IZMIR BLOG - Information, stories, tips and hints about Izmir

Migros Jet Kasa - Update

noreply@blogger.com (Crypto) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Ok, the Jet Kasa system as mentioned before in a previous post is an ok system but people are its failure. The system still has teething problems of the human variety, the queues are still quite long in Migros stores and the people still need to be taught how to be their own personal shop assistants.

No, 'at the till murders' yet. Which is a good thing. Maybe this will change the whole society in Turkey, this one small machine slowly giving Turkish people too much patience that they could then wait for a bus for 18 hours like I once had to do in Uganda. Now, that does require a lot of patience. It seems like the Jet machine is trying the patience of many but once the knack of using this machine is learnt, let's just hope that it does drastically reduce queuing time in these stores.

Not checked Jet Kasa Recently but will update soon

noreply@blogger.com (Crypto) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:21:00 +0000

I haven't heard of any Jet Kasa Murders yet. So, I assuming that this new self service service from Migros is either running smoothly now, been closed down, or the end of the world has happened and I am the only one still alive. Now, this conjures up a question in my mind, if the end of the world was nigh would the Internet still be running (as was the intention when first invented) or at the first whiff of disaster would it fold in on itself like a pack of stacked playing cards? I suppose we will never know, well I at least I hope not in my lifetime.

Also, another question just popped in to my Alkzheimer's diseased head, If you knew that the world wasn't going to end in your lifetime but your son's or daughter's lifetime would you tell them to stop having sex immediately? It is just a thought because when some of us or young and especially if you are a freak like me you will think about these things deeply and say to yourself, "No children for me, I wouldn't want them to suffer in the event of a cataclysmic event". As you get older and wiser, you then take the stance of it won't happen in my lifetime, and then make babies and get some of your own little spudkins. We don't know though, so by giving birth to the little spuds you could be putting them on a collision course with death. Anyway! Neyse! That concludes my Happy late Saturday early Sunday morning blog. I must be getting old and bitter.

Migros and New Jet Pay System

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:36:00 +0000

I like many others like a good idea when I see one and this Jet Payments system that has been introduced in to many if not all of the Migros stores is a good system but it is having some teething problems.

The system itself is not having problems but the people who are using it and this includes me too. The system involves scanning and paying for your own shopping as if you yourself are actually working for Migros. Now, that has to be a good thing for Migros, less staff needed right, Wrong!!

The computer system's only flaw is that the humans that use the system are sometimes ill informed or too stupid to use it. Remember the times that you have waited to withdraw money from a cash machine. Standing behind the old chap who has no idea about technology, or the mother of three crazy children obstructing her from getting her cash, or the young guy who is paying his bills one by one, not giving a shit about the person waiting (which is strangely enough is his right whilst using the machine), well this is like this but ten times as bad.

There is one assistant to help in times of need but unfortunately usually all the tills users have a need. One main problem is from the strange button that says, "fill your bag", which translated means put your frickin' produce in the frickin' bag and press the big frickin button that says so doofus. Then there are the barcode problems where it won't read and then you start typing in the number only to be passed to another screen, thinking you have incorrectly typed the number you stand there like a dork and wait for assistance. Also, you have to weigh something and there can be problems with this too, and lastly paying, putting the card in the wrong way round and thinking you have paid when you have not.

The whole system is great on paper but put this system into the real world with people with kids, people stressed out, people with love life problems, people buying something, very busy and then rushing to work and you have a tool that should not be called 'Jet Kasa' but 'Anarchy Kasa' We may think we have the brains but sometimes when we try to use our brains we can be extremely dangerous.

If you are going shopping in Migros today or in the near future, let's be careful out there. I am waiting to read in the paper of the rising tide in 'shop rage' and possible 'homicide' due to pissed off and impatient (sabirsiz) shoppers. Jetttttttt! Ouuccchhhh!!

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:20:00 +0000

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Izmir Blogger

How Much Is The Price of beer in Izmir?

noreply@blogger.com (Crypto) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:32:00 +0000

I constantly see that some foreigners are looking for the price of beer in Izmir or Turkey as a matter of fact. Well, the beer is not cheap, which is possibly why it is not such a custom as in the UK or some other countries to have a few jars of ale (beer) after you finish work as a stress reliever, a winding down tool and a get merry and feel a lot better tool.

Obviously, with this social drinking in other countries, there is a side effect, which is the ever increasing amounts of drunken behaviour on the streets, the fights, the outright unneeded violence on innocent bystanders on buses or waiting for taxis and the increasing alcoholism which comes with drinking too much beer. There are problems that need to be addressed in these other countries but ignoring that completely and getting back to the real issue here which is, "How Much Is The Price Of Beer in Izmir?"

The price of beer in a can varies from 1.50 TL - 3.50 TL for the imported quality beers. You can buy in packs and get a better deal sometimes but don't trust that buying in bulk will always make a difference in the price per can. The reason I say this because there is a strange phenomena which I have noticed and this is that let's say one can is 1.50 TL exactly, this can times by 12 in a twelve pack would be 18.00 TL, on a few occasions I have seen it where the price of 12 cans actually worked out at 1.58 a can and charging 19.00 TL for the 12 pack. This may have been corrected now but it seems to happen with quite a lot of products when you buy more than one. I couldn't work it out but on some occasions it is actually cheaper to buy things 12 X 1 rather a 1 X 12 box. Check some of the products (not just beer) and you may see a similar anomaly. The latest product I saw where this was the case was a pack of 5 chocolate bars but it was cheaper to buy in singles and 5 of them. So the original pack of 5 cost 1.20 TL but the single price was 22 kurus which added up to 1.10 TL saving you 10 kurus. In the bars and drinking holes expect to pay anywhere up to 8 TL and in the clubs (like all clubs of the world) the roof is the limit, because like in most of these clubs they believe that is a your privilege for you to be there and not a privilege for them to have your presence.

The local beer Efes, which is fairly good, Efes Dark is a lot better if you're a real Ale drinker you might prefer this one. They also have a light Efes variety and Miller is now a favourite amongst a lot of people who drink beer. The bars are starting to stock a different varieties and are not so dominated so much by Efes any more.

