Hello - Selam - Merhaba from Bursa

Hi everybody

I'm an English teacher. I was born in Turkey and spent my first five years in Bursa. Then I moved abroad and only visited during holidays. Now, I moved back. Bursa has changed a lot since.

At the moment, I am exploring how to use blogs and other Web 2.0 tools in my classroom. This is one reason why I have started this blog. The other is, that I want to write about my experience as a "native expat" - I don't know how else to describe what I am and how I am feeling. It is a strange combination of feelings like being at home and being a foreigner at the same time.

Before moving "back" to Bursa, I actually searched for expat meetings in Bursa. Then, I thought: "Wait a minute, you are not an expat!" 

Some time ago, I was searching for lesson material - an interesting topic. I found something about "culture shock". The article said that there were five stages:

1. The honemoon (tourist) stage
   
2. Shock
   
3. The adjustment stage
   
4. Acceptance or acculturation
   
5. Re-entry shock (when you go back home)
   

I think I'm between stages 2 and 4. I realise how critical I am about Turkey and compare things with Germany, where I lived before, and other countries. I seem to see the negative sides most of the time. Although, regarding Bursa, I actually see it in a more favourable light. But more about this in my following posts.

Cheers