Even after having been here in Turkey for nearly for five years now, I have still not gotten used to one particular thing: ones weight as public casual conversation fodder. The thing is, I know that commenting on a person’s weight is quite normal and socially acceptable here, I just can’t seem to get [...]

It’s not something that I often share very openly, but Turkey is not so far off from being considered a third world country, for many reasons.
I spend quite a lot of energy lauding my adopted homeland with positive accolades about its people, its culture, and its cuisine. I have found myself in the position [...]

The people I am closest to know that I am not the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day. I was never shy about sharing my reasons, either. I had the same complaints as so many others. I didn’t like the fact that it seemed to be a commercialized holiday perpetuated by florists and [...]

Having a Turkish boyfriend in Turkey is mostly a blessing, in my opinion. There are so many situations, mostly bureaucratic, that I have not been forced to endure because I have had the benefit of a built-in negotiator. For the most part, having the wisdom of a native at ones disposal in a [...]