On the whole the beer is reasonable but i find them a little bit expensive, it doesn't become a cultural thing to drink beer in more than 2 or 3's at home which is probably a good thing as far as alcoholism is concerned, although saying this the national drink Raki which is drank by many could blow your socks off a lot quicker than beer and in general is more often drank in a home surrounding than beer. Try all of the beers and see what you think!

Kids back to School - Mummies and Daddies Can Rest Now

noreply@blogger.com (Crypto) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:26:00 +0000

The schools are starting to brush the dust from their teaching books and the cleaners are starting to mop the floors. It's the time of year when all the kiddies go back to school and after a long break they are rearing to go. The Mummies and Daddies can now relax a little as their little bundle of joy returns to school, gets out from under their feet and starts to top up the grey matter again.

After a long break the Mothers and Fathers are all blitzed out and need the rest from the kids, in fact they need a long holiday without the kids. Unfortunately with the children back at school they aren't going to get the well deserved break, they will have to start earning big pennies for their children's upkeep and education. It's not cheap! But they are your little cherubs so be good to them and one day when they their brains are all maxed out they will bestow unto you great wealth, a wealth which you will inevitably have to throw away on their wedding day. Up in to the air so the musicians can get richer. I can hardly wait!

Be A Teacher In Turkey - But I Don't Want To.

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:27:00 +0000

On arriving in Turkey as a foreigner after leaving your homely shores, unless you found work before you left your homeland, you will be in a bit of a predicament. In Turkey, if you want to work, then many of the jobs are in the Teaching profession. If you are from Germany then the chances are you will teach German, if you are from an English speaking country then you will teach English. That's all well and good for most people because at times it can be an enjoyable profession. But for others there can be problems. If an English teacher you will go in to the teaching arena after grabbing a quick CELTA course or another cerificate. You may have no idea about teaching before this and you may indeed be slightly nervous about teaching since, it was not your chosen career in your own country. There are not many options available to foreigners if they are in the no-mans land of a resident and a non-national. If you married your wife or your husband and are you are here for them then it can be more difficult. You stay as a teacher just because there is no option and the only other option knocking at the door is to leave the country of your partners and move back to a country you do know where they may experience difficult job finding woes.

Ok, so what do you do, well, you could do your own business. You could open a coffee shop for instance. Will, it work? I'd like to say Yes, but what with the price of the rents in Izmir and Istanbul and other places in Turkey and the amount of red tape for a foreigner and in fact a local to start up a business then is it worth all the effort for just a few lira a week. Your coffee shop could make thousands but does it have longivity and are you just staving off the inevitable closing down of your coffee shop and later moving back to your home country? Maybe it would work, but forever unless you franchise I am not so sure. They have a strange three month period in Izmir where the whole city just seems to close down so the people can holiday and go to their holiday homes. In this period, June through to the end of August, there is a staleness and business with rent costs and other utility payments I can assume find it hard and many shops are boarded up over this time only to be reopened by another entreapeneur at a later stage.

So are there other options to a foreigner in Izmir of Turkey. Yes, there are. If you can find a profitable business that sells things online to Turkey (you will need great Turkish Language skills) or to abroad which is better because the world market speaks English then you could possibly make enough money to survive and maybe prosper. There are a few online businesses available and you usually need to use services like clickbank (for payment and affiliate tracking and affiliate selling of other people's products), aweber (for automated emailing promotions - that email your customers 10 or more times in a one by one style to lead them to your sale item(s) ) and then you need the right website. One I have found in a self made business, it is actually a business in a box, you can sell all your own health products and dieting stuff too. The site is pre set up once a small fee is paid and then once you start promoting you can start to make money. No shop or depot to stock, no dealing with customers because the company does this for you and no worrying about follow ups and returns because this is also dealt with by the firm that gives you this package. It is a very well designed site and you should check it out and see what you think, don't just throw your money away. But if you are a foreigner in Turkey and you want to sell something, anything on a world market so you can get some liras coming in for your kofte or Efes beers then this has to be a good option since all the hard work has been done for you. You just have to do the adverts, which can sometimes be hard but they even supply all of the blurbs for you to do this with.

For more information about: Ready Made Internet site take a look and if you don't think you can possibly make this work or you can do better yourself then pass on it. If you don't try then they won't buy, it's as easy as that. From the site you can check all areas but if you want to start a business then click on the Make Money tab.

For more options in Internet ventures you should definitely look at clickbank because of all the vendors selling there products in most cases are offering you up to 75% commissions. If none of these appeal to you and you are still bored and annoyed with your no way out teaching job then stand on your surfboard on the crest of a wave and you may just stay on the board. If not search for more options, in google you can search for franchises and also commission and money earning. With any franchise you will have to leak a lot of money before you see anything happen in regards to money making. If it is a well known brand then it will eventually work but to build up some cash in the meantime start a cheaper to run business that may actually become your primary business.

Lady Doctor Gets Death Threats for Revealing TOP SECRET Fat Loss Secret to General Public!

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:55:00 +0000

Recently saw this article and felt it needed a reprint here, because if it is really true then obviously people should know rather than try a life long diet that causes them to balloon in weight and then go back to their old size this sounds in theory like it's a winner.

Here is what I found at her website about this new wonder diet formula, primarily for the obese but everyone with weight problems can use it:

This lady has great information about weight loss and why we get fat. Surprisingly it is not neccessarily because we eat to much, read on.... It makes interesting reading.

A new breakthrough secret is all you now need in order to forever shed countless pounds, stay healthy, and add many years to your life!

A lady doctor from Arizona has blown the lid off the best-kept secret in weight loss ever discovered -- and this has the whole diet food and drug industries turned upside down and in nothing less than a torrential uproar।

Her name is Dr Suzanne Gudakunst, and she's marching to the beat of a different drum. And no, nothing about her "secret" is difficult -- nor does it require that you do something completely out of the ordinary or anything unnatural.

Instead, the Arizonian boasts proudly "...this is something that I caught onto just before 2002 when there was so much research and exploration going around concerning the human colon and digestive system working in harmony with nutritional absorption, and I started doing independent studies just to test things at first ... but which I later expanded on after seeing some fantastic results."

This same woman medical practitioner went on to accurately determine a definitive correlation between harmful plague and parasitic infestations of the human bowel tract, and people suffering chronic obesity -- and who despite intense diet and exercise appeared to be unable to lose any weight whatsoever.

