TAXI DRIVERS & FLIRTY MEN
Navigating Istanbul's streets as a foreigner reveals a host of challenges. From taxi drivers attempting to overcharge or engaging in uncomfortable behavior, to Ubers canceling or demanding more than the agreed fare, the city's transportation scene can be a perplexing maze. Solo female travelers as well as local Turkish girls can especially face unwanted advances, making rides uncomfortable. The excessive flirtation by salesmen and the bitter commentary about the privilege that foreigners have in Turkey add another layer of unease. One time, a taxi driver told my mother in Turkish that he wanted to become her son-in-law, and luckily, she doesn't understand Turkish because it was rather disrespectful. A lot of the taxi drivers are young men and they're just used to being very flirtatious. I can't count the number of men who have asked for my phone number or social media, or if I would like to get coffee with them. Of course, I never went to any coffee with any stranger, nor gave them my phone number. Be careful of creative ways that these guys are going to get your phone number. One taxi driver asked me to use my phone for the GPS and took this as an opportunity to call himself from my phone so that he would get my number. I'm actually used to men doing rather creative things in order to get my phone number so I've seen plenty of these tricks my whole life; the best way to avoid it is to never give a guy your phone for any reason because not only can it endanger your safety in case he is a predator, but it is the easiest way for men to get your phone number. Another time I was leaving the Vadistanbul shopping center and I ordered an Uber and the guy kept asking me to sit in the front seat next to him, kept giving me excessive compliments, and I just wonder what would have happened if I did sit in the front seat! I do think that most of these men are afraid of the police; don't be scared to mention that you will call the police on them. I also do think that the local police take it a bit seriously when foreign women are being harassed. Personally, I do think that I felt a lot more safe living in Turkey than I did in America. Just copy what Turkish girls do; they barely make eye contact with men on the street, and they definitely do not talk to them in a nice tone of voice, if they are approached. It's very common to see a Turkish girl immediately threaten to call the police if a stranger guy even comes up to her just for a chat. This is why a lot of local Turkish man enjoy to talk with foreign women because they're a lot less on guard and they're more gullible, or friendly. But hey, plenty of mixed marriages have happened this way so don't let these little things stop you from connecting with people. Just be careful! A lot of men there think that a friendly smile or a simple chat, means that you're interested in them romantically.
BUREAUCRACY
Expats attempting to navigate Istanbul's bureaucracy find themselves in a challenging nightmare. Corruption, language barriers, and the need for local assistance create hurdles. Most wealthy expats and foreign investors simply resort to hiring liaisons or companies for paperwork to avoid all the direct hassle and uncomfortable situations. This deeply sheds light on the inefficiencies faced across socioeconomic levels by those without connections.
WATCH YOUR STEP!
Walking directly through Istanbul's streets presents its own set of challenges. Wet pavements lack warning signs, and unkempt cobblestone paths uphill pose dangers, especially for children, elderly, or disabled individuals. Unmarked hazards in general pose risks, making a stroll through the city a potential minefield. These things could easily become a lawsuit in America, but even a hospital trip due to these hazards won't go to trial in Turkey; unless you have connections of course! Restaurant experiences in Istanbul can be perplexing. Waiters prematurely clearing plates and sweeping around diners around your feet while you eat create a strange dining atmosphere.
SKIP THE BOTOX!
Istanbul's medical tourism scene has even more pitfalls, with reports of scams targeting unsuspecting individuals. Navigating this landscape requires caution to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous practices. I can't count the number of people that were botched in Türkiye and did not get any kind of compensation. Of course, millions of people go to Türkiye's for tons of plastic surgery and healthcare but it's really important that you do your research and go with a reliable and trustworthy doctor, and make sure that the doctor/practice is ethical and will take care of you in case of any issues.
LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Language barriers in Istanbul can be traumatic for tourists and expats alike. Some locals, rather than assisting, can respond harshly, creating a challenging environment for those trying to navigate a new culture and language. This is especially common in areas away from the tourist center because most locals are deeply upset with expats and migrants coming to move to Turkey. Job interviews and apartment search experiences add another layer of complexity for expats trying to settle into Istanbul. While applying for a job at an elementary school, I was questioned about my teaching credential and asked to provide a certificate that I had English proficiency. Although I'm not of European heritage, I was born and raised in America, and English is actually my first language. I've worked in dozens of schools in America through a staffing company, which placed me in different jobs across the California state, and not once have I ever been questioned about my English proficiency. (And by the way, I do not have any accent when I speak English. I just sound American.) This to me was just a direct racist experience as I don't fit the European ideal, which is what a lot of people seem to think "real Americans are." (Contact me directly if you want to know what school this was.)
