Lale January February 2015

03 JANUARY FEBRUARY 2015

MAGAZINE OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF ISTANBUL

CHANGING CAREERS

NEW YEAR, NEW START

GOALSETTING FOR SUCCESS ISTANBUL FASHION DESIGNERS ... and much more

Table of

CONTENTS

REGULAR ACTIVITIES 10 Groups, clubs and regular activities 11 Istanbul@night

29 26

03 Board letter 04 IWI now a sister club with Welcome Clubs International 06 Neighbourhood coffee mornings 08 Newcomers

CHARITY

46

IWI

HEALTH & FITNESS

58 54

20 18

14 12 10

02

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

MUMS ‘N KIDS

CALENDAR PROGRAMS 14 Vietnamese cooking demonstratio 14 All-you-can eat lobster brunch 15 Guided tour: Mirò at the Sabancı Museum 15 Turkish cooking demonstration 16 Couples tango workshop 16 Thai cooking demonstration 17 Egyptian spice bazaar tour 17 Yamuna body rolling workshop

IPWIN

PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES 20 Christmas Charity Festival 22 Japanese cooking demonstration 23 Grand bazaar tour 24 Newcomers’ brunch 25 ‘Save your face’ workshop

January February 2015

FEATURES 29 Career change 31 Chic sultans of Constantinople 35 Sponsored article: A new perspective in Istanbul 36 Back to nature: escaping the city crowds 38 Setting realistic goals for real change 40 Sponsored article: Time Out magazine 42 Sponsored article: Cornucopia 44 Sponsored article: A day at D-gym

44 Gluten-free in Istanbul 46 The diet delusion 48 Holidays and health 52 Homeopathy: a controversial healer

54 Mums ‘n kids news and happenings 56 Mums ‘n kids announcements

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS 58 Groups and associations 60 Partner offers 62 Directory 63 Classified ads 64 Policies and advertising

1

IWI BOARD INFORMATION IWI Office Hours: Wednesday from 10:30AM till 1:00PM

IWI BOARD MEMBERS Chairwoman

Nilgün Çoruk

chairwoman@iwi-tr.org

Vice Chair

Milijiana Mihajlovic

vicechairwoman@iwi-tr.org

Treasurer

Nicole Liao

treasury@iwi-tr.org

Secretary

Natalie Vaatz-Deutscher secretary@iwi-tr.org

Membership Secretary

Ayşe Natalie Akcan

membership@iwi-tr.org

Events Coordinator

Elena Sklyarskaya

events@iwi-tr.org

Events Coordinator

Eelin Tham

events@iwi-tr.org

Sponsorship Coordinator

Anne Marie Yilmaz

sponsorship@iwi-tr.org

Lale Editor

Vassiliki Avtzi

lale@iwi-tr.org

Advertising Coordinator

Aylin Gottardo

advertising@iwi-tr.org

Charity Coordinator

Kristina Wilfore

charity@iwi-tr.org

Programs Coordinator

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

programs@iwi-tr.org

Food and Wine Coordinator

Anita Jacobs

food&wine@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Coordinator (Eur)

Ayşe Yücel

newcomerseurope@iwi-tr.org

Newcomers Coordinator (Asia)

Gabriele Sailer

newcomersasia@iwi-tr.org

Mums n Kids

Chien Fang Lim

mumsnkids@iwi-tr.org

IPWIN Coordinator

Namita Srivastava

ipwin@iwi-tr.org

Liaison Officer

Ebru Demirel

liaison@iwi-tr.org

Charity

Juliana Elerman

charity@iwi-tr.org

Website and Membership Assistant

Esbie van HeerdenÜnsal

esbie@iwi-tr.org

E-Letter Coordinator

Suzy Kaluti

iwieletter@iwi-tr.org

Neighbourhood Coffee Mornings

Sadia Zafar

ncm@iwi-tr.org

Reservations

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Book Club 1

Lesley Tahtakılıç

tahtakilic@superonline.com

Book Club 2

Mary Akgüner

mary.akguner@gmail.com

Sponsorship Assistant

POSITION AVAILABLE

Istanbul@night

Anita Jacobs

istanbulatnight@iwi-tr.org

Matbaa/Printer: Marlet Print Solutions Fener Kalamış Caddesi: No:30 Kalamış / İstanbul www.marlet.com.tr +90 216 386 32 16

Digital Media Coordinator

Liliana Lopez

digitalmedia@iwi-tr.org

Digital Media Coordinator

Yongjie Ni

digitalmedia@iwi-tr.org

International Coordinator

Tammy Ni

internationalcoordinator@ iwi-tr.org

IPWIN Coordinator

Ulli Allmendinger

ipwin@iwi-tr.org

Basım Tarihi: 15.12.2014 Sayı: 74

IPWIN Coordinator

Hong Yang

ipwin@iwi-tr.org

Lale Health and Fitness Editor

Ulli Allmendinger

ulliall@yahoo.com

Lale Features Editor

Louise Pye

lale@iwi-tr.org

Cover image credit: Alper Orus flickr.com | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0-NC-SA

Lale Editorial Assistant

Nell Rees

lale@iwi-tr.org

Lale Editorial Assistant

Mei-ling Wong-Demirors lale@iwi-tr.org

Adresi / Address: Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Çamlıtepe Sitesi No:74 Blok C1 / D2 Ulus Ortaköy İstanbul – TURKEY Telephone: 0212 287 35 71 www.iwi-tr.org

Dergi Adı/Magazine Name: Lale, Monthly Programme of the International Women of İstanbul Yayını Yapan / Publisher: IWI International Women of İstanbul, Dernek Kod: 34-64/027 İrtibat Adresi / Address: Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Çamlıtepe Sitesi No:74 Blok C1 / D2 Ulus Ortaköy İstanbul – TURKEY İmtiyaz Sahibi/Licensee: Nilgün Çoruk Adresi / Address: Emin Sokak Tamer Apt. No:4/13 Etiler-Istanbul Sorumlu Yazı İşleri Müdürü/ Responsible Editor: Nilgün Çoruk Adresi/Address: Emin Sokak Tamer Apt. No:4/13 Etiler-Istanbul Yayın Türü/Issue Type: Yerel Süreli Tasarım/Design: Marlet Advertising Studios www.marlet.com.tr +90 216 386 32 16

2

IWI BOARD ASSISTANTS

January February 2015

IWI BOARD LETTER

Dear IWI members, I always loved this part of the year – it’s time for a new beginning! I usually start by reflecting back at my life. While I was in high school, I wanted to become a scientist. Ten years later I was pursuing a career in finance and my career was on a successful trajectory. Fast forward and four years later I’m a full-time mom following my husband and his work!

Some beginnings in life were super cool and exciting. Others were not easy at all. Moving abroad and building a new life is always challenging, weather you do it once in a lifetime or every few years. So I’m grateful that social organisations like IWI exist – it’s the second time they’ve provided soft landings for me in environments where I had limited networks. It’s simply much easier to get accustomed to a new city when one develops a mini ‘safety’ net. Coffee mornings helped me realise that we often share common issues and challenges.

Sharing them with like-minded people can help a lot as sometimes others already dealt with the same problem! Mums ‘n kids club provided useful and succinct information about living in Istanbul with kids. My husband is grateful for cooking classes provided by our Programs. IPWIN events helped me to brush up professional skills and learn new things – which is important for someone who changed career tracks like myself. Moreover after joining IWI I got an opportunity to again start working on something not related to changing diapers or cooking – as an ‘İstanbullu’ I’m now in a position to take on new initiatives within IWI and help others the same way IWI helped me after we arrived!

Another very important aspect of our organisation is charity. If anyone, we are the ones that should give back to the community. One of our main fundraising events – the Christmas Festival will have just finished as this issue goes to print – and already we have started preparations for the Spring Ball! I would like to use this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for helping us, we could never do it without you!

The beginning of 2015 will mark another new beginning for me as I will be taking on additional responsibilities within IWI as the new vice chairwoman. I am very happy to inform you that my predecessor Tammy Ni will continue to serve the IWI in a different capacity.

January February 2015

Finally, we would like to encourage all members to take advantage of our organisation and become active, share your thoughts about how IWI can change and in the process help us improve. We have been serving international ladies for over 40 years but are cognisant we can do plenty of things differently and respond better to your needs in some aspects!

So let’s help each other on this exciting journey!

Best wishes

Milijana Mihajlovic vicechairwoman@iwi-tr.org IWI VICE CHAIR

3

IWI IWI NOW A SISTER CLUB WITH WELCOME CLUBS INTERNATIONAL Following on from last year, when IWI became a member of Open Door (a network of women’s international associations worldwide), IWI has now been accepted into Welcome Clubs International.

Both groups seek to facilitate connections international women via connections between international women’s clubs worldwide.