Over the course of six years the Arizona doctor developed a number of natural treatments for the removal of these same harmful, even life-threatening plaques and rapidly reproducing digestive parasites -- and when applied to even worse-case patients suffering extreme obesity (98% of which were in immediate danger of dying) she saw a 100% effectiveness and success rate.

She then borrowed from her research on the severely obese, and applied the same strategies on milder cases of overweight persons -- only to find the same effectiveness and quality results as described above (although the individual weight loss per subject wasn't nearly as much as those obese patients 100 lbs to 200 lbs or more overweight).

So powerful is her secret that she's able to reverse diabetes, rid illness altogether in people suffering from cancer (linked directly to poor diet and overweight factors), as well as an elimination of an entire spectrum of serious and otherwise life-threatening diseases.

Nearly 100% of all her case subjects were told in the alternative by "conventional doctors" that they either had just months or years to live, or they would never live a life anything resembling remotely a "normal" existence -- yet after applying Dr Suzanne's treatments saw a complete contradiction to others doctors' prognoses.

Again, nothing about her secret is unnatural or requires someone to do any major action or modification in their lives.

In fact, her entire treatment is based completely on built-into-nature 'protection agents' scattered throughout the world in the form of select herbs, extracts, and organic constituents, and which can be found in a variety of plants -- but when combined in specific combinations and carefully chosen amounts make for a solution to what is perhaps the world's worst ever plague: OBESITY (and the illnesses and diseases resulting from it -- or at least severely aggravated or exacerbated by it).

Now to everyone else's great gain, whether suffering from just a few extra pounds and inches, to those extremely fat and overweight, this brave, bold lady doctor is releasing to the general public her secret for forever destroying the tight unrelenting closed-fist of obesity's stronghold over the now more than 40% of Americans labeled obese, and others worldwide.

Some experts and sociologists suggest that in the bigger scheme of things, the world will never tolerate a discovery of such magnitude, any more than it would be realistic to expect a car that runs on water (even if very real) to ever become commercially available to the general public for day-to-day use.

One well-respected and famous diet & wellness author wrote years ago that if anyone ever "truly unlocked the keys to permanent fat loss, they may actually suffer the same fate as JFK."

It is currently available at the following link,

Quick Weight Loss Diet.

You may want to check this out and take a read and become the slimmest on the block. It's in a very easily readable format and is quickly and readily understood. While you're there, why not scroll down and review for yourself the huge successes others are now having with this incredible breakthrough in rapid, massive weight loss and extremely improved and enhanced health, now made freely available to the rest of us!

HOT! HOT! HOT! Izmir summer is back baby!!

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:36:00 +0000

Izmir summer is back and my outsides are melting, my insides are melting, my water intake has gone past the 'Guiness Book of World Records' drinking champions record (although mainly Coke) and my sweat is running like the Niagra Falls down my head body and legs. Hot! You could say that! Just a simple swing to the left or right in my swivel office chair is enough to open the sweat glands. You may think why isn't this person using air conditioning? Because I am a poor man, that's why! I have a (ventilator) a fan and a hand made paper fan too. I do have air conditioning but to leave it on throughout the day would cost almost more than I make in a week or maybe even in a year. I would need a world bank loan to suppliment my non existent pay so that i could keep my extravagant life bumping happily along until the world bank asks me for the money back and makes me even poorer than a third world country.

There are cheaper ways to keep cool in Izmir, find some shade underneath a bush or tree and fall asleep, so that whilst you are asleep you will only think it is cooler but really your insides are still liquidizing from the heat. Another way to try to keep cool is go to any of the following places Kipa, Carrefour, your local Migros or Tansas and any other place with industrial sized air conditioning and stay there and stay cool until the summer is over. Only problem with the smaller stores like Bim is after a few minutes they will kick you out for either not shopping, loitering, or thinking that you are stalking the female Bim shop assistant or even the male shop assistant if you are gay or a straight single female. Another idea is to maybe work in one of these places just for the summer months. Then you don't have to look like a stalker because she will be there all the time for your staring pleasure. Lastly, and my own personal favourite. I saw this on a news report about British soldiers in Afghanistan and how they keep their drinking water cool. The same can be done for people in principle I can only assume. Get an extremely large sock (body sized) and get in the sock, so that it covers your body from head to toe, cover the sock occasionally with water and hang yourself from the side of a humpvee or battle tank and the wind airflow combined with the water will keep you cool. Remember to keep adding extra water to the sock and to be careful not to catch pneaumonia. One problem you may encounter is how to find a humpvee or a battle tank in war free Izmir. Have a look, I am sure you can find one somewhere and if you can find yourself a tank, the human sized sock should be so easy to find. At the time of writing I was not actuallyy sure whether I was joking or not, must be this god damned heat!

Keep cool dudes and if you can't keep cool. Drink lots of water to keep your water intake up. Bol Bol Su!! Go to the beach if you can and don't get ripped off by the extravagant beach prices they're charging, 7-12 TL for a beer, who are they trying to kid, especially when they just give you the 1.80 TL bottle, no glass and not even a mat for your drink. Highway robbery!!! Who sets these prices? Anyhooo! That's another story for another day.

How are you coping with the heat?

Have you any wonderful ways to keep cool, that you can do on a budget?

How do you keep cool?

Are there any tricks that maybe us foreigners don't know that only the locals know about?

How much do you think beer should be on the beach?

Any beach stories, come on it's summer?

Izmir Blogger

Villa for Rent in Urla

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +0000

NOTE: I am happy to say the landlord has found a tenant for their property now. Whether it be through Izmir Blog or elsewhere I am not sure, but if you were looking and interested in renting too late now!

Normally as a rule we will not put up unpaid adverts for villas but the person that requires this is an ex-contributor to our blog.

An ex-contributor to Izmir Blog would like to rent her villa in Urla for a few years.

The villa has 4 bedrooms and there is a 5th bedroom, the master bedroom, in the finishing stages.

If there is anyone interested(and to see more pictures) you can click on the link below:

Villa for rent

Good luck on the move!

Bravo Patisserie and Özsüt – Good cakes!!

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:52:00 +0000

I have written about how I didn’t like a lot of the coffee advertised as Nescafe since being here (due to other cheaper branded coffee being used by some establishments) but for cakes Whoah! Baby!

