Q. What were your thoughts or ideas or conclusions during
your experience during the war?
I didn't know what would happen in the future. Because the
war
continued and my life was in danger. So, I didn't think other
countries would help us. I wanted the war finished, because I
was
studying at the liece (secondary school) and I didn't know if I
would finish the liece. However, I didn't think of any plans for
the future. The most important thing was, we didn't know if we
would live tomorrow.
Q. Were these thoughts or ideas or feelings or conclusions
a problem for you in any way?
Yes. Now I am always afraid. Because I didn't forget this
war. I always feel unhappy when I think about this war.
Q. What were your feelings or emotions at that time?
Yes. I was afraid to leave my family, they might be taken
prisoner by the Greeks, or killed by the Greeks. Greeks wanted
to
kill all Turkish people on the island.
Q.Were these feelings or emotions a problem for you in
any
way?
Yes. Now I hope one day I will not killed by the Greeks.
Q.
Did you have any questions or confusions at this
time?
Yes. I didn't know what will happen in the future? When
will
I see my parents? Will everything be the same as before the war?
What will happen with the arms of the Greeks? Would the Greek
people connect the island to Greece? And what was the situation
the island would be in in the future?
Q. Did these questions or confusions help you in any
way?
I learned to be patient with the events, I learned to
overcome
difficult events and learned to struggle through events. In
addition, I learned to struggle any of the way.
Q. Was there anything that happened during this time that
hurt you or got in your way or was a problem for you somehow?
Yes. For example, I learned my neighbour was killed when we
escaped from our home and district. Another example, some people
said that my brother was killed by the Greek soldiers and my life
became terrible and difficult for a long time.
Q. How did this hurt you or was a problem for you?
These events affected me because he was killed by the Greek
soldiers.
Q. Was there anything during this time that might have
helped you or could have helped you?
Yes. Because my brother died, I would be powerful and
finished
the Liece. I learned to help unhappy people.
Q. How would this have helped you?
I helped helpless people and I learned to work to better
overcome the difficulty. However these events help me to
understand that even, difficult things one day are finished.
Q. Is there anything in your experience during this time
that you would say was a "lesson for life?"
Yes there is. Because my Greek neighbours wanted to kill me
and my family. For this reason, I learned not to trust Greek
people. I thought one day difficult days will be finished and
lovely days will come. In the end, I learned to work hard and to
be successful and happy in my life.
Q. Is there anything you else you would like to say about
your experience during this time?
Yes there is. With all these events at this time I learned
to
overcome all difficulties.
Q. Is there anything you would like to say about the
questions I have asked or the style of the interview itself?
Yes there is. I remember this time and I didn't want to go
back to this time period. Because war is a bad event, and I hope
there will never be war again in my country and in the world.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Occupation (or life's work): Agricultural Engineering.
Age: 51.
Sex: Male.
Nationality: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Where now lives (country and city/town/village): Gonyeli,
Nicosia.
Where lived during the events described during the interview:
Nicosia.
What was the occupation (or life's work) of the main income
earner in the household when growing up: His father's occupation
was a farmer.