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?”...
2018 Resolutions for the Common Yabancı in Istanbul
Old-school followers of Yabangee will likely have noted that we love starting the year off with resolutions (How to Stop Being Such a Yabancı:...
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,...
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...
Expat Life: Why I chose to give birth in Turkey
Finding out that I was pregnant came as a complete surprise, my husband actually found out before I did, but that's a whole other...
Coming to your senses: The Olfactor
“At no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is...
16 LGBT Friendly Cafes and Bars in Istanbul
With so many rapid changes happening in Turkey and the world, along with all the changes in our personal lives, the LGBT community needs...
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...
5 of Turkey’s Best Eurovision Performances
With Eurovision being a week away, selected artists are already making their way to Kiev, Ukraine, where this year’s song contest will be held....
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #5: Döner Kebab
Three weeks ago, I was taking the metrobüs with my brother from Şirinevler, on a very rainy day. Being as crowded as it was...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #2: A Bit of Football Never...
I went and played my first game of football for a team in Turkey, adding to several other nations around the world in which...
Awkward Tales from the ‘Bul #1: The Shopkeeper
The man who runs the corner shop next to my apartment building has a very strange approach to business, whereby he literally just changes...
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...