There are two places that I know of that make superb cakes and always fresh. One is called Özsüt and the other is called Bravo Patisserie. Always a pleasure to eat there and to both of these firms, well done at bringing exceptional customer service to your establishments. Each place is good for different reasons, so if you are already here or are thinking of coming to Turkey definitely go inside one of these places and sample the treats. You will not be disappointed. I am a cake fanatic, so if I like you probably will too.

Bravo Patisserie

Özsüt

Enjoy your cakes and puddings.

Hotel Anbar – For Rugby Fans and Footy too

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:38:00 +0000

There may well be a few places that show live Rugby and football too but the one place that i have passed frequently and seen advertised Rugby matches there is the Hotel Anbar. Maybe soon to be a cooler place to hang out what with a hot new place opening in it’s shadow, looks like a cafe/bar maybe (they haven’t finished the building of it yet so I am not sure). Anyway, back to hotel Anbar, the place I assume has been there years and is close to Pasaport Iskele Terminal, so easy to find. A good place for the live Rugby matches and also a beer whilst watching these matches. Ask at the reception of the hotel and if a game is on they will direct you to the right location.

Enjoy the match!

Coffee in Turkey (Nescafe)

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:20:00 +0000

Since coming to Turkey, I have very rarely been able to find a good cup of coffee. When I say ‘a good cup of coffee’, I am talking standard Nescafe and not Turkish coffee (Türk Kahvesi), I mean one that has the right colour, the right consistency, the right taste and of course the right price to quality ratio. This is not to say that coffee in Turkey isn’t good, just different, and not the type of coffee that I like to wash over my taste buds. Of course, you have Starbucks coffee now in a lot of areas in Turkey, so a lot has changed in the past few years, but this is not Nescafe either.

mmmm! I like it a lot! milky coffee

The coffee I like has a nice milky tan colour but it has to be a perfect mix of milk, coffee and water. If more water is added to the cup to compensate the decrease in the milk mix, this is not an option for me because it changes the flavour.

black coffee – yuck! dark coffee – eek! darker coffee-No Thanks!

Nescafe is a world brand name, in Turkey, in many of the coffee houses or restaurants, Nescafe listed on a menu could mean anything but Nescafe. In the cheaper looking establishments this could mean using Turkish coffee (Türk Kahvesi) instead of Nescafe resulting in a globule lined meniscus of liquid mess. In the more reasonable establishments it could take the form of a local or imported Arabic brand of instant coffee which ends up tasting like boiled mud. Of course if you get Nescafe served in someone’s house in Turkey then it will more than likely be fine. In the high end establishments you may find real Nescafe instant coffee but black and sometimes with a small jug of piping hot milk as a companion. The times I have purchased this type of coffee, I have on the majority of occasions been in a rush and gave my lips first degree burns during the rushed drinking process. The scalding hot nature of mixing 2 piping hot liquids together and having an outside temperature of 30-40 degrees centigrade to keep them dangerously hot is not to my personal taste, and I don’t fancy visiting the local burns unit for the love of my coffee treat. This type of coffee inevitably skims over and forms a thick milk skin which is also useful for spare home grown skin (to cover the first degree burns) or as a wonderful hanging milk moustache when drank in an incorrect way. Sipping your coffee with your milk moustache and thinking, “Who’s hot? Who’s hot now, Baby?” “Definitely not me, with my snot (sümük)lookalike moustache which can even attach itself to my nose and give the impression of having contracted a serious dose of pig flu.

I still can’t understand the pot of fresh boiled milk as a side companion to Nescafe. Nescafe was invented as an instant coffee meaning almost immediately served. In this case throw the coffee in the cup, put the cold milk in, throw in the hot water on top and voila, a tasty cup of of caffeine. Instant means not waiting 10 minutes for the milk to boil and definitely not waiting 2 minutes more for the waiter to serve it. Wham Bam! Good day to you maam! That’s the way I like it?

Standard tools for the job= half fat milk, Nescafe mug, spoon, sugar and maybe even a small coffee pot

How about you? Do you have a preference? Do you just get used to it even if you don’t like it, or do you just brew your own at home like I do? Do share about this or anything else you wish to share? Email as always, above in the header.

Saglik Arena Website

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The website below is for searching and finding doctors, specialists, hospitals and information about health in general. They also list laboratories which is very useful if needed. This will give you more of a choice about your healthcare rather than just go to one that is suggested by your cousin or a friend that is not in the know. The site does not have a huge list but there are enough names for now, as the site grows in usage and popularity I am sure they will add more information.

When I searched, I couldn't search via town of city, maybe I didn't do it right but if I did search in the correct way, then this means a better search function is required and listing full addresses would be useful.

Currently, I noticed that only Istanbul and I saw one Ankara listing was listed. If this can be expanded to cover the whole of Turkey it will be a great database and very important but obviously needs a lot of updating, old and new doctors, new addresses, open and closed practices. There could also be a section for rating the listings, this would be a nice touch. (e.g I went to this dentist and I was in pain for a week, he wasn't caring and he treated me like I was his pet dog - score 10 (10 being the worst) or I went to this hospital with a broken ankle and through the whole procedure they were tentative and caring to my needs, I felt like they put 150% in - score 1 (1 being the best).

I was sent this website and thought it will definitely be worth a mention. Normally, I wouldn't place a blatant advert of this nature but if it is useful then why not. They may make some money out of the site in someway but for the information they provide it is extremely worthwhile. Although the site is in Turkish, it may well still be of use to our English speaking friends if they can negotiate their way around this site in Turkish a little.

The site is linked above as well as below:

Saglik arena

First 100 days of Obama leadership in the USA.

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Sun, 17 May 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Every news channel and reporter has made a report about Obama and his first 100 days. So it is only right that I follow on from my open letter too.

Dear Mr Obama,

You are doing a sterling job, currently no real enemies in the world, only fresh friendly links you have made. I wish you another 100 days of peace and hopefully prosperity for the economy. I am thinking that throughout history, only you have taken such a hard job to solve so many of Americas problems. The economy, the unemployment situation, the repossessions of homes, the corruption in US banking and financial systems, the over-payment of bonuses to failing bosses and the new threat of a flu pandemic. If you get through this in one piece I will be surprised, but I, and we, as Obama followers, have a faith in you. In times of need, there is always someone who is followed.

