Jealousy and protection

There may have been many posts on this topic but lately I've been experiencing the wrath of Turkish jealousy more and more. It is altogether facinating, annoying, comical, and a little pathetic. I do surround myself in a web of people if i'm feeling at all uncomfortable. The turks really want to "protect" those they love. When i have a problem, I can easily tell any of my students and they will freak out " what, who, where!" I think its nice to get their response but sometimes it a bit annoyiing, Christy you must be careful. I am not an idiot, i have lived in cities, and to be honest i think those cities have been more dangerous than turkish ones. HOwever, they think everything is dangerous. As i get to know the jealous turk more and more, i realize that their form of protection is against the jealous turk not the random mugger. My male students will ask me about my weekends plans. "Did you have a drink with a boy?, yes,teacher I am jealous" Ok, thanks for telling me that, its not going to change my plans from hanging out with other teachers! "teacher i can be your turkish teacher, no thanks I have a pretty good one, 'i am jealous'" Sometimes its cute but sometimes I think they have no right to tell me what i do, who i'm with, and to be super worried about me, but its just their culture.

We were at the islands together. I was climbing on some rocks (big rocks mind you) and they FREAKED OUT. Teacher noooooooo that is dangerous! i was standing near a ledge about 4 people grabbed me. Teacher this is too close. I wondered where their sense of excitement and curiousity was. Yes, I know sometimes i do pretty daring things, but this was me being very cautious. It amazes me how (for me) unexciting thier lives are, they dont do anything. Or cant do anything. ONe of the teachers and i have been talking about that lately. Our students who have to go straight home after class, and they are older than me. Its frustrating. Its frustrating that they dont have fun travel stories like I do. Its frustrating to have them judge me for staying in a 20lira hostel when they think i should stay in an expensive place becasue it might not be safe. hello, i save money this way, i'm smart i lock my things, AND i meet new people, hear new stories, learn about new cultures. Sometimes its frustrating to know how lucky I am and what they are missing out.