Hello all!

I got myself into a bit of a "conflict" the other week! I was sitting in a restaurant minding my own business. At the table next to us (I know because I could hear everything they were discussing from how much money they had in the bank and how much their property cost) where a couple of ex-pats (Fethiye's answer to mastermind - there was nothing they did not know about Turkey, its culture and the "system") and another couple of English who had obviously just honoured us with their presence in the area on a full time basis! As the "newies" asked for their bill, the "mastermind" couple offered their valuable advice about how an ex-pat should conduct oneself when living in Turkey. "You dont tip them you know" "Why" asked one of the newbies "because you live here now" replied Mrs Mastermind "we never tip they are usually ripping you off anyway! And dont pay full price for drinks in bars and restaurants either, as you live here you are entitled to a discount" The "newbies" duly obliged, did not leave a tip and queried the price of the alcohol!!
Now, I have been going to this particular restaurant for years and know the good service provided by all who work there, so I did reply (politely of course) in Turkish first, then in English......ah, sorry to say that I am now a "branded" woman according to the "masterminds" and the "newbies" My problem now is, can I sleep at night knowing I upset these good people of Fethiye or should I go to the doctor for sleeping pills?????

These are not expats. they are just dumb tourists that are staying a little longer then the usual 2 weeks.
With an attitude like that they wont last long here.

problem is Starman that many of them do last! Thr "mastermind" couple have been here for 3 years now!!!!

my inlaws live in fethiye and it drives me crazy when i see this sh*t. imperialist attitude people who think that they're living under the raj and all the locals are beneath them.

the irony is that i'll bet most of them DO get overcharged as a penalty for their oh-so-superior attitudes! why do these people bother living in a foreign country if they find everything so distasteful?

Well said pollyanna! Lucky they are not all like that but the ones who are deserve all they get from the Turks!

Unfortunately the imperialist masterminds will not change.
The only thing that the rest of us can do is to behave correctly, apologise for their attitude and behaviour and take care with our choice of friends. Shopkeepers, Dolmus drivers, waiters etc do recognise these undesirables and treat hem accordingly.

It is surprising how people become "experts" in such a short period of time.

You are right Apollo! And most of these "know-alls" cant even speak the local language apart from how to ask "how much" and "the bill please" Another classic yesterday. A women who has lived here for 7 years. Turkish waiter says to her "why do you not speak Turkish when you have been here for a long time" answer "Why should I? You can all speak English!!!!
No wonder I drink!!!!!!

A great candidate for deportation.
Thanks for giving us yabanci's a better reputation!

well fethiye is a small place and it won't be long before the waiters start making 'creative additions' to their food and drink, if they haven't started doing so already.

do you feel that the majority of locals are starting to loathe all foreigners or do they give the benefit of the doubt until you prove you're NOT an imperialist

We have never encountered any problems with the local people in our daily life. We try and fit in as much as is possible. Any temptation for creative additions can be stopped at the outset, just ask the prices before you start and then politely check the bill at the end.

Our biggest problem at the moment is trying to stop our neighbour giving us gifts of sweets and food etc. It seems to be a never ending spiral , they give, we give, they give ,we give.

Whilst totally agreeing with the unacceptable attitude of some expats you also have to agree that being ripped off is a fact of expat life here and is equally indefensible. I'll admit that it annoys the crap out of me when a shopkeeper automatically increases his proces when i walk in. Yes I know that if I speak fluent turkish and get to know them things may change but to be frank, a Turk in Britain pays the same as a Brit.

I think the language issue is one of the biggest bugbears. OK, my Turkish is not brilliant, but I try to use it as often as possible as thats the only way it is going to improve. I get really annoyed when I hear these so called "local residents" refusing to speak Turkish and demanding that things like council notices and tannoy announcements be made in English.

Where the fcuk do they think they are?

Like Mrs M, I have witnessed so many incidents of rude expats that I now just ignore it. These people are just not worth getting upset over.

As I can feel myself getting annoyed even writing about it, I am now going to stop

JF

there there darling dont be getting yourself in a huff

Yes John no point in letting the buggers get to you! Anyway I like a good "heated debate" now and then especially with the kind of folk we have been talking about! It amuses me for about 10 minutes!!
My other favourite questions / quotes by some ex-pats are:

Can you buy heinz baked beans in Calis?
I cant possibly live without bacon!
Why is there not an English butchers here?
Can I buy cat food for my pussy?
All the Turks love having us British here!
We are helping the Turkish economy as we spend more than the locals!
Do you really have to put your toilet paper in the bin?
Why do they build so many mosques?
I get woken up every morning by the mosque - do they have to do it that early!
Who is that man on all these bank notes?

The list is endless!!!!!

The Yabanciler are not alone on this one though, as we have lots of Turkish friends who also complain about the same.