Exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of Turkey through the eyes of not-just-another-tourist
Kaş, Turkey.Sometimes we come across things in life that words really can't describe. Kaş is one of them. So please bear with me, my thoughts, my photos . . . As you know, my husband and I spent 3 days there a couple of years ago. It was fabulous. And there was just no way that... Continue Reading →
GET OUT AND VOTE! Today is election day in Turkey. The Prime Minister is not up for re-election, but his party is. The three largest cities are Istanbul (over 14 million), Ankara (about 5 million) and Izmir (about 3.5 million). Below is some reading from Turkish & International newspapers on the subject: Turkey Politicians Make... Continue Reading →
A wise woman puts a grain of sugar into everything she says to a man, and takes a grain of salt with everything he says to her. Helen Rowland I stopped adding salt to dishes many moons ago -- except spinach. Spinach needs salt. It didn't take long before I realized that food had tastes... Continue Reading →
I had a chat with an old high school friend yesterday on Facebook. I don't know how we got on the topic of cleaning ladies, but we did. Yes, politically incorrect, but in Turkey, there is really no such thing as a male housekeeper. I told him that in Turkey it is very common for... Continue Reading →
Learning a new language is great, regardless of how much or how little you retain. I find that every small little piece I learn changes me in some way. It's brought me to realize though, that when living in another country, sometimes learning the language is not enough. In the States we have this saying,... Continue Reading →
Turkey's economy has not been so great lately. People are struggling to find jobs. The daily news is alarming. At the same time, Turks are finally "coming into their own." They won't be beaten down any longer. They are fighting for a true democracy. They are searching for happiness. Searching for happiness. This is true... Continue Reading →
It was very early in the protests when I realized that no one was actually voicing their opinion. They weren't clearly stating what they wanted. Obviously, much like Occupy Wall St., it was hard to do. The protests were growing around the country, but there was no clear leader. No one to make demands. One... Continue Reading →
I was in Istanbul when it all started. I was safely tucked away on an island, and really didn't know what was going on. Friends started to share translations of news reports and videos. At the time, I was amazed by it all. I didn't have a full comprehension, I probably still don't. But when... Continue Reading →
While many things are the same everywhere, there is a big difference between here and the States related to education and jobs. In the States, one takes the SAT exam, and with that score, applies to universities of their choosing. Once in school, they select their major course of study, usually at any time. Of... Continue Reading →
In the news in Turkey is the Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay with his anti-Semitic public comments. I have lived here over three years now. I don't usually get into the depth of conversations, for lack of Turkish skills, that would make me aware of racism here. Unfortunately, I do have one "friend" who in the... Continue Reading →
During my break, I did a lot of thinking about my blog. Naturally, as soon as I decided to take a break, I found many things I wanted to write about. But I realized that I still needed space. This morning, I decided to reinstate my last article. I had removed it, not because of... Continue Reading →
One of the most difficult problems for any expat is translation. Living in Turkey without a full grasp of the language presents its own challenges from day to day. Problems with translation can make those matters worse. I am lucky enough to have a husband and several friends who speak both English and Turkish and... Continue Reading →
2012. What a year. Here's a look back at some of my better blog posts, one from each month. I left out the recipes and restaurant reviews - although there were some goodies there! January, Keeping Up Appearances - How I learned to cover up. February, Junking - Comparing Turkey and the U.S. and my... Continue Reading →
Musings of a Philadelphia lawyer - who married a Turk, quit her day job, and set out for adventure!
-by Terry Henson Kaymak
Adventures in Ankara 