VOICES columnist Amy Idem, originally from Lancashire, lives with her husband and three children, in Idil, in Turkey’s southeastern province of Şırnak. She writes about her cultural and life experiences here, and on her blog:https://memyselfandidil.wordpress.com/

WHEN people heard of my intentions to move to İdil, I got lots of questions about whether it was safe to travel here, let alone live. Even nowadays when we travel to tourist areas when people learn where we live they are shocked and begin to bombard me with questions.

I assured everyone İdil was safe, my husband would not take me somewhere that he believed to be unsafe and for the first few years of my living here I can honestly say I have never felt safer.

People tend to look out for each other a lot more here. We are surrounded by relatives and İdil is a town where everyone knows everyone.

There was none of the drama that I had partly expected due to people building it up in my mind. It was incredibly peaceful. There were the odd occasions where there would be clashes but these days were few and far between.

I remember the first time I ever heard of ISIS. I had recently returned from the UK and we had been invited to my sister in laws house for dinner, watching the news we saw they had taken over some sort of consulate in İraq. The details are hazy as I dismissed the importance of it and failed to realise how this would eventually affect our daily lives.

As the months went on people became paranoid, İdil welcomed hundreds of Yezidi refugees who had fled ISIS. As a town we gave them homes, food, clothes and support.

There were rumours that ISIS would come to İdil as we had taken in so many of those that they were intent on murdering. I found myself on several occasions walking back from town,  making sure I stayed away from any cars with open doors as I was afraid I would be snatched and used as bait as so many English and American people had been.

It all came to a head when İSIS took over Kobane, the town on the Syrian-Turkish border. I recall being sat outside at my friend’s house and my nephew coming to tell us the news and what had happened. From that day on things seemed to get worse with every passing day.

Each evening I went to my friend’s house and she had more news of more young people who had gone to Kobane to fight to take back the town. Sometimes they came back, usually in coffins.

Then started the mass protests against the government who were perceived to be not helping. These protests resulted in our shops being shut for over 10 days and road blocks. By this time I was somewhat used to the distant sound of explosions and gunshots which are not unusual when there is a clash.

I also became used to shutting the windows and doors in record speed upon noticing the first hint of tear gas. Just a few seconds and I would be struggling to see due to the tears filling my burning eyes.

Things improved and I was able to leave the country. I spent two months in England with my family for Christmas, during this time things took a downturn, several times my husband could not even get to our house due to gun battles taking place just outside our front garden. Luckily things once again improved and I was able to return to İdil.

Although tensions are generally high due to what has happened in the past, things have been okay here. This last month or so, things are taking a turn again for the worst.

Rumours about ISIS are spreading far and fast once again. We have been exposed to tear gas twice in the last few days alone and people appear to be afraid of what may happen.  

I never truly believed they would attempt anything in Turkey, which is why I was so shocked at the news that a suicide bomber had struck in the town of Suruç at a meeting of young people who were preparing to go and  rebuild Kobane, give the children toys and generally try to patch up their ruined lives as best as possible. So far, 32 are confirmed dead and over 100 people injured.

One wonders when this nightmare will end and how many more people have to lose their lives before it does.

I remain hopeful that we will continue to be safe here and I am grateful for the fact that if İdil becomes dangerous we do have a place to run to, unlike so many others.