Open Door provides reciprocal guest membership status, meaning that IWI members moving to a different international location can immediately participate in the activities of other Open Door affiliated clubs.

Welcome Clubs seeks to foster friendship and understanding between women of all cultures through connections between international women’s associations, and holds a conference for members from clubs all over the world every other year.

In the words of our Chair, Nilgün Çoruk: “In order to keep up with the trending global community, IWI has aimed to join international clubs. Last year, we joined Open Door (a network of Women’s Associations worldwide) and this year we have been accepted by Welcome Clubs International. Its mission is to promote friendship and understanding among women of all nations without regard to political, cultural and religious differences.”

Image credit: Minnesota Historical Society ¾ globe | Wikimedia Commons

FIND OUT MORE… Learn more about: -- Welcome Clubs International: www.welcomeclubs.org -- Open Door: www.opendoorworldwide.com

4

January February 2015

NEIGHBOURHOOD COFEE MORNINGS MEET OTHER IWI MEMBERS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD Depending on where you live, you’ll automatically be added to an email list for your neighbourhood coffee mornings. Coffee mornings are held on the second Wednesday of the month from 10.30am – 12.30pm.

Please be on the lookout for emails from your local area coordinator!

Snaps from recent coffee mornings in Areas G and H/I

6

January February 2015

NEIGHBOURHOOD COFEE MORNINGS AREA COORDINATORS AREA

COORDINATOR

CONTACT

Area A/C

Etiler, Akatlar, Ulus

Sebti Hasnaa

hasnaasebti@hotmail.com

Area B/J

Tarabya, Sarıyer, Büyükdere, Zekeriyaköy, Kilyos, Uskumruköy

Ee Lin Vaserman

vasermanfamily@gmail.com

Area D

Arnavütköy, Bebek, Rumeli Hisarı, Baltalimanı

Karen Chesnut

karen_chesnut@hotmail.com

Area E

Ortaköy, Levazım, Balmumcu

Dawn Biyashev

dancemachine3@gmail.com

Area F

Beşiktaş, Levent

TBC

Area G

Nişantaşı, Osmanbey, Şişli/Fulya, Gayrettepe, Esentepe, Tepebaşı, Teşvikiye, Maçka

Michele Green-Taş Mary Akgüner

michelegreentas@gmail.com mary.akguner@gmail.com

Area H/I

Yeniköy, İstinye​, Maslak, Reşitpaşa, Emirgan

Szilvia Nagy

szilviaboldva@gmail.com

Area K

​Kemer, Göktürk

Stephanie Machoi

stephanie@frauenzeitalter.de

Area L

​ eyoğlu, Taksim/Tünel, Sultanahmet, B Harbiye​, Fatih, Gümüşsuyu/Eyüp, Cihangir/ Topağacı, Gaziosmanpaşa/Kabataş

Ayşe Yufkayürek

ayse.yufkayuerek@gmail.com

Area M

Maltepe, Kadıköy/Üsküdar, Moda, Ataşehir, Kartal, Ömerli, Kücükyalı, Salacak, Tuzla

Lynn Nish

nishlynn5@gmail.com

Area O

​ mraniye,​Ç Ü ​ ekmeköy, Beykoz, Çengelköy, Anadolu Hisarı, Beylerbeyi, Kanlıca​, Kandilli, Polonezköy, Kavacık

Valerie Celebi

​valeriecelebi@superonline.com

Area P

​ üyükçekmece​, Küçükçekmece, Hadımköy, B Bakırköy, Ataköy, Yeşilköy, Yeşilyurt, Bahçeköy/Bahçelievler, Güneşli, Yenibosna, Beylikdüzü, Halkalı, Bahçeşehir, Bağcılar, Esenyurt, Küçükköy

Boglárka Erdélyi

erdelyi.boglarka.bme@gmail.com

Area Y

Caddebostan, Fenerbahçe, Erenköy, Kalamış, Suadiye, Valideçeşme, Göztepe​, Bakkalköy, Çiftehavuzlar, Şaşkınbakkal, Küçükbakkalköy, Bostancı

January February 2015

Members living in Area Y are invited to attend the Asian Side Newcomers Coffee -- please refer to the Newcomers section of this magazine.

7

NEWCOMERS ARE YOU A NEWCOMER?

Welcome!

IWI holds get-togethers over coffee especially for newcomers every month, on both the Asian and European sides.

EUROPEAN SIDE COFFEE HOUSE CAFÉ, KANYON SHOPPING CENTRE

ASIAN SIDE COFFEE ZAMANE KAHVESI, BAĞDAT CADDESI

Newcomers are welcomed to get together on the third Thursday of every month for a coffee and a friendly chat at House Café on the ground floor of the Kanyon shopping centre (Levent).

The Asian side newcomers coffee gatherings are also popular with Asian side IWI members who have been in Istanbul for a while... Join this vibrant group of welcoming women to establish new friendships – or renew existing ones. Hosted by Gabriele Sailer.

Ayşe will be there to greet you with a smile and introduce you to other new members.

DETAILS

DETAILS Date

Third Thursday of each month

Time

10am – 12 midday

Venue

House Café, ground floor, Kanyon shopping centre.

Reservations

Not required

Contact details

Ayşe Yücel - 0532 356 38 43

8

Date

Second Tuesday of every month starting from September

Time

11.30am - around 1.30pm

Venue

Zamane Kahvesi, 1st floor, Bağdat Cad. 403, Suadiye (behind Derishow showroom, opposite Türkcell, after Marks and Spencers if you’re walking towards Bostancı)

Cost

Pay as you order

Reservations

Not required

Contact details

Gabriele Sailer – 0546 234 28 35

January February 2015

IWI

Join the IWI Board & IWI Teams!

• Do you want to sharpen your professional skills?

• Do you want to learn a completely new skill?

• Do you have some extra time on your hands?

• Do you have excellent people skills?

• Do you want to meet people from all over the world and join a fun team?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, we may have a place for you on the IWI board or teams. Whether you would like to help a little, or to play a more professional role, we would like to speak to you! There’s no need to have a gap in your CV. Gain valuable experience volunteering with IWI while you are in Istanbul.

Current team openings: BOARD ROLES

SUPPORT ROLES

Neighbourhood Coffee Morning Coordinator As the central contact hub for the many coffee morning held all monthly all over the city, this is primarily a liaison role. Key tasks include supporting and recruiting area coordinators, distributing member directory information to area coordinators, and keeping all area coordinators informed about upcoming IWI events and news.

Programs Assistant Are you an organisational dynamo? IWI’s programs team needs someone to help receive reservations, write-up program descriptions and help with other administrative tasks as needed. Coming up with ideas for new programs and helping to organise them could also be a part of this role if desired.

Could this be you? Please contact Nilgün Çoruk, our Chairwoman, to find out more about this position. You can reach Nilgün at chairwoman@iwi-tr.org.

Could this be you? Please contact Cynthia Hadatoğlu, our Programs Coordinator, to find out more. You can reach Cynthia at programs@iwi-tr.org.

ALL ROLES ARE VOLUNTARY

January February 2015

Sponsorship Assistant Are you keen to be part of a dynamic team and to help the IWI community? The sponsorship assistant will be responsible for maintaining the sponsor database and assisting with IWI fundraising events by contacting sponsors for donations of cash, products, services or raffle gifts. For this role you will need very good communication and organisational skills.

Ability to speak Turkish to at least an intermediate level would be ideal.

Could this be you? Please contact Anne Marie Yilmaz, our Sponsorship Coordinator, to find out more. You can reach Anne Marie at sponsorship@iwi-tr.org.

9

GROUPS, CLUBS AND REGULAR ACTIVITIES IPWIN

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB

CHESS CLUB

IPWIN, the International Professional Women of Istanbul Network, welcomes all women who are working, seeking employment, or unable to work in Turkey for legal reasons. Our members meet monthly at our IPWIN ‘first Wednesday’. The ‘first Wednesday is an informal get-together based around a specific topic, and is aimed at professional development and networking in a relaxed environment. We also schedule special events through the year featuring business-related topics.

Contact: ipwin@iwi-tr.org

The photo club is a group of international members whose skill levels vary from very basic to semiprofessional – but who all share the desire to capture the world in a photograph and to explore Istanbul while doing so. The group discussion includes all current event information, bi-weekly photo challenges, tips and tricks, and general photography topics.

Contact: Fay Magnusson photoclubofistanbul@gmail.com

Once a month, IWI members have the opportunity to learn to play chess or to improve their chess skills free of charge with Women’s Chess Grand Master and 2006 European Champion Ekaterina Atalik. Children aged five and over are also welcome.