Now, I am not religious whatsoever, so i don't don't follow people thinking they'll lead me to a star, but what I do, is put my atheist faith in someone who can lead us somewhere better. Since the US are the big guns on the block, it's you guys I am following. And I hope that this time you don't screw it up like the other contingency - mentioioning no names of course.

You have hope behind you, and going back to a childish sentence, but quite adult like that I used to use between friends -"Limitations are a Disease of the Mind!" You can make everything happen, it just requires committment which I am sure you have. Don't be sidelined by some background suits. You have every opportunity to get the heart of the American economy pumping again, as well as keep the peace in the world and also create openings for not so forthcoming leaders to come to the table for talks. We all know America rocks (even if we don't want to say so) and we all know the leader of that country is a powerful dude in all that happens in the world. Anyone else who thinks otherwise is a a prized dufous. Good luck with all your policies! You are doing good! You don't need me to tell you this, especially a Brit. All the same, I have never met you but I can spot a bad man when I see one, and you are not a bad man. Go forth and sort this shitty world out, if it means Kyoto agreements, some kind of peace with Iran and North Korea and pushing Israel to a two state solution, then so be it.

In Europe we don't understand your closeness to Israel, a country far far away from yourselves. Israel has a right to exist and so does Palestine. Do your best! Solve Israel/Palestine problems and solve a mutitude of problems.

Good luck for the next 100 days.

EUROVISION - NORWAY - Violin BEN 10 lookalike wins contest

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:32:00 +0000

OK, so the Ben 10 lookalike won. A mix of traditional Russian folk music with classical "You can't touch this" mixed violin. Very catchy lyrics.

In my opinion definitely not the best song overall, Iceland won that category with "Is it true". Turkey won the category of most played on radio after Eurovision contest finishes and lastly the UK won best voice and the one that should have won if the time machine had been invented.

Mr Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, the foreigners love your shows, but they're usually on holiday when they come and see your shows, not in their front rooms voting on their Nokias.

I am betting that if you hear Turkey's, Malta's, Ukraine's, Greece's and Finaland's songs on the good old radio after you will be addicted to them, but the others will just fade away into the Eurovision vaults of music history.

We'll see! I am guessing a number one hit for all of the above in their respective countries. Hope the curse of Eurovision doesn't kill you all off after your hits. Hadise is already a dance music star so she'll be alright. The rest i don't know the full story.

Eurovision still needs to check out the voting problem - I think you should not be allowed to vote for any of your nearest neighbours - only countries one country away - this would make it much fairer!!!

Norway Ben 10, cartoon hero, we love you , but don't change in to the morphing monster with the one eye, he's the scariest of them all, and it will frighten possible listeners away. Change in to the shrimp and you'll get a number one or two at least.

And finally, In Turkey they had a run-up to the Eurovision contest showing some past stars and Johnny Logan appeared, he truly is a superstar and although he has put on some weight and aged a little, he can still sing the tunes and dance like a youngster, he also spoke some Turkish because of his year stay here - good for you dude.

Check his site out below:

Rock it Man!!

Peace to all and long live the Eurovision extravaganza

Eurovision - After Song Review

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:24:00 +0000

01 – Lithuania – He resembles Britney Spears’ old flame Justin Timberlake, a good singer and not a bad song either.

02 – Israel – I think a very political song with two women constantly touching each other. Is this about peace or the land of los lesbos.

03 – France – A French song Joi de Vie! What more can i say, very slow song.

04 – Sweden – Opera then dance, there was a beautiful young lady singer but blah blah blah.

05 – Croatia – lickle boy blue, Joaquin Phoeniz lookalike with sexy blonde cato sidekick

06 – Portugal – Guitars, folkish, lady singer with guy on eukelaylee.

07 – Iceland – "Is it true?" – Beautiful girl with beautiful song wearing blue dress that didn’t suit her really well. Tafata!!!

08 – Greece – Opera/dance/step aerobics with treadmill, lots of open shirted jumping.

09 – Armenia – Folk dancey, traditional costume with a hint of broadway but quite a catchy song.

10 – Russia – Deep, like a Bjork song, with crying video in the background – Why! I was nearly gonna restart my crack cocaine habit and maybe top it up with a dose of extasy tablets and heroin. I feared it wouldn't end quick enough. In the pop circuit fine, but when ever has a morose song won the Eurovision - I can't remember one.

11 – Azerbajhan – Beautiful chick with guy ready for the army, his crew cut army style haircut was ready to start war with the world.

12 – Boznia and Herzigovina – Boyzone returned in white, playing statues, the game.

13 – Cracked open my forth beer here, I was getting bored – missed this one, I think Moldova but could have been a band called Heineken and i think it is the winner.

14 – Malta – Shania Twain/Celine Dion mega mix- but a nice mix i should add.

15 – Estonia – Sweet and sexy lady, clean cut hair, a perfect commercial for a hair straightening device. Similar to Sharon Corr from “The Corrs” and plays a violin too. Ok, while we are talking about the Corrs here's a link to that superb girl - Corrrrrrrrrr!!
16 – Denmark – Definitely like Boyzone. If i had a time machine and went back to the 90’s this could possibly win.

17 – Germany – A cross between Broadway/Iglesias and Swing all in one. How did they do it – magic that’s how! They could win for bravaderie.

18 – Turkey – Hot sexy and mixing modern with old at the same time without the public really recognising the mix of these styles of music. Nice with the added new dancers they provided. Was that Tarkan's brother by any chance? Anyway here is another link to Hadise's myspace and also Hadise's fan club

19 – Albania – Dancey – like dum tek tek but scary blue Intel chap was there. The blue costumed freak was sparkling over the stage leaving his micro chips everywhere.

20 – Norway – Like a traditional Russian dance with a violin playing cartoon Ben 10 lookalike and two stunning blondes to fight off evil aliens. "I’m in love with a fairytale" was a good song and also he managed to still look like he was playing his violin with a broken bow string. Which is good. Nerves of steel, a true super Ben 10 hero.

21 – Ukraine – Roman dance song. If it doesn’t win Eurovision i am sure it will win in an ancient Athens Eurovision competition. Everyone likes rock, so a rock opera mix might do the trick.

22 – Romania – Traditional mix music with dance. Balkan girls Yeah! Yeah! Tom Slick, Yeah! Party! Sexy girls but nowadays you need much more than just sexy girls.

