In the last thirty years, the concept of living abroad has opened to the masses. Whereas pre- 1990s, it was restricted to affluent retirees, the advancement of travel, technology and the Internet means more people are looking at upping sticks to seek out an alternative lifestyle and in many cases, one that is more laid-back, healthier and of course, full of copious amounts of sun. Have a read of why you should consider retiring to Turkey.
Some people like familiarity. They have a small select group of lifelong friends, and they live their entire lives in the same city or town. However other people get the urge to spread their wings and these days. Indeed, many expats have descended on the shores of Turkey and are often found in the small Aegean and Mediterranean towns. Unfortunately, not everyone stays because there are some aspects of Turkish life that they just really can’t get their head around.
In our series about expat life in Turkey, we talk to real people in the country to get a realistic outlook and viewpoint on what living in Turkey is like. In this article, we talk with Natalie Sayin. She has lived in Turkey for 15 years, been married and divorced here, worked as a rep, estate agent and is now a location independent freelancer. We asked her to tell us more about her life in Turkey as an expat.
A series of negatives in his life prompted 52-year-old Andrew Edmonds to reassess his life. Wanting a change before he was too old to enjoy it, he decided to pack up and move to Turkey - a country he'd never even visited before. He explains how it's been settling into his new home in Yalikavak, Bodrum.
Living in Turkey as a foreigner, exposes you to cultural awareness but it also changes your outlook on life. The lifestyle that at first seems baffling and sometimes absurd slowly works its magic on you, and before you know it, your thoughts, mannerisms and actions extensively change to the point, where your Turkish friends insist you are no longer the yabanci (foreigner) but instead their half Turkish brother or sister.
Here’s the thing about visiting Turkey on holiday. It has an acute knack of drawing you in, and by the time, your departing flight leaves the tarmac, you are already planning your next trip back. While the country has a hardcore fan base of holidaymakers, some people also go one step further by packing their bags and moving here permanently - here are five places in Turkey that will have you never wanting to leave.
The broad spectrum and diversity of tourist attractions in Turkey have earned the country gushing admiration in travel guide books and fairs. From the weird and wonderful to historical or natural places of beauty, most are family friendly destinations, as well as favoured spots for independent travellers. Have a read of the ten best tourist attractions that anyone visiting Turkey just HAS to visit.
Istanbul's quieter during the summer months, as city dwellers head out of the megacity and to the long sands of Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye's beaches. However, there are plenty of seaside delights to be found in Istanbul, as our list proves. Join us as we explore some of the city's nicest shorelines.
Kalkan on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey is one of the lesser talked about destinations in the country, yet, it has a hard-core fan base of repeat holidaymakers and expats, who either live there permanently or for half of the year. Even the locals speak English with clear intent and confident knowledge of it as a second language. Find out why foreign expats love living in Kalkan in this blog.
The Mediterranean coast of Turkey has everything you can imagine and much more. The ideal weather climate and a comfortable lifestyle all blend together to provide an atmosphere welcoming everyone, young or old. Such is the lure, it is a major holiday destination for many nationalities including Brits, Russians and East Europeans. They visit many of the popular coastal holiday resorts of which one is prestigious Kalkan, belonging to the Antalya province.
Turks love music, just as much as they adore food. With a strong emphasis on lyrics, as well as tunes, to dance to, a Turk does not need persuading to break out into song or start dancing, whenever or wherever. The complexity of Turkish music, formed by centuries of global influences include Persian, Arabic, Persian, Balkan and Ottoman to name but a few. Find out about Turkish music in this cultural blog.
If you plan to invest in Turkey or get a job, it will be hugely beneficial to brush up on Turkish culture in the workplace. On the surface, it may seem that Turkey operates much like western establishments. However, they don’t. Turks are slowly adopting globalised attitudes in the workplace, but culture and traditions still reign strong behind the scenes.