Contact: Ekaterina Atalik makacat@yandex.ru 0533 690 4782

BOOK CLUB

IWI WEEKLY OFFICE HOURS

There are two IWI book clubs. Book Club 1 is currently over-subscribed, but Book Club 2 is open to new members!

Contact: Mary Akgüner (Book Club 2) mary.akguner@gmail.com

The IWI office hours are on Wednesdays from 10:30 -1:00. Our new office is nice and bright and has a lovely garden. Feel free to drop in for a chat or if you have any questions.

TENNIS CLUB

Ahmet Adnan Saygun Caddesi No 74, Çamlıtepe Sitesi Block C1/D2, Ulus 34347 0212 287 3571 There’s a map at the back of the magazine!

ISTANBUL@NIGHT

Istanbul@night offers a regular opportunity for IWI members, their spouses and friends, to get together and enjoy a few drinks in a fun, new and interesting spot in the city.

Everyone is welcome for a relaxed and sociable evening to enjoy some of the best Istanbul has to offer!

Istanbul@night takes place on the last Thursday of every month.

Look out for more details in the newsletter and on the IWI website.

There is no cost to attending, just come and along and pay for what you order.

Contact: istanbulatnight@iwi-tr.org

10

If you enjoy playing tennis please join our group! Teams are based on skill level and we welcome all players from beginners to intermediate and advanced. Tennis Group takes place at Torch Tennis in Tarabya.

Contact: Kenan Dündar kenandundar911@hotmail.com 0535 390 4983

January February 2015

GROUPS, CLUBS AND REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Istanbul@night

The perennially popular Istanbul@night has been relaunched!

The first Istanbul@night event for the new season was held at the end of October at Café Milano in Nişantaşı. We enjoyed several glasses of good wine, guided by IWI wine expert Anita Jacobs.

Anita is the new coordinator of Istanbul@night – a regular opportunity each month to meet on a Thursday or Friday evening with other members over good wines and bites. All IWI members are welcome – and they are also encouraged to bring along their significant others or friends.

Wine lovers... attention!

IWI wine club will be established soon.

Are you a wine lover? If you’re keen to get together with a small group regularly, taste wines and learn about their differences, email Anita at: food&wine@iwi-tr.org

January February 2015

11

CALENDAR

January M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

S U N D AY

01

02

03

04

08

09

10

11

IPWIN First Wednesday

05

06 Vietnamese Cooking Demo

12

Asian Side Newcomers Coffee

13

07 Neighbourhood Coffee Morning

14

European Side Newcomers Coffee

15

Guided Tour: Miro at the Sabanci Museum

19

20

21

All-you-can-eat lobster brunch

16

17

18

23

24

25

30

31

Turkish Cooking Demonstration

22 Couples Tango Workshop Istanbul@night

26

12

27

28

29

January February 2015

CALENDAR

February M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

S U N D AY

01 Thai Cooking Demonstration IPWIN First Wednesday

02

03

Egyptian Spice Bazaar Tour

09

Asian Side Newcomers Coffee

10

04

05

06

07

08

12

13

14

15

22

Neighbourhood Coffee Morning

11

Yamuna速 Body Rolling Workshop

European Side Newcomers Coffee

16

17

18

19

20

21

23

24

25

26

27

28

January February 2015

13

PROGRAMS VIETNAMESE COOKING DEMONSTRATION

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SHANGRI-LA BOSPHORUS LOBSTER BRUNCH

Quynh-Thu Do Kazar is a Vietnamese-American who lived in the USA for 15 years before moving to Turkey 2 ½ years ago.

Quynh loves cooking, especially Vietnamese food, and would like to introduce this delicious (yet healthy!) cuisine to our IWI members.

Our gourmet guru, Ayşe Yücel, has organised a very special All-You- Can-Eat New Year Lobster Brunch at the luxurious Shangri-La Bosphorus.

The demonstration will include: oo Fried spring rolls with dipping sauce oo Summer rolls with shrimp and peanut dipping sauce (both dipping sauces will be demonstrated as well) oo Chicken pho – an aromatic chicken noodle soup, topped with tender chicken, green and white onions, served with fresh herbs and bean sprouts oo Spicy beef salad, served with rice crackers oo Fresh homemade soya milk oo Dessert made of mung beans and coconut milk

The buffet spread will span from sophisticated France to filling Italy and ancient Asia. A diverse lobster selection will be the cornerstone of the brunch buffet and will provide the ultimate food experience. Guests can have their lobster prepared by any method, and will peruse a huge assortment of lobster dishes. From classic offerings like lobster bisque –live cooking, and lobster salad with artichoke to the more exotic seafood rice noodles and vegetable fried rice with lobster and Mediterranean lobster soup with saffron…

Meanwhile, guests seeking a more traditional brunch will not be disappointed – the brunch will also feature classic offerings like egg, pasta, doner kebab stations, and an assortment of breads, local pastries, local mezes, ice-creams, waffles and desserts. Come prepared for this feast with all the family and friends. For the children, there is a dedicated playground accompanied by a specially prepared kids buffet.

Date

Sunday 18 January 2015

Time

12:00pm – 3:00pm

Location

IST TOO Restaurant at the Shangri-La Bosphorus Hotel

Cost

130 TL + tip per person, to be paid directly at the restaurant. This is a specially reduced price for IWI and includes a complimentary glass of champagne at the entrance. Children 7-12 half price; under 7s free.

Person to contact Ayşe Yuçel

Reservations

By email to reservations@iwi-tr.org

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Thursday 15 January 2015

Notes

All participants to bring their own knives and cutting boards

Person to contact Ayşe Yücel

Date

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Time

10:30am – 2:30pm

Location

Tammy’s house in Acıbadem/ Kadıköy (address & directions will be sent)

Cost

85TL

Participants

11 maximum, 7 minimum

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Saturday 10 January 2015

Please note: A reservation made is a reservation paid — any cancellations after the RSVP deadline are payable in full.

14

January February 2015

PROGRAMS GUIDED TOUR: MIRÓ AT THE SABANCI MUSEUM

TURKISH COOKING DEMONSTRATION

Please join us for a privately guided tour of the Joan Miro Exhibition at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum. This exhibition, Joan Miró. Women, Birds and Stars was heavily inspired by Miro’s observations on the Mediterranean geography and people throughout his career. The exhibition will provide the opportunity for viewers to understand the symbolic language of the artist through a rich selection of artworks in different mediums such as oil on canvas, sculpture, lithography and ceramics and is comprised of a total of 125 works.

While in Istanbul, why not take the time to learn some delicious Turkish recipes, to share with your friends and family when you return home?

The exhibition closes on 1 February 2015, so take advantage of this unique opportunity to discover this fascinating artist and his works.

Date

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Time

11:00am – 12:00pm (1 hour guided tour, you may continue on your own afterwards if you wish)

IWI’s very own gourmet guru, Ayşe Yuçel, will once again be giving a Turkish cooking demonstration in her inviting kitchen for all those ladies who would like to learn more about Turkish cuisine flavours!

Recipes to keep will be provided and the group will enjoy a delicious meal at the end of the session. The class size will allow active participation in the food preparation.

Menu: oo Tarhana: Turkish soup oo Trio plate of three olive oil dishes (only artichoke hearts will be demonstrated) oo Islam kebabi (lamb cubes wrapped with strips of eggplant) served with rice and çoban salad oo Quince with clotted cream dessert

Meeting point

Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Sakıp Sabancı Cad. No:42, Emirgan

Cost

20TL per person (for the guided tour; there will be no additional admission charge)

Maximum participants

Maximum 30, minimum 10

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr. org

Date

Friday 23 January 2015

Deadline

Sunday 18 January 2015

Time

10:30 am – 2:30pm

Person present

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

Location

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Ayşe’s home in Yenikoy. Address on registration

Cost

85TL in cash only

Participants

Maximum 13, minimum 10

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Tuesday 20 January 2015

Person to contact

Ayşe Yuçel

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Please note: A reservation made is a reservation paid — any cancellations after the RSVP deadline are payable in full.

January February 2015

Turkish cuisine is a reflection of a rich cultural and historical heritage. With an emphasis on seasonal freshness and delicate flavouring with spices, Turkish food is a feast to all your senses. Join Ayşe in the comfort of her home in Yeniköy, as she shares delicious and easy to prepare Turkish recipes, inspired by her roots.

15

PROGRAMS COUPLES TANGO WORKSHOP

THAI COOKING DEMONSTRATION

One of the most fascinating of all dances, the tango is a sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early 20th century.

Wandee Kawaguchi is a culinary instructor from Thailand, whose family were Thai restaurant owners in Bangkok. From Singapore, Romania, Spain and now Istanbul, Wandee has been sharing her love of cooking and Thai food through her workshops, and has now developed Wandee Cuisine in Istanbul – homemade Asian food online.

