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?”...
Eating Istanbul: Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Food
As a vegetarian or vegan, by now you may have realized that Turkish people love their meat! Walking through the city you’ll see families...
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...
Ramazan Dos and Don’ts for Yabangees
The Holy month of Ramadan aka Ramazan has started here in Turkey and over this thirty day period devout Muslims fast during daylight hours....
Walk Across Turkey: Kuşadası
Thursday, 30 August - Kuşadası
At 10:30 a.m., at the walk’s starting point in Kuşadası, I stepped off an overnight bus from İstanbul. The other...
Walk Across Turkey: My First Imam
It took me about an hour of walking to reach Erbeyli. In most of the towns I had passed, the mosque was within 200-500...
Discovering Poland: Four Cities, One Love
My serendipitous trip to Warsaw in April 2017 for the Beethoven Easter Festival had introduced me to an entirely new culture and nation I...
In Conversation with Merve Pehlivan, Founder of Spoken Word Istanbul
I have been a regular performer and audience member at Spoken Word since coming to Istanbul four years ago. At the time, the founder,...
In Conversation with Lisa Morrow, Freelance Writer and Blogger of “Inside...
I met Lisa Morrow for the first time at Story Café, a modern coffee shop in Kadıköy popular among both Turks and foreigners where...
Seven of the Hottest Summer Music Festivals in Istanbul 2019
The summer heat is upon us, which means that our favorite part of the season also draws near... music festivals! Every year in Istanbul,...
The Exhibition: Theatre Puts A Spotlight on Community
The year is 1874. In Paris’ Café Guerbois, gathering place of artists, writers and their admirers, a group of six painters meet on the...
The Olive Tree: Turkey’s Past, Present, and Future
“Zeytinyağı gibi üste çıkma!” or “Don’t stick out like olive oil!”
This time last year, my husband and I were sipping olive oil at a...
Introducing Turkish4 Children: Fun, Interactive Language Lessons for Kids
The experience of learning Turkish differs greatly from person to person, and there is perhaps no greater distinction than between children and adults. While...
Join our Turkey in English Discord – Chat & Stay Connected
Yabangee is now on Discord - an easy way to chat and stay close with friends and communities in Turkey.
What is Discord? A free...
TIYYD: Building a Better Tomorrow for Refugees
What’s left behind becomes a faded memory, one that will be carried long distances no matter how tough it gets. Life becomes what’s packed...
Hiring: Native English Speaking Customer Service Specialist @ Hudson Furniture (Kadıköy)
A local liaison of Hudson Furniture, located centrally in Kalamış (Kadıköy), Istanbul is seeking an ideal candidate who loves talking to people and proactively...
(Past Event) Yabangee International New Year’s Party @ Arsen Lupen
Let’s celebrate the last party of 2022! Meet us on Saturday 31 December for a New Year’s Party at our regular spot of Arsen...
(Past Event) We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues – Exploring Istanbul
We Call It Home: Istanbul Dialogues is a monthly series from Yabangee showcasing the inspiring contributions being made by Istanbul’s diverse international community to...
Lost in Transit: Notes from the Bus Stops of Istanbul
Istanbul is Turkey’s most populated city with about 16 million inhabitants. Given its size and population, a great deal of work has been put...
Reading in bed and paying it forward
When I first came to Turkey, I brought with me the holiday I created. That's right, a holiday. I was living in New York...
Four Masters of Turkish New Wave Cinema
A notable player in the current world of art house cinema, Turkey has seen a new wave emerge and establish itself. Amongst others, there...
In Conversation with Dylan Ware of The Infinity Chamber, Istanbul’s Metamorphic...
Dylan Ware has long been an established yabancı on the radar of Istanbul's music scene. Having lived in Turkey for over a decade, the...
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...
From Boza to Bourbon: Street Juice
Do you remember your first memory of Istanbul? Maybe it was the first call to prayer coming from the nearest minaret. Maybe it was...