Where We’ve Been All Summer

Summer break started early this year.  We were away most of May and June and braced ourselves to spend Ramadan and Eid in the U.S. with a visit to Canada and a lot of hip-hopping between states in the South and North.  We were on some very intentional missions to reconnect with relatives and friends …

Adjusting to Ankara: Myths and Realities

Turkey is our fifth country of residence since living abroad.  As with our past moves, there’s something fascinating to me about that very first ride from the airport to the place you will call home. From the time those sliding doors open from the safety of the airport lobby to the mystery of the world …

Tips for Your Family Residency Permit (Aile Ikamet)

After three months in Ankara, we are officially residents. Urbndervish entered the country on a work visa which had to be converted to a work permit/residency permit by his employer upon arrival. The children and I entered on 90-day tourist visas which expired at the beginning of this month. In the past, employers would also …