We invite IWI members and their partners to join us in an exciting evening tango workshop led by Dr Melin Levent Yuna. With many years of experience leading tango workshops in cities all over the world, Melin is a graduate of the Flamenco Dance Department of the Pera Fine Arts School and has an anthropological PhD on Argentine tango.

She is profoundly interested in the history, dance and culture of Argentinean Tango and has visited Buenos Aires several times to understand its dance, music and local culture. As well as organising workshops, she has also performed and helped in organising festivals all over the world.

Please join us in this unique and entertaining couples program, Tango classes are lots of fun, and newcomers tend to pick up the dance quickly.

Date

Thursday 29 January 2015

Time

7:15pm – 8:45pm

Meeting point

Etiler Alkent: City Cooks (directions will be given closer to the date)

Cost

60TL per person

Maximum participants

Maximum 10 couples (20 people), minimum 4 couples (8 people)

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

26 January 2015

Person present

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

This Thai demonstration will include: oo Beef steak spicy salad oo Chicken breast salad oo Green curry oo Red curry oo Stir fried bean vermicelli with mixed seafood oo Pineapple rice oo How to cook jasmine rice oo Easy carving pineapple for dessert Date

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Time

10:00am – 3:00pm

Location

Maslak Mashattan condo Block B1, room no. 168, 31st floor

Cost

85TL

Participants

10 maximum, 6 minimum

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Sunday 1 February 2015

Person to contact

Ayşe Yuçel

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Please note: A reservation made is a reservation paid — any cancellations after the RSVP deadline are payable in full.

16

January February 2015

PROGRAMS EGYPTIAN SPICE BAZAAR TOUR

It is mind-boggling to think that life and trade have been bustling under the high domed roof of the Istanbul spice market for the past 350 years. A few centuries ago it was a marketplace for goods brought from Egypt, hence the other name of the market – Egyptian Bazaar!

IWI invites you to stroll through the market with Ayşe… This is the best place to pick up dried fruits and nuts, spices, olives, Turkish delight, oils and some of the finest essences. One of the stalls we will be visiting is Bilge Kadıoğlu’s of Ucuzcular, who is the fifth generation running the family business and one of the only females running a business in the Spice Bazaar!

Ayşe has also offered to take us to Shark Han, which has four floors of small shops where you can find everything under the sun. We will also visit the street where the baking goods are located, as well as much more!

For those who wish to join, Ayşe proposes to have lunch at Hamdi’s after the tour – a famous Turkish restaurant overlooking the Golden Horn.

Date

Monday 9 February 2015

Time

10:30 am

Meeting point

In front of the Spice Bazaar at Eminönü

Cost

15TL; plus lunch at Hamdi, if joining: approx 35TL

Participants

Maximum 15, minimum 6

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Friday, February 6th, 2015

Person to contact

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

YAMUNA® BODY ROLLING WORKSHOP

Yamuna® body rolling is a phenomenal self-healing and preventative method that helps improve the quality of your body and prevent its breakdown. It organises the body bringing all the parts back to working the way they should and can be. The commonly accepted belief that as you get older you get stiffer and lose mobility and can no longer do the things you used to do is not part of the Yamuna belief system.

In a Yamuna® body rolling class one learns to work on each part of the body, rolling the appropriate ball everywhere you have muscle connecting from one place to the next. At the end of a class you’ll physically see the difference and most importantly feel the freedom and ease of movement in your joints. This work is complementary to any sport you do and also appropriate for those who do no other exercise.

Join Evrim, one of two certified instructors in Turkey, for this special IWI program that will give you the ability to ‘work on yourself’ anytime, anywhere, forever.

For more information, please see: www.facebook.com/ yamunabodyrollingturkey, or contact ybrturkey@gmail.com Date

Monday 16 February 2015

Time

10:30am – 12:00pm

Meeting point

Crossfit Capra and Personal Training Studio in Seyrantepe/4 Levent (directions given closer to the date)

Cost

45TL

Participants

Maximum 10, minimum 6

Reservations

Online at the website: www.iwi-tr.org

Deadline

Friday 13 February 2015

Person present

Cynthia Hadatoğlu

Contact details

reservations@iwi-tr.org

Notes

This is a hands-on workshop! Please wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in and preferably form fitting

Please note: A reservation made is a reservation paid — any cancellations after the RSVP deadline are payable in full.

January February 2015

17

IPWIN IPWIN NEWS AND HAPPENINGS

Our IPWIN season started in full force this year with several excellent lectures and workshops.

On 29 October, Selma Aydemir gave a talk on how to be a successful women entrepreneur in Turkey. Selma is the founder of IDA.KEW, a skin care company that makes the highest quality products using 100% natural ingredients.

Her company lab is based in Esenler, Istanbul, where she produces, markets and distributes her products along with chemical engineers. She also gives natural cosmetics workshops to individual groups and co-operates as motivational events. She has a wonderful and very inspiring style of delivering to-the-point practical advice and how-tos.

On 5 November, Kristina Wilfore, Principal of Karakoyun Strategies, and Sandrine Ramboux, who launched C@ rma, an innovative volunteering platform this year, both with extensive knowledge and expertise in the non-profit sector, gave a wonderfully stimulating presentation on civil society in Istanbul as well as opportunities within the value-added non-profit sector of Turkey. Topics covered ranged from

developing a personal portofolio in the non-profit sector, over finding ways to contribute your expertise on a pro-bono basis, to which organizations and causes are currently most urgent.

Later in November, we were so happy to have Karen Van Drie back to give her fascinating insights into Twitter and social media as a way of updating and globalising our personal learning network. Topics discussed were the importance of social media in enhancing your career/professional profile and business, as well as serving as a powerful tool that could lead to better prospects and improve your learning curve tremendously.

Karen, a 21st century information expert, has her own blog, ‘Empty Nest Expat’, which has been lauded as one of the best expat blogs published. Her twitter stream at @emptynestexpat was featured in The Wall Street Journal and the London Telegraph also chose to feature her twitter stream in a list of expert expats.

Ulli Allmendinger, on behalf of the IPWIN coordinating team

The IPWIN schedule is subject to changes and cancellation; our speakers are often prominent businesswomen whose timetables can be subject to late change. Any and all changes are notified to IPWIN members via the IPWIN email list.

If you’re not already receiving IPWIN emails, and you’d like to, please let us know at ipwin@iwi-tr.org.

18

January February 2015

PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS CHARITY FESTIVAL 2014

Photos by: Jose Reina istanclubphoto.wordpress.com

PREVIOUS

Photos on this page by: Michelle Karahan

PREVIOUS GRAND BAZAAR TOUR

As a veteran Bazaar enthusiast of more than twenty years, I particularly enjoyed the variety of shops chosen for our visitation and found the shop owners and clerks very hospitable and more than willing to answer questions and some who were quite willing to have a relaxed conversation.

The tour was a great way to avoid the more zealous hawkers who sometimes intimidate those who have recently arrived to Istanbul and the cultural hustle-bustle of this famous Çarsi.

In fact, the IWI tour was a particularly nice way for them to get a good first impression and exposure to this overwhelmingly large busy venue so that in the future they can be more comfortable shopping there. It was fun to see their excitement and pleasure as they experienced the ‘high’ of this shoppers’ paradise. And, although I have been many times to the Bazaar, I enjoyed discovering new shops to add to my list of previously frequented ones, especially the ceramic and scarf vendors. I loved seeing their fabulous array of selection both for design and colour. Bravo for the organisation by the IWI members and for their obviously continuing good will maintained with the various Grand Bazaar merchants we encountered.

We IWI tourists to the Grand Bazaar were delighted to be part of the ongoing record number of tourists which in 2013 reached 91 million. No wonder a November issue of Time Magazine cites the Grand Bazaar as the most interesting tourist venue on the planet.

Text: Billie Alameda

22

January February 2015

PREVIOUS JAPANESE COOKING DEMONSTRATION

I was thrilled to be invited to join the International Women of Istanbul at a Japanese cooking demonstration today.

We were hosted by the wonderful Ayşe, who I had heard about and yep, she is as warm and friendly as her reputation suggested. She lives in Yeniköy and has the most amazing enormous kitchen, just perfect for cooking demonstrations.

Apparently it is often Ayşe doing the demos as she loves to cook, and is the IWI’s Turkish food expert.

But today, it was Kyoko Numan cooking. Kyoko has lived in Istanbul for several years, and before that the US, and as well as Japanese food and cooking, Kyoko teaches origami. We had the pleasure of admiring her origami when we were lucky enough to sit down and tuck into all the wonderful dishes, as the tables were decorated with fans, and birds and flowers….

As well as learning how to cook some delicious Japanese dishes, the fascinating part for me, was meeting all the women there – 17 in all. Our nationalities spanned Mexico, Portugal, Brazil, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, USA, and of course Turkey and the UK. It was wonderful to hear everybody's stories and what brought them to live in Istanbul. And of course we all shared a love of food.

