Life in Ankara, Turkey

Like many other Americans, I harbored some reservations about Turkey when my fiance first suggested the idea of moving abroad. Now, tomorrow marks 6 months since we landed in Ankara and I'm dragging my feet in planning our next destination.

Ankara, Turkey holds a population of 4.5 million+ and is second only to Istanbul which boasts a population of 14 million+ people. If Istanbul is the Beverly Hills of Turkey, Ankara is the Westwood Village. Ankara is an active but cozy city while Istanbul is decidedly more impressive and boisterous. In sum: Istanbul is for vacationing while Ankara is for living.

In 2012 when my fiance visited Ankara for work, I asked him to describe the city for me. At first I was frustrated trying to understand how it could be "peaceful" and "politically unstable" at the same time but upon arriving I soon learned what he meant.

Most people are just trying to live their lives, attending state universities for free or working 60 hours/week. Political unrest exists but mostly rises following elections like the recent one wherein Erdogan, the former Prime Minister of Turkey, was elected President.

Kocatepe, the largest mosque in Ankara, can accommodate 24,000 people

As the center of Turkish government, Ankara houses all foreign embassies. I visited the US embassy earlier this year when I unknowingly misplaced my passport in a taxi. Within 24 hours the embassy discovered which hotel I was staying at-despite the fact that my name wasn't even on the hotel records-and called for me to retrieve it. Thanks, NSA. Honestly it was scary, but reassuring that at least as an American I'm always safe here.

Since my fiance and I are both fortunate enough to work from home, most of our free time is spent cooking new foods (I can no longer live without Ottoman spice), taking walks in the park and practicing limited Turkish with our friends at the local grocery store Cagdas (pronounced Chadash).

While it hasn't all been sunshine and daisies, I've fallen in love with Ankara. There's a local Turkish saying that "the most beautiful part of Ankara is the road to Istanbul" but I don't mind - this way Ankara remains a hidden gem away from tourists for me to enjoy.

Good night Ankara, good afternoon Los Angeles!

*Note: I do not own any of these photos

How Traveling Changes You

"Traveling changes you as a person" is a phrase I often heard from my more worldly family and friends. Now that I've had the opportunity to travel, I better understand what they meant. Here are a few ways in which traveling changes you:

Traveling makes you more cultured. Exposure to cultures other than your own makes you more tolerant and understanding of others. It also forces you to question the moralities of your own culture, which is challenging but can be highly rewarding.

America is no longer the center of your world. I catch myself wondering if online news articles are discussing events in America or elsewhere; previously I just assumed they did. While it was arguably a safe assumption to make, I became aware of an assumption I didn't even realize I held.

Focus on similarities instead of differences. You stop caring about small bullshit and start perceiving all humans as connected. Who cares about politics or prom when everyone is just struggling to survive? You value each individual life on a more real level now that you've directly interacted more frequently with increasingly diverse people.

Gratitude. I am seriously privileged to have this opportunity. I appreciate my own fortune and focus on being happy with what I have, not having what makes me happy.

Humility. There's no benefit in comparing myself against others, because my worth isn't determined by the size of my neighbor's house - it's how you treat people that matters.

I realize that I've shared a lot of platitudes here that aren't necessarily unique or original. The takeaway here is to push yourself outside your comfort zone in order to grow as a person.

LA natives are already especially aware of the melting pot we live in - take advantage of this opportunity! Stray outside of Beverly Hills, get to know your neighbors, make an attempt at learning more about other cultures. Invest time learning about others to learn about yourself in the process.

"Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer."

How You Can Travel & Live Abroad

After living in 3 countries in 12 months, people have asked how to figure out the logistics of moving internationally. Here are 4 steps you can take when preparing to travel and live abroad:

Step 1: Research

Always begin by reading the Wikipedia entry on your desired country of residence. There you'll find answers on climate, history, culture, transportation, politics, cuisine, popular areas, and more. While Wikipedia isn't perfect, it's a great place to start since you'll get answers from a wide variety of people.

Check your social circles to see if anyone you know is already familiar with the country: extended family, Facebook friends, coworkers, classmates, LinkedIn connections, favorite cafe baristas, and acquaintances. Ask them about the economy, laws, and cultural norms. Bonus: Google Image photos and video tours to see professional & informal views of the city's layout & get a better feel for the surroundings.

