An Expat Life in Istanbul – Part 1
Istanbul is a fantastic city to live in, one which will certainly stay with you for the rest of your days, should you decide to move on. This is a city which blends together two continents, and you’ll hear countless languages spoken on a daily basis.
Istanbul is an international, multi-cultural, and diverse city, and one which offers plentiful benefits for ex-pats.
Many people are put off by the sheer size of Istanbul, but this is a mistake! Yes, the city is huge, and it is Turkey’s largest, but getting around isn’t difficult, and the true beauty of every single part of this huge metropolis will have you salivating every single day! If you choose to live in a large tourist area, you will see and meet countless people from all over the world, and if you live in a quieter, more residential part of the city, you will be welcomed with open arms by friendly locals, who will take you under their wing and show you their culture.
Istanbul isn’t a cold and unfriendly city, it is the total opposite.
Language Barriers
Of course, moving to another country is a big thing, regardless of where it is you’re planning on going. If you speak Turkish, you will certainly benefit, but if you don’t, you can learn whilst you’re there, There are countless English schools which teach Turkish all over the city, on both sides of the Bosphorus, and if English isn’t your first language, there are schools for you too, including Arabic, Dutch, Russian, German, Italian, and Spanish.
You will find that people on the European side are more likely to speak English than those on the Asian side. Whether that is an issue for you is a personal thing. If you go to Kadikoy on the Asian side, you will find many people speaking English, but the rest of that area is much more residential and traditional, with Turkish the majority language overall. This isn’t an issue however, as the locals will still try and help you learn, and hand signals work wonders!
Bear in mind that you will hear one word said a lot – yabanci. This means ‘foreigner’, but don’t take offence to it! This word basically means anyone not from here, and is said about Turks from other towns in the country!
Getting Around
Istanbul has a great transport network so getting from place to place isn’t going to be a problem. You will become super confident with the entire public transport system as you stay for longer, but the best way to familiarise yourself is simply to jump straight in!
The Istanbul Kart is something you need in your life. This is a pre-paid transport card, which you scan at the entrance to the Metro, ferry terminals, ad even when getting on buses. Public transport doesn’t accept cash, so make sure you purchase your card as one of your first jobs, and to it up regularly at the many kiosks around the city.
The Metro might seem scary, but it’s very easy. As soon as you know which train to get on and where to get off, you will be like a pro. The ferries are also a great way to get around if you’re living on one side and travelling tot he other on a regular basis, perhaps for work or to see new friends. These do get busy, but it’s a very scenic ride to take on a regular basis!
Socialising
Many people worry about making friends when they move from place to place, but Istanbul is so packed with different people, from all walks of life, that you’ll soon have a new army of friends to call your own. You will also easily fall in with your Turkish neighbours and those who are around your local area, such as the local market, for example. Locals never forget a face, and you will always be greeted warmly. In addition, if you ever need help, you will struggle to find more helpful people.
Put simply, the expat life in Istanbul is a great one. It may take some adjusting to at first, such is the size of the city, but once you’re there, you’ll soon be one of the locals. Check out our ‘part two’ to this chat, to find out the red tape you need to navigate your way through.
