YOU'RE DOING GOOD. YOU'RE DOING REAL GOOD.
WHEN I'M NOT IN THESE CLASSES,
AND I'M NOT TEACHING, THIS IS WHERE I COME, GET ON THE ICE,
AND KIND OF JUST CHILL OUT.
(Andromeda) SKATING ISN'T DONNIE ROBINSON'S ONLY LOVE.
HE ALSO HAS AN APPRECIATION FOR LEARNING NEW CULTURES.
I FINISHED MY MASTER'S DEGREE AND WENT TO TURKEY LAST YEAR.
OH, THAT'S THE LAST TIME ON THE ICE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY GONNA MISS YOU HERE.
I WANTED TO GO BACK TO TURKEY, SO I FOUND A WAY TO DO THAT.
AND ON HIS TIGHT TEACHER'S BUDGET,
HE'S LUCKY TO HAVE A ROOMMATE WAITING FOR HIM IN TURKEY.
DONNIE AND I MET IN TURKEY.
WE WERE A PART OF THE SAME FULBRIGHT PROGRAM,
WHICH BROUGHT PEOPLE TO TURKEY TO TEACH ENGLISH
IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES.
I HAVE A BIG ADVANTAGE IN THIS. I'M NOT DOING IT ALONE.
BUT WILL HE WISH HE WAS?
CAN'T BE HIS ROOM.
EXACTLY.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONING?
THAT'S RIGHT.
I'LL GET A FAN.
AND THEIR STRICT BUDGET KEEPS THEM HUMBLE.
OH.
ALL RIGHT, SO THEY LEFT SOME STUFF BEHIND.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.
FIND OUT WHEN "HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL"
SKATES...
DO IT AGAIN.
THROUGH IZMIR, TURKEY.
OOH.
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Captioned by Closed Captioning Services, Inc.
YAY, NOW PUT ONE ARM UP.
I STARTED SKATING WHEN I CAME TO U. OF I.
AS A HOBBY, AND I JUST HAPPEN TO BE OKAY AT IT,
SO I JUST DO ADULT COMPETITIONS.
LEG OUT.
I'M IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA TO TIE UP SOME LOOSE ENDS
AND GETTING READY TO MAKE THE BIG MOVE OVER TO TURKEY.
BUILDING A CAREER AS A LANGUAGE TEACHER,
DONNIE ROBINSON HAS AN INSATIABLE APPETITE
FOR NEW CULTURES.
I ACTUALLY STUDIED LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE AT THIS CAMPUS,
AND I FINISHED MY MASTER'S DEGREE
AND WENT TO TURKEY.
I REALLY LIKED THE COUNTRY, THE CULTURE, AND THE PEOPLE,
AND I WANTED TO CONTINUE LEARNING TURKISH,
SO I FOUND A JOB THERE.
(woman) IS THERE GONNA BE AN ICE SKATING RINK
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SKATE AT?
ACTUALLY, THERE'S A BRAND-NEW RINK IN IZMIR.
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED
THE SAME JOB IN IZMIR,
SO NOW WE ARE LOOKING TOGETHER FOR A PLACE TO STAY.
WE HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET
BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH GOING FROM THIS GRANT PROGRAM
WHERE WE DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY LAST YEAR.
(woman) DOES CATHERINE LIKE TO HAVE PARTIES
AND HAVE PEOPLE OVER?
CATHERINE'S AN EXTREMELY SOCIAL PERSON.
SHE LIKES TO BAKE GOODIES, BRING 'EM TO HER STUDENTS.
COMBINING OUR TWO INCOMES WILL GET US
A BIGGER AND BETTER PLACE PROBABLY.
ALTHOUGH IT'S REALLY HARD TO THINK OF ANY WAY
THAT WE CAN REPLACE YOU,
WE'VE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
WHAT IN THE-- WHAT IS GOING ON?
IT'S YOU!
WHAT IS THAT?
