MG sayı 1

multicultural
dos and don'ts in Turkey special feature: Romania
guide
APRIL - MAY 2012 ISSUE: 1



april
-
may
2012


A spectacular gathering point of
history, nature and culture: Niksar
A Young, Creative & Talented
Fashion Designer: Ece Salici
A jewelry artist chasing her dreams: Gamze Varnali
year:
1


A Dutch voyager in Turkey:
issue:
1

Wilco Van Herpen

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APRIL - MAY 2012 NO: 0
Chief Executive Director
EDITORIAL
(Publishing Licence
Holder on behalf of KG
Kurumsal Geliim) : Mehlika GDER
Editor-in-chief : Rabia YILDIRAN
Executive Editor : Lia OZCAN
Design Director : Ayhan HAZIRLAR
The Multicultural Guide is a new concept for
us, as a team, inspired by our multicultural
experiences in various contexts. We are not
an insignificant number of foreigners in the
Culture & News Editor : Emel LAKE
capital of Turkey, yet, we are mostly organized
Writers : efika Onur OZDEMR
into groups, either by nationality, by interests,
Ozgur ZEREN
by hobbies, and so on. Though, we have more
Stephanie TSE HASANCEb
things in common than we even think. Therefore, the Multi-
Orkun AAOLu
cultural Guide will bring our community together, in thought,
Gokser YAAR
Haydar buDAK
feelings, experiences, frustrations, excitements and even
actions.
Photography Director : Tunc OZCEbER
Translations: belgin Selen HAKTANIR
Where I come from, multiculturalism is at home. It defines
the society there. In my area, the names of the institutions
Concept Design : Serkan YOLCu
are written in both Romanian and Hungarian, we hear a great
Associate Editor : Elif TuRANLIOLu
variety of languages on the streets, in the shops, restau-
Advertising Officer : Dilek DEMR
rants, and everywhere else. In the central square, on a small
Financial Affairs : Nazli TAN
perimeter, there is a Hungarian Roman-Catholic Church,
Legal Adviser : Orkun AAOLu
Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, Greek-Catholic Church and a
Synagogue, and just a few meters away, a Unitarian Church.
Publication Address: Kemer Sok. 10/A
And we live happily together, accepting one another, eager to
Management Center : Gaziosmanpaa / Ankara
Phone: 0 312 4468565
discover more about "the other". This is what I call multicul-
turalism, as I lived it since I was born. How can multicultur-
Type of Publication : Local, Periodical
alism be defined when referring to Ankara? By meeting and
Publisher : Ayban Matbaacilik
accepting other people like us and by making efforts to re-
Address: Kazim Karabekir Cad.
spect, understand, tolerate and discover about "the others".
No: 89/3 Altinda / Ankara
Phone: 0 312 341 75 07
The Multicultural Guide is the tool we are going to use for
Delivery Company Transnet Kurye
making our experience in Turkey more than an episode in
Address : Meneke 2 Sok. No:20/1
our lives, but an unforgettable experience, where we didn't
Kizilay/Ankara
only try to adapt to the new life conditions, but also tried
Phone : 0 312 418 86 85
making it exciting by discovering new interesting facts about
Fax : 0 312 425 09 49
"the others" like us. We will try to find interesting facts and
Date of Publication : 20th April, 2012
incidents that foreigners faced while coming to Turkey, but
Communication : Web: www.mg.biz.tr
at the same time we will try to let the Turkish tell us about
- www.facebook.com/
themselves, and how same aspects are understood differ-
multiculturalguide
ently by them and by "us". Therefore, the magazine will re-
- www.twitter.com/
multiculturalguide
veal interesting facts about Turkey, places to see, cuisine,
E-mail : mg@kg.biz.tr
traditions and many other things that could be useful for
us. Multiculturalism will be exposed while describing other
The royalty and publication rights of the
countries and traditions, as well as experiences of other
Multicultural Guide Magazine belongs to Mehlika
people like us on these lands. I hope the readers will enjoy
Gider on behalf of KG Kurumsal Geliim. The
reading the articles in this magazine, in some cases perhaps
article and photograph royalties belong to the
Multicultural Guide Magazine, the responsibility
they can identify themselves with the given situation, and in
of the published articles to the writers and the
some other cases, maybe, they can avoid experiencing some
published adverts to the owners of the adverts."
less pleasant situations by reading about other people's ex-
periences in similar cases.
This magazine guarantees to comply with the
publication occupational principles.
Nevertheless, I encourage you to live and enjoy Turkey and
your Turkish experience to the fullest and explore the life-
style and the background of "the others". It might be so
much more interesting than you ever imagined!

