I have been teaching for six years, I know something about pedagogy and I know military life is different but still there is something pedagogically wrong here and I have to survive in this concentration camp for 115 more days…There is a little possibility that I will be transferred to another station. By the next time I post, you will probably learn about it. Until then, please postpone to send your letters and cards:)
I do not want to be negative. I really hate to be negative but this is a nightmare. That’s how I keep describing the experience. It has been 15 days and it has been a psychologically disturbing period. I never thought military service would be easy but this is not what I deserve. The problem is not the intensity of military exercises- but the unpredictable treatments of our obsessive-compulsive officials. I have called many friends who were stationed in other stations. Nothing looks like this one. In the last 15 days- we weren’t left free, although many other stations have a weekly free day-or rest times in the evenings, we basically did not have any free time. Our officials may show up at weekends or at nights and ask for new duties. Without a single exception, every day starts with one yelling at a private. Yelling sometimes accompanied by heavy swearing and rarely corporal punishment. I have to state; I have been treated relatively well, many officials and all privates call me "prof" and I stay in an office doing clerical work all day and night. But observing all those happenings make me really sick. Staying tense all the time is really disturbing. I am finding ways to cope up with. I know I will survive. But I will be exhausted by the time I finish this god damn "citizenship duty". Exercises are relatively harder here, too. But I am sort of exempted. I cried out in the second day and since then I am doing exercises by myself, nobody warns me or expects me anymore to reach the demanded quantities. When the officer says "one who did fewer than 40 pushups is a faggot", I said, ok I am a faggot, sorry, this is what I can do…
Anyway, I have to start my nightmare in 3 hours and I have to do some shopping before that (I could not find the local newspaper yet but I will today). Hopefully, I will bring good news next time I am online.
In the mean time,
I received the chocolate package from Claudia from Canada, one of my dear and regular readers:) That was funny; made me happy! Thanks Claudia!
Congratulations Serkan! (L)
In the mean time, my friend from high school, Serkan Arman is doing great things as a journalist in the economy section of Milliyet! He had received a award for "the best economy news of the year" from an NGO specializing on Economy News Journalists. (EGD)
By total randomness, I bought Milliyet last week and saw Serkan’s interview with Ayhan Yüce, my businessman friend from Houston, whom I mentioned several times before. Click here to read (in Turkish) Ayhan was quoted in Wall Street Journal in December.
And Beşiktaş is doing great wonders while I am here imprisoned. How unfortunate that I cannot experience our possible championship:
So glad the parcel arrived safely, and made you happy. It was fun to prepare it. I’ll postpone any more sending in case you get a transfer elsewhere. I wish it for your own happiness. This hard serving time will go fast, believe me Erkan. All your friends are thinking of you. We miss you. All the best.
Keep on going Erkan, we miss you!
hans – ozlem
Dear Erkan, wishing you the very best in the difficult days ahead. Looking forward to your return to us all out here in the blogging world. You are missed!!!!!!!!!!
love
Di
i missed u than everthing in this world:) please be happy Erkan, enjoy with ur day, if u can;)
Sevgili Erkan,
Sonunda şampiyonuz.
Biraz da senin için bağırdım televizyonun karşısında.
En büyük Beşiktaş.
Ve hiç aşılmayacak zorluk yoktur.
İyi şanslar.
Sevgiler…
Celil
Besiktas did it, and so will you, Erkan!
As for your recent postings: Remarkable.
Please take care, my friend.
Be strong in your own way, Erkan!
Don’t fail yourself, i know you won’t!
Bertus
Dear Erkan (: this is more like an international blog, so I felt like I gotta write in English..but no way 🙂 Erkan Agbi, içini rahatlatmaktan ziyade ortak dertlerimiz olduğunu bilmen belki güç verir diye söylüyorum,bizim bura da astından üstüne kadar bir sürgün yeri.frekans konusunda büyük zorluklar çekiyorum ve günün büyük kısmını laf anlatamadıgım için sinir küpü şeklinde geçiriyorum.ama iki aydır öğrendiğimiz gibi: ‘yapacak bişe yok’ ..sık dişini verme canını.hope to see you soon (:
Besiktas won the double!!!
Your revenge will be sweet when you return to Normal Life I quess..))!