23 – England – 20 years past it’s sell by date, but a beautiful lady, a beautiful singer, maybe it could be a winner bringing Vanessa Williams style of music back to the forefront.

24 – Finland – Maybe the first rap type song to enter the Eurovision – Like Eminem with added mix of rock. Yeah! yeah! yeah! Swing yo mutha f@@in' git-tars in the air!! Yo! Yo! Yo! You's trippin mo fo!!

25 – Spain – Opera/Turk/Bolshevik mix with 'Pink' lookalike doing lead vocals – 'Take me, shake me', I’m a bottle of lemonade. I won't fizz cuz, la, la, la la, la, la laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

You be the judge but my money is still with Turkey and also Ukraine, Albania, Israel, Sweden, Iceland, Armenia and Azerbaijan and sorry number 13 because i had a beer cracking session here so i missed you completely. I’m sorry! You probably were the best of the lot. Forgive me!!

I don’t know who will win it will be a really tough decision this year.

Good luck everyone!!!!

Eurovision Song Contest - HADISE Turkish Entry

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:36:00 +0000

HADI BAKALIM HADISE!!!

I think Turkish star Hadise has this in the bag for Turkey in the Eurovision song contest with the song Düm tek tek.

I don't want to hear yet another folk singing piece of crap win. Most of the judges seem to look quite modern in their dresscode and appearance, so why is it that a weird or 1950's sounding song wins. Ok, so not all of the songs are bad, but surely the Turkish song Superstar was a lot better than the song that actually won it. And what is it with all this lardy dah operatic crap. Give us a break! Please! Please! Please! judges do the judging on merit only, and not because the country is your neighbour. Everybody just can't understand why Norway nearly always votes for Sweden and UK always votes for Ireland. Come on! If this is the people's vote they need to get out more.

My country is UK but although the lady has a good voice, I don't think she will win.

Good luck to everyone and to the new voting system that will apparently cut out this tactical voting charade.

See hadise video here

Hadise myspace

Here are the lyrics below:

Hadise Lyrics - Dum Tek Tek Song Words

Baby you’re perfect for me

You are my gift from heaven

This is the greatest story of all time

We met like in a movie

So meant to last forever

And what you’re doing to me

Feels so fine

Angel I wake up and live my dreams endlessly

Crazy for you!!

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going "Dum Tek Tek"

Always out it like there no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going Düm Tek Tek

Always out it like there’s no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Baby, I read all answers in your exotic movements

You are the greatest dancer of all time

you make me feel so special, no one can kiss like you do

As it is your profession, feel so fine

Angel I wake up and live my dreams endlessly

Crazy for you!!

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going "Dum Tek Tek"

Always out like there"s no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going "Düm Tek Tek"

Always out like there’s no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart?

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going "Dum Tek Tek"

Always out it like there no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Can you feel the rhythm in my heart

The beats going "Düm Tek Tek"

Always out it like there’s no minute

Feels like there’s no way back

Always out it like it no minute

feels like there’s no way back

Always out it like there’s no minute

feels like Düm Tek Tek

Ok it isn't perfect English but still a winner!!

Star Wars Gangsta Rap

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:20:00 +0000

Since everything has been pretty much static in Izmir for a little while I thought some light entertainment may be in order. For any star wars fans out there just found this, it's quite old but quite funny, a Star Wars gangsta rap. I hadn't seen it before last weekend so maybe you guys haven't either. Take a look you may enjoy it.

http://www.atom.com/fun_games/gangsta_rap_se/?yref=yssp

English please!!

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:28:00 +0000

A=apple B=ball C=cat D=Doughnut

E=English

Just a quick mention that anything sent to me in Polish, German, French or any other non English language will definitely get deleted from the izmir blogger inbox. The reason - Although they look very nice and pleasing to the eye for the folk that wrote them, they are just wasting keystrokes on their keyboards. Why! Because I can't read a damn word of it. Since this blog is aimed at an international crowd then the main spoken tongue and written tongue has to be English.

Sorry to all the guys that don't know this spoken language but get with the times, the self aclaimed language of the world is English - you can't change this at this late stage, unless of course we are taken over by a higher race and they start a new language called Skintaaachuuwaaaaaah! Then, and only then, will I learn this new language, failing that I'll get my ass kicked by a Skintaaachuuwaaaaaahian brother.

Foreign Friends in the Izmir area? French or other nationalities.

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:04:00 +0000

I received an email recently from a French man asking if I had time to meet up with another foreigner to perhaps form a friendship and maybe do sports activities, restaurants and those other things that normal human beings do when they're friends. I declined the offer because I don't have enough time to even go to the toilet never mind travel to Urla and back what with the kids, the wife and this blog amongst other things. Since coming to Izmir it always seems like my time is being eaten away by someone or something. Each day my time is depleting, my hair is thinning and my wrinkles are developing.

Therefore, I am extending out his arm in friendship to you. If you would like to have a French friend in Izmir, Urla to be exact, then please send an email to Izmir Blogger I will then forward your email to the gentleman concerned and he will reply back to you. And after that you are on your own, free to do the things that friends do.

Also, there is a woman from Sweden who is looking for Swedish friends in Izmir. If you are Swedish, a woman or possibly male (she didn't specify). Send an email to Izmir Blogger and i will also forward it through to her and she can contact you if you fit the bill of a good Swedish friend.

Izmir Blogger

TTNET and my big but small problem

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:16:00 +0000

I have a TTNET ADSL connection and I didn't receive the bill to pay, so, I completely forgot to pay the bill and i was cut off during the following month after the bill was supposed to arrive. I will try and list here what happened to me for anyone who falls in to the same trap as I did.

Now, you would think that if your ADSL internet connection worked before you were cut off it would still work after you got it back up and running again, but, oh no! LIFE JUST ISN'T THAT EASY, IS IT?

This may also be of some help to someone whose ADSL settings are completely screwed, so could act as a guide to getting either your ADSL box settings set-up or settings renewed at least.

I shall attempt to list the steps that caused my problem.

1) First off - the bill wasn't paid, not because of lack of money but because of lack of a bill to pay - the bill usually arrives on time unlike the credit card bills we receive (Before anyone reminds me i can pay automatically, i am aware of this but don't do this because of pure paranoia that they could in one month take too much and take a long time to refund it back)

2) The connection was cut or suspended with no prior knowledge or after the cut-off knowledge.

