Do any Aussie expats have some top tips for a young Aussie moving to Istanbul?

You wouldn't want any tips from Non_Aussies, would you?

How many Aussies live in Istanbul anyway? There are about 10 of us in total in Ankara (half of whom work at the embassy). In other words Aussie, don't think you can do the London thing and just hang around with other Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans.

Aussie, my top tips would be:

*To learn some basic Turkish language and something about the culture.
*To have no expectations.
*To have an open mind.
*To go to central Sydney and get yourself stuck in a serious traffic jam and then tell yourself "this is what life will be like in Istanbul everyday".
*To adjust quickly to the third world style bureaucracy that exists the majority of the time (sorry Uta, I'm not intentionally stealing your line, I once described it like this to my fiancee!).
*To stop being a vegetarian if you are one. The kebabs/cig kofte are great!!
*To familiarise yourself with the concept of 'Turkish time'.
*To look for advice/suggestions/events on this site.
*But most of all, make the most of a new, exciting and challenging life experience!!

ff

Errmmm...bring your own Vegemite! Lots of it!

Hey Johnathan,

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

One point of entertainment for all would be for you to teach us all a bit of "Aussie talk." A friend from Melbourne did that in a TEFL class inPrague and had us all in stitches. My best friend here still calls a television a "telly". His Turkish friends say "huh?"

You could get some major milage with that with the "mildly drinking" group.

Without trying to sound too pedantic - the term Telly is a British colloquialism. However, I welcome the idea of the right honourable member for NSW to teach us some of his strine.

Thanks people. Take care and I'll be in touch.

[quote user="Aussie" post="111190"]Do any Aussie expats have some top tips for a young Aussie moving to Istanbul?[/quote]

Aussie,

Not sure if you've had this answered directly, but the best advice (of course coming from a non-aussie) is to spend some time getting familiar with previous posts here. At one time, most of us have had the same questions or situations to deal with, and there is alot of information that at the very least will give you some answers. Better yet, possibly some brainstorming to bring up a few that haven't been posted. I doubt the move from down under would be all that much different than a move from say Canada, the US, or elsewhere. But then again, I'm not an aussie, and am not aware of the circumstances that may pertain to your situation.

Just trying to help.

Hey Motoman,

Thanks for the reply. Since I've never lived overseas before, all suggestions are most welcome.

Regards,

Aussie