LEAVING CHAMPAIGN-URBANA AND ALL MY FRIENDS
IS REALLY GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT THING FOR ME.
YOU GUYS ARE RIDICULOUS.
SO DONNIE LEAVES HIS LIFE-SIZE LOOK-ALIKE WITH HIS FRIENDS,
PACKS HIS SKATES,
AND MAKES THE 5,600-MILE JOURNEY
TO HISTORIC IZMIR, TURKEY.
ONCE HOME TO THE FAMOUS GREEK POET HOMER,
IZMIR, TURKEY, HAS A DOCUMENTED HISTORY
THAT SPANS AT LEAST 3,500 YEARS,
MAKING IT ONE OF THE OLDEST SETTLEMENTS
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN.
NESTLED IN THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF TURKEY,
OFF THE AEGEAN SEA,
IZMIR IS THE THIRD-LARGEST CITY IN TURKEY,
AND IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE
TURKISH CITIES.
LAST YEAR I WAS PUT IN SORT OF A DORM-STYLE LIVING,
AND IT WAS PRETTY TIGHT, AND SINCE THIS IS A BIGGER MOVE,
I WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT I AM PERSONALLY HAPPY WITH
WHEN I COME HOME FROM WORK.
BUT IN IZMIR'S GROWING MARKET,
FINDING WHAT HE WANTS IN HIS BUDGET WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
(woman) IN IZMIR, THE PRICES ARE GOING UP.
MOSTLY THE BUILDINGS THAT ARE BUILT
FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.
WHAT IS YOUR WISH LIST?
WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT
THAT WOULD BE CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION...
OKAY.
AND EASY TO GET TO OUR UNIVERSITY FROM, SO...
YEAH.
UH, ALSO I KNOW THERE'S AN ICE RINK IN IZMIR...
YES.
AND IF IT WERE AT ALL POSSIBLE TO BE
IN THE AREA WHERE THE ICE RINK IS, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
ICE SKATING IS MY HOBBY,
AND I REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE ICE SKATING IN TURKEY.
AND HOW MANY BEDROOMS THEN?
UM, WE WERE THINKING THAT WE'D LIKE A 3-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S IZMIR, SO IT'S PRETTY HOT,
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO AIR-CONDITIONING...
OKAY.
IN THE APARTMENT.
HOW ABOUT YOU, CATHERINE?
I WOULD LIKE A KITCHEN WITH AN OVEN...
OKAY.
BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE BAKING, SO THAT WOULD BE A BONUS.
IT'S VERY TYPICAL HERE TO ONLY HAVE A STOVETOP FOR COOKING.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR PRICE RANGE.
YEAH, AND THE BUDGET--
OUR BUDGET'S ABOUT $500 TO $650
AT THE TOP END.
OKAY.
(Didem) IT IS NOT THAT EASY TO FIND A PROPERTY,
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IN IZMIR,
UH, THEY DON'T MOVE SO MUCH.
DIDEM WORKS AROUND THIS CHALLENGE
BY STARTING THE TOUR OFF WITH A NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILD.
HOUSE 1 IS ON BUDGET,
AND WILL GIVE THEM MODERN AMENITIES,
BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO SACRIFICE LOCATION.
IT'S A BRAND-NEW BUILDING. IT'S 3-BEDROOM,
UH, $625 A MONTH.
OKAY, SO THE TOP OF OUR RANGE.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE LIVING ROOM FIRST.
(Catherine) NICE BIG AREA.
(Donnie) YEAH, IT'S VERY MODERN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE BALCONY.
GREAT.
OKAY.
OH, THIS IS HUGE.
OH, MY GOSH, WOW. AND WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION ZONE.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION NOISE GOING ON.
YOU'RE RIGHT. I ASKED THEM,
THEY SAID AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS TO FINISH.
THAT'S THE ENTIRE SEMESTER, FOUR MONTHS.
YEAH.
