had plenty of passport pictures–but it needed to be digital. No worries–the staff scanned the photo so we could attach it to my online application. There were hiccups here and there but with their assistance we worked it all out. I was appreciative and thanked them all. The reply? “Turkish hospitality begins here!” Wow–how lovely!
With the paperwork done and the associated fee paid, I was informed it would be about 3-4 weeks for processing. I departed the Embassy feeling accomplished and excited. But then the guard at the gate told me I needed to go back inside. Upon re-entrance the staff member behind the counter asked if I might wait a few moments as the Ambassador would have time to see me.
I drank a freshly brewed Turkish coffee and he a cold Coca Cola while we chatted about Turkey. He told me about the religious site discovered fairly recently that is considered to be thousands of years older than Stonehenge. We discovered that we had both served in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with our respective militaries. He during IFOR (Implementation Force), me during SFOR (Stablilization Force). We discussed our various summer break plans.
Three weeks later I was called to pick up my Work Visa. Everything ran like clockwork. Before my friend left Mongolia for her home in Canada we met up with the Ambassador and his Spouse for dinner at a local restaurant. We bonded over adopting animals–I’ve adopted a stray cat, my friend and they had each taken in a stray puppy. We would all take our animals with us when we leave Mongolia. I hope and expect to meet them this lovely couple again–but this time in their homeland!
A couple weeks ago I wandered down to the local bookstore in random hopes that I might find a Turkey travel book. No luck! But I did come across two issues of the “Turkish Review,” a periodical that quit being printed in 2016. These two issues were from spring/summer of 2015. I know that seems old but the information and topics seemed interesting–so I thought why not? I’ve been making my way through them–learning about history, politics, economics, and other aspects of my soon-to-be new country and her relationship with other nations in the area and around the globe.
As I wrote in my last post, I like the research! One never knows where it will take you. I recently spent a few hours down a “rabbit hole” about Armenia–a country I knew nothing about–because of articles in these periodicals. I’m actively building a LIST of places to see–inside Turkey as well as outside. Hiking in Armenia is now on that “outside” bucket list. The Transcaucasian Trail looks especially nice!
My initial contract is for two years–but I’m hoping that if the job is as good as I think and want it to be, I expect and hope to be in Izmir for many years to come. There is so much to see and do and learn in the area. Please let it be known that I’m excited to host visitors in Turkey, OR to meet up with you elsewhere in Europe–I’ll be literally a short flight away from most anywhere! Stay tuned for future posts in which I share about sites on my lists as well as travel plans in the works. As a traveler I like to visit sites of historic and/or cultural significance, and I like to hike/see beautiful natural landscapes and places. (If you have similar interests, then we might made good traveling partners!)
Words cannot express how much I loved this piece. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!