Merhaba. My husband Miguel (originally from Spain) and I (Iranian-American) have just moved to Istanbul from Seattle. We live in Besiktas, near Abbas Aga park in Yildiz. Before Seattle, I was living in Havana (studying Cuban music) and Kabul (medical humanitarian aid work). Miguel has just finished 15 years at Microsoft and is discovering his artistic side in Istanbul. I am working on my 2nd novel, Say I Am You. First novel, Aria, published by Harcourt and 5 foreign presses this year. See http://www.nassimassefi.com for more details. We are hoping to fall in love with Istanbul and settle here, but have come with an open mind. We are interested in meeting new people (Turks and expats) who would like to join us for salsa dancing, marathon running (mostly Miguel but I do shorter distances for support), gourmet food (Miguel has already discovered the balik carsi), book clubs, and urban adventures. I am looking for an affordable gym and/or personal trainer and belly dancing classes. Miguel would be interested in Turkish cooking classes and art classes. We are starting Turkish classes in a week or so at Dilmer. If anyone knows anything about doing medical work in Turkey as a foreigner, please let me know. We also speak French, Spanish, and Persian/Dari and are hoping to practice those languages too. No phone for now, but you can contact us via this site or my website. Ciao, Nassim and Miguel

Welcome, A nice intro and its good to have some more latins on this site.

hola!!

That's a good set of objectives you both have for your stay here - out of interest, what are you planning to do with your time during the weekdays??

Welcome to Istanbul. I'm confident you will fall in love with this place as my wife and I have. Which course are you taking at Dilmer? My wife are in the level 3 class now and I will be continuing in Level 4 next week. We're also planning on taking latin dance lessons in the next month or so. Looking forward to meeting you. Jeremy and Kristi

Welcome to the site and to Istanbul, Nasefi.

I am sure you two will have lots of fun here fun.

Welcome to the forum nassefi!

Matt

Welcome...I am sure İstanbul will give you more inspiration for your new book

Tessakur ederim to all for the nice welcomes. To answer some of your questions collectively, I'm writing my 2nd book every morning and taking Turkish classes (elementary) in the afternoons. Once my Turkish is fluent, I hope to do some medical work. I've actually taught salsa class in Kabul, but Miguel is a beginner and doesn't want to learn from me! Anyone know of a good belly dancing class near Besiktas/Taksim? Hoscakal, Nassim

Hi nassefi!

I happen to know a belly dance teacher very well. She is working both as a performer and instructor. You can find her website here http://www.ozlemidilsu.com/ She is close to Taksim and know English far better then me, if you are not comfortable with Turkish yet.

//Andreas

Hello Nassim!

Welcome to Istanbul I'm a writer/journalist too. Good luck on your second book!
A friend and I are planning to take salsa classes. Here's the website:

http://www.afrolatindans.com/

If you or your husband are interested in Art, I'm in a group called Art Lovers of Istanbul...we have art workshops, guided museum tours and visits and art appreciation talks/events, and also opportunities for members to exhibit/promote their work etc. There will be an Acrylic workshop on Dec 3 by a local Turkish Artist, Sait Gunel.

There's also the Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair from Nov 29-Dec 2,
http://www.contemporaryistanbul.com/HTML/ENG/
I will be volunteering there.

Message me if you'd like more info

Thanks to all for their excellent suggestions. Ozlem seems amazing. Anyone--though I assume women only, right?-- want to take a class with me?
Ciao, Nassim

Welcome Nassim. Falling in love with Istanbul, that's quite a project! The city does its best to not be fallen in love with.... It's definitely full of emotions here, you'll either love it or hate it, or both, there's not much in between.

I'll forwad your details to a friend of mine, John, who's an artlover, writer and runner as well, I'm sure he'll get in touch with you.

Welkome and is great as I told Miguel to have more latins here!!! And Specially the ones that like dancing Caribean rithms!!!!

Dear Utabe and LatinLover,
Thanks for your messages. Miguel and I are excited to attend the Xmas party.
Thanks for the invite for this Saturday, Utabe. We have dinner plans that will probably conflict. Also, Miguel is a bit shy about going to the dance floor before he takes some classes. Alas, it doesn't help that he's married to a former salsa teacher! He refuses to take lessons from moi.
Unfortunately we can't make the newbies dinner either as we have Dilmer Turkce classes at the same time.
Ciao for now, Nassim

[quote user="nassefi" post="105359"]Dear Utabe and LatinLover,
Thanks for your messages. Miguel and I are excited to attend the Xmas party.
Thanks for the invite for this Saturday, Utabe. We have dinner plans that will probably conflict. Also, Miguel is a bit shy about going to the dance floor before he takes some classes. Alas, it doesn't help that he's married to a former salsa teacher! He refuses to take lessons from moi.
Unfortunately we can't make the newbies dinner either as we have Dilmer Turkce classes at the same time.
Ciao for now, Nassim[/quote]

OH is the first time I meet a latin with shyness for the dance floor!!! Well it will be next time when he is ready!! See you both!!!