DIDEM SAID IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE,
BUT AS CONSTRUCTION GOES,
IT COULD TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN JUST FOUR MONTHS.
(Didem) I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU THE KITCHEN HERE.
(Donnie) GREAT.
(Catherine) OH, OKAY.
OH, WOW. AN OVEN FOR YOU.
YEAH.
(Donnie) ALL THE APPLIANCES WERE THERE.
YOU HAD THE OVEN FOR CATHERINE IN THE KITCHEN.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE BATHROOM.
OKAY.
THIS IS THE MAIN BATHROOM?
YES.
OKAY.
IT'S A BIT SMALL.
YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALL.
THE BATHROOM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME,
SO I REALLY WANT A NICE WESTERN BATHROOM WITH SOME SPACE.
SHE AND I GET ALONG REAL WELL
AND ARE LOOKING FOR VERY SIMILAR THINGS IN OUR APARTMENT.
AND HERE'S THE BEDROOM.
THIS WAS THE MASTER BEDROOM?
THIS IS THE MASTER BEDROOM,
EXACTLY, AND THEN EN SUITE HERE.
I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN THE MAIN BATH.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN THE OTHER ONE, YES.
AND FOR CATHERINE, THE DRESSING ROOM.
YEAH.
UH, NOW YOU'RE ASSUMING THAT THIS WOULD BE CATHERINE'S ROOM,
BUT I'M IN CONTENTION FOR THIS ROOM, TOO, YOU SEE.
OH, PLEASE COME IN.
I KNOW THAT CATHERINE WOULD BE KIND OF WANTING
TO MOVE INTO THAT ROOM, SO WE WOULD HAVE TO FLIP A COIN
OR ARM WRESTLE OR SOMETHING FOR IT.
(Didem) SECOND ROOM HERE.
(Catherine) OKAY.
YOU CAN USE THIS AS A GUEST ROOM, GUEST BEDROOM.
IT'S NOT QUITE AS LARGE AS THE OTHER ONE.
HOW FAR ARE WE FROM THE METRO?
WE ARE ABOUT TEN MINUTES AWAY FROM METRO.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT
IS THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE THAT YOU CAN HEAR RIGHT NOW.
YEAH.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT ACTUALLY, THEY'RE ALMOST DONE.
THE NOISE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE.
AT THE MOMENT, IT'S PRETTY BARREN.
WE DIDN'T REALLY SEE MANY SHOPS IN THE AREA,
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S PRETTY FAR FROM THE ICE RINK.
SO THIS IS A LIVELY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BORNOVA.
SO THIS IS THE BUILDING HERE.
OKAY.
THE PRICE IS $800.
$800.
THAT'S WAY OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE.
YEAH, THAT IS QUITE EXPENSIVE.
WELL, LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S LOOK.
OKAY.
I LIKE HOW THEY HAVE THE PICTURES OF OLD SMYRNA.
THIS IS WHAT WAS HERE.
YEAH, ONCE UPON A TIME.
ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS ABOUT BEING IN TURKEY
IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL AROUND,
TO SEE DIFFERENT HISTORICAL PLACES.
HAVING PREVIOUSLY SPENT A YEAR IN TURKEY
ON A FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP,
COLLEAGUES DONNIE AND CATHERINE
ARE MAKING A PERMANENT MOVE TO IZMIR
TO FURTHER THEIR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CAREERS.
COMING FROM THE UNITED STATES,
THE EDUCATION SYSTEMS ARE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT,
SO I WANTED TO GET TEACHING EXPERIENCE HERE IN TURKEY.
FINALLY WE'RE BY THE WATER.
I KNOW.
(Donnie) AFTER COMING OFF OF A YEAR ON A SCHOLARSHIP,
WE DON'T HAVE A HUGE BUDGET.
NOW ALL WE NEED ARE SOME BEACHES.
YEAH, LET'S FIND A BEACH.
