There is no better time to start working on your resolutions than the Fall season! Don’t believe me? Let me show you why.
Most people start setting goals/resolutions at the start of the year. However, after drinking like a sponge at that New Year’s Party, you’ll likely wake up with a terrible hangover and thus, the year is already off to an awful start.
If you want to change your life in a positive way, why do you have to wait till New Year’s Eve to start focusing on your goals? As the changing of the season brings its falling leaves and cooler weather, I can’t imagine a better time to begin pursuing your goals. If you don’t know where to start though, fret not, here are a few suggestions for you to change your life drastically this Fall!
“Türkçe Bilmiyorum”
How many times have you repeated the above sentence and how many times have you sworn off using it again and to learn Turkish instead? Too many times to count? Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Many foreigners put learning Turkish at the top of their resolutions list, but somehow it gets no attention and before you know, New Year’s Eve has arrived once again. Here are just a few suggestions to make it easier.
Fluent in Turkish: This well-organized blog has plenty of posts explaining tricky Turkish grammar subjects clearly and concisely. These can help you get a significant hold on your Turkish skills. The blog has a wide vocabulary section as well.
Learn Turkish with Burcu: This Youtube channel from dedicated instructor Burcu includes many grammar videos in addition to those with some daily vocabulary and useful phrases. She is also a very friendly teacher.
You might also want to read Survival Taxi Turkish before you embark on a journey with Taxi in Istanbul. 23 Turkish Phrases I Wish Someone Had Taught Me is great for the absolute beginners, whereas for advanced learners with a secret passion for Turkish dramas, I recommend Diaries of a Couch Potato: How to Learn Turkish via Kiralık Aşk (Love for Rent).
Be a Bookworm
Oh wait, you don’t speak Turkish? I thought we just sorted that out. Okay, but really, you don’t have to be fully fluent in Turkish to be able to read books by Turkish authors. There are plenty of famous Turkish authors whose books have been translated into English (and many other languages). If you have read all Orhan Pamuk novels several times now, you may want to delve into Nazım Hikmet’s popular Human Landscapes from My Country. Maybe it’s not an easy read, but it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about Turkish society from a socialist poet’s perspective.
Another great read is A Memento for Istanbul by Ahmet Ümit, the author of popular mystery-crime novels. In this book, a murder takes place in a district of Istanbul and throughout the book, there are many references to historic times of Istanbul, especially to the days when it was named Byzantium.
Fall Themed Turkish Tunes
When it’s rainy and cold outside, I put on my headphones, and head out for a walk in the rain as it’s the best time to listen to some music and daydream. If you haven’t yet listened to some of the classics from the Turkish repertoire, start with my personal favorite, Teoman’s İstanbul’da Sonbahar. For more fall themed Turkish tunes, check out Barış Manço’s Ömrümün Sonbaharında, Bülent Ortaçgil’s Eylül Akşamı, Hüsnü Arkan’s Yağmurlar, and Halil Sezai’s Sonbahar.
The Princes’ Islands in Yellow
While I am no fan of visiting the famous islands in summer because they are packed with tourists and vacationists, once Fall hits Istanbul I love having a walk in the quiet forest’s crisp weather before Winter arrives in full force. Give it a try for yourself. I suggest visiting Heybeliada and Burgazada.
As Büyükada takes all the attention, Heybeliada is one of the lesser known and visited islands. For most Istanbulites, it is a destination to recharge one’s mental battery. Burgazada is colorful and lively yet it’s not as crowded as Büyükada either.
Discover Chillstanbul
Cold weather is no excuse to stay in, curling up under the blankets with Netflix and chill mode on. The city is buzzing with new events, exhibitions, concerts, and get-togethers popping up all over the city. Here are some of the coolest events on offer.
If you feel like supporting a good cause while having fun with your friends, attend the Yabangee Trivia Night: Cihangir Cool for Cats Fundraiser. Jazz lovers, I haven’t forgotten about you as Nardis Jazz Club has a full calendar of performances. The IKSV Design Biennial is in full swing until early November, with plenty of themes covered. Halloween is also right around the corner with plenty of parties across the city. For an idea of what else is going on, check out our events calendar!
Yummy in My Tummy: Turkish Cuisine
You can set a resolution to lose five pounds in January, but for now, let’s agree to get you set up with cooking more Turkish recipes. To make it easier for you, I am providing some of the most delicious recipes I’ve found online. Don’t worry, they are easier than you may think and you will be proudly announcing that your pilav is tane tane.
Here is a great pilav recipe that I enjoy making at home. Fasülye pilaki and Mercimek Köftesi are also some of the easiest Turkish dishes to cook.
By practicing these new goals we listed above, you will begin Turkifying yourself which is a great idea if you plan to stay in Turkey longer. While you socialize more, speak more Turkish, learn more about Turkish literature and music, your Turkish friends will appreciate your willingness to learn about their culture and it will also be so much easier for you to feel like a local in the city.
Let us know your own fall resolutions in the comments below. To keep up to date with the author’s upcoming articles, make sure to check out her blog.
