Last year, we decided to merge our call center company, EkoCC, with another major player in the industry, Vodasoft. You can find my blog post about this at http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/kullerden-dogan-dev-cagri-merkezi.
Following this decision, we selected Taşdelen (a neighborhood in Çekmeköy) as our new office location. Our new office space in Taşdelen is 8,500 m². It will be the largest location in Istanbul to host a call center. In addition to EkoCCS, which currently serves 120 brands, our other ventures will also be located in our new location. I previously wrote that our new office building in Taşdelen, which will also house our renewable energy company, EkoRE, our fintech company, Moka, and our Wi-Fi Analytics company, Bonbon, offers employees a very comfortable and enjoyable environment with its fitness center, library, conference room, hobby areas, terrace, and café. When moving to such an office, I had to solve the most pressing problem: How would I deal with the traffic?
I can say that I’ve been completely consumed by commuting from Nişantaşı to Maltepe for the past four years. Of course, I thoroughly enjoyed living in Nişantaşı, my hometown, but wouldn’t it make more sense to live closer to my priority, my job?
For a long time, I refused to leave Nişantaşı. Perhaps the office’s relocation from Maltepe to Taşdelen would have been a reason for me to make the decision. And indeed, it was. I didn’t want to deal with the bridge traffic any longer. So I started wondering, “Do I need to move too? Will this traffic be manageable? And if I do, where should I move?” I’d heard a lot about Çekmeköy. When I started researching, the idea of settling somewhere in the forest in Çekmeköy began to appeal to me. I started telling my close circle about the possibility of moving. I even went so far as to officially announce my move in an article I wrote at the end of the year. Here’s that article:http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/yeni-yilda-yeni-hedef-ve-umutlarla
A 5-Minute Decision
Finally, I made up my mind on a Sunday and started looking at houses. The complexes I visited were nice, but they weren’t exactly what I envisioned. I usually make quick decisions because I visualize what I want. The moment I see that picture in my head, I make my decision without hesitation. The houses on the complexes I visited didn’t quite fit my vision. My real estate agent, Hatice Hanım, was trying to arrange another option for the end of the tour. She asked me if I liked the ones I’d seen so far. While they were nice, none of them were entirely to my liking, so I told her I’d be interested in seeing another option. She said she had another house in mind, but since the tour wasn’t available at the time, she’d save it for last. We finally arranged a time, and the visit took place the next day (Monday).
There’s coordination among the real estate agents. I went into the house with Hatice Hanım, the other agent who had the authorization for the house she knew, and the neighbor who would be showing us. I went upstairs. Within 5 minutes, I had made my decision. I had some questions. I asked the neighbor. Nothing bothered me about the responses. We went out and told the real estate agents, “This house is perfect for me.” I explained that I’d made a quick decision and wanted to move in that day if we could agree on a rent. Our landlords, a couple living in Hong Kong, were contacted. We agreed on a rent. I sent a deposit, signed the agreement with my new landlord’s brother, and we finalized the deal. One of my landlords came over that weekend. The whole family packed up the house. By 2 May, I had taken over the house completely.
Seven giant bags of paper!
Then came the real challenge: moving house. This was no easy task. Thankfully, Esma, my housekeeper who’s been with me since I was a little girl, my mother, and my driver, Münir, helped. Still, getting the house together took a long time. I worked all night, especially last Friday night.
The study took the longest time of all. Oh my goodness! That room contained seven garbage bags full of paper (all of which went in the recycling, of course). I couldn’t finish them all; I said, “I’ll put the rest together at the new house.” They were about 10 years old. In a way, it was a good thing they got through.
That evening, while I was doing this tidying, there was a Hıdırellez festival in Maçka Park, right next to my house. From 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM, there was nonstop singing, folk songs, announcements, shouting, and just pure joy and joy…
While I was gathering paperwork in the study, Esma Hanım came up to me with a mischievous smile, saying, “Mr. Serhan, they’re playing drums and zurna behind you because you’re leaving.” I laughed heartily and said, “I think they’re sending me off in the best way possible. I want every farewell to be joyful, not sad. This was exactly the kind of send-off I wanted.” She said, “Well, that’s another perspective,” and went into the next room.
If you’d like to learn more about Hıdırellez, you can read the article at http://www.turizmglobal.com/5-6-mayis-edirne-hidirellez-senlikleri/.
