The Turquoise Chronicles

We landed under a glowing supermoon, the last of 2022. Upon our approach into Istanbul, I could see the Bosphorus Bridge glowing neon red, a physical and metaphoric tie between Europe and Asia. My cat sat on my lap as I watched the boats bobbing below, lit up like Christmas lights on the Sea of Marmara.

My last few days in the States were bittersweet, as always. It was a terrible relief when my visa came through but I was also wistful to be leaving family and friends after a year that was nothing short of a gift. Time with my parents, seeing friends in the States and Canada, and exploring northern Massachusetts – I couldn’t have asked for more. Moves like this one take consideration, determination, and a great deal of planning. I don’t enter into these contracts lightly, but I also know what I’m looking for. So when the job opportunity in Istanbul arose, I knew that I had to go for it.

Landing as dawn lit the horizon, I made my way through the brand new Istanbul Airport to Customs. After claiming my luggage (thankful for my direct flight!), I found my hosts – my new principal, an HR representative, and the housing and transportation coordinator. Big smiles all around, the group became quickly smitten with Moloko who took up residence in her first Istanbul cafe like it was her job, reposing on the tile floor. We waited for my good friends from Moscow, Ali and Shalene, who landed only minutes after me on their direct flight from Chicago. Ali is teaching at my school this year and Shalene came for the weekend to help transport Ali’s two cats, also Russian expats 😉

Next stop was Bahçeşehir, our neighborhood in the western suburbs of Istanbul. The name translates to Garden City and it’s apt – from my balcony I can see swaths of green winding between residential buildings as far as the eye can see. Called “B-town” by the expat residents, the park paths are beautiful and I’m so lucky to have an amazing view, day and night. My apartment itself is incredibly lovely and I will share more when it is fully set up. There is a spare bedroom and visitors are very welcome!

Usually the first few days in a new country are a blur of meet ups, dinners, and local tours. Your head can swim with new social norms and the goal of making a positive first impression. It’s helpful to do more observing then concluding during this time, and try to relax any expectations. Here in Turkey, I am beginning to suspect that everything runs on a slightly different timetable. There was nothing on our schedule for the first two days. Thanks to my friends staying just across the park, the three of us began exploring on our own, beginning at my old TASIS staple, Migros. Swiss in origin, Migros is a food market and home goods store, a very welcome one-stop-shop. After purchasing a few essentials, we enjoyed dinner at a local outdoor cafe which specializes in lahmacun, a flatbread with meat, spices, vegetables, and herbs.

There’s no better way to fight jet lag than to make plans you want to keep. Knowing this, we decided on Turkish breakfast for the morning. Turkish breakfast is no joke and we located an adorable spot a little over a mile from our park, replete with a garden setting and a resident cheeky cat (more like kitten). More on the cats of Istanbul to come in a future blog. The meal was as delicious as it looks with the shakshuka as my personal favorite.

Fortified for the day, my friends took off to see the sights of downtown Istanbul, making the most of Shalene’s crazy quick long weekend. I retreated to my own apartment to finish unpacking and take a dip in the pool to beat the heat. Moloko busied herself trying out every possible perch in the apartment. She seems to be adjusting just fine.

Meeting for dinner at a rooftop shisha bar, we enjoyed non-alcoholic frozen drinks (mine was mulberry) alongside halloumi, manti, and, of course that foreign delicacy of corn on pizza (throwback to my SoKo days). Shalene shared some beautiful Turkish delight purchased from the Grand Bazaar and we had a great time playing games at my apartment. No better way to kick off a new country than with good friends trying out amazing local fare.

As has become standard for my overseas postings, a trip to IKEA is scheduled for tomorrow. There is something comforting about walking through the prearranged rooms, seeking an item that might make your life a little easier when assimilating to a new country. With that, I thank you for enjoying this first blog installment from Turkey. Much more to follow in the coming weeks, no doubt!