Engage with locals online through expat forums, IRC channels, and subreddits. Ask them about cost of living, how to overcome any language barriers, cultural concepts of personal space, and useful websites. You may be able to find a cost of living calculator online as well.
Resources: expat forums, cost of living calculators, wikipedia.com, reddit.com/r/IWantOut

Step 2: Obtain a Visa

Once you've decided on your country, check out the requirements on how to obtain a visa on the embassy's website. As a US citizen, this will generally be an easy process for you, but it's still important to look into the details- types and duration of visas offered, documents required to apply, as well as application and related fees. Typically you'll be given a tourist visa upon entry & will be able to apply for a long-term tourist visa, student visa, work visa, or residence visa after arriving.

Still have questions? Locate the closest embassy to you and contact them with a list of prepared questions. If they don't answer by phone, drop by in person with writing materials to jot down the answers, but leave electronics at the door as they're generally not allowed.
Resources: local embassy, embassy website

Step 3: Find a Job

If you plan to work abroad, search "[country] job sites" to find the most relevant job boards. Depending on the country's regulations, foreigners may be excluded from some professions - consult the embassy for more details. Bonus: Check LinkedIn for Recruiters in your new country, view their profile, and send them a brief message outlining your background/experience with a request for help finding a position, guidance on where to search and tips on applying.

Telecommuting is another great option, especially if you're in web dev or marketing. Monstergulf, dice, dubizzle, and elance (per project) are some starting points. Telecommuterjobs.net aggregates all USA telecommute positions from craigslist onto one website. Craigslist applies worldwide as well.
Resources: monstergulf.com, dice.com, dubizzle.com, elance.com, telecommuterjobs.net, craigslist.org, reddit.com/r/IWantOutJobs, expatworkforce.com, expatnetwork.com

Step 4: Socialize

You've landed! Time to get out there and explore the world. Meet and make friends with other expats. Begin your search with "meet expats in [city/country]. You're likely not the first expat in that country - search for existing communities, meetups, and events!

And remember, you moved here for a reason. Explore the city, communicate with locals, and create a routine to feel more settled. Bonus: frequent the same cafes and groceries once you hit your groove to at least see some familiar faces while you're in the process of making new friends.
Resources: meetup.com, expat.meetup.com, internations.org, expatfriends.com


Whew! There's everything I wish I had known prior to moving abroad. Globalization is really happening, and the internet is making it easier. Bonus: simply search "how to become an expat" to learn more from other people's experiences.

5 International Traveling Tips

We moved from Dubai, UAE to Ankara, Turkey on 08 March 2014. Although we were relatively prepared, there were a few points we missed. Here's some tips on international traveling:

1. Exchange Currency Prior to Departure
It's easier to change currency prior to leaving as the new country may not convert your money. When in doubt, always convert to USD and then you can change it to local currency as needed.

2. Pack Smart
Regardless of the climate, pack for 4 seasons since weather can't be perfectly predicted. "Dubai is a desert, I don't need winter clothes," I naively thought. A light jacket, heavy jacket, and pair of rain boots will take you a long way.

3. Double Check Airline Baggage Allowances
Not all flights allow one checked bag and one carry-on per person. We assumed US airline regulations would apply as we left Dubai, and the assumption cost us $300 in baggage fees. Ouch.

4. Research Privacy Laws
Seriously. Not all countries are like the US and it's incorrect to assume you'll retain all US privileges when traveling abroad. The US might not care if you have porn on your computer but if the country you're traveling to does, it's better to delete it than potentially face fines or jail sentences upon arrival. Begin your search at your local embassy's website and contact them for more resources.

5. Learn a Little Language
You don't have to be fluent, but knowing words like "yes", "no", "I don't speak [language]", "Do you speak English", "please", "excuse me", "left", "right", "my apologies", "no problem", "stop", and "wait" will help you immensely. English is the international language of business, yes, but not all countries speak English. Write down your hotel's address and phone number to at least ensure you can get back home.

These were the most important lessons I've learned so far from traveling internationally. Did I miss any other important tips for traveling abroad? Let me know in the comments!