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Istanbul's Stranger
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Istanbul's Stranger
'Yabancı' in Turkish means both 'stranger' and 'foreigner.' And Istanbul is one of the strangest places I've ever been.
Latest Blog Posts »
- Update: The Playground Is Officially Way Shittier! 10 years ago I didn't think it was possible for the playground at LE's school to get any shittier, but huzzah! They managed to make it so.Monday's kid pickup was a mess of disgruntled parents smashed into a small corner with service buses attempting to crowd in where the parents were standing. One mom went all...
- The Sapık Çetesi, or Playground Whispers 10 years ago Yesterday, a heavily armed sapık çetesi came to my kid's schoolyard and kidnapped 5 kids.It's no cause for alarm, I promise, even though in Turkish, "sapık çetesi" means "gang of perverts."When I picked up LE yesterday, he announced that he wouldn't be coming to school today. "Why's that?" I...
- Mother's Day 10 years ago This was the first year since I've had my kid that he wished me happy Mother's day. Given that it's a very small situation in host of other small situations, I just try not to think about it very much.But I do think about it. And it was really nice that he did it.Some backstory. Last week I got...
- A Visit From The Olden Days: Sick Kid Update 10 years ago Little man. I wish I could squish him now.So after all the puking, LE went on to just be regular sick, like a flu. I skipped work and had the rare privilege of looking after him while he was adorable cuddly sick. One time after Pirates of the Caribbean I was all, "Hey, why don't you go to sleep for...
- Puke-O-Rama: A Delayed Milestone 10 years ago He was feeling mostly fine earlier today.Tonight the boy wasn't feeling well so I advised him to skip dinner and go to bed. At first he was against that idea, but as he started to feel worse, he thought maybe that sounded okay. His stomach was upset and he had a sore throat so I promised him some...
Contest Entries »
- Learning New Byzantium Writing Contest October 2012 Last week, I was contacted by a woman from a Facebook page for expat women like me, muddling through Istanbul. She's been here for three months, has a small child, and is overwhelmed and depressed and pissed off in a way I totally get, but also can...
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Copy and paste code to display the Featured Blog Badge:Website Reviews » There are 13 reviews on Istanbul's Stranger
Hamish
20:28 PM October 27, 2012
20:28 PM October 27, 2012
Your blog is very readable !gvm37
Ayak
20:45 PM October 27, 2012
20:45 PM October 27, 2012
This is an expat blog that's so different from the rest. She writes with such honesty. I love it.
Lisa
22:03 PM October 27, 2012
22:03 PM October 27, 2012
Love this blog, sometimes funny as hell, and always REAL.
Liam Brennan
22:14 PM October 27, 2012
22:14 PM October 27, 2012
In a world stuffed to the rafters with blogs and more bloody blogs(we're talking making bookmarks from egg-shells and photos of church organ pipes) it's refreshing to read something unique, human, biting, hilarious, angry, off-the-wall and well written. Not to mention the love for the boy, which is really touching (and clearly real). Sticking to the 'life's too short' principle, I rarely get around to commenting on blogs, but in this case I'll make an exception. Whenever a new post comes out on Istanbul's Stranger, I get nervous. And that's the hugest of compliments.
Martha Sutter
22:39 PM October 27, 2012
22:39 PM October 27, 2012
Once you start reading her blog, you're hooked. Her writing style is unique,entertaining and informative. She can make the most ordinary topic interesting. She deserves to win this award.
Iman
07:24 AM October 28, 2012
07:24 AM October 28, 2012
Witty, funny and always an interesting perspective on life as an expat in Turkey.
Petra
16:13 PM October 28, 2012
16:13 PM October 28, 2012
I found this blog after coming back from my first trip to Istanbul earlier in the year. I fell in love with Istanbul and I now feel the same about 'Istanbul's Stranger'! It's by far the funniest, most touching, real-est and best-written blog I have ever come across and I feel genuine excitement when I see there's a new post.
Claire
18:43 PM November 04, 2012
18:43 PM November 04, 2012
An excellent blog. It's funny, honest, interesting and very well written. I really enjoy reading the posts..
MaryAnne Oxendale
22:50 PM November 04, 2012
22:50 PM November 04, 2012
One of my favourite blogs, from the day she banged out that first post. Brutally honest but eloquent, hilarious and respectful. A rare thing.
Jack Scott
11:21 AM November 05, 2012
11:21 AM November 05, 2012
Istanbul Stranger is not afraid to bare her soul and talk about the less pleasant aspects of Istanbul life - direct, candid and amusing.
John Metzker
03:23 AM November 06, 2012
03:23 AM November 06, 2012
Full disclosure: Sarah, the Istanbul Stranger, is my niece-- Which may bring up the question: How does her family feel about all of this? Well, I can't speak for all of the family, but I'm always apprehensive when I turn to her blog. "My God, what's she going to do or spill next?" But it is so eloquently and in-your-face honestly written, I can't resist. Sarah's a unique voice (even if sometimes slurred, which concerns me) who makes me laugh and shudder at the same time. Better read her, before they ask her to leave Turkey.
Blake
15:19 PM November 07, 2012
15:19 PM November 07, 2012
This blog never fails to make me laugh. Even if I worry about cat-abusive behavior. Especially now that the cats are gone. Where will she direct her cat-abusive behavior now? Hopefully scrumpled up post-it notes....
Victoria Sayar
19:15 PM November 16, 2012
19:15 PM November 16, 2012
i adore this blog and i always get a thrill when i see that stranger has posted, and am over the moon if i find she's posted a few in quick succession. she'so honest, very funny and loves her son to bits which is gorgeous and evident. we've been in turkey for the same length of time but she's streets ahead in terms of being turkey savvy.
