For the lacklustre introduction. I can't quite come up with the intelligent, witty quip or interesting observation that will hopefully get you guys thinking 'there's a decent sort, worth getting to know' and I always feel like a plonker summarising myself into a couple of lines. So, putting myself out there and fingers crossed I don't get heckled like a Jerry Springer contestant, here goes:

I am Irish but have been based in the UK for about 8 years. My husband is English and has been posted to Istanbul for a couple of years. He is currently doing the temporary accomodation thing until we can find somewhere to live. I am serving my notice period and will follow out for good in a couple of months and until then we are doing the weekend commute (much to the delight of BA and Turkish Airlines).

To be honest my first trip to Istanbul wasn't the best. It started off with a two hour taxi ride from the airport to the hotel (with a few nears misses on the way). Followed by a slightly offputting day of apartment viewing where I realised that the furnished apartment thing doesn't really happen. Then lots of confused trips in taxis where it became obvious that I would need to learn Turkish very quickly. Finished off by me doing the whole 'eating is cheating thing', getting trashed and bursting into tears in a restaurant surrounded by a very cool bunch of people - not my finest hour!

Now before you all write me off, yes I am familiar with the whole embracing a new culture thing having lived in Belgium, Germany and the US at various stages and I am glad to say that once the hangover wore off and after a bit of sightseeing things looked a lot brighter. So if you are all not totally put off by my intro it would be cool to catch up over a pint and maybe make some new expat mates. I can't access this site from work that easily so if I don't respond for a day or two I am not being rude. Have a good May Day and good luck getting home (BBC news says that a lot of the public transport has been suspended due to the rally?).

Hi and welcome, you can probably save yourself a pile of cash commuting with Easyjet (you probably know that).

From one commuter to another, welcome (only I get to live here and occasionally commute to Baku, where my husband works, to the delight of Azal).

You'll have a nice time at the EIT parties.

Hi Newbie,

welcome to Istanbul anyhow, I personally think that Istanbul intensifies things a bit, so I guess this is valid for good AND bad experiences.
Therefor I wanna give you a warm welcome and now that you experienced some negative things - such as the taxidrivers (but they do not only cheat on foreigners, believe me) - I guess you are ready for the positive experiences in Istanbul.

cu
Nadja

Welcome, I'm sure you'll love living here. The bursting into tears thing will probably happen a couple more times, did to me in my first year. I thought I could handle living in another country, also having lived in Belgium. But you don't get culture shock until you really live in a different culture. It will be a great experience.

Hey Newbie, welcome!
It took me 5 years to get over my culture shock in Turkey.
(Although in culture shock theory they say it takes 1 - 2 years only.)
(Actually I only got over it after I separated from my Turkish boyfriend, but that's another story...)

The positive thing about it is that life never gets boring during culture shock.
So I wish you a great time here!
See you around!

we were all a newbie once ...

welcome and i hope you wiill have a lot of fun with the forum

istanbul is great if you have a few friends and i am sure this site will help yopu find some.

Done the restaurant crying thing after 6 months on Crete. What did I cry about? Another crap salad covered in marie rose dressing. Um...highly significant... But needless to say I knew the time had come to jump ship.

Not that I'm saying don't come here! )

It'll be a laugh and you'll find some great Irish people here. Just get out and about and don't settle until you find likeminded people. A decent social group of people you actually like and can trust has been key for me.

"A decent social group of people you actually like and can trust has been key for me."sure.
Ive been very lucky in istanbul (1st time expat) as I made friends before arriving (by friends of friends of friends...-thank you internet) but I ımagine without them that my first month should have been difficult!!
Welcome in istanbul, Im sure you will enjoy it and meet nice people!

Hos Geldin Newbie!

It is soooo easy to love and to hate this city! Also it can change so quickly. First you get really pissed off because it´s raining, rivers are flowing down the hills of Istanbul and car drivers do not care if they spray your whole outfit. In the next moment you think `Hey, isn’t that great that there are people selling umbrellas everywhere for scarcely anything on a Sunday afternoon`.

Have a good start!!!

Thanks guys for the encouraging responses. Am looking forward to coming over and settling in properly, although first priority is to sort out the language gap. The site seems really helpful and has lots of tips so thanks in advance for the inside info. Looking forward to meeting some of you in due course. All the best, Newbie

[quote user="Newbie" post="88640"]
To be honest my first trip to Istanbul wasn't the best. It started off with a two hour taxi ride from the airport to the hotel (with a few nears misses on the way). Followed by a slightly offputting day of apartment viewing where I realised that the furnished apartment thing doesn't really happen. Then lots of confused trips in taxis where it became obvious that I would need to learn Turkish very quickly. Finished off by me doing the whole 'eating is cheating thing', getting trashed and bursting into tears in a restaurant surrounded by a very cool bunch of people - not my finest hour!
[/quote]
Yeah, I was ready to cry after my 2-3h taxi ride when I first arrived. Istanbul is so ugly when viewed from the highway but so beautiful when you know where to go for what you like (I love spending a day going from restaurants to cafes).
Don't fret too much about the language thing. Once you know a few words and get to know the public transportation system(which takes time with all of the options and because it's still coming out of the oral tradition mode), you'll be fine.

We're still feeling pretty new here (it's been 6 months), but you'll be amazed by how quickly you can figure out the basics. Feel free to ask- there's no such thing as a stupd question!

By the way, my husband's from Galway? Where in Ireland are you from?

Kiki

Hi Kiki, just logged in and picked up your mail so sorry for the delay in responding. I'm a Dub or a Jackeen depending on your perspective:) Was over last weekend for the bank holiday and had great craic although I think I will have to be rolled back onto the plane in 2 years time with all the yummy food. Am slightly concerned about keeping myself busy whilst I am out in Istanbul. Obviously Istanbul is an extremely vibrant and active place and there is lots to do (even for a lazy *ss like me) but its going to be weird going from a pretty fulltime work existence to being on my own most of the time. Hence, any tips you can give me would be gratefully received. Am even contemplating taking up fishing as a way to meet people!

BTW is it worthwhile getting into these women's groups which are mentioned on the forum? All the people I have met are blokes and didn't seem to be up for meeting for a coffee/pint/chat without the husband. I have been to the Irish Centre/James Joyce pub a couple of times to watch the footie. Not too many females there and to my surprise all the staff were Turkish (the nice bloke who served me hadn't even tasted Guinness before which I thought was hysterical).

I just read some of the stuff about satellite TV. 3m dishes all sounds scary just to keep in touch with E4 and the trashy American shows I am addicted to. Am guessing its too much to think that I might be able to get Setanta Sports out there? Well at least I have the rugger world cup to keep me excited.

Thanks for dropping me a line, am actually finding the whole writing to strangers thing quite therapeutic.

Welcome Newbie!

My first trip to Turkey, I got lost in the Istanbul airport and couldn't find the domestic terminal (to catch my flight to Ankara). After barely making my plane, my luggage was lost and I had an awful experience trying to get it delivered to my room.Needless to say, I holed up in my room for about 48 hours without eating or leaving because I was terrified of being alone in the city.

Isolation, snack food from the plane, and tears were certainly not the best start to the semester, but it ended up being great!