Just for Fun: Seven “Worst” Turkish Foods
Wow, I know, that was a controversial title wasn't it? Now that I've got your attention, can I just say that obviously this is...
Just for Fun: Seven “Best” Turkish Foods
When Tas decided to share her cheeky and genuinely pretty accurate list of worst Turkish foods (looking at you leblebi!), my inner Turk compelled...
Exploring Istanbul’s Not So Obvious Metrobüs Etiquette
If you ever feel like having a quick tour of Istanbul from the Asian to the European side (or vice versa), just buy an...
The Language of Swimming: Freestyle or Overarm
Being Australian and living in Istanbul, one of the hardest things to cope with at first was the difficulty of finding a pool to...
The Consequences of Overstaying in Turkey
Turkey is a fantastic country all year round, very popular amongst tourists around the world for its historic mosques, various street vendors and its...
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...
Shopping for Unmentionables: Buying Underwear in Turkey
As a young teenager I was a tomboy, so getting my first bra wasn’t something I looked forward to. When the fateful day came...
On Being Happy in Istanbul
Being an expat living in Istanbul over the past few years, I often get asked this question: Are you happy in Istanbul? This query...
Alo 171: Ministry of Health’s Support Line to Quit Smoking
If you or a loved one are thinking of quitting smoking this summer, and you've got a basic handle on Turkish (or want to...
The Art of Nothing in Istanbul
Nothing: nothing to do, nothing to fix. No work to go to, no garden to tend. No meetings to go to, no dance classes…absolutely...
Romance of the Roma: Hıdırellez, Spring time and the ‘Gypsy’ culture...
Perhaps there is no word more loaded and simultaneously mythologized yet scorned than the term “gypsy”. From Fleetwood Mac to Cher to Lady Gaga...
Black Cats and Slippers: Turkish Superstitions
The first time I visited a Turkish home, I got perplexed upon hearing the phrase ''Don't walk barefoot, you'll get a stomach ache.'' Have...
The Peculiar Case of the Cult of the Renault 12
Did you notice that every Renault 12 in the known universe had disappeared? Are you worried that some black hole had appeared and was...
King of Istanbul Roads: A Dolmuş Interview
Being a foreigner in any part of the world can be a daunting affair. Anything and everything can be different from what you have...
Real Student Comments
In all facets of daily, human life, the divide between what is expressed to others and what is in truth thought in one’s own,...
Learning and Growing on a Turkish Organic Farm with TaTuTa
I found myself popping out of a packed dolmuş onto the side of a winding country road. Shortly after, my overstuffed tan hiking bag...
Giving Birth in Turkey: Getting Prepared
In our previous piece we discussed choosing your obstetrician - this was the most difficult part. Now it is time for you to relax...
A Five Star Toilet – Bathroom Tales in Turkey
Back in 1990 when I first visited Turkey, toilets, whether squat or what we think of as ‘normal’ but the Turks call Ala Franga,...
My Thoughts on Turkish Society as a Young Turk
As a young Turkish woman who hasn’t lived abroad yet, the scope of my writing is largely about living in Turkey. In my essays,...
Istanbul Adrift
It was bound to happen sooner or later. But it happened much sooner than the citizens of Istanbul were ready for. And it happened in...
“Dialogue Tableware” Ceramic Studio Ortaköy
Since i love to learn new skills and to keep my hands busy doing and creating things, it wasn't so far to participate in...
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...
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?”...