The Beginning 30/03/2011

Tenth day of the month of Ramadan. The weather is too hot. We are speaking with Ali on sea view balcony of coffee house. We are trying to become cooler there.

Although everybody is fasting in our neighbourhood in the month of Ramadan, the coffeehouse is open in afternoon. Some of the resident go to garden of the mosque. Some others go to the balcony. So the conservation of residents continues. Moreover, in winter Ramadans, the coffeehouse owner burns stove and people gather around it altough he doesn't sell anything.

Metin Özbaskıcı Selaniksport 24/02/2010

Sward area behind Teneke Mahalle was a natural football field. Youth who came from newspaper delivering or shoe-shining used to play football there in each afternoon. It was their greatest pleasure. They were improving their football as they play football everyday. They were playing better day by day. They were playing football matches with the other neighbourhoods of the city. There was a great interest in our matches.

Metin Özbaskıcı Association of Cooperation of Yavuz Selim Neighbourhood (4) 16/02/2011

People gave us skins of sacrificed animals as an help for the association in muslim festival of sacrifices. We sold the skin to make a contribution to the budget of our association. Then we bought three fire extinguisher. We put them different places of the neighbourhood. We wish our residents to be able to estinguish possible fires. These precautions made possible to distinguish there fire danger before spreading of the fire. We have always kept fire extinguishers ready.

Metin Özbaskıcı Association of Cooperation of Yavuz Selim Neighbourhood (3) 13/01/2011

We want to do more activities with our association. We discussed among ourselves if we could organize a circumcision feast. All families were organizing circumcision feast for their sons either they are poor or middle class. However circumcision feasts of rich families were more imposing. Circumcision feasts of poor families were modest. A collective circumcision feast would be more beautiful and hinder poor families to be jealous of middle class families. Yes, it could be possible; we could do it...

Association of Cooperation of Yavuz Selim Neighbourhood (2) 16/12/2010

Our association used to continue cooperation activity. Our budget was existed with the money we gathered among us each month and it was enough for the needs of our association. We thought if it's possible to find new resources to improve our budget.

It was before the Ramadan. One of our friends, who have a shop in the city, wanted to make food aid for our neighbourhood. It was a nice offer. We could also add something and help poor residents. Rice was being sold easier in TMO ( Soil Products Office). However each individual could only buy 2 kilogram rice from TMO. We, as administration of the association, visited TMO. We learned that we could buy 5-6 carryall of rice with an official letter. It was Ramadan and all of us needed rice. We bought 6 carryall of rice. We donate 1 carryall of rice to the association and shared 5 carryall among us. Uncle Amo Dede who had recently informed about our activity donated 20 litre oil for the association. We measured provisions and put them in packets. It was the time to determine who will be beneficiaries for food aid.

Metin Özbaskıcı The First Day Of School 09/12/2010

My mother washed my face. She was proud of me. I was wearing my school uniform. It was the first day of school. . The oldest one of her 5 children; her only son was starting school. She embraced me. I was the only hope of her. I came out for the school. Quad of the our house was too crowded. It seemed as if all neighborhood residents was gathered there. While older children were eating breakfast, younger ones were tied to their mother's apron strings. They were crying for fear of the first day of school. Because older children were telling us stories about the school. "The teacher beats us with a cornel stick". "They inoculate us with a huge enjector." These rumours were frightening us about the school. Moreover, many children were dropping out school before their 5th years. Mothers were happy when their children learned reading and writing. Nobody was hoping their children to have a better education. It wasn't possible for them to be a doctor or a teacher. It was impossible.

Metin Özbaskıcı Am I Gypsy 01/12/2010

I have always asked myself for all my life. Am i Gypsy? I am living in a Gypsy neighbourhood. My mother, my father, my grandfather, my grandmother, all my ancestors are Gypsy. I could speak Gypsy language even not very well. So i am a Gypsy.

What is my difference from Gadje? Even i have a litter bit darker skin, there are too many people with darker skin among Gadje. I speak Turkish, i write Turkish. I am using Turkish better than many others. I am poor. I am poor. I am living in slum unwillingly. Is it shameful for me that my mothers skirt is a little bit colourful and i have different way of dressing? Why they condemn us as if their ancestors wear black tie in the villages of Anatolia?