Saying Goodbye with a Celebration of Life
Joking aside, sad farewells really bother me. Everyone has a lifespan. When I pass away, I want my close circle to say goodbye not with sadness, but with joy, sharing memories, and celebrating life. I’ll talk about this later.
The next morning (Saturday) at 8:15 a.m., the moving company arrived. Just when we thought we’d already taken care of most of the house, they spent hours trying to tidy up the house. Our team—my mother, Esma Hanım, and Münir Bey—arrived at 9:00 a.m. We were all able to leave the house together only at 1:00 p.m. I called my former landlord, sent his driver, and handed him the keys. Five days before I packed up the house, my former landlord and I had a long dinner and talked about the old days. I remember my first visit. I was living in Süzer Plaza at the time. While it might seem like a plus to have my work and my living space in the same building, sometimes I got really bored. You just want to get out and walk, to touch the ground. So, I willingly moved out of one of Istanbul’s most luxurious residences (and certainly the one with the best view). Simao, who was playing for Beşiktaş at the time, rented my apartment. I was initially looking for a waterside apartment on the Bosphorus, but faced with the traffic, I changed my mind and focused on Nişantaşı, one of the closest and most beautiful neighborhoods. I gave the same advice to both real estate agents: “High ceilings, a view of greenery, and a central location.” I didn’t like any of the apartments they showed me. After two months of searching, I finally found the apartment I wanted. I lived in this wonderful apartment for about 10 years. I will write about this story in more detail in the future.
The Friendship and Love of the Residents
Back to the present day, our building attendant, Hanifi Bey, kept coming and going, and was always helpful. His face was sad and tearful. When I first saw him, I asked, “What’s up, Hanifi Bey? Why is your face so grim?” “Serhan Bey, it’s not like you think,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep all night. I’m so sorry you left.” I told him, “Don’t worry, I’m leaving, but we’ll always be in touch. You can call me anytime if you need anything.”
Thanks to the neighborhood, they reserved a parking space for me in a very congested area. They helped with the transportation.
Thanks to my landlord and the other residents, they embraced me. Everyone in that building was practically family. I was the only one visiting from outside, but over the past 10 years, I’ve certainly become like family. I’m still grieving the loss of my neighbor across the street in January. I’d like to re-share my article titled “About Life” regarding this: http://www.serhansuzer.com/tr/hayata-dair
Witnessing how everyone in my apartment building, and even in my neighborhood, embraced me and helped me was a wonderful feeling. There’s no secret to treating people well and making them feel good. If you don’t waste your time greeting them, help them when they need you, reflect your inner positivity and smile, and most importantly, don’t be a burden but instead offer your support, and do all of this sincerely, without expecting anything in return, then that’s how you’re perceived. You become a true part of the neighborhood and the apartment building.
It suddenly rained just as I was about to leave the house in Nişantaşı. It was pouring down like a bucket. This was an interesting coincidence. In my perception, rain is a blessing. May it bring you good fortune.
From exhaust to oxygen coma!
Kindness and sincerity truly come from within. There are all kinds of people in this world. It’s not for nothing that they say, “May God bring you good people.” There are those in this world who exploit even kindness. There are those who claim everything is for the good, who claim they’re a young social entrepreneur, who claim they’re idealistic, who claim it’s for their child’s sustenance, who claim they’re actually saving the world, yet they profit themselves in unimaginable ways, like pulling a hair out of butter. And all this while remaining completely silent and breaking countless rules. But they won’t buy it.
I’m incredibly grateful for genuinely good and sincere people, but I have no forgiveness for those who commit evil under the guise of kindness. I’ll do whatever is necessary.
That’s why we got along so well with the people of Nişantaşı. I’d like to thank my former landlord, the Istanbul lady Nilgün Hanım, my favorite neighbor who has passed away, Sayeinur Hanım, and all the wonderful people in my apartments and neighborhood. Thank you, thank you.
Despite all the noise, chaos, and exhaust fumes, I love Nişantaşı. In fact, I’m planning to write a Nişantaşı guide for you this month. Now, in the forest of Çekmeköy, every cell in my body is confused by the excess oxygen. While I used to sleep an average of 4-5 hours in Nişantaşı (mostly due to the noise), I now sleep an average of 7 hours. In a sense, I’ve come to my senses.
When I move into my new office on 22 May, my productivity will increase at least two to threefold. Have a good day soon…
Tag: memoir