PRIVACY FOR MUSLIM/HIJABI WOMEN
Being that Turkey is almost the majority country, I found it also strange that most fitting rooms allow men in the hallways and right outside the doors. Typically in America, women's fitting rooms are in a completely different hallway than men's, which prevents any awkwardness with a man opening the door on a woman, or anyone seeing your legs; as the doors do not reach all the way to the floor. I just found this completely strange that most fitting rooms in shopping centers and stores did not have privacy regarding gender segregation. More awkwardness: male staff selling female lingerie is the norm. In general, most American laundry stores or clothing stores in general are filled with women cashiers, so that's another thing that I find a bit awkward. (Personal preference related)
SALONS IN ISTANBUL
When you go to a salon in Istanbul, you often find multitaskers; someone will do your hair and another person is doing your nails at the same time. Although hair coloring and cuts are always risky, no matter which country you go to; I highly recommend going to a Russian or Ukrainian or central Asian run salon just because I've gotten the worst experiences everywhere else in terms of being scammed, being overcharged just for being a foreigner/expat, people mishandling my nails and skin, and even a creepy hairstylist tried to give me a weird shoulder massage while I was dozing off during the hair dying process, which looked like he was doing this sort of thing very often, and it just seemed really unprofessional
TURKISH AIRLINES
Turkish airlines can be a hit or miss. I would never recommend them, but I have some tips for you while you are flying with Turkish Airlines: don't ever miss a flight because they are not going to accommodate you in time. You're going to be on the phone with the worst customer service agents who are going to be rather unhelpful in your stressful moment. I really recommend getting a travel agent or travel insurance to avoid all of this. But if you do take Turkish airlines, make sure to be very vocal with them if you ever need snacks or additional help. Sometimes they do not accommodate passengers who have walking disabilities at Istanbul airport. I personally needed help with luggages after a health procedure, but none of the air hostess (men) would help me, and they even made a big deal about me, bringing the trolley all the way to the gate. In general, I feel like they do NOT prioritize customer service, and they tend to be rather harsh. Compared to Emirates, Qatar Airways or any Arab or American airline, I definitely think Turkish airlines has poor service. Overall, their flights are very cheap, and they fly all across Turkey and other countries, and that's why people choose them the most.
SCAMS AND THEIVES (common in big cities)
One time I met a girl in my friend's university, who met me a few times at coffee shops, and eventually invited me to her house. One day, she stole my YSL wallet (Authentic wallet). I was without my credit cards for a few days, and I didn't even have money to pay the apartment-hotel that I was staying at, which I was paying per week. It was a big hassle, and I learned a hard lesson not to make friends with random girls, even if it's in a university setting! Having mutual friends is the only way to make a trusted friend in Istanbul because people need to have accountability and social proof. I would never befriend a stranger girl in any big city again! Another girl befriended me just to try and sell me some skincare treatments at her employer's salon! In general, most foreigners and expats have a lot of trouble making friends and experiences with locals. Be wary of anyone appearing excessively friendly in the first encounter as well. Expat/foreigner or academic/work related gatherings are better places to meet others. It's also necessary to learn the Turkish language to fully connect with people there.
PHARMACIES (ECZANE) HOURS!
If you come from America where most pharmacies have late hours, or you can at least find 24-hour drug stores where you can always pick up some medicine for a headache or stomach ache, think again when you come to Turkey. One time, 2pm on a Sunday, it was impossible for me to find emergency medicine for my mom. In fact, most pharmacies are closed by 5 PM. Bring your own medicine or stock up, just in case! Now there is a lot of delivery services, which are usually open late till might not have medicines available late at night so don't take that risk!
meanwhile, If you're looking to go to a dentist or get your hair done, those are open pretty late. In fact, most dentist offices are open past 9 PM! I actually do recommend most dentists in Turkey, and I found them to be pretty reliable. It is so common to see dentist appointments happening at nighttime in Turkey.
BANKING
Ah, the terrible experiences of opening a bank account in Istanbul, Turkey! I don't have enough words to explain to you how terrible the experience was, just know that with all bureaucratic procedures in this country, it's better to have connections, a lot of money to bribe people, or just excessive patience because you're going to encounter so much bureaucracy and animosity. Just be prepared that it's going to take you at least 5 separate trips to get anything done.
WELCOME TO ISTANBUL🇹🇷
I just posted all of this so that people will know exactly what they're getting into when they decide to spend a long trip or move to Istanbul. I lived in Istanbul for more than one year, and I can assure you that every single day my ego was broken, and I was humbled, yet I learned so much, and it was an amazing experience. The country and culture is very beautiful. I do think that at this moment, it's not welcoming to foreigners, but I do understand why, and I respect the reasons. That's partially why I made a decision to leave the country because I don't want to be somewhere where my skills or presence is not valued. I just hope that this mentally prepares anyone who is not of Turkish descent/origin and thinks that it would be a good opportunity to move to Turkey. (Especially if you don't know the language and aren't committed to mastering it rapidly.)
Just consider everything before you take that plunge, and even then, make sure you have a lot of disposable income in order to get by for some time, because it's not likely that you will find a job as a foreigner within a few months. I do NOT think that the Turkish people are any more hostile or xenophobic towards outsiders than any other culture or country. (But I am not Arab, so that also factors into it.) I believe that most cultures and countries are the same way, especially when their economy is built on tourism, and they have a lot of internal issues regarding political systems and economic challenges so this is no way is it an attack directly on Turkey.
There are plenty of hospitable people in the country, but as a whole, I would say that the country is NOT open to foreign migration or expats at this time. If you do choose to be an expat in Turkey, just know that you'll be rather limited in terms of making friendships, and you may live in a bit of an isolating bubble, and you may encounter scammers on a daily basis, and you have to have a really thick skin. Living in Istanbul is not for a sensitive person! But, if you're a millionaire who can hire a driver, a translator and a liaison who can do all the bureaucratic documents for you; you can avoid all of these things, it will be easier, but you still may feel like a bubble, if you do not assimilate into Turkish culture and language, though! Good luck on your journey and travels! 🇹🇷
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