Thanksgiving for Expats in Istanbul: A Taste of Home Away from...
Thanksgiving is a beloved tradition, a time for gathering with family and friends, sharing a festive meal, and reflecting on the things we’re grateful...
Discover Colife: Istanbul’s Leading Smart-Rental Startup
Colife is an Istanbul-based international smart-rental startup that operates as a full-cycle property management company. From the start, Colife has been revolutionizing the rental...
Living Abroad Blues: Coping with Loneliness
When I first moved to Istanbul in 2016, I too experienced loneliness. After all, I was a foreigner in a new country, who did...
Practices of Mindfulness in Turkey
We sometimes forget how hectic life in a cosmopolitan city like Istanbul can be (I know I do). Weekdays can feel mechanical, while weekends...
Strangers on Istanbul’s Walls: A Glimpse Into Istanbul Street Art
The first time I came across the signature 'Yabancı' was when I stepped out of my house to do the privileged walk during the...
How to Cope with Grief
On the morning of February 6th 2023, the citizens of Turkey woke up to the tragic news of a 7.6 magnitude earthquake affecting major...
The Respite of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands
Every time I head out to the islands, I look back on the Istanbul skyline as I imagine the first astronauts gazed down upon...
The Struggles of a New Yabancı in Turkey
Moving to Istanbul was an exciting thought. I get to live in a new country, surrounded by people of a different culture. Oh, the...
Friendly Speed Dating: Finding Human Connection in Monthly Events
From the organizer:
We created Friendly Speed Dating because we believe in the power of human connection. We understand that dating can be difficult and...
Interesting Names, Great Taste: Turkish Dishes to Cook During Ramadan
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...
Diaspolis Temizlik: Professional, Trustworthy Cleaners for Your Home or Office
Those who have spent time living in Turkey will know that hiring a cleaner to visit your home is a fairly common practice. While...
Expat Life: Struggles of My New Turkish Home
I arrived in Istanbul with little knowledge of the country, its culture or language. Straight from the vacation in Japan with my boyfriend and...
Earthquake Donations, Volunteering, Needs, and Resources: Help Those Impacted in Turkey...
On Monday 06 February, 2023 two massive earthquakes (7.5 and 7.8 in magnitude) devastated Turkey and Syria, with aftershocks being felt hundreds of miles...
A South Asian’s Guide to Eating in Istanbul
South Asians love spice in everything – life, movies and of course, food. South Asian food is truly so spectacular; the complexity of flavors,...
Useful Tips For Road Trips in Turkey
The Winter of 2018 experienced a 'train crisis' in Turkey as a large group of travel enthusiasts found themselves refreshing the website of the national...
Five Best Walking Spots in Busy Istanbul
Aah, walking. It's that thing we do every time we're not sleeping or laying on the couch gazing at the beauty of the wall....
Three Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Istanbul
Every year, with the arrival of the first day of February, we know what is ahead of us -Valentine’s Day! While some can’t wait...
Underneath Istanbul
The timeless column feels cold and rough to the touch. I like to visit things that are a lot older than I am. It...
Arrested as a Spy, Caught in a Major Earthquake, & More:...
We've all been there, haven't we? You are in a foreign country and some strangers approach you.
You immediately think: "Whatever they are they selling,...
Turkish Destinations: Where Words Fail, Music Speaks
The title of my piece belongs to the aphorism of famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). Andersen said long time ago “where words...
The Way We Travel
When it comes to travel, the questions, ‘why?’ and ‘how?’ are often far more meaningful than, ‘where?’ Two people may go on the same...
Istanbul: What Your Senses Can Expect
Before I left for Istanbul, I had many friends promise that they would come and visit me. Unfortunately - since life gets in the...
Open Call – ‘We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues’ Speaker Suggestions
We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues is a new monthly series showcasing the inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse international community to the...
Istanbul Revisited: Impressions from 1964 to 2022
First Encounter, September, 1964
I arrived at Sirkeci Station on the Orient Express — the real Orient Express, a train that was anything but express...