Today I gave noticed to my old job and signed my intentions with my new job.
I got an offer in dollars, emailed back and forth with HR about benefits and other details, and finally drove in today to talk with the director. I wanted to see if I could negotiate some more money.
Except, I'm really bad at negotiating - I don't really have the heart for it. I got what I wanted (and the standard for foreign teachers working there): my kid's tuition will be free, a higher salary with part in dollars, and I'll be a regular English teacher. But I also learned I won't be getting free on-campus housing (which I had been hoping for), not air tickets home and other benefits overseas hire receive. So I argued, isn't it to both of our advantages that I'm an in country hire?
I really didn't want to negotiate for more, but I didn't want to be a fool for not trying. Turkish workers generally don't negotiate and are underpaid (or not paid) because people are so desperate for a good job, let alone work, that to challenge (and that is what it would be perceived as) is to invite termination. The school I was applying to had an American as the director - so I tried to negotiate so I wouldn't have a question in my mind as to whether I given a fair offer or not. I don't want to find out down the road that someone is making much more than me because I was too passive. I had heard from another person that worked there the standard starting pay plus experience - and if it were true, my salary wasn't enough.
I walked into the director's office, shook his hand, and thanked him for the offer. I could see the concern on his face right away - I suppose he knew what was coming. I said I wanted to talk about the salary, whether it could be reconsidered - whether my experience and degrees had been factored in, whether the lack of housing could be compensated in my salary, how my living in country was a big advantage because of my investment and familiarity. The director broke eye contact with me when he answered.
"I'm afraid not." He apologized, explained how these numbers had been pre-determined by a board, and this is how it was.
In retrospect, I should have pushed more - I'm a pretty good bet considering all the stuff going on in Turkey right now may scare applicants away. But I didn't. When he said "there's not funny stuff going on here", it was all I needed to here - and I was to shy to push for more. Why would why? Greed? Do I deserve it? I don't know, and I guess I don't really care. I had been hemming and hawing as whether I should speak to them or not. Zuleyha came with me and the baby and waited in the car. I felt braver with her. I had told her I wouldn't get campus housing - but it probably didn't matter as the housing seemed to small for our family. Later we joked that I should have asked for two apartments. Maybe in the future, I've always wanted to live on a university campus.
We drove down to my school from there, maybe five minutes away - to top universities within a few miles of each other with the kolej our elementary and secondary schools within the campus. School was just letting out and the parking lot was a bees nest of cars and parents. I parked far away to avoid the mess, and brought Tuana inside to meet whomever was there. I spoke with the school principal to give my notice and sign a paper. She said she was sad, but not shocked. I told her I wasn't coming back, waited for her reaction, and then told her why. I didn't have to tell her why... I could have let her believe it was for my kids' sake, but I told her in case they want to give me a counteroffer. But, I highly doubted they could match my new school's offer.
Two assistant principals were waiting in the office. The could smell something was up, and were waiting outside the principals office, awkwardly silent when I came out. The principal wasn't discrete, and asked for the form in front of the others. No one looked at me, so I tried to make a joke. (I tend to make more jokes when I'm nervous) but, I can't remember what I said.
I left school feeling different. Sad that I would be leaving friends there, anxious about saying goodbye, nervous about starting at a new school. . .
So I stopped and bought donuts to celebrate or comfort eat ... I'm not sure which one.
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