(Didem) IT'S A BRAND-NEW BUILDING...
KEEPING THEIR $650 BUDGET IN MIND,
DIDEM HAS JUST SHOWN THEM A MODERN 3-BEDROOM
WITH AMENITIES SUITED TO CATHERINE...
SHOW YOU THE KITCHEN HERE.
OH, OKAY.
AN OVEN FOR YOU.
YEAH.
BUT THE LOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION NOISE
MIGHT BE TOO MUCH OF A COMPROMISE FOR THEM.
(Didem) THEY PREFER TO BE IN THE CENTER OF THE CITY,
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
I THINK THEY SHOULD GO UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE PRICE.
WITH LOCATION IN MIND,
DIDEM BRINGS THEM TO DOWNTOWN IZMIR,
FOR AN APARTMENT THAT'S BIGGER AND PRICIER,
BUT IN IZMIR'S GROWING MARKET,
THEY MIGHT HAVE TO JUMP ON WHAT'S AVAILABLE.
SO THIS IS A LIVELY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BORNOVA.
WE HAVE THE BARS
AND THE BOUTIQUES AND THE CAFS,
AND THIS IS THE BUILDING HERE.
OKAY.
IT'S A 4-BEDROOM. THE PRICE IS $800.
$800.
THAT'S WAY OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE.
MAYBE--
BUT IT'S FURNISHED OR UNFURNISHED?
IT'S FURNISHED.
OKAY, AND FOUR BEDROOMS.
WELL, LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S LOOK.
OKAY.
THE PRICE IS OUT OF OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW,
BUT IT IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE METRO, WHICH IS GOOD.
OH, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FURNITURE HERE.
OH, WOW.
YES.
THEY JUST PUT THEM FOR--
OH, OKAY.
FOR THE DUST, REALLY.
OKAY. THAT'S NOT BAD.
YES.
AND HERE'S THE BALCONY. IT'S A LITTLE BIT WINDY, BUT...
OH, IT'S QUITE A BIT LOUDER OUT HERE.
OH, WOW.
IT'S ON A BUSY STREET, OF COURSE.
YEAH.
THE LOCATION IS IDEAL,
AND THE ICE RINK IS VERY CLOSE, TOO.
I WILL TAKE YOU TO THE KITCHEN HERE.
OKAY. WE'VE GOT AN OVEN.
OH.
YES, YOU DO.
IT HAD EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD WANT.
IT HAD AN OVEN, A STOVE. IT HAD THE REFRIGERATOR.
I'LL SHOW YOU ONE OF THE BEDROOMS.
OKAY.
OH.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ONE.
YEAH.
IT'S A LITTLE CLUTTERED.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH.
YEAH, THAT SEEMS TO BE A THEME SO FAR,
IS JUST A LOT OF FURNITURE.
YEAH.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE OTHER BEDROOM.
IT'S FULL OF STUFF. CAN WE GET IT MOVED?
I NEED TO SPEAK TO THE OWNER.
OKAY, YEAH,
BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE RENTING A 4-BEDROOM APARTMENT,
WE DEFINITELY WOULD WANT TO USE ALL OF THE ROOMS,
ESPECIALLY FOR THE PRICE.
THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH STUFF.
I HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME PICTURING
WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH ALL THAT FURNITURE.
ESPECIALLY HAVING THAT ONE BEDROOM THAT WE CAN'T EVEN USE.
THIS IS THE MASTER BEDROOM.
OKAY.
OH.
BIG BED!
JUST MY SIZE.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT-- IT LOOKS MORE PERFECT FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE OTHER BEDROOMS, I THINK.
I KNOW THAT DONNIE WOULD PROBABLY END UP WITH
THAT MASTER BEDROOM, JUST BECAUSE HE IS SO TALL.
SO WHAT'S THIS WIRE HANGING UP HERE?
FOR THE AIR-CONDITION.
THAT MEANS IT CAN'T BE HIS ROOM.
