move to Turkey?

[onthewagonwheel]

I'd love some advice from expats currently or recently living in Turkey. We might have the opportunity to live there for 3 years (OH's job) but we would be taking 2 daughters (age 9 and 6) and I have concerns about both the security situation and what it would be like for me as a Western European woman, given the political changes that are happening.

We would likely live north of Istanbul near the British International School (European side), with OH travelling 2 hours each way for work.

I have travelled around Turkey a couple of times in the past and loved it - and indeed had agreed to move there a few years ago but that time it all fell through. The situation feels rather more tense now than it did then and currently I feel like it is not a place I would choose to move to or take my children to live.

Does anyone have experience they can share to help me weigh things up? In such a quandary....

[iloveabagido]

Hi Op,
Just popped in to say that 3 years ago I lived in the northern side of Istanbul and DS attended BISI. Great school, he loved it but so expensive! (21k per year at the time).
Personally I LOVED Istanbul, it's my favourite city in the world and I would go back in a heartbeat.
I have great memories and the people are so kind, crazy drivers though!
But, as I said, it was 3 years ago and I know the political climate has got a bit more concerning since then. But I still plead with DH to get another contract in Istanbul, the city has my heart!
(And the shopping is amazing)

[CoteDAzur]

"I am not a covered Muslim. Very pale skin but not blond or redhead. Daughters similar."

You really don't need to be a covered Muslim in Istanbul. I only asked if you could pass as Turkish, more or less, because my experience of living in Istanbul (carefree, never bothered by anybody) is polar opposites with a redhead I know who was an exchange student there at university. She said that she was regularly followed down the street by packs of men, asked "How much?" (for sex, presumably), called "Natasha" (Turks' generic name for Russian women, many of whom were prostitutes when they first started visiting Turkey).

[CoteDAzur]

I'm sorry about your friends, 3little. I remember your dilemma last year.

[onthewagonwheel]

Hi 3little really sad to hear about your friends. What a terrible situation.

[3littlebadgers]

Thank you onthewagonwheel and Cote. Cote I think of you often and hope that all of your loved ones are safe. Turkey was such an amazing place and the people beyond friendly and welcoming. My heart is still there but it is the Turkey I left in 2013, I pine after. I hope something happens to turn it around.

[CoteDAzur]

Thank you three I left Turkey long before you and the place I miss just does not exist anymore, but I still miss it