Life in Turkey

I feel like I never really talk about the fact that we live in Turkey.  It doesn't seem foreign to me anymore and it seems as though I can do everything here that I can do at home. Well, almost.  I wanted to do a random post on life in Turkey so that we can remember what it was like living here.

People are very friendly and touchy even when you first meet them

They love babies and constantly want to touch Asher. They are always wishing him well and telling me "Masallah" which means God bless

There is no such thing as an organized line at the grocery store, movie theatre, basketball games, bathrooms etc.

Everyone smokes and they start around the age of 14 - this erks me

I very rarely see anyone wearing a burqa even though everyone is Muslim.  Everyone in our area is very fashionable and they dress better then me, which really isn't saying much! I live in sweats

There is a MAC makeup store at the mall

Kids don't sit in car seats

The majority of people stay up really late at night and sleep in until about eleven

Everyone drives like maniacs which results in us driving crazy also but they never honk or get mad at each other it's just a "hey, I'm behind you" sort of honk- it's awesome

The food is delicious as long as you like healthy food! Chicken, a ton of fruits and veggies, cheese, honey, rice, bulgur and a ton of tomatoes and cucumbers

The seaside is absolutely beautiful 
Ataturk (google him) is almost as important as God.  First president of Turkey

When it is warm enough everyone is outside eating on their balcony, going for walks, sitting on park benches

There is incredible public transportation. buses, ferries, trains everything

Rarely do people actually stop at a stop sign

It's rare to have ramps or handicap access anywhere- hard with a stroller but that's just Europe

There are a ton of stray cats and dogs that surprisingly don't creep me out at all.  They are clean and all have been given their shots and they don't follow you!  The people always leave piles of cat and dog food laying out for them

We order big water jugs for drinking water

Family is very important to Turkish people

It's not rare to see a 10 year old driving a scooter on busy streets without a helmet

Food is very cheap here

We use the Turkish Lira for currency

I am always chastised for not having Asher in 600 coats and hats even when it is 70 degrees

It is a very relaxed lifestyle.  Time isn't always an issue and you get there when you get there

I look very foreign and so does Asher.  They can't believe he has blue eyes

I feel very safe

Gas is SO expensive

People walk along the massive highways like it's no big deal

I am always asked if I am breastfeeding accompanied by them patting me on the boob. I'm serious

People tell me at the gym I need to slow down before I break something.  Women do not run here

There are white taxis and yellow taxis.  White ones make stops along the way and do the same big circle over and over again.  It's really inexpensive but you ride with strangers.  Yellow work as they do anywhere else.

I like living in Turkey better than Italy

A LOT of people speak English and if they don't speak English I figure things out using charades or my broken Turkish

Hunger Games was in the theatre the same day as America!

We have KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, Little Cesar's, Pizza Hut, Domino's and Schlotzsky's Deli

Everywhere delivers here and it is FAST! Subway is at our door in no longer then 10 minutes

There are a lot of foreigners living here.  Many married to Turks or a lot are here working

There are incredible markets for produce and every random knick knack your heart desires

Another season is soon coming to a close.  Ryan is playing amazing, I have enjoyed living here again and it sure makes things more fun having Asher along for the ride.