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On the other hand, I was the only Turk to remain in the Bank. Even though I was employed in the accounting department, I was also given all sorts of jobs such as Turkish correspondence and relations with the Turkish clients. Thus, despite the crookedness of my calligraphy it was acknowledged that I had other merits for which I was morally and materially well rewarded. I was already in an exceptional situation compared to the rest of the employees. From the first day on, all the department heads and the employees probably because of their respect for my national identity treated me most obligingly. Overlooking the hours I stole from the Bank in order to attend my classes at school and inserting a tone of request into each order given to me had become a rule among the directors. My colleagues seemed to accept this attitude towards me with equal elegance. Especially those of my age embraced me with an air of most sincere affection. While there was a constant and irreconilable friction of race and creed among the Catholics and Greeks in the Bank, neither side would show a feeling of enmity towards me. The Catholics may have been a bit more cautious, but the Greeks would never miss a chance to approach me personally, which was typical of their racial sociability. I had good friends from both sides, but in particular from the latter. They would invite me to their houses, allow me into their family lives and private associations where we would dance with young girls, enjoy sessions of music and festivities.