There is something about throwing a fit that really works here. This time it was about money. I have been in Yozgat for more than a month and had seen no money at all. I have been waiting patiently, as I am accustomed to, but when the vice-rector showed up with a letter from the higher education council of Turkey and an explanation that I wouldn’t be paid for anytime except for the time since I signed the contract just a week before and that the first payment date wouldn’t be until Nov. 15th –3 months into my Turkey adventure, I threw a mini fit.
Now don’t get the wrong idea, I didn’t start yelling and complaining to the vice-rector, I mean after all, he had the “manager” lady of the guesthouse with him. I quietly folded my arms, bowed my head and gave them both eyes that might have physically caused them a little discomfort if not actual pain.
After he finished telling me this bad news and me knowing how much money I had to live on, which was not adequate to survive on (forget the fact that there are 2 travel opportunities for us in this time) I could only respond something like this:
Me: No. . . that is NOT TAMAM!
Vice-Rector: *silence*
Me: It is not my fault that your school had me sign the contract just last week.
Vice-Rector: *silence*
Me: And I have been working, since day ONE on creating a curriculum for this school while trying to live in the shell that was the guesthouse! Now you are telling me I am not only NOT getting paid for that time, but I have to wait until next month before I see any money at all?!
Vice-Rector: *awkward giggle / glance away*
Me: I am going to write an e-mail. Have a good day. (İyi günler!)
I can’t get mad at him because he does so much for me with the best intents. He’s the reason I have a kitchen! So I wrote an email to my program directors. Now, the person who had to read that email probably had to take a tea break in the middle because I didn’t withhold my feelings about the absurdity of the program and the responsibilities that the Turkish Fulbright Commission had to make sure we had our money in a reasonable time which was not 3 months into the program!
See, it wasn’t just me having money trouble. I noticed on our Google Group that many were inquiring about the money issue and receiving similar responses from their universities. And bless their hearts, they just don’t have the bitchiness in them that I do. I was obligated to write that email. I have received many personal thanks since then! haha
The next day, we all had an email from the Turkish Fulbright Commission saying that they were sending us money! Not only that, but my rector called and wanted to have a brief meeting with me. Seems that they were going to pay me after all! Not only that but when I mentioned that I don’t even have a bank account, the vice-rector offered to take me to town to open one! Before we left, though, I went with him and the “head of foreign languages” to see the room they had chosen for me to teach in.
They chose the old conference room in the LAS building. I told them it was perfect. What else could I say? It had chairs that could move and the acoustics were adequate… not like the big echo-y rooms they usually lecture in. In the car ride to Yozgat I told the vice-rector that I have had a lot of problems since coming to Bozok University but that I was very grateful for his responses and willingness to help solve every single problem. I swear, if it weren’t for him, I would be outta here!
I got my back account open and the next day I received word from Fulbright that there was money waiting for me at the local post office. I sure did hop on the next bus down there and picked up my money! That is money that my university doesn’t know about, so it won’t go in my banking account, it will come with me this weekend because I am GOING ON VACATION!!!!!!!!!!!! Antalya, here I come. Hours away from Yozgat, on the southern coast, in a land of warmth, tourists and adult beverages!
While I am very happy to be getting away, I have to report that I have taught 2 sections of my course and so far, it is grand. The professors and grad students really seem to enjoy it. It is great to get up in front of a group of people and be the expert in something that you know they want to learn about. Teaching is so great for many reasons.
That room turned out to be not so bad, despite the fact that I had to sweep it and clean it myself! Oh and the projector didn’t work, but one quick phone call to my friend, the vice-rector, resulted in a new projector on a table when I went to set up for my class. Number One rule for teachers using technology: Go to your room at least an hour in advance to make sure everything works! I’m glad I learned from the best :) Oh, and if you're wondering, it was my mom who taught me how to throw an effective "shit fit." *heart her*
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