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EDITORIAL
A WArm Welcome to our first issue
MEHLKA GDER CHIEf ExECUTIvE DIRECTOR
Within the chaos and high pace of our everyday lives, of-
ten we cross each other's path. Several times we came
across while shopping after work or while relaxing in a
cafe after an exhausting day. We gently touch each other's
lives, maybe with a little smile or simply just saying "hi".
In every encounter, I have always wondered. Where are they from?
How well do they know about our country? Are they living happily in
here? What could be the things they are missing? Is it too hard for
them to find the things they need the most? How well are we intro-
ducing the culture, art and language, which have flourished for thou-
sands of years in these lands? Then I realized questions like these
in my mind are also prepossessing yours. Those whom I met in the
supermarket, later turned out as my son Sarp's teacher, or a com-
pany manager at one of my business dinners. As our communication
proceeded, I've noticed that building bridges between cultures aren't
so hard as I thought. And today, MG, the magazine in your hands is
born out of this idea.
With this magazine we want to create a medium in which a deeper
mutual communication can be established. In a multicultural envi-
ronment, we believe that it will be better for everyone to know each
other, to see the world with a different perspective through meeting
with new people. We hope to create a social sharing environment for
those who come from all over the world with different cultures and
languages, melt in the same pot in Turkey.
Through MG, we would like to tell you about our country, cities, his-
tory, culture and language. We aim not only showing you the clues to
ease the difficulties of being an alien in Turkey, but also introducing
new places to broaden your horizon and give information to make your
lives in this country easier.
Through the eyes of our writers who, just like you, came from other
countries, living in Turkey for a long time, we want you to learn about
our country and share our writers' experience. Through pages dedi-
cated for traditions, beliefs, lifestyles and glimpses to local venues;
we are aiming to make you feel at home. Official holidays, religious
days and rituals from past to present are just one of the many things
we will tell you about to illustrate what you may come across in ev-
eryday life.
With mistakes and shortfalls, here comes MG! With great excitement
and hard labor we gave life to this magazine and your opinions, sug-
gestions and curiosities really matter to us on our path to shape our
roadmap. We are expecting your contributions.
We hope this multicultural bridge built upon solid foundations made
of our connections, will contribute both international and intersocietal
communication and lenience.
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CONTENTS
While There's Bet Time... 8
Touching Life with FENG ShuI
APRIL-MAY 2012 NO: 01
10
PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN BRIDES:
Stephanie Tse hasancebi
48
The Sweetest Tradition of Meals:
AuRE
51
A man who fell in love with Turkey at first
sight, hungry for exploring, wandering the
Being an Alien
55
country since 1997. page 26
A Feast of Design in Your Plate 61
Private Ceceli Schools 62
A charming chat about season's
A Woman After Her Dreams in The Enchanting World of Design:
favorites with a young, creative
GAMZE VARNALI
64
and talented fashion designer. See
what's trendy this season. page 56
A Farm Story
66
Basic Restrictions on Real Estate Acquisition in Turkey for
Foreign Real Persons
70
Little France in Ankara:
LA FLAMBeE RESTAuRANT 72
Yunus Emre Institute aims to contribute to the training
Kids Garden74
of competent academicians and researchers in the fields
of Turkish language, history, culture, art and music
Towards The Ideal Body 76
and attempts to provide training through certification
programs. page 52
Pilates 78
A Multicultural university of high universal Standarts:
METu
80
Superstitions In Anatolia:
ThE EVIL EYE
85
Niksar : A hidden green
emerald in Turkey, waiting
Movie
to be discovered and
of the Month
Book
enjoyed. Sit down, drink it
Romania: A corner of heaven where divinity
in, and enjoy it for what it
Festivals
86
has poured out a bit of everything. Romania
is! page 18
Dos Donts 91
has something for everyone. page 32
Yellow Pages
92

