Refugees with degrees: Shawarmas and Staying in Turkey

News about Syrian refugees and Turkey make this country seem like just a springboard for Syrians going to Europe and North America. The narrative seems to go like this: Syrian refugee comes to Turkey. Syrian wants to live the EU dream and be reunited with uncle/cousin/friend who is already there. Syrian waits for dangerous passage to Europe. […]

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A Very Merry Secular Syrian Refugee Christmas

Sixty five children with Santa hats laughing and singing Christmas carols, hollering with excitement after opening gifts, running around with glee. If you grew up in the U.S. or Europe, it’s easy to imagine such a mirthful scene at Christmas. But this wasn’t at a school or family gathering in America, it was at a […]

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The missing column: Tips for apartment hunting — and buying — in Istanbul

Recently, my Turkish wife and I set out on buying an apartment in Istanbul. For those who don’t know, real estate prices in Istanbul only go one direction: up. But, it’s not so easy.

May the halay live on

The halay is a symbol of everything that is right with Turkey. It’s a dance. A simple dance. It is equality. It is equality because anyone can participate — young and old, Turkish and American, Kurdish and Armenian. It’s equality because it is a circle: no one dominates. It…

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My Turkish Engagement Ceremony

The salty Turkish coffee. The cutting of the rings. Requesting the bride’s hand in front of the whole family. Getting engaged in Turkey (nişan) is more than just popping the question in a romantic spot. We made the video below to help shed some light on this modern version …

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