EXACTLY.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO AIR-CONDITIONING?
THAT'S RIGHT.
I'LL GET A FAN.
YEAH.
HERE'S OUR BATHROOM.
OOH, JACUZZI TUB.
EXACTLY.
NICE.
OH.
YES, IT'S VERY NICE.
THE SHOWER LOOKS REALLY GREAT, THOUGH.
SHOWER IS BRAND-NEW, YES.
YEAH.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE APARTMENT?
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GREAT APARTMENT.
THE BATHROOM WAS REALLY GREAT, UM, WESTERN TOILET--
WITH THE JACUZZI.
YEAH, JACUZZI TUB.
BUT THERE WAS A BIG PROBLEM.
THAT ONE ROOM IS COMPLETELY FULL OF STUFF
AND UNUSABLE RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
YEAH, THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF IN THERE.
AND THE BIGGEST THING IS THE PRICE.
IF WE COULD GET THE PRICE DOWN,
THEN WE COULD REALLY CONSIDER IT.
I WILL DEFINITELY TRY.
GREAT.
MAYBE I CAN NEGOTIATE WITH THE OWNER,
OR MAYBE I CAN FIND A ROOMMATE, MAYBE,
I DON'T KNOW AT THE MOMENT.
BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
THIS IS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE TOWN.
RIGHT.
AS YOU SEE, THERE ARE SO MANY CAFS HERE.
GREAT.
IT'S ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR.
THE SECOND FLOOR.
NO, SEVENTH.
SEVENTH?
IS THERE AN ELEVATOR?
IT'S A LITTLE BIT BRISK THIS MORNING.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS. OH, YOU LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
LET'S PASS ON THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
(Donnie) I REALLY LOVE THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN TURKEY,
LIKE THE FOOD, TURKISH TEA,
JUST THE SLOWER PACE OF THINGS IN TURKEY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT.
WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE NUTS.
OH, YEAH.
PREVIOUSLY SPENDING A YEAR IN TURKEY
ON A FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP,
DONNIE, A HOBBYIST FIGURE SKATER,
AND HIS SOON-TO-BE-ROOMMATE CATHERINE
ARE MAKING A PERMANENT MOVE
TO IZMIR, TURKEY, TO TEACH ENGLISH.
OKAY.
SALTED PEANUTS.
DID WE NEED ANY? NO.
BECAUSE I WAS IN SUCH A RURAL AREA LAST YEAR,
AND IT WAS SO QUIET,
I REALLY WANT TO BE IN MORE OF A LIVELY PART OF THE TOWN.
(speaking Turkish)
(Catherine) EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN LEARNING TURKISH,
IT'S DIFFICULT SOMETIMES.
I CAN GO TO THE MARKET AND I CAN TALK TO PEOPLE
AND DO THE INITIAL, "HI, HOW ARE YOU?"
YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS.
YOU BOUGHT THIS ONE, YOU HAVE TO CARRY IT.
BECAUSE THEIR NEW TEACHING CAREERS DON'T PAY MUCH,
THEY'RE ON A VERY TIGHT BUDGET,
AND THOUGH HOUSE 2 HAD THE LOCATION THEY WANTED,
IT'S A FAR STRETCH FINANCIALLY.
THE PRICE IS $800.
$800.
THAT'S WAY OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE.
AND THOUGH HOUSE 1's PRICE AND DESIGN WERE UP TO PAR...
(Donnie) OH, WOW. AN OVEN FOR YOU.
(Catherine) YEAH.
THE LOCATION WAS LITERALLY A BUZZKILL.
I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE.
(Didem) AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
PEOPLE ARE RENTING MORE THAN BUYING,
SO IT IS NOT THAT EASY TO FIND A PROPERTY.
REALIZING LOCATION IS CRUCIAL,
FOR HOUSE 3, DIDEM FINDS AN APARTMENT
THAT'S MORE MANAGEABLE IN SIZE AND PRICE,
BUT KEEPS THEM IN A DOWNTOWN HOT SPOT.