3) Because I wasn't quite sure that it was the bill as I thought I had recently paid it I assumed that it was just a plain old connection problem.

4) 2 days passed and I thought somethings up!

5) Still thinking that I had paid the bill and not bothering to check either way i checked all the settings as they had been set-up previously to the cut-off. They were all as they were before.

6)I used to be a computer support guy in my previous English life, so, the steps were fairly straight forward check connection sockets cables, etc, work your way back to the modem. Make sure you are getting the correct local ip settings (a series of numbers like this xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (the x's referring to numbers) from your ADSL router box and then check to see if i can also check the ADSL router settings to the outside WWW world (internet). It could see the connection to TTNET's network but couldn't gain an ip address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx to the outside WWW world.

7) At this stage I called tech service 444 0 375 option 9 for English and spoke to a guy on the phone who didn't check the settings thoroughly enough and he gave me my password to check (this I think is strange because normally a password is never given out because it is encrypted so how can this password be secure, especially if they give it out over a public line). This guy within a couple of minutes had said the bog standard stuff about turn your box on and off check the lights and password, etc, etc. But still no connection.

8) I contacted them again because I am paying for a non functioning internet connection. Still the same checks were applied and when I said no my internet light (which should turn green) is still red. They suggested I wait for a call from I believe what is there super service engineers. I talked with these guys and I can't even remember what was done but it was difficult for me since the 2nd line support guys knew English but the 1st line support guy didn't and although I know about computers the technical jargon and microsoft messages which are already a completely alien language in Turkish is like a language within a language and you don't learn it in Tömer. Maybe even the locals are not sure of this language within a language so how am I supposed to fathom it out. So after a while I left them saying "bunu deneceğim!" (I will try this! - whatever it was I worked out that they were saying) Still no good.

9) Ok, now I was getting as frustrated as a boxer without a punchbag. I then decided to frig around with my ip stack (this enables you to connect via your computer to the internet - because the ip stack is a core component of windows you can't remove and re-install only reset it) See below:

Note This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, ask someone for help or contact a Support person.

Follow these steps to use the reset command to reset TCP/IP manually:
Open a command prompt, click Start and then click Run. Copy and paste (or type) the following command in the Open box and then press ENTER:
cmd
At the command prompt, copy and paste (or type) the following command and then press ENTER:
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
Note If you do not want to specify a directory path for the log file, use the following command:
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt

The above is an example of windows XP

10) I did this and used a specialist repair program to repair the stack one more time to make sure I hadn't screwed it up further.

11) Then my wife decided that a Turkish speaker was needed, so she called and some guy said that the super super tech guys were now coming to check outside the house in the magic box (the one with all the cables that to a novice telecoms person like myself is like trying to find one meatball in a mountain of spaghetti). They came at least I think they did and nothing.

12) I decided on the fifth day in to go to the Turk Telekom shop were I sometimes pay my bills and see if there is a list of things I should be checking. I decided it was time to suıt up and become my own ADSL superman. Nothing! Why! Because they don't allow non Turk Telecom's people to be their own super heroes and besides I was palmed off with everyone in your neighbourhood is having the same problem. I took off my ADSL superman suit and remained at ease. Permission was denied like trying to view a page from geocities or youtube - No access dude. There may be one video out of the thousands of videos that offends somebody Turkish or French or English or Taiwanese. So of course ban everything like the swishing hand of God. Why not just shut the whole Internet down?

13) Anyhooo! At this stage I was picturing myself in a desert with no water except the desert was my apartment and the water was the lack of an internet connection. I chanted to Internet! InnTTNET! Innnnnnteeeeeeeerrrrrnetttttttttt!! And finally decided one last try was needed since I hadn't spoken to my family all week on the wonderful Skype program. I phoned a wonderful techie called TTNET Serkan, I explained I have done this, and that, and soforth. He was the only person in all of the calls to say let's recheck your settings and immediately found the problem which gave me my Internet back.

The settings I needed on the ADSL box were:

ADSL Settings

Encapsulation: RFC 2516 PPPoE

VC Settings

Virtual Circuit: 8

VCI: 35

Multiplexing: LLC

PPPoE Settings

Service name: leave blank

Username: xxxxx@ttnet

Password: xxxxxxxxxxx (the x's representing your password)

Connection keep alive redial selected and 30 secs as the default

SUCCESS!! With these settings it worked but it still doesn't explain why the previous settings worked for at least three years with no problems unless TTNet had changed the settings so the PPPoA settings no longer work. And a huge huge thanks to Serkan at TTNET support or wherever you are, you really are a superhero for me at least!

Hope this may help somebody in some way. Now I am back I wıll start posting again to izmir blog.

Regards.

IzmirBlogger

International Jazz Festival 2009 2-13 March Izmir, Turkey

izmirblogger@gmail.com (Izmir Blogger) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:05:00 +0000

Apologies for late arrival of this information to izmir-blog, this was due to account problems.

Start date: March 2nd 2009 (annual event) In this lively and cosmopolitan coastal city 'The 16th International Izmir Jazz Festival shows a city with a love for jazz. Many locals play all varieties of

instruments so they have taken this love of music and formed a full on love affair with jazz.

The festival welcomes local artists as well as international artists and looks set to be another winner amongst fans.

The full line-up is below:

16. İzmir Avrupa Caz Festivali Programı

March 2, Monday

Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center
Exhibiton “Time after Time- The Balance of Moments in Photography”
7th Jazz Festival Poster Competition Exhibition and Prize Giving

Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center - 8.30 pm
“Opening Concert”

DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER with

İSTANBUL SUPERBAND
Aycan Teztel, conductor

March 3, Tuesday

Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center - 8.30 pm

ELEFTHERIA ARVANITAKI
“The Voice of Greece”

March 4, Wednesday
İsmet İnönü Arts Center - 8.30 pm

SIENA JAZZ QUARTET/ EGG PROJECT

March 6, Friday
İKSEV Hall - 6.30 pm
Seminar “The legendary of CHARLES MINGUS”
Speaker: Francesco Martinelli, jazz historian, journalist

İzmir Sanat - 8.30 pm
İZMİR CITY ORCHESTRA
Hüseyin Çebi, conductor
Zafer Çebi, Arrangements & piano

March 7, Saturday
İzmir Sanat - 8.30
OPEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Finale Concert