All in all a wonderful day with wonderful food and wonderful ladies!

Text: Polly Howard-Wright

January February 2015

23

PREVIOUS NEWCOMER’S BRUNCH AT AYŞE’S HOME

New members shared the following about the newcomer’s brunch…

"The brunch at Ayşe's house was the perfect occasion for meeting amazing women from different countries and sharing the concerns and common problems we have been through while settling in a new country. It also offered me the chance to know what really IWI is: an opportunity to to enjoy, cooperate, learn and start new projects.”

“I felt comfortable and welcomed at Ayşe's house, who hosted us, gave some advice and showed her enthusiasm and care for detail, so I must say that I will happily repeat the experience in future events."

“I have been to Ayşe's brunch. She has been so kind. She opened not only her house but also her heart to us. She has been very friendly. The information she gave about the understanding of Turkish people was very useful for all new comers. She cooked very special Turkish food for us especially a delicious gözleme and baklava. It was so nice to meet all the new people who arrived to Istanbul from around the world, I hope they have a fruitful and prosperous time in Istanbul.”

24

January February 2015

PREVIOUS SAVE YOUR FACE WORKSHOP

The Yamuna® Save Your Face Workshop took place on 11 November and was taught by trained practitioner Roxy Menzies to several curious IWI members. Using a small face ball and a larger neck ball, we gently worked on our skin to actually lift our facial muscles back where they are supposed to be. We learnt how this method stimulates and aligns the bone, activating the muscles and increasing the circulation and tone, basically reversing the effects of gravity. Many of us found that it relaxed the tense facial muscles and helped us to even breathe better. We all left feeling a definite glow and many of us with our own balls and DVD to continue to reap the benefits.

Text: Cynthia Hadatoğlu For more information about Yamuna Rolling in Istanbul please see: www.facebook.com/yamunabodyrollingturkey

. shima organik Now open in Etiler/Akatlar

We bring a wide array of certified organic products and fresh produce for one-stop shopping for all your organic needs.

Looking for something specific?

Let us find it for you.

fruits & vegetables freshly cooked meals meat & dairy beans, pasta, spices Akatlar Mah., Zeytinoğlu Cad. Uğur Apt. No:74/C olive oil, tomato paste Akatlar / Beşiktaş / İstanbul 0212 351 30 07 cleaning supplies info@shimaorganik.com cosmetics & health products 800m from Akmerkez housewares

CHARITY

Image credit: Elizabeth Haslam | flickr.com CC BY-NC 2.0

Reaching a younger generation with breast cancer awareness

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. One out of eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer annually and 143,000 deaths occur each year in Europe as a result. While the reality of cancer is grim, efforts to address this as a health care crisis have substantially changed attitudes, approaches and outcomes for women who face the disease.

In Western countries, campaigns to bring attention to breast cancer began in the 1970s as women increased a sense of control over their own health and care options. Women began to believe that they had a right to be active participants in their health care treatment decisions. Awareness about breast cancer shifted dramatically when women began speaking out as survivors rather than staying hidden as victims. Attitudes toward breast cancer moved from thinking of the disease as a death sentence to something that was treatable.

In more conservative cultures open discussion of breast cancer has historically been taboo. If the breast is associated with sexuality instead of health, some view it as immoral for women to go to the hospital for screenings or discuss it even within their family. The risk is that women tend to die at greater rates in countries where the disease is detected later and understanding of related health care options is more rudimentary as the result of the lack of discussion and advocacy.

The second stage of breast cancer awareness moved into advocacy in the 1980s and 90s with women and health care activists decrying the lack of understanding of what causes breast cancer. They were successful in pushing for additional funding to examine causes and assess effectiveness of various prevention and treatment options. This increased attention to breast cancer research resulted in better surgical options, improvements in turnaround of pathology reports, treatments centers within hospitals, and studies into environmental toxins and other potential causes of breast cancer, which are increasingly examined and regulated.

Turkey has made strides in tackling the education gap and cultural taboos around breast cancer through creative efforts to reach women and encourage them to be proactive about their health, aided in large part by Europa Donna, an IWI supported charity. As one of five IWI grantees, funds raised through IWI charity events support Europa Donna’s advocacy program aimed at encouraging women to take care of themselves.

26

January February 2015

CHARITY Europa Donna is a member of the European Breast Cancer Coalition, a nonprofit organisation representing the interests of European women regarding breast cancer to local and national authorities. Turkey is one of 46 affiliated member groups across Europe.. They work to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in advocating for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optical treatment and care and increased funding to research.

THE TEN GOALS OF EUROPA DONNA Europa Donna Turkey activities are aligned with the ten goals of Europa Donna, with priority on advocacy and creating public awareness.

Since its founding in 1994, Europa Donna has been advocating for the implementation of mammography screening programmes is accordance with European Union standards. They also promote guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis which have been translated into Turkish and shared with medical professionals as well as women all across the country.

2. To promote breast awareness

Given increased attention to breast cancer prevention, every woman in Turkey above the age of 50 is entitled to a free mammogram. However, not many women take advantage of this option. The value of prevention cannot be overstated. Evidence has shown that outcomes are better when women are diagnosed and treated in units that meet the standards of EU guidelines.

For this reason Europa Donna remains committed and steadfast in its mission to ensure that all women have access to high quality breast services.

“In Turkey, women taking care of themselves is not important. They are mostly taking care of other people. If you tell them you should go to get the mammography, they don’t do it. But if you explain to their children the impact of early diagnosis through mammography and healthy living, healthy eating with regular exercise, which is hugely beneficial in the prevention of breast cancer, than they can be convinced and can encourage their mothers”¨ says Violet Aroyo, National Representative of the Turkey chapter of Europa Donna.

Violet, a nurse and breast cancer survivor, could not be more qualified to help increase attention and prevention of breast cancer in Turkey. Through Europa Donna, high school students are being educated all across Turkey about breast health and cancer, so that they in turn can convince their mothers and other women in their families and neighbourhoods, emphasising the important of early diagnosis. Through volunteer staff and health care advocates, Europa Donna works in 25 cities across Turkey. Peer-to-peer education has proven to be an effective means to get information to their target audience. Europa Donna uses seminars, documentaries, videos and social media sources to get their message to a teenage audience who is very receptive to the information. Through IWI´s support Europa Donna was able to expand programs to Southeastern Turkey and Anatolia.

1. To promote the dissemination and exchange of factual, up-to- date information on breast cancer throughout Europe

3. To emphasise the need for appropriate screening and early detection 4. To campaign for the provision of optimum treatment 5. To ensure provision of quality supportive care throughout and after treatment 6. To advocate appropriate training for health professionals 7. To acknowledge good practice and promote its development 8. To demand regular quality assessment of medical equipment 9. To ensure that all women understand fully any proposed treatment options, including entry into clinical trials and their right to a second opinion 10. To promote the advancement of breast cancer research

“The mother is the most important person to the family in Turkey,” says Violet. When the mother is healthy, the whole family can be better taken care of.

IWI CHARITY COORDINATOR KRISTINA WILFORE

VOLUNTEER NEEDS Europa Donna Turkey has members who are either breast cancer survivors or volunteers interested in breast cancer awareness. It can begin in simple ways by sharing experiences, visiting a patient during chemo session, attending ED advocacy training.

There are many other ways to support Breast Health Projects in Turkey. It can be on a personal level as well or something more public. If you are a breast cancer survivor, family member, friend or concerned citizen, you can join others in making a difference.

For more information, please contact director Violet Aroyo at violetaroyo@hotmail.com For more information: www.europadonna.org

January February 2015

27

2013 - 2014

Charity FEATURES

Funds

With your gracious support, IWI successfully raised a combined total of TL74,895 from the two main Charity events of the 2013– 2014 season – the Christmas Festival and Spring Ball.

TL35,000 was distributed to the following institutions (with each receiving an equal proportion): • YORET VAKFI Education: a program for counselors for at risk children learning conflict resolution tools •MAVI KALEM Women’s rights and welfare for at risk women/children •BOMONTI HOME FOR THE AGED Elder care •IZEV Education for Down’s Syndrome adults • EUROPA DONNA TURKEY Breast cancer advocacy The remaining amount has been allocated to future IWI Charity projects and IWI operational expenses.

Your generosity for charitable causes is ver y much appreciated.

The IWI Board works diligently not only to ser ve the local community of international women, but also to support those who are in need.

Should you have any questions about IWI funds and fund allocation, please do not hesitate to contact IWI treasurer Nicole Liao at treasur y@iwi-tr.org.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give - Winston Churchill

FEATURES

Setting realistic goals for making a career change – especially when you are an expat partner If you’re looking to change careers, but don’t have a clue how or where to begin, look no further.