THIS IS THE CENTRAL PART OF THE TOWN...
RIGHT.
AS YOU SEE, THERE'S SO MANY CAFS HERE.
GREAT.
THIS IS THE BUILDING.
OKAY.
AND IT'S A 2-BEDROOM, 2-BATH.
AND HOW MUCH IS IT?
IT'S, UH, $700.
OKAY.
WHAT FLOOR IS IT ON?
IT'S ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR.
IS THERE AN ELEVATOR FOR DONNIE?
THERE IS AN ELEVATOR.
OKAY, LUCKY YOU.
THAT'S THE EIGHTH FLOOR IN AMERICA.
THAT'S TOO MUCH FOR YOU, TOO.
(Didem) THIS IS OUR LIVING ROOM.
WOW, IT'S A REALLY BIG ROOM, ACTUALLY.
YEAH, IT'S GOOD-- IT'S BRIGHT, TOO.
YEAH.
SO--IT'S OKAY.
WINDOWS IN HERE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS--
DINING AREA.
YEAH, DINING AREA.
YEAH.
OKAY.
AND I LIKE THIS COLUMN, KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
BREAKING THE ROOM IN TWO SECTIONS.
THAT'S TRUE.
I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT IT WAS VERY SPACIOUS.
YOU HAD THE BIG LIVING ROOM.
I THINK CATHERINE LIKED THE APARTMENT AS WELL.
HERE'S THE BALCONY.
OH, IT'S A NICE BIG BALCONY.
WOW, YEAH.
LOTS OF SPACE OUT HERE.
IN THE SUMMER THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE.
(Donnie) PRETTY COOL VIEW.
HEY, DIDEM, I KNOW THAT RIGHT HERE
IS REALLY THE HEART OF THE NIGHTLIFE,
SO WOULDN'T IT BE A BIT LOUD HERE, TOO?
YOU'RE ON TOP OF THE BUILDING,
SO YOU DON'T HEAR AS MUCH.
ALL RIGHT,
WE'RE GOING INTO--
HERE'S A BIG KITCHEN.
OH, THIS IS A DIFFERENT LOCATION FOR A KITCHEN.
EXACTLY, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE.
YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S NOT REALLY SO BRIGHT.
WELL, I SEE WE HAVE A STOVETOP,
BUT IS THERE AN OVEN?
UH, THERE IS NOT AN OVEN ACTUALLY.
OH.
(Catherine) I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
THAT THERE WASN'T AN OVEN.
WE COULD GET AN OVEN, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN ADDED EXPENSE,
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING,
SINCE THE APARTMENT IS JUST ABOVE OUR PRICE RANGE,
SO, UH, WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, TOO.
HERE'S THE FIRST BEDROOM HERE,
AND, UH, THERE'S ONE BED.
OH.
(Catherine) I THINK IT'S JUST YOUR SIZE, DONNIE.
NO, NO, NO, NO. I DID THIS LAST YEAR.
I CAN'T BE IN A BED THIS SMALL.
I'M TIRED OF SLEEPING DIAGONALLY.
OH, BUT THE DECORATIONS ARE JUST SCREAMING YOUR NAME.
I WILL TAKE YOU TO THE LEFT HERE.
OKAY.
SECOND BEDROOM. THE BEDROOM.
OKAY.
(Donnie) MAIN ROOM.
MAIN BEDROOM.
THIS IS A NICE BIG BED.
(gasps)
CATHERINE, IT'S A WATER VIEW.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YEAH, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
THIS IS THE BAY, RIGHT?
I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT AT FIRST.
IT'S THE BAY, YES.
THAT'S GREAT.
WHEN THEY SAW THE VIEW, THAT WAS A BIG PLUS,
BECAUSE THE APARTMENT IS A PERFECT LOCATION, REALLY.
