Lifestyle & Commentary

Before I left for Istanbul, I had many friends promise that they would come and visit me. Unfortunately - since life gets in the...

Editor's Note: For those of us who have been in Istanbul for some time and have grown accustomed to the Turkish way of life, it's easy...

After a few years in Istanbul and a very yabancı life, it is time for us to go on a big adventure in 2020!...

My favorite season in Istanbul is fig season. Never having seen or eaten a fresh fig in my life, I was fascinated by this...

“Habitash! Habitash!” The unfamiliar deckhand appeared as a silhouette, repeatedly emphasizing this made-up word as though I would finally understand what it meant the sixth...

In a city buzzing with nightlife, the electronic music scene is a changing tapestry as the nightclubs of Istanbul past ebb and evolve into...

Yesterday Turkey was rocked by a horrific suicide bombing targeting a group of people traveling to Syria on a humanitarian mission. The victims were bright, selfless...

Editor's Note: We asked Smilja Brown, the driving force behind last year's "We Are ALL Refugees" benefit concert, to reflect on last year's event. Below, she...

For over a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major factor shaping our lives. This year again, the holy month of Ramadan began...

Being an expat is difficult. You need courage to leave not only your comfort zone and sense of security behind, but also your lifestyle,...

If we were to take our students’ grammatical grasp of English as a direct indication of their level of intelligence, and were to recognize...

Anyone who has spent time in Turkey, especially Istanbul, will have noted the condition of street animals here. For all the compassion that exists...

Many will be quick to share the story of how prophet Mohammed cut his robe as to not disturb the slumber of a cat...

Recently my friends and I have created a rule. We are not allowed to have more than 3 cocktails when we’re out. Whoever is...

Longing for Istanbul doubles as a sociological reflection on modernization processes in Turkish culture and a personal memoir that articulates what it means to...

It comes on suddenly. One moment you’re experiencing an exciting roller coaster of new experiences, emotions, thoughts, and people. You’re learning to become more...

The timeless column feels cold and rough to the touch. I like to visit things that are a lot older than I am. It...

Moving to a new city, where you don’t really know anyone? There is a lot of excitement when you open a new chapter in...

What’s left behind becomes a faded memory, one that will be carried long distances no matter how tough it gets. Life becomes what’s packed...

Editor's Note: Caritas is one of the aid organizations that will receive funds and donations collected at the We Are Refugees II benefit concert,...

Have you ever heard of the word yabancı, which also lends its name to this platform? If you've ever visited Istanbul, you’ve probably heard...

Turkey is one of the few countries in the world where the rate of HIV/AIDS cases has been increasing in the past decade. Despite...

Wherever you go, there you are.  And wherever you are, there is someone who wants to be somewhere else.  After living in the United...

Istanbul beats Paris any day when it comes to experiencing romantic moments, as far as I am convinced. Even logistically it is superior to...