Your Next Adventure Could Be Closer than You Think

One of the best things about being abroad, besides meeting the locals and experiencing their culture, is meeting other adventurous expats. That subliminal thought came to mind the other night over dinner at Zuma while watching a dramatic sunset. I know that doesn’t tell you much about exactly where this revelation occurred since Zuma has 31 locations across the globe. Were we in St. Tropez, or Capri, or even Dubai? No. We were on the Turkish Riviera, at the glamorous Yalikavak marina – home to super yachts docked along the travertine promenade fronted by Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chanel, just to name a few of the globally renowned brands that have set up shop there.

But I digress. Surrounded by the beauty of the marina, bathed in the rosy-orange light of a perfect sunset, and looking around the table at friends gathered together, it occurred to me that if each of us placed our passports on the table we would see American, British, South Korean, Philippine, Iranian and, of course, Turkish passports. And that’s just our small sample! At neighboring tables we could hear voices speaking German, French, Italian, Russian, and other languages as well.

Our conversation was upbeat and lively. The subject of politics never came up, instead giving way to sharing experiences gained from enriching our lives through travel and relocation.

Turkey draws interesting expats – mainly international business people to Istanbul in the northwest and retirees to the Turkish Riviera in the southwest, generally centered around Bodrum. Some come seasonally to their second homes while others have become year-round residents. All have found that it is easy to integrate into the community because Turks are welcoming, warm, and kind.

It doesn’t take long to achieve face recognition among local merchants, especially if you learn just a few pleasantries such as “Günaydın!” (good morning), “Merhaba!” (hello), “Nasılsın?” (how are you), and “Teşekküler!” (thank you). Turks smile patiently while you use translation apps to communicate, so language is not much of a barrier.

That’s not to say you won’t need help. New arrivals will need help opening a bank account, finding a place to live, obtaining residency or citizenship, and accomplishing mundane tasks such as arranging transportation, renting a car, buying a portable wi-fi, etc.

Fortunately, there is an outstanding resource for assistance in addressing all these necessities: James & Ayşegül – a boutique real estate and relocation agency that provides full-spectrum services to foreigners looking to make Turkey their new full- or part-time home. How do I know? Because they helped me and my wife with all of those necessities and more – much more.

If you would like an unbiased appraisal of their competency, feel free to call me on WhatsApp at ‪+1 206 9602846‬, or speak to them directly by phone or by WhatsApp at ‪+90 5466097111‬. Your new adventure could be closer than you think!

Randal K. Walker, Editor-at-Large