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,...
Oman: Sun, Sand, Dates, and Opera
Oman had long been on my mind as my next quest overseas. The promise of dates, palm trees, sand dunes, bright, open, sun-tainted skies,...
A Long Weekend on the Lycian Way: Kaş to Üçağız
The Lycian Way is heaven for hikers. Its 540 kilometres following the ancient Lycian route between Antalya and Fethiye and provides plenty of chances...
Introducing Helen O’Grady: Inspiring Development through Drama
From the sponsor:
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DRAMA! Fun & Inspiring English Drama classes for all abilities held in locations across Istanbul for children and adults.
There are...
Off the Beaten Track: Nine Vacation Spots in Turkey
Turkey is a country of immense diversity. This includes diversity of culture, geography, scenery, cuisine, art, and perspective. Throughout my time in Turkey I...
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...
Giving Birth in Turkey: Choosing the Right Obstetrician
You are pregnant, congratulations! This is most probably the happiest moment of your life, enjoy it for a second! But not too long, because...
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...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part II)
Izmir offers plenty of local sites within the city of four million people, but it is also known for its access to easy day...
Izmir Chronicles: Izmir is Worth Visiting (Part I)
Having lived in Izmir for over a year, I can say that I truly love the expat life here. Many people ask what the city is...
Choosing a Housekeeper and/or Nanny in Istanbul
All of us - single or in relationships, with or without kids - need help at home from time to time. It can be...
Underground Istanbul, Where the Sun Doesn’t Shine
Cities like Istanbul stand alternatively as testaments to humanity's sustained success and survival and to its limitless culture of waste and forgetfulness. While Newton...
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:...
The Yabangee Contributor’s Guide to New Year’s Eve in Istanbul #2
As New Year’s Eve draws closer, the pressure is increasing on how to best ring in the new year. We’ve asked some of the...
Investing in Turkey for the Young and Internet-savvy
As you reach into your pocket this week to see if you can afford to hit that pricey New Year’s party, you may have...
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...
Christmas & New Year’s in Turkey: Mixing Celebrations
In Istanbul, when December arrives, you might observe a sudden change in the streets. Decorations hung up on the poles in the shape of...
Eight Suggestions for a Kid-Friendly New Year’s & Christmas in Istanbul
While we are leaving 2017 behind, all sorts of celebrations for Christmas and New Year's Eve are underway. We are regularly bombarded with countless...
How to Survive the Metrobüs Experience in Istanbul
“Metrobüs” is a word whispered in dark corners of the yabangee community in İstanbul. So what is this so called Metrobüs? How does it...