Here’s a short step-by-step guide. There are also some strategies for expat partners forced to change careers along with location.

In my life, I have had various careers. Thus far, I’ve been a student, a military policewoman, a commercial lawyer, a bed and breakfast owner/operator and a writer. You may think that I’ve found the magic formula for changing jobs and/or careers. You’d be wrong. Except for the last change of career, I have stumbled around and bumbled about like an idiot. While learning from your mistakes does have its appeal, sometimes it’s better to come up with a plan of action instead.

Change of career in general In order to ensure that you not only manage to change careers, but also find that elusive new position that you want, you need to set goals and follow through. Here is a step-by-step plan to help you accomplish your change of career.

1. Assess your likes and dislikes.

You hate your job and want a change? Take a deep breath. Do you really hate the job or is it your boss or maybe the company that’s driving you batty? Maybe a change of scenery – at a new company – is all you need.

Or perhaps a move to a different department within the same company to get away from that crotchety boss is all that’s necessary. If you are truly fed up with your career, then take some time to find your passion. If you have no idea where to start, try an online career assessment.

Allow this step in the career change process the most time, to ensure that you truly find a passion and not merely an escape from an unsustainable situation. I was so eager to quit the law and do absolutely anything but practice law that I jumped at the chance of owning and running a bed and breakfast. Running a bed and breakfast is possibly the worst ever match for my introverted personality.

2. Research new careers You’ve gone through your likes and dislikes and found your passion. Now it’s time to find a career that lets you use your passion in a productive and creative manner. Online career handbooks can help with this step as well as career assessments.

3. Assess your skills and update as necessary Is your current skillset applicable to your new career?

There are many skills that are transferable, such as communication, leadership and planning. After assessing your skills, you may discover that you need to acquire additional skills and knowledge for your new career.

Therefore you will need to research training opportunities.

If you’ve decided that an entire new certification or degree is necessary, start with one or two courses. Make sure January February 2015

the area upon which you’ve decided to focus is really a passion before proceeding to spend large amounts of time and money only to end up right where you began. Talk to your current employer. Maybe there are opportunities to broaden your skillset within your current company.

4. Network Use your network to search for new job opportunities, get advice about possible job openings and introduce yourself to the key players within the new career market.

Your network may also provide ideas for jobs that fit within your new career choice, but have escaped your notice.

5. Experience In order to find a new position within your chosen career, you may need to gain experience. It’s not always easy to find a position – especially if you are working on a second career later in life. A good alternative is to gain experience by working part-time or volunteering. A volunteer position might just lead to your next paying job.

6. Find a mentor A mentor can help ensure you stick to your goals and deadlines. She may even be able to help with expanding your network and getting you in touch with the right people.

7. Job hunting Time to put all the work to the test and find the ideal job.

Before you dive into the search headfirst, make sure you bone up on job-hunting tools and skills. This step could also be time consuming, depending upon the job market in your field and location. Don’t get discouraged. It can take a long time to change your career and therefore your life.

29

FEATURES It’s great to make a plan, but it’s even better if you follow through. To make sure that you complete your plan, set realistic deadlines for each step of the plan. If life throws you an unexpected curve ball, don’t give up! Go back to the deadlines and reassess each date. If you are not very good at motivating yourself and sticking to a schedule, consider employing a life coach. Not only can a life coach help you find your passion and figure out careers that combine well with that passion, but she can also push you to meet deadlines.

Change of career necessitated by being an expat

Sometimes you don’t want to change careers, but are forced to change due to circumstances. One such circumstance is following a partner overseas. Some careers do not transfer to other countries, but you’d be surprised how well some country-specific careers do transfer. For example, I’m a U.S. trained attorney, yet I worked as a lawyer for over a decade in the Netherlands. Here are some hints on how to deal with a compulsory career change due to moving overseas: 1. Talk to your current employer Before you throw in the towel on your current career, talk to your employer. Maybe there’s a way to telecommute.

If you are only going for a short overseas assignment, this may very well be possible. If telecommuting is not possible for your current position, are there positions within the same company for which telecommuting is a good fit? When we oved from the Netherlands to Germany, I was able to keep my position at my law firm, but I did have to give up my management responsibilities, as those were just not a good fit with not being in the office on a daily basis.

2. International professional networking There is an abundance of women’s professional networking associations out there to help. Do a Google search before you move and get in touch with those associations you find. These associations can be a great source of information about switching careers, as well as helpful with job searches.

3. Language issues Depending on the country, language can be an issue.

In some countries, like Holland, speaking Dutch is not required for a professional position, while in other countries speaking the native tongue fluently is a necessity. Research your new homeland before the move. If language is an issue, consider learning the language before you move. If that’s not a possibility, realise that your job search and career change may have to wait until you have a good handle on the language.

4. Culture differences in job hunting It’s important to keep cultural differences in mind when starting your job search in a new country.

Resumes, interviews and other processes can be very different in another country. Research as necessary before taking the plunge into job hunting.

5. Volunteering If it appears impossible to either maintain your career or switch careers in your new homeland, consider volunteering for a position in your desired field. This will help you gain valuable skills and experience even if you aren’t paid.

6. Education An overseas assignment may be the perfect chance to go back to school for a future career change or get a higher degree in your current field. Online learning is possible nearly everywhere. Several wellrenowned universities also have satellite colleges in various cities spread around the world.

7. Be flexible It may simply be impossible to continue your career in a foreign land and the opportunities of that land may be limited. Do not despair.Try and think outside the box. What can you do that will help your career when you are back home? What skills can you acquire until you are able to return to the workforce?

8. Taking a sabbatical If the overseas posting for your partner is short-term, think about requesting a sabbatical from your current employer.

If you take only one thing away from this article, let it be this: stay positive! Sometimes a rejection from the ‘perfect’ job is a step on the road to career happiness.

WRITER: DENA HAGGERTY D E Haggerty is an American who has spent the majority of her adult life abroad. She has been a military policewoman, a lawyer, a B&B owner/operator and now a writer. Between tennis, running, traveling, singing off tune and reading books like they are going out of style, she writes articles for various websites, reviews other indie authors’ books, writes a blog about whatever comes to mind and is working on her fourth novel.

30

January February 2015

SPONSORED ARTICLE

FEATURES A new perspective in Istanbul...

At the heart of the cutting-edge Zorlu Center, a modern-day bazaar where fashion, fine food, performance and the arts converge on the European shore in Beşiktaş, Raffles İstanbul Zorlu Center is an exhilarating fusion of virtuoso architecture, dazzling interiors, inspired food and deep luxury. The hotel looks above the Bosphorus, a stunning vantage point above the city.

Raffles Spa is set to be one of the most comprehensive in Istanbul with extensive treatments and hamam, steam room, sauna, gym facilities. Organic Pharmacy from United Kingdom and Gazelli from Azerbaijan are the exclusive spa brands used in the Raffles Spa.

Utterly contemporary, full of texture and distinctly Turkish, the hotel is embellished with a gorgeous collection of speciallycommissioned artworks. It offers its guests 132 guestrooms and 49 suites – all spacious and filled with light, blending Turkish and contemporary design. Floor to ceiling windows lead to furnished private terraces and balconies, for lofty views over the Bosphorus and the city.

Throughout the hotel, the authentic Raffles touch is never far away, personified by the legendary Raffles Butler service...

Raffles Istanbul also offers an inspirational choice of contemporary spaces for private and business events, weddings, celebrations or meetings in the 1200 people ballroom or one of the private rooms. All this backed up by the latest technology, experienced service and support. Call ahead to book the Raffles helipad, for an easy arrival and a fast getaway.

Two restaurants, bars and lounges offer a culinary theatre of possibility, day and night: At Rocca, contemporary Turkish food is the order of the day, all day. “Arola” by the Michelinstarred Spanish chef Sergi Arola gives classic Catalan dishes a modern spin. In the striking lobby, Lavinia is the place to be seen, especially for an afternoon tea.... The Writers Bar is the place for some time out; an oasis of tranquility and relaxation whereas the Long Bar travels from Singapore with a glamorous twist - and its own champagne room.

Raffles Istanbul, an oasis for the well travelled, offering emotional luxury, is set to bring a new perspective to this timeless city. www.raffles.com/istanbul 0212 924 02 00

January February 2015

31

FEATURES In the face of globalisation, ‘fast’ fashion and ever-changing trends, it is often hard to find unique local design. However, our writer, Tanzia Erel, has been exploring a fresh wave of Turkish designers who are making their mark at home and abroad. For this article she met with the founders of four of the most inspiring new labels at the heart of this movement and discussed their sources of inspiration, life philosophies and aspirations for their brands.