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EDITORIAL
WhILE ThERE'S BET TIME...
BY EMEL LAKE
Create time to visit...
Salvador Dali Exhibition, which
covers 121 pieces of art, is col-
laborated with InArtis and Kult
and hosted by CerModern. One
of the prominent artists of 20th
century, Salvador Dali's suites
"Divine Comedy", "Gala's Din-
ners" and "Memoires of Sur-
realism" will be included in the
exhibition held in CerModern
from 23 March to 20 May 2012.
Enjoy your time in the nearest town...
Beypazari, 100 km away from Ankara is one of the most
charming places to visit in spring time. With its beauti-
fully restored old mansions, magnificent dishes, home-
made desserts and pastas, silver handmade jewellery
this small, cute town is a real paradise for the tourists.
Give a chance to art and culture...
What about visiting a museum every weekend with
your family? Ankara is a very rich city in terms of
museums. The Ethnography Museum that is lo-
cated near Ankara Castle, The Museum of Ana-
tolian Civilizations, which is a display of artifacts
from the Ottoman Empire and The State Art and
Sculpture Museum that features Turkish artwork
from the 1800's up today are the main attractions.
Take a ticket for...
Mark on your schedule not
to forget to go the Youth
Concert that is exactly a
musical feast. The con-
cert, which became a tra-
Treat yourself with a hammam pleasure...
dition in Ankara and fol-
Celebrate your dearest...
Haven't you ever been into a hammam? If not, be sure that you
If we exist today all of us owe this
lowed by an audience of 11
have missed a lot. Turkish bath called hammam, which is actu-
to our mothers. They are, without
thousand people last year,
ally the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath serves also for
any doubt, our dearest and precious
is corporately organized
a spa like experience. The most famous hammams in the city
ones. Do not forget to celebrate
by the Ministry of Culture
are engul Hammam in Ulus and Karacabey in Hamamonu.
your mummy's Mother's Day with
and Tourism, Presidential
th
a flower bouquet on 13 of May.
Symphony Orchestra and
Benefit from the public holidays...
Ankara University on 19th
There are three public holidays during the two
of May, in Ataturk Sports
month period ahead of us. April
Hall at 20:00. The tickets
23rd, May 1st, 19th May.
Make use of these opportunities for two or three
are available from MyBilet,
day escapes from modern city life and leave your
State Theatre, State Opera
-
self to nature. Kizilcahamam, Gerede, Ilgaz are the
and Ballet, Presidential
most attractive places for those who like camping.
Symphony Orchestra.
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LIFE
PRACTICAL FENG SHUI TIPS
Begin your feng Shui application by tidying up your
home and office. Organize all the closets. Get rid of
unwanted belongings. Everything that is not used and
has no function creates a kind of chaos for feng Shui.
Do not fill up every space in your home. Create con-
DLEK DEmRC INDOOR DESIGNER & fENG SHUI ExPERT
scious empty spaces. This is important for the flow of
Chi (invisible energy).
toucHiNG life WitH
Place an aquarium in the southeastern side, which is
about abundance and prosperity. Make sure to take
feNG sHui
good care of your fish, because they symbolize your
cash flow. Besides, in 2012, our second area of pros-
perity and riches is in the west. Use the western room
of your home more. You may place there a moving
water object.
The entrance of your home should always be spa-
Most of us have changed our homes several times. cious and well lit. You may put fresh flowers in your
There are some among us, who must have realized entrance. If your door opens to a narrow corridor,
The houses we live in are not
only made of bricks, walls
and elegant furniture. It is
that, with every home we change, some aspects of our you may make your entrance wider by using a mir-
the same with the human body,
lives change as well. It is as if the speed of our lives ror. However, do not place the mirror right in front of
as it is not only the body which
changes as we move to new homes. All of a sudden, the entrance door. This causes the energy that enters
makes human a human... There is
life starts to flow faster. But sometimes the opposite your house to leave before it travels in your house.
an invisible web of energy behind
is true. We cannot quite give meaning to the things
the visible furniture, objects and
we experience. If we have not met feng Shui, how can The direction of love and relationships is the south-
walls. Coming to this realization
we possibly know that location changes have a deep west. In other words, in 2012, you should have objects
