Giving Birth in Turkey: Choosing the Right Obstetrician
You are pregnant, congratulations! This is most probably the happiest moment of your life, enjoy it for a second! But not too long, because...
Three Significant Barriers in Expat-Local Romantic Relationships
Being an expat is difficult. You start a new life somewhere you probably have very limited knowledge about. All your old habits and automatized...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part II)
Izmir offers plenty of local sites within the city of four million people, but it is also known for its access to easy day...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part I)
Having lived in Izmir for over a year, I can say that I truly love the expat life here. Many people ask what the city is...
Choosing a Housekeeper and/or Nanny in Istanbul
All of us - single or in relationships, with or without kids - need help at home from time to time. It can be...
Underground Istanbul, Where the Sun Doesn’t Shine
Cities like Istanbul stand alternatively as testaments to humanity's sustained success and survival and to its limitless culture of waste and forgetfulness. While Newton...
The Personalities of Six Istanbul Neighborhoods
Personality is a phenomenon which describes the way people behave in everyday life. It’s an essential concept in order to understand and predict our...
Why Turkey? – Reflections on a Former Life in Istanbul
“Where are you from?” “How long have you lived here?” “Where do you work?” “How much do you make?!” and, of course, “Why Turkey?”...
2018 Resolutions for the Common Yabancı in Istanbul
Old-school followers of Yabangee will likely have noted that we love starting the year off with resolutions (How to Stop Being Such a Yabancı:...
The Yabangee Contributor’s Guide to New Year’s Eve in Istanbul #2
As New Year’s Eve draws closer, the pressure is increasing on how to best ring in the new year. We’ve asked some of the...
Investing in Turkey for the Young and Internet-savvy
As you reach into your pocket this week to see if you can afford to hit that pricey New Year’s party, you may have...
10 Tips for Coping with Feelings of Isolation and Loneliness as...
Being an expat is difficult. You need courage to leave not only your comfort zone and sense of security behind, but also your lifestyle,...
For the Love of Teaching (and Ice Cream)
If we were to take our students’ grammatical grasp of English as a direct indication of their level of intelligence, and were to recognize...
Christmas & New Year’s in Turkey: Mixing Celebrations
In Istanbul, when December arrives, you might observe a sudden change in the streets. Decorations hung up on the poles in the shape of...
Eight Suggestions for a Kid-Friendly New Year’s & Christmas in Istanbul
While we are leaving 2017 behind, all sorts of celebrations for Christmas and New Year's Eve are underway. We are regularly bombarded with countless...
How to Survive the Metrobüs Experience in Istanbul
“Metrobüs” is a word whispered in dark corners of the yabangee community in İstanbul. So what is this so called Metrobüs? How does it...
The Balyan Family: Royal Architects of the Late Ottoman Empire
Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for centuries. Sultans and their wives, princes, viziers and pashas loved to show their power and...
Camel Wrestling in Turkey
The long wait is over: The camels are in heat. Bright-yellow shawls are fetched from the back of the closet. It’s okay again to...
Diwali in Istanbul: The Indian Festival of Lights
In November, Yabangee contributor Devanshu Bawa and I were invited to the Indian Diwali Festival that is organized annually by the Friends of India...
Issues with Joint Bank Accounts in Turkey
If you have lived in Turkey for a while, you’ve probably got an account with a local bank. It is easy enough to open...
Six Tips For Foreigners To Blend Into Turkish Society
I cried. I cried for weeks and it went on around two months. I even questioned my decision of moving to Istanbul and contemplated...
Buying a Home in Turkey: Getting a Mortgage (Part IV)
So, you’ve been in Turkey for a while and decided that it might make sense to buy a home or maybe you have your...
Buying a Home in Turkey – Finding the Right Price (Part...
So, you’ve been in Turkey for a while and decided that it might make sense to buy a home or maybe you have your...
Student Life: 8 Tips to Live in Istanbul on a Student...
Is living on a budget a choice or an obligation? In my case, unfortunately, it had to be an obligation. I’ve moved to Istanbul...