Condolences for the Victims in Suruç
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...
Terrorism in Turkey
Let’s first and foremost acknowledge the great privilege of being able to choose your place of residence. Most people are not granted the luxury...
Istanbul Productivity: Six Cafes to Head with Your Laptop Near Taksim
Taksim Square is a place that is planned into almost every trip to Istanbul, one way or another. The name “Taksim” means “division”, from...
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...
Permaculture: A Growing Trend in Istanbul
By Abdelrahman Mahmoud
Permaculture. Does the word ring any bells? If yes, and you are already well acquainted with the concept, then hold on a minute...
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...
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,...
Istanbul Healthy Eating Tips on a Budget
It's been a long day in Istanbul, and here you are, going back from work, school, or an anime world portal. In addition, you're...
Aliens On The Minibus (Poem)
“İnek var!” an alien called to the driver.
“İnek mi var?” I replied to her great surprise
then suddenly as if by pure magic
inek appeared in...
Top 10 Worst Things About Living in Taksim
Up until last year I was a happy man, a contented man, living in that commercial hub cum residential suburb of Bakırköy. Bakırköy’s unique...
The Allure of Elsewhere
Wherever you go, there you are. And wherever you are, there is someone who wants to be somewhere else. After living in the United...
Tails of Istanbul: Despair to Hope for Stray Cats and Dogs
It was a bright, sunny Saturday, during my very first trip to Istanbul, when I went where very few tourists would dare – Yedikule...
Six Alternative Valentine’s Events for English Speakers in Istanbul
Valentine's Day in Istanbul isn't necessarily for everyone, but it's got much to offer for those in love and plenty of potential for romantic...
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...
Our Hearts Go Out to Soma
It has been incredibly tragic day; the deaths of those workers in the Soma mine seem so senseless, we've been having a hard time...
I Wake Up Torn
“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in...
Go Anywhere and Belong Everywhere! – Girl Gone International
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...
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...
Pet Life: On Having a Dog in Istanbul (The Adventures of...
Many will be quick to share the story of how prophet Mohammed cut his robe as to not disturb the slumber of a cat...
Fig Season
My favorite season in Istanbul is fig season. Never having seen or eaten a fresh fig in my life, I was fascinated by this...
Beyond the Bosphorus: Views of a Long-Term Yabancı
Having lived in Istanbul going on a decade, I have seen a lot of people come and go. It becomes almost like clockwork. Every...
Yabangee Supports Darüşşafaka Tekfen Basketball (Special Offer Included)
This October, the Yabangee community enjoyed a wonderful basketball match-day with Darüşşafaka Tekfen - one of the top teams of the Turkish Basketball League....
Escapist: Real Escape Room Fun for English Speakers in Istanbul
I'd be hard pressed to think of a more wholesome group activity I've taken part in these last few years, than when a group...
Top 10 Best Things About Living in Taksim
I lived in Mecidiyeköy for my first few months in Istanbul. That part of town is interesting in its own right, and it was...