pgtips

My sister has decided to move to Turkey to apply for a job teaching English after doing a TEFL course in UK. Can anyone tell me what it is like for a single Christian woman living in Istanbul ? Is it safe etc ? Are there other ladies in Istanbul doing a similar thing who would be willing to show her the ropes. Any help would be much appreciated.

Roadking

Turkey is not part of the Middle East so I doubt you'll get much of a response.... except from know-it-alls who will tell Turkey is not part of the Middle East.

lionheart

We visited Istanbul once and my wife was hassled almost non-stop by young guys. Not the ideal place for a single girl unless she has a very tough skin.

spart

My sister nannied in Istanbul for three years. Loved it. We visited twice, and it reminds me a bit of being in Prague or Budapest about 10 years ago.

Great place, and no hassles.

Spugsy

I hear the taxi drivers are a total nightmare.

Meow

Istanbul is a modern city and no reason why a woman would be any worse off there than any other major city, assuming of course, she is on the European side of the Bosphorous, rather than the Asian side which is largely more traditional.

And as others have said, it isn't in the ME.

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Nic1

Possibly my favourite city in the world - what a great opportunity. It's where East meets West - a great experience for her.

N

Meow

You just need to be firm with them and a few words of Turkish doesn't go amiss.

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Ethos83

Istanbul is a wonderful city, but it's also not a fully modern European city.

There are large parts of Istanbul that would be right at home in Madrid or Barcelona or even London. Populated with educated, well-paid people very attuned to the European mindset, and there's a thriving social scene for young singles and a solid expat crowd.

Then there's traditional Istanbul, which is conservative and inhabited largely by migrants from Eastern Turkey. Very islamic.

Your sister will be fine in Istanbul as long as she's aware of the two different sides to the city and how to navigate both.

If I had a good job offer I'd be in Istanbul tomorrow.

Roadking

Let me see what I can do....

Meow

I take it the Turks aren't too brown for you?

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pgtips

Thanks guys, you have given us some reassurance.

Millhouse

I worked in there for just over a month a couple of years ago. I learnt the following:

1) The traffic is a nightmare, not as bad as say Cairo but tough in places
2) If you are a vegetarian either convert back to eating meat or don't go. (I'm not but the person I was working with was and she had a tough time)
3) I hope you like chips
4) The people are genuine and friendly. I made some good relationships there and in general they had a similar sense of humour.
5) The taxis are a nightmare... they all try and rip you off
6) It's quite an expensive place (then again, I qualify this by only going to expensive places as I was on expenses)
7) Some of the women are gorgeous. some of the men are sleazy but no more than in any other 'Middle East / Levant' country. a Million times less sleazy than Egypt for example.
8) English isn't as common as you might hope.
9) The weather is nice
10) Live on the Western / Christian side.
11) People have to work hard

Nic1

I would add to that list :

1. take wet weather clothes and jumpers, it is cold and wet in the winter
2. you'll some of the best seafood in the world
3. I'm a vegetarian (but eat fish) and had no problems at all with the food - yummy

She'll fall in love with the place I'm sure
N

Ethos83

And your implication is, dear lady?