Chic Sultans of Constantinople

It is exciting to see how many new designers are emerging in Turkey today. Their talents float like a song amidst the noise created by fashion bloggers, trendsetters, and shopping conglomerates. They manage to weave their Turkish heritage seamlessly into their designs while keeping artisanal qualities alive.

It was a great pleasure to meet with the creators behind the fresh new labels Tohum Design, Rumesi and CashmereInLove and to share with you their unique stories.

Who says you can’t have it all? Silk skirt by CashmereInLove, Terra bracelet and Clear Tohum ring by Tohum Design and Melo clutch by MehryMu

Tohum Design: a natural state of mind Verda Alaton, the Istanbul-born creator of jewellery brand Tohum Design, will tell you that a single seedling, which has the power to sprout beautiful life from within, is no less valuable than gold or diamonds. She maintains that eternal beauty lies in simplicity. She has long been inspired by the humility of tribal and nomadic civilisations and the way its women adorn themselves with organic jewellery. An inveterate traveller, she handpicks raw materials from around the world, masterfully handcrafting each creation into one-of-a-kind wearable art. Her mission is to make every piece as unique as mankind itself.

Verda is constantly seeking new inspiration from around the globe and challenging herself to innovate Her admiration for geometry and form gave birth to her new collection of pure silver and gold. A true artist, she always makes time for commissioned pieces. Verda’s private showroom has a museum-like quality with antique furniture, African artefacts, and a large collection of anthropology books lining the walls.

It serves as the perfect setting to commission a truly unique piece of jewellery. Tohum Design is much more than an exotic, ecologically conscious jewellery line; it is a genuinely unique and exquisite reworking of nature.

In conversation with Verda Alaton of Tohum Design Can you please tell me about your brand?

“Tohum means ‘seed’ in Turkish; something very simple and natural that will flourish only in its own way, has no monetary value, but there is much beauty in it. When we look at primitive cultures, women adorn themselves creatively with something simple and it becomes magical. I apply the same concept to my designs; it tells women to keep it simple and personal, express yourself in a unique way. Just because something is fashionable, you don’t have to adjust to it. Do it if you like it; if it speaks to you.”

What inspires you to start a collection?

“Actually, what I am trying to do is not to follow anything outside because it should not affect me in any way, I just do whatever comes to me. I do not follow what’s outside, because what I am trying to do is personal expression. It should be timeless. It shouldn’t be linked to any fashion or trend, any colour or season. I try to create something that will speak to the person who will wear it.”

Have you always wanted to be a jewellery designer?

“I never dreamt of it. But I have always been collecting pieces and turning them into wearable accessories. So I don’t call myself a “designer”.. I just do what I enjoy and what I know.

So anybody who wants to try something should do it. When you do it with passion, with love, the rest comes. You don’t know how; there’s a system working outside of you and you’re reborn.” www.tohumdesign.com Available at Beymen (Zorlu and Istinye) ‘Chickenpox’ scarf by Rumisu

Jewellery by Tohum Design

January February 2015

33

FEATURES Rumisu: blood is thicker than fashion Talent runs in the family for sisters Pınar and Deniz Yegin, founders of accessory label Rumisu. While Deniz worked on honing her fashion design skills at Pratt Institute, Pınar continued to illustrate throughout her time at Harvard and Wharton.

Now they are in the business of making art together ... on scarves. Pınar hand draws illustrations based on the characters she invents before each illustration is digitally transferred onto silk. The playful designs evoke a sense of whimsy and have attracted the attention of the world’s fashion press. The sibling duo explores traditions, folklore, superstitious beliefs, old wives’ tales and cultural anomalies in their work to charming effect.

As an ode to Istanbul, an ‘Exclusive Istanbul Collection’ has been created; the production of each design is limited to 50 scarves and they are available only in Turkey. Rumisu is also a socio-conscious label that works in partnership with UNDP promoting the sustainable economic development of women in Eastern regions of Turkey. Every scarf is accompanied by an ‘oya’ figure. Oya a Turkish traditional crochet and a diminishing art form, which Rumisu helps to keep alive.

‘Roarrrrrr’ scarf by Rumisu featuring the distinctive oya ‘corner creature’

In conversation with Pınar and Deniz Yegin What inspires you?

Deniz: “Art, children’s books, people, prints, ethnic textiles and travelling. For people to understand the inspiration behind our illustrated scarves, we have tags with a few lines about the illustration.

Pınar: “Most of my ideas come to me when I am crocheting, crafting or playing with ceramics. It’s like meditating and something will just pop up. I am a big nerd, I love aliens, all those cheesy things that are not always serious but around me.”

What are the ‘corner creatures’?

“They are the characters related to the illustrations, made using the art of crochet (oya) which hang from the corner of the scarves. We both love oya because of our mother. So, we said, why not make a funky oya, instead of flowers or traditional motifs? Pınar made the very first prototype of the oya corner creature.”

Istanbul is a very pet-friendly city – have you considered doing an illustration based on it?

“We have a scarf called “Whisker Whisperer” but the F/W14’ collection has other animals such as snakes, crocodiles, giraffes, tigers and one about a bull and matador. I dislike bullfighting and it’s about that. The street animals are being looked after, but those are the ones we see in the city.

Animals in deserted areas live in bad conditions. People in Istanbul are pet-friendly, but establishments are not. For example, this is one rare restaurant (Journey Cafe) where you can bring in a dog. And we think pets should be able to come in and hang out.”

CashmereInLove: a stitch in time Esra Bezek and Tolga Dikencik are the husband and wife team behind the brand CashmereInLove. Esra recognised a gap in the market for luxury cashmere with a modern design aesthetic. You won’t find your grandmother’s pastel coloured cardigans here; only polished cashmere and silk-blend knitwear in bright and tonal hues for the modern woman.

Esra is a hard core surf enthusiast who’s notoriously feared by her manufacturers for expecting nothing short of perfection and her manipulation of cashmere is extraordinary. She embellishes cashmere harmoniously with sequins, pearls, pom-poms and Iznik-inspired glass beads, which she designs herself.

Even the unadorned pieces from her new collection are given distinctive contemporary characteristics with textures, colours, pleats, shapes and forms. Her latest collection is a combination of urban-chic designs in bold and muted colours with primary focus on the details inspired by her love of architecture, Iznik tiles and, of course, cashmere itself.

34

January February 2015

In conversation with Esra Bezek of CashmereInLove

What is the brand’s New Year’s resolution?

It’s still too early to say. We plan to open a store in Nişantaşı, but haven’t found the perfect space yet. And we hope to produce a capsule collection of travel-wear and accessories.

Our spring/summer ‘15 collection is inspired by my visit to Bali and consists of summer cashmere with beading and Balinese batik prints.

Available online at www.CashmereInLove.com

MehryMu: in a league of its own

Bow down to the Sultan clutch by MehryMu

Cashmere sweater from CashmereInLove, encrusted with glass beads and inspired by 16th century Iznik design

How did CashmereInLove come about?

“I worked on a textile research project while studying abroad and I chose to focus on cashmere. I fell in love with it. Upon returning to Istanbul, I began working on the label’s identity, which would be a high-end cashmere line.”

What’s the hardest part of your work?

Six years ago there weren’t as many boutiques as there are now. Places like Blender and Midnight Express didn’t exist.

Turkey focused mostly on foreign brands, making it harder to enter the market. But it’s a trend now to wear Turkish designers and more people are willing to invest in their products. But the problem still remains: there are not enough boutiques in Turkey as a whole; there is just Istanbul.”

Güneş Mutlu, the creator of MehryMu, hardly needs an introduction. Her brand has become a household name among Turkish socialites and celebrities. Her signature use of the hamsa and the tile motif on her bags adds a layer of artistry synonymous with ingenuity in Turkish design. There is a strong Moroccan influence in Güneş Mutlu’s collections, but it’s her infatuation with ikat fabric that led her to create the collection called ‘Sultans’.

The bags in this range of small minaudiere are richly decorated in bold ikat prints or golden jacquard with a turban-shaped push-down lock closure. Despite working tirelessly on her label, which is stocked at Beymen and other speciality boutiques, the designer always finds time to support a honourable cause. Most recently, she participated in a fundraiser organized by the Down Syndrome Foundation. www.mehrymu.com Available at Beymen Blender and at www.beymen.com

WRITER: TANZIA AIMI EREL Tanzia A Erel is a native New Yorker and a former lease administrator turned teacher, blogger and a freelance writer. With many passport stamps and border crossings, she has finally settled down in Istanbul with her husband. Her passion for interior decorating has led her to create TheDecorIST, a team of English speaking personal shoppers helping foreigners shop for home goods. You can contact her through thedecorist on facebook and @tanzial at instagram.

January February 2015

35

FEATURES

BACK TO NATURE

Escaping the city crowds Living and working in Istanbul is a hard slog, and by springtime, getting back to nature becomes a priority!

This year, I found my perfect retreat – Karaburun.

Foça

Last year, I had been disappointed to find beautiful beaches ruined by thumping music, whining children and noisy families, so this year, I combed the net diligently, and found some real jewels of unspoilt beauty.

One of my favourite places was Karaburun, a small market town situated about 100 kilometres west of Izmir, down a long, long winding road through rugged mountains…

‘Karaburun’ means ‘black cape’ and refers to the black capes worn by the fishermen of old, but its oldest name was ‘Mimas’, and relates to a local mountain (Bozdağ) that was said to be the home of some lesser-known Greek gods. Homer mentions the windy climes of Mimas, and it is that self-same welcome breeze that makes Karaburun so pleasant throughout the hot summer months. It is also the hometown of Narcissus (Nergis), and he has certainly left his legacy, as the area is still strewn with fragrant Narcissi flowers.

In the town centre, there is a friendly family-owned restaurant, the Nergiz Café, offering a magnificent view of the mountains and the local Dogs’ Home. It’s open all day and serves a variety of freshly-made Turkish dishes and salads, and very reasonably priced wine and beer.

Once a month, Turkish plays are performed free of charge in the town square, and are very much worth seeing.

Karaburun is best suited for the romantic couple or the lone traveller wanting solitude, unspoilt beauty, and organic food straight from the sea or fields. There is a plethora of small pensions, and small holiday houses for rent and one or two larger hotels.

36

As a budget traveller, I stayed airbnb, in a lovely house with almost overwhelming Turkish hospitality, and I travelled predominantly by foot, dolmuş or boat.

There are three main beaches, and all are blue flagged. The water is great for swimming and snorkelling, with clean pebbly beaches and a crystal clear sea.

Walking about three kilometres from the main square, along the quiet main road, following the coast, one comes to sign for the Iskele. This is a small bay with a few yachts and a number of simple traditional fish restaurants serving excellent kalamari. – an ideal place to watch the sunset with a large G&T. There are several pensions around the iskele, and small apartments to rent at the Number One Apartment Hotel.

A ferry leaves the iskele at 11am most days on a two hour sailing to nearby Mordogaon, and Foca, returning at 8pm.

Mordogan is lively seaside town, with a sandy beach, and several family type hotels, tourist shops and several restaurants playing live music at night – much more touristy, albeit predominantly Turkish. It is slightly more expensive, and lacks the unspoilt charm of Karaburun.

Foca, on the other hand, positively oozes history – with layers of Byzantine, Ottoman and ancient Greek ruins adding to its appeal as a modern day seaside resort. It’s much busier than Karaburun, but somehow retains its charm and an unhurried ambience. Old Greek style houses, working fishermen and ancient artefacts contribute. Restaurants are numerous and more upmarket than Karaburun, many playing traditional music. There are two bays, Big Bay and Little Bay, and although the beaches are more crowded, they are not noisy and very clean. There is a night market that sells local fare and unusual hand-made trinkets for the Turkish tourists.

January February 2015

My favourite was the Nergis Hotel, a whitewashed boutique hotel, where you could eat overlooking the sea and watch the sunset in the evening. This small hotel has eight airy rooms, each with a balcony and a seaview. It is a perfect blend of simple sophistication and serenity.

İnci beach

I went on a short day cruise from Foca, where they served a splendid lunch of fish and meze. The highlight for me was sailing past the amazing cliff and rock formations, where the sirens once tried to lure Homer’s Odysseus to his death.

The rocks are also home to the famous Mediterranean monk seals. We stopped by a small sandy bay which was excellent for snorkelling, and a most enjoyable time was had by all.

Back across the turquoise sea to Karaburun, a narrow road from the iskele leads to sandy Inci Beach -- a small cove situated in front of a large grassy field dappled with colourful bean bags and sun loungers, which throbs into life at weekends with happy families, and a general bonhomie.

On weekdays it was practically empty. A restaurant serves traditional food and beer with waitress service to your bean bag, and Elvis and Frank Sinatra crooning gently in the background.

Walk for about an hour along the main road, and down a track to Kuycak Beach. I hung out at the modest, but friendly D&N Pansiyon, a small modern hotel, with a grassy play area for children, complete with a resident family of ducks. There is also a small dinghy school for children, with instructors and boats for hire. It serves great homemade food, and salads.

The main beach runs along the front of the town. Sandy, and with sunloungers, it is busier than any of the other beaches, and has music playing cafés that serve toast and tea lining the road. A dolmuş service runs every 15 minutes and takes you back to the town centre.

If you want a change of scene, and a truly stunning Turkish breakfast, drive or take a taxi to Saip village, 20 minutes away amongst the pine-coated mountains, and enjoy a banquet of delicious organic cheeses, olives, tomatoes, pine-scented honey and homemade jams, served with bread warm from the oven and a spectacular view of the mountains (all for 20TL!).

If you want to get right back to nature, then you can drive or take a dolmuş westwards to the delightful fishing village of Yeniliman. Quaint, and seemingly untouched by time, I had the most delicious fish sandwich ever there, and there is a small and empty sandy beach.

Mimosa beach

Siren rocks

Karaburun has so little traffic that it’s a pleasure to walk everywhere, and my favourite walk took me down quiet roads, through fragrant olive groves carpeted with brightly coloured flowers, to Mimosa Beach, a long narrow shingly beach. It has a few sun loungers, and even fewer people. Some good pansion/restaurants are dotted behind it.

From Yeniliman, you can follow a ragged road upwards into the mountains for about 20 minutes and you will see the magnificent and blissfully uninhabited Kumbucu Beach – a long expanse of sand, reached only after a scramble down a scraggly goat path. Make a barbecue and skinny dip if you dare… your only spectators will be an occasional goat or inquisitive seagull.

Karaburun is no action-packed holiday destination with a crazy nightlife and gourmet restaurants – it’s a simple, back to nature, unspoilt experience natural beauty with glorious walks, beaches, organic food and best of all – a total getaway from city life.

WRITER: CAROL JARDINE Carol was born and educated in Scotland, before moving to London to start her career as a head-hunter and career coach. In a mid-life enlightenment in 2007, she left London and moved to Vietnam to embark on her second career in teaching. She worked subsequently in Thailand and Laos, before moving to Istanbul in 2011.

She teaches at Boğaziçi Üniversitesi and plays tennis, swims and writes when she finds time.

January February 2015

37

FEATURES

Setting realistic goals for real change As the new year approaches many of us start to think and dream about the changes we would like to make in our lives in the new year. It always seems perfect to start at the New Year, so we write our list of resolutions and we start to dream that they will happen.

Image credit: Alper Orus | flickr.com | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0-NC

But what happens? The new year comes, and we have a list of things we want to achieve and/or change… within a month we go back to our normal routines and we forget about what we want to achieve.

The statistics show that only 8% of people stick to the resolutions they make on the New Year. The reason is that it is unrealistic to think that we can quit a habit or change it just because we have it in our list.

What is important about making a New Year resolution happen is that we need to know the reason behind why we want to change that habit. The promises we make to ourselves are psychological. For example, if we want to lose weight then we need to know the reason for that.

The best way to achieve more in life and become the person you were meant to be is by setting realistic goals. When we set our goal that we want to loose 10kg and we do not plan

38

how we want to do it, and we do not consult a physician, and a dietician, then we are in danger of not achieving our goal in a healthy way.

It’s important to understand not only the value of setting and achieving goals, but making those goals realistic if we want to make real changes in our lives and the lives of our families and/or the teams we work with.

We all know people who make the same resolution year after year and even a couple of times in one year? And maybe we are one of these people. What is important here is not to stop making a resolution but to be aware that just making/writing a resolution, change won’t happen. The magical transformation we are looking for can only happen when we persistently follow a plan and revise the plan through the way and see what is needed for us to reach our goals. It is very important to be aware that any change is tough and includes sacrifices.

January February 2015

To bring your New Year’s resolution into your life you need to adapt and follow the SMART method: The SMART method clearly defines how to properly set realistic goals. When you set impossible goals, you set yourself up for failure. That’s not the best way to achieve goals or keep everyone motivated. Before you set another goal, ensure it meets the following criteria: oo Specific – Make certain your goal is clearly defined. Don’t leave the goal open to interpretation or you’ll spend all your time trying to figure out which direction to take. For example, if you want to lose weight, you must be specific around how many kilograms you want to lose.

If you want to buy an apartment, be specific how many rooms and which location. oo Measurable – Find a way to measure your goal. This keeps you motivated and on task. oo Attainable – Think about what it will take to achieve your goal. Is it actually possible? Make the goal challenging, but still attainable. Don’t set yourself for goals that