March 9, Monday
İsmet İnönü Arts Center - 8.30 pm

MANU CODJIA TRIO

March 10, Tuesday
İsmet İnönü Arts Center - 8.30 pm

EUROPEAN TV BRASS TRIO

March 11, Wednesday
İsmet İnönü Arts Center - 8.30 pm

GRUPA JANKE-RANDALU feat.
MATTHIAS SCHRIEFL

March 13, Friday
İzmir Sanat - 8.30 pm

ULRICH DRECHSLER TRIO

Workshops
March 5-6-7
İKSEV Hall
OPEN JAZZ ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP

March 12
İKSEV Hall
Kristjan Randalu Piano Workshop

Internet Ticket Sales
www.biletix.com

Telefon BİLETİX
0216 556 98 00

Bilet Gişeleri

İKSEV Fuar,

İsmet İnönü Sanat Merkezi
0232 489 25 89

D&R Karşıyaka
0232 364 23 63

Pan Kitapevi Karşıyaka
0232 368 00 60

D&R Alsancak
0232 464 10 15

Palme Kitapevi Bornova

Ticket Admission Prices

Full Price

Opening Concert (2 Mart 2009)
50 TL - 25 TL

Other Concerts
25 TL

Reduced Priced Tickets

All concerts for Teachers, Students and retired over 60’s (limited seats available)
12.50 TL

Combination Tickets

Festival Combination
150 TL

Youth Combination
50 TL

Group Tickets

At least 10 people to a group %20 reduction (*).
Tel: 0232 482 00 90 / 106

(*) Group reduction is not applied to the discounted tickets.

Skype – An extremely useful toolfor all to contact distant relatives

noreply@blogger.com (Izmir-2-blogger) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Skype is a very useful tool for any foreigners and Turks also that need to phone far off distances to contact relatives or business associates but even to run a business with, this can be done.

A long time ago when skype first started out the quality was not as good but now the quality is superb with no dropouts whatsoever experienced with the latest up to date version. The Skype team are always checking for bad quality calls and if your call ever does drop out you usually are presented with a screen that asks you how the call went and on this same screen it will also ask you to mark the quality of the call from 1 to 5. They will then check these things out in the background because their priority is on improving call quality.

For those that don’t know about Skype or have never heard of it, this service uses your internet connection and a VoIP (voice over ip connection) to connect to either another person on a computer with Skype (Unlimited calls to landlines with Skype) or mobile or fixed line in any country around the world (these calls aren’t free but can seem free when using one of their monthly payment plans which allows almost unlimited talking time for very little money each month. These plans allow you to call almost all landlines for a one off inclusive charge per month as well as some mobiles for a cheaper rate than your current operator.

Since I started using Skype I have been a fan because as well as the phone service they have many add-ons like messaging voicemail and with downloadable packages you can add the ability to become a full on working online pbx system so you can transfer your calls to another skype user or phone as well as give callers options as they come through to you. Select 1 for sales, 2 for service, etc. Haven’t got a fax? You can add a service for this too! One available fax option is called Pamela fax and it is fairly straightforward to set up but you need to add credits because it isn’t inclusive to the call price plans.

You can purchase usb phones like the Belkin WiFi Phone an the Netgear WiFi Phone so that you don’t have to use a microphone and/or headphones instead. The more you make this service feel like you're using an ordinary useable house-phone the more you will get out of the service and they now even have a mobile variety of phone you attach to the pc or laptop have your skype software open and you can be mobile usually within a 100 metre radius of the house.

In my own personal opinion if you are currently using any other phone service it is worth taking a look at Skype , i feel sure that like me you will be pleasantly surprised. I still can’t believe when i am phoning a love one or friend that it is almost like the person is in the same room as me.

Download Skype

Happy communications.

Skype Rocks!!

Sorry, but I just love this service!!

Schools in Izmir for foreigners

noreply@blogger.com (Izmir-2-blogger) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:49:00 +0000

If you are a foreigner these are a few of the possible schools you may want to send your children to on arrival in Izmir. You may want to send them to a full Turkish school with a small amount of English and other languages but check this list and you may find something more appropriate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is a French school called Piri Reis in Cigli and a connected school called St Joseph in Alsancak.

Piri Reis' Website: http://www.pirireis.k12.tr/
Address:
6311 Sok. No: 20 Şemikler
Karşıyaka / IZMIR
Tel: 0232 362 47 48 (pbx)
Fax: 0232 362 76 66
mail: karsiyaka@pirireis.k12.tr

St Joseph's website: http://www.izmirsj.k12.tr/
Address:
Izmir Özel Saint-Joseph Fransız Lisesi
1462 Sokak No:39 (35220) Alsancak / İzmir / Türkiye
Tel: +90 232 463 46 27 pbx
Fax: +90 232 463 63 33
mail: izmirsj@izmirsj.k12.tr

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is also the American College, there they could possibly have a kindergarten but i know they definitely cater for 12 -18 year olds.

http://www.aci.k12.tr/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There is also the MEF International Schools check for more info at this link.

website: http://www.international.mef.k12.tr/izmir/index.asp?pid=30
Address:
Akçay Cd. No:285 Gaziemir – Izmir, TURKEY
Tel: +90 232 252 20 52
Fax: +90 232 252 05 15
mail: infoizmir@mef.k12.tr
General Website: www.mefinternationalschools.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Deutsche Schule Izmir

Thanks to an anonymous contributor for the information on the school below, a German school.

web: http://www.ds-izmir.com/

mail: ichbindabei@ds-izmir.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is possibly a good school for anyone working or will work at Nato. Sirinyer Lise.
It will probably have lots of foreign kids there because of the proximity to the base.

website: http://www.sirinyerlisesi.k12.tr/cms/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Two other schools worth a mention although no strict foreign connections they do have plenty of language lessons in English. Gelisim Koleji and Izmir Turk Koleji.

Gelisim Koleji.
website: http://www.gelisim.k12.tr/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Izmir Turk Koleji, is one of the most well respected and well established schools in Izmir. It is based over a two campuses one being in Hatai and the other being in Cigli and it has a few smaller schools dedicated to young learners. It isn't exactly international but they do give German and English lessons as part of their curriculum and recently started Spanish lessons.

Website: http://www.ozelturkkoleji.com/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++