Tag Archives: Turkey

My Istanbul life in pictures

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

Finally, FINALLY the gray winter weather seems to have left Istanbul for the season. Which means my commutes around the city become much more enjoyable and instead of sitting inside buses and ferries reading I sit happily staring at the water and the sunshine and the scenes of Istanbul life passing by.

Here’s a very short video I took from the ferry as we set off from the Eminonu neighborhood at the mouth of the famous estuary known as the Golden Horn.

It’s lovely to be able to sit on the seats lining the outside of the ferry in the fresh air as the other boats cruise by. I like to look for dolphins and every once in awhile I’m lucky enough to spot a few!

If, like me, you prefer to get your peek inside the life of the city by visual means, I hope you’ll check out my Pinterest board “Istanbul Life”. If you haven’t joined Pinterest, you might want to check it out (and follow me!) I think it’s fun but also a useful way to collect things around the web you don’t want to lose track of.

Your turn!

I’d love to hear about your experiences—write ‘em up in the comments area below!

  • How does your experience of your city or town change with the seasons?
  • Where/how do you collect images? In a journal? In a photo album? Online?
Posted in Telling My Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Usual Foreigner

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

Istanbul Cat-BirdFish out of water or enjoying a fresh perspective?

Last week I walked into a longtime client’s office building and found a new security guard at the door. She said a lot of Turkish words I didn’t understand and also “canta”, which I know means “bag”, so after a brief pause I realized she wanted me to give her my bag to be searched. I was ready to hand it over when one of the more experienced guards intervened and told her that no, she didn’t need to search my bag because I am a “yabanci, normal”. No need for me to be searched or present ID; I was waved through, given my access card and sent smilingly on my way.

The words of that second guard recalled a question I’ve considered often: why, unlike so many expats, do I NOT feel like a “fish out of water”? I feel absolutely and completely at home in my skin as a “normal yabanci” which, loosely translated, means “usual foreigner”.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Being foreign gives me permission to feel different in a “normal” way.
We all have that nagging feeling at times that we are outsiders or that no one understands us. By living in a place where I am by definition foreign, I feel zero obligation to fit in. I know I never will so the pressure is completely off. I try very hard not to be culturally inappropriate, but I don’t try to be culturally the same. Ever.

• Being foreign makes me special and memorable.
People are often thrilled to meet a foreigner. They are curious, interested, and welcoming when they first meet you and generally remember you and welcome you back when you return to a shop, workplace, or neighborhood haunt. Sometimes it’s nice to be considered “interesting” and the famous Turkish hospitality is often kicked up a notch for foreigners.

• Being foreign insulates me from doing stuff I don’t want to do.
There are many disadvantages that go along with being an outsider, so I feel no compunction at taking full advantage of the perks. If I don’t want to do something, I explain that yes, I am foreign, and weird, but that’s just how we Americans are. Silly Americans, we just don’t know any better, I tell them sadly.

Partly, I think my feeling of comfort comes from having found the right place for me. That is the true answer to the ubiquitous question, “why did you move to Istanbul?” The answer is: because I came here and it felt like home.

Your turn!

I’d love to hear about your experiences—write ‘em up in the comments area below!

  • Are you in your “right” place?
  • When/where do you feel like an outsider?
  • Does the idea of moving to a new town/city/country appeal to you? Why or why not?

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Posted in Telling My Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Creating vs. rejuvenating: finding the balance

Posted on July 19, 2011 by

Right now I am in a transition phase, trying to figure out the best way to work from home. I am throwing myself full-out into my new business, working hard, and really enjoying it. Of course I have moments (and days!) when I am discouraged/afraid/cynical but I also have lots of days when I feel hopeful/capable/full of optimism. I guess it’s no surprise that finding a work/rejuvenation balance is the first challenge of the new entrepreneur. But there’s a reason it’s a cliché: it’s something we all struggle with.

What’s the answer? Well of course the answer is that it depends. It depends on you, your business, your goals, and your environment.

  1. My business: I am at the beginning stages of building my business, working on developing workshops and products, building my website and network, and learning as much as I can from those who have gone before me. But I also need to find time to meet with people in person and take advantage of the huge potential of using the right social media in the right amount.
  2. My environment: it’s hot here in Istanbul and I don’t have an air-conditioner.
  3. My goals: build business fast as possible but go slow enough to not make too many mistakes. Of course mistakes are inevitable, but I want to slow down enough to learn from them.

The answers for me (for now):

  1. I work when I am most alert and receptive, because I’m trying to take in a lot of new information and think creatively and energetically. This means hopping out of bed when I wake up early because of that bright unrelenting sun and getting right to work. Sometimes I don’t even shower before I get down to it because there’s time for that later when the heat of the day becomes unbearable. I get a good 6 hours of solid, uninterrupted work in before realizing I need a snack and a snooze. I enjoy my afternoon siestas and find that if I let myself rest, I’m ready to get back to work after a break of an hour or two. After my break I shower and jump back in.
  2. Whatever the reason, I am now more productive at home than I have ever been in the past when I worked out of a home office. I used to have to go to a cafe to get anything done, now I get more done in my apartment than anywhere else. I recently rearranged my flat and think I may have accidentally feng shui’d it! My current routine is to work on the balcony while it is shady and breezy, move into the salon when the sun gets too hot, then spend an hour or two in the breezeway at the hottest part of the day to take advantage of the air passing through. I realize as I write this that my dog actually figured all that out before me…

    Gratuitous photo of my cute dog enjoying the balcony

  3. I want to go FAST but know I need to be careful not to cut corners or wear myself out today, because tomorrow I have to get up and do it all over again. This is my biggest challenge at the moment, because my brain is going at top speed and there’s just not enough time to get it all done. It would be easy to get discouraged at that long list of Tasks That Must Be Done, but I try to remember I’m never going to be finished so it’s best to check off what I can and be thankful that when I wake up tomorrow I know there is work to be done. Of course, just because I have decided it’s quitting time doesn’t mean my brain will consent to stop. My current strategy is to make as many plans for extra curricular activities as possible so that I am forced to focus on other things, and to close my computer, or at least all those tempting social media tabs! Check out this moving and fascinating TED video of how our brains work, left vs. right, and where those voices inside our heads originate. Then get out there and activate your right brain.

I can already foresee that as my business develops and as the seasons change, so will my schedule and habits. When winter comes and it’s gray and damp in Istanbul, I know I’m going to struggle with getting out of bed (to wallow in the melancholy gray days of Istanbul check out this book). I may have to find a cafe to work in so that I don’t drift off into endless naps. And as my business develops in unexpected ways I will have to learn to channel my energy to the right places in the right amounts.

For another viewpoint, check out artist Natasha Wescoat’s thoughts on training yourself to be productive. I would love to hear about your successes and struggles when it comes to setting your workstyle, please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comments.

Posted in Challenge/Personal Growth/Coaching, Telling My Stories, Telling the Stories of Others, What is Art/What is an Artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment