[email protected]

Time to leave Istanbul

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

My cousin, who lives in Istanbul, called me the other day.

Despite being an assistant in the civil engineering department of a good university and owning his own home, he said he wanted to leave Istanbul and was looking for a position at a university in Anatolia.

He is fed up with Istanbul.

He asked if I knew anyone.

He said he would even be willing to go to the east.

I asked if Şırnak would work.

Although he said "not that far," I understood that he was willing to go even to the near east of Ankara.

For years, I have also had one foot in Istanbul.

I have been living in Istanbul full-time for 3 years.

My residence and my registration with the Chamber of Civil Engineers are in Kadıköy.

I rarely use my private vehicle to commute to work.

The traffic is disgraceful.

Since my car is not automatic, the excessive gear shifting and clutch use have caused damage to my joints.

Due to the pain resulting from the injury in my foot, I have become unable to put on my shoes.

I travel by Marmaray and metro.

Compared to the Metrobus, it is quite comfortable, as Metrobus transportation is fundamentally contrary to basic human rights.

The excessive shaking is at a level that threatens bodily integrity.

If we add the sardine-packed travel, it has reached a level that, with long-term use, strips its users of their humanity and takes them on a journey toward reverse evolution.

Despite this effort and heavy expenses, salaries are also very low.

Even though I receive two salaries, I can barely feed myself.

Although everyone, including the children, has reduced their expenses to a minimum, income does not even cover basic costs.

Loans have also been cut off.

We have fallen victim to the overdraft account (KMH) interest rates.

I am tired of paying 10 percent net interest every month.

Eating out has become impossible.

While cheap restaurant food is of poor quality, the expensive ones are not high quality either.

I do not even need to write about the level that rents have reached.

It is clear that the time to leave Istanbul has come and gone.