To Lina re bad english

Submitted by yasemin (Canada), Mar 25, 2009 at 14:35

Brilliant comment, Lina. Yes, it was the fact that his "broken English" brought out my maternal instinct. I met him on a website for language exchange and it was the perfect hook.

But here's the funny part: I knew no Turkish whatsoever when i arrived and was totally helpless but by the time he started the divorce a year later, I knew enough turkish to get a legal aid lawyer, get a criminal assault charge laid against him, chat with his work intern and learn that my husband was going to commit bigamy by taking an illegal wife in a religious marriage. In part thanks to english speakers there but also to having studied diligently everyday to increase my vocabulary. I could also get light fixtures and leaking plumbing fixed :)

I would have given anything to have been at the court to see his tantrum when the judge announced the divorce he wanted was refused. I would have been laughing hysterically. He thought it was going to be so easy because I was so "helpless" linguistically and knew nothing about turkish law and culture...I'm still laughing about this months later...

Actually i should thank him for making me street smart in return for the free english lessons. I was able to spot what might have been a possible "friendship" between my husband and my first lawyer who out of the blue invited me to come back to Turkey and go camping with him - before the divorce decision was given. A set-up to give adultery evidence.

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