OT: Life in Turkey

[Guest guest]

Butch,

 

North Georgia Mountains - that's what I'm hoping for when we are

able to get out of the big City of Atlanta. Love to ride the

GoldWing in the mountains and one is very close to the Blue Ridge

Parkway (my favorite place), the Cherehaula Parkway out of

Robbinsville, NC and to many white water places, but mainly the

mountains and trees in North GA. And you're still close enough to

your son near Atlanta. You should check it out. (OR right over the

border in NC which is one of my most favorite states) " What's his

face " knew where to hide out - around Murphy, NC. (Eric Rudolph)

 

Next, if you do come HOME, does this mean no more Rose Otto from

Butch or the wonderful hydrosols and EO's. Give us time to really

stock up please.

 

Still hoping to see you when you visit the South. There is really

no place like it.

 

Warmly,

 

Bobbye

 

 

 

, butch owen <butchbsi@s...>

wrote:

> Hey Karen,

>

> > Not to open a can of worms.... but why?!?!?!? Karen J

> >

> > > I've been evaluating my position here in Turkey for some

time ..

> > > and am slowly coming to the conclusion that I need to get my

> > > American butt out of here. Many good reasons for this.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Karen,

 

> Not to open a can of worms.... but why?!?!?!? Karen J

>

> > I've been evaluating my position here in Turkey for some time ..

> > and am slowly coming to the conclusion that I need to get my

> > American butt out of here. Many good reasons for this.

 

I'm disgusted with BLATENT corruption, favoritism, nepotism, disregard

for the people by those in power .. and the fact that those who I used

to call friends are just as guilty of these things as those who they

criticize themselves. I'm not an idealist but I don't participate in

things I disagree with and don't like those who do.

 

Its a fact that the system is designed to support those at the top and

everybody (except the peasant) is striving to be one of those people.

The system cannot be repaired .. it must be tossed out and built over

from the ground up. Bribery is a way of life here .. but I don't do it

and won't do it. Nor have I played the business game the way most of

the Turks do .. I do it according to the laws .. laws that are designed

to force people to go around them.

 

The systems in Europe got a complete makeover after WWII .. but Turkey

was not a participant .. so they are still putting band-aides on their

system that is 80 years old .. and 40 years behind the West. Granted,

its 50 years ahead of the Arabs, Africans and many other countries ..

but I wouldn't live in those countries.

 

The above has bothered me for a long time. And I know that Americans

pee and moan about the American system .. as do Brits and others. But

y'all have NO IDEA how good you have it.

 

Also .. I'm not able to keep quiet any longer. I'm angry and run my

mouth a lot. Was visited for five hours by an offical from the Tax

Office of the Ministry of Finance last Saturday. I met him in a bar and

was complaining about the system. He wanted to have my opinions as he

said he was always interested in foreign invested company owners. So I

gave him 5 hours .. took him from .. " On the first day, God created the

Heavens and the Earth " .. right up to today. Though much of it did get

into his noggin .. I saw a lot was bouncing off. He didn't see the same

problems I saw .. simply because he had never seen alternatives.

 

I'm finding that I dislike a lot of the people I thought I liked simply

because though they are educated .. they are ignorant of the realities

of international political affairs. Since the ridiculous decisions came

out of the Turkish Parliament in regard to supporting the US during the

Gulf War, the economy has suffered even more .. it was obvious that this

would happen. But who is blamed? The US! I won't take that crap from

anyone unless they are smart enough to explain with FACTS how they came

to that conclusion .. and I don't want to start such a thread on this

list .. because I don't think we have many political analysts here that

have information beyond their own gut feelings or the news media.

 

Before the war began I wrote what would happen .. probably to this list.

And it is all coming to be. There are many educated and astute observer

types here .. but they are shouted down by the Nationalists and I hate

the word Nationalist in the second place.

 

My wanting to leave has more to do with wanting to get out of business

here than really leaving the country. Living here when one doesn't have

to and if one has hard currency has many benefits. And I'll probably

buy a beachhouse on the Med for a place to hang my hat when I want to

live here .. maybe half the time. But I'm tired of the games and I see

no future for honest little businesses here .. and I'm NOT going to call

on any of my connections for any reason .. never have and never will.

Such actions always incur a great debt .. and I don't like debt.

 

My thinking has nothing to do with terrorists either .. though they are

here now and looking to put Americans and Brits under snakes. They've

always been in all European countries but now their targets are narrow.

They are after anything representing government .. police especially,

and Americans and Brits. I've carried my 9MM concealed for the last 6

months .. in the office its beside my keyboard .. at night its under the

covers with me. But that's nothing new .. I've carried one in much more

delicate situations many times in my life .. and the truth is, I think I

would be delighted if some A.hole were to try to pop a cap on me because

I am not an easy take down. But this has nothing to do with it.

 

Maybe my disgust is a combination of things .. and my age .. and missing

the life of the Suthran United States. Whatever it is .. its been at

work for the last year or more .. and moreso the last 6 months. When I

go to the USA in July-August .. plan to spend 45-60 days this time .. I

am gonna be like the ol' Boll Weevil .. gonna be " looking for a home. "

 

That's about the size of it .. or at least all y'all would understand.

 

Y'all keep smiling., :-) Butch