1. No escalators. You'll find them in malls and upscale hotels but otherwise you'll be hiking up and down stairs frequently. Elevators are rare in older buildings like apartments, shops and governmental agencies. On the plus side, you'll have killer calves!
2. Lack of English. While a given in a foreign country, getting around Ankara becomes a complicated puzzle. On the upside, you'll learn Turkish more quickly! No patience? Head to Istanbul for the convenience and comfort of more English speakers.
3. Unpredictable weather. Abrupt swings from 80° F to hailing in under 10 minutes aren't uncommon in summer. Washing your clothes becomes a gamble as you string them out to air-dry on the balcony clothesline. If you've got a 90's style standalone heater, you can try drying them inside the house though.
4. Unsafe taxis. You have a 50% shot of getting a taxi with seatbelts & another 50% chance that they're functional. Your life is in the hands of a distracted driver on their cell phone, on narrow streets with disobeyed one-way signs, and pedestrians crossing on a whim. Life is an adventure!
5. Disorganization. Whether you're a foreigner or a local, government disorganization is a real problem. Ever-changing requirements make even registering your phone inordinately grueling for no conceivable reason. International shipping is an absolute nightmare - bring everything you'd need in with you on the flight over as shipping is inexplicably, unnecessarily difficult.
Like I mentioned at the start, I do love living here and plan to stay for a while. That doesn't mean I don't get homesick or miss the conveniences of life in Los Angeles.
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