What is a Nazaar Beads? What is the evil eye? We learned about this while living in turkey.
Author: Expatorama
From dodging stray bullets in Lagos, to dodging stray cats in Istanbul, we are now getting cosy in Jozi. Far flung travels and further fetched tales of expat life.
Lost in Translation: Learning Turkish
When you're learning a new language, it's easy for things to get lost in translation. When we lived in Istanbul we all made an effort at learning Turkish. Success was mixed. I enjoyed my Turkish lessons. However, the more I learned the more confused I became. Seemingly, Turkish is grammatically more closely related to Japanese or Korean than… Continue reading Lost in Translation: Learning Turkish
Expat Life: Expatting vs Backpacking
Expats and Backpackers listen up. What we do is not the same thing. Moving abroad and backpacking are worlds apart. Disclaimer: The following post is tongue in cheek. I don’t have any prejudices against back-packers, it was rather a specific comment, by a specific person - known henceforth as Pinhead - at a specific time,… Continue reading Expat Life: Expatting vs Backpacking
Expat Living Turkey: Does it get cold in Istanbul?
Yes, it gets cold in Istanbul. In the winter, Istanbul's summer heat is replaced by cold weather. Snow and ice are not uncommon and can turn this beautiful city into a fairytale wonderland.
High Altitude, Dry Altitude
Jo’burg is located up on a plateau, known as the Highveld, which is some 1753 metres or almost 6000 ft above sea level. Yes, we live about a mile high. One of the things you quickly notice is that the air up here is crackling and dry, particularly in the winter months when rain is… Continue reading High Altitude, Dry Altitude
Awesome Blossom: Marvelous South African Blooms
Spring is in the air here in Jo'burg. You can tell by the awesome blossom that is beginning to bloom. I've previously written about the phenomenal bird life in South Africa, but the annual techni-coloured flower show we are treated to is also stellar. After two years in South Africa I can reliably identify Jacaranda,… Continue reading Awesome Blossom: Marvelous South African Blooms
Cultural Conundrums in Constantinople
November 2011 - Istanbul Sultanahmet is the original heart of old Constantinople, now Istanbul. This is THE area that draws tourists in the by the coach load. The magnets being Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Basilica Cisterns, all located within spitting distance of each other. It is the stuff of fairy… Continue reading Cultural Conundrums in Constantinople
The Expat Uphill Battle
We moved to Istanbul at the back end of 2011. As can only be expected, there were many hiccups, ups, downs and frustrating moments in those earliest days as we fumbled our way step by step. But, of course, perseverance is key in the 'Expat Uphill Battle' and as each challenge is mastered, slowly… Continue reading The Expat Uphill Battle
Expat Friendship: The Friend at Hand
The friend at hand is often your first expat friendship when you land on new shores. It's an idea adopted from an African proverb of unknown provenance. The first time I came across it was printed on a patchwork quilt that I won, a quilt made by a brilliant group of expat ladies (which is a… Continue reading Expat Friendship: The Friend at Hand
Roughing it at Number 1 in Johannesburg
I previously told you about some of Johannesburg’s winning ways in the post: It would be a crime NOT to tell you. Now, I’ve stumbled across some MORE positive news about this thrumming city that we currently call home. Jozi has been ranked in the top spot, the numero uno big banana of cities to visit… Continue reading Roughing it at Number 1 in Johannesburg
Expatorama 