HERE'S OUR SECOND BATHROOM HERE.
OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER WESTERN--
UGH.
OH...
WATCH YOUR HEAD.
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I'M SORRY.
YEAH, YOU'RE TOO TALL FOR THIS COUNTRY SOMETIMES.
ARE YOU OKAY?
NO, I'M FINE. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
IT'S SPACIOUS, THOUGH. SO BOTH BATHROOMS ARE REALLY SPACIOUS.
IT'S DANGEROUS, ACTUALLY.
OKAY, NOW DUCK YOUR HEAD.
I THINK OVERALL THEY LIKE THE APARTMENT,
BUT THE BATHROOMS WERE A LITTLE BIT SMALL.
THAT ONE BATHROOM WHERE HE HIT HIS HEAD,
I KNOW THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM.
(Didem) OKAY, SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BUILDING
AND THE APARTMENT.
THAT VIEW OF THE BAY--
THE VIEW IS NICE.
THAT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL, YEAH.
AND IT'S FURNISHED. THAT'S ONE THING.
YEAH.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD MOVE IN AS IT IS
WITH JUST A LOT OF SCRUBBING.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO WORK WITH THERE.
OKAY.
I REALLY LIKE THAT.
I LIKED IT, TOO.
FOR ME, THERE WAS ONE THAT REALLY HAD THE MOST DOWNSIDES.
I AGREE, ABSOLUTELY.
FOR DONNIE AND CATHERINE,
DECIDING WHICH APARTMENT THEY DON'T LIKE IS THE EASY PART.
I HAVE AN IDEA-- ROOMMATE.
DO YOU THINK IT'S REALLY WORTH IT, THOUGH?
MOVING TO IZMIR, TURKEY, TO TEACH ENGLISH,
DONNIE AND CATHERINE ARE SEARCHING
FOR THE PERFECT APARTMENT.
BUT WITH A TIGHT BUDGET OF $650 A MONTH,
FINDING THE LOCATION AND NECESSITIES THEY WANT
ISN'T EASY.
OKAY, CATHERINE, IT'S ELIMINATION TIME.
WE GOTTA GET RID OF ONE OF THEM, SO WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?
WELL...
HOUSE 1 OFFERS ALL-NEW MODERN AMENITIES
UNDER BUDGET AT $625 A MONTH
AND A DREAM KITCHEN FOR CATHERINE.
OH, OKAY.
AN OVEN FOR YOU.
YEAH.
BUT IT'S FAR FROM THE METRO,
AND THE LOCATION HAS DONNIE CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE OF MIND.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT
IS THE CONSTRUCTION NOISE THAT YOU CAN HEAR RIGHT NOW.
HOUSE 2 IS A 4-BEDROOM WITH PLENTY OF SPACE,
BUT AT $800 A MONTH,
IT'S WAY OUT OF BUDGET AND A BIT CRAMPED.
OH.
OKAY, THEY LEFT SOME STUFF BEHIND, I GUESS.
I MEAN, IF WE COULD GET THE PRICE DOWN,
THEN IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING WE COULD CONSIDER.
BUT DONNIE LOVES THE LOCATION.
IT IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE METRO,
AND THE ICE RINK IS VERY CLOSE.
HOUSE 3 IS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN
AND IS SLIGHTLY OVER BUDGET AT $700 A MONTH,
BUT COMES WITH A BAY VIEW AND IS MOVE-IN READY.
IT'S FURNISHED. THAT'S ONE THING.
YEAH.
BUT THE KITCHEN HAS CATHERINE FEELING A BIT HEATED.
IS THERE AN OVEN?
UH, THERE IS NOT AN OVEN, ACTUALLY.
OH.
WE NEED TO ELIMINATE ONE OF THEM.
YOU KNOW, IF--IF WE LOOK AT ALL OF THEM,
THERE'S ONE THAT I'M REALLY NOT SO CRAZY ABOUT,
AND I'D SAY THAT'S THE ONE THAT WAS DOWNTOWN.
MM.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD REALLY WORK FOR US.
IT DIDN'T HAVE AN OVEN.
I KNOW YOU REALLY WANT AN OVEN.
LET'S GET RID OF THAT ONE, I AGREE.
OKAY, SO THAT LEAVES US WITH TWO.
SO WE'RE DOWN TO TWO, AND THE BRAND-NEW ONE--
RIGHT.
IT'S IN OUR PRICE RANGE, SO THAT'S GOOD.
YEAH.
YOU'VE GOT NEW APPLIANCES.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR OVEN IN THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S RIGHT. BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN.
REALLY, THE ONLY BAD THING ABOUT IT
IS THAT THE LOCATION IS REALLY UNDESIRABLE.
YEAH, AND THE 4-BEDROOM ONE HAS A GREAT LOCATION.
IT HAS ALL THE FURNISHINGS.
WE COULD BASICALLY JUST MOVE RIGHT IN.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME REARRANGING.
IT'S OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE. THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVES TO IT,
BUT I HAVE AN IDEA-- WE JUST GOTTA GET A ROOMMATE.
IT'S--YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD
REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
OKAY.
SO WE'VE GOTTA MAKE A DECISION.
MM-HMM.
AND I CAN TELL THAT I THINK YOU REALLY WANT
TO GO FOR THE 4-BEDROOM.
I REALLY WANT TO GO FOR THE 4-BEDROOM APARTMENT.
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT ABOUT IT, WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A ROOMMATE.
ARE YOU SURE THAT IT WOULD BE THE RIGHT DECISION?
I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION.
LET'S DO THE 4-BEDROOM.
I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.
REALLY?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT! FINALLY, WE'VE GOT A HOME.
WITH CATHERINE WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON A ROOMMATE,
THEY CAN OFFSET THE STEEP $800 RENT,
AND STILL SCORE WITH SPACE AND LOCATION.
OH, THAT LOOKS DONE TO ME.
MMM, I HOPE IT TASTES AS GOOD AS IT SMELLS.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH IT,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S PERFECT
FROM THE LOCATION RIGHT DOWN TO EVERYTHING BEING FURNISHED.
IT'S REALLY BEEN GREAT.
THE LOCATION IS ABSOLUTELY KEY.
WE'RE A 3-MINUTE WALK FROM OUR DOOR TO THE METRO STOP.
WE NEED APPLES?
OKAY, LET'S GET SOME APPLES.
I CAN ALWAYS USE SOME... (speaking indistinctly)
(Donnie) WE MANAGED TO FIND A HOUSEMATE RATHER QUICKLY.
SHE'S A TEACHER, AND, UH, IT WORKED OUT JUST FINE.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE
TO GET THAT FOURTH ROOM CLEARED OUT.
ALL YOU DO IS TURN IT ON...
(Donnie) I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO MARKETS
AND PLACES TO GO SHOPPING.
SINCE WE COOK A LOT AT HOME, THAT IS A BIG ADVANTAGE.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT'S GOOD.
NO, IT'S GOOD.
(Catherine) THE TEACHING-- IT'S DEFINITELY
A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN WE HAD LAST YEAR.
(Donnie) WE HAVE A LOT DIFFERENT STUDENTS.
THEY'RE MOSTLY FROM THIS AREA OF TURKEY.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO MANAGE IN THE CLASSROOM.
STUDENTS LAST YEAR WERE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S MY ICE--THAT'S THE ICE RINK OVER THERE.
OH, YEAH. IT'S SO CLOSE.
I THINK THAT ALL OF DONNIE'S DREAMS
REALLY CAME TRUE WITH THIS APARTMENT.
THIS LOCATION IS ONLY
A 12-MINUTE WALK TO THE ICE ARENA.
IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO ON THE WEEKENDS.