makes you view life from a differ-
impact on our lives?
which symbolize your love both in the southwest and
ent window. Perceiving this web of
the west. Make sure that there are two objects, such
energy behind locations and inter-
When feng Shui touches your home, in fact it touches as two Mandarin ducks, two frames or 2 heart shaped
preting its vibrations allows us to
your life. It becomes the mirror of your life. Then, a pillows... Number two symbolizes the relationship
reveal the soul of our homes. At
photograph of whatever will be experienced in the fu- and being a couple. Use the southwestern and west-
that point, it is feng Shui which
ture is laid before your eyes. It guides you when you ern rooms to strengthen relationships.
translates what the location wish-
strive to achieve the things you deserve.
es to tell us.
Lighting also has great significance in feng shui.
Do not wait to get ill, relationships to end or finan- In dark and narrow places, create pleasant atmo-
It whispers in our ear how we can
cial losses to occur to see the reflections of feng Shui spheres with indirect lighting. Use a lighting method
improve a problematic relation-
in your life. Let feng Shui flow freely to your life and that will reflect on the pictures and accessories on
ship, how we can find solutions to
make it easier.
the walls of your corridor.
the deadlocks in our career, where
we can a light to shed upon our
Trigger good energies by using crystals. This year,
lives, which we cannot ever put in
you may hang crystals in the southern and western
order. The only thing we have to
windows. You may also wish to have crystal chande-
do is to pay attention to what feng
liers in these rooms. This will increase your luck.
Shui says...
Most importantly, think positively. Negative thoughts,
fights and arguments are reflected in your environ-
ment. Tension and conflict related energies accumu-
late in low energy locations and affect the flow of the
chi.
With love...
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ACTIVITIES
eXPAts' Get-toGetHer:
iNterNAtioNs.orG
IPHoToGRAPHS: TUNC OZCEBERnternations community, which created a net-work among foreigners who live in more than 250 cities, organized its March meeting in one of Ankara's finest venues, Samm Bistro. Inter-nations, which can be reached through inter-nations.org, was founded
with the aim of helping those who live
abroad for work or other purposes. It
presents helpful information related to
On 10th of March, members of
the country and cities in which foreign-
Internations had a colorful and
ers live. At the same time, Interna-
enjoyable night in an environ-
tions creates events organized in finest
ment where members from pated and had the chance to
venues where people from different Australia, Belgium, Canada, meet new members and chat
nations can gather, socialize and help Ireland, Estonia, finland, India, with each other. The Ambas-
each other. Among the members of Iran, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria,
The event was very colorful thanks to the stylish participants.
sadors of Internations, Steph-
this cosmopolitan group, there are New Zealand, Poland, Philip-
anie Tse Hasancebi and ver-
employees and employers of interna-
pines, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tai-
ena Hein hosted this evening.
tional companies, governmental and wan, Zimbabve, Turkey, China,
non-governmental organizations and Germany, Tunisia, United States We, as MG, were with the In-
those who work in diplomatic missions.
of America and Spain partici-
ternations members that night.
Participants from different countries had the opportunity to chat with each other on this delightful night.
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ACTIVITIES
Sheila Smith (in the middle), the principal of an American school in Ankara, was among the participants.
Members of Internations, stood out with their sympathetic attitude.
Internations' meeting gathers both Turkish and foreign people.
Guests emphasized their pleasure on this event, which is organized on a monthly basis.
Members from different career fields moved into a deep conversation through the night.
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ACTIVITIES
Members mentioned their excitement for the next meeting.
The Ambassadors of Internations Ankara, Stephanie Tse
The event creates an environment for the members from
Hasancebi (Hong Kong), and Verene Hein (Germany).
different nationalities to build bridges with each other.
Stephanie Tse Hasancebi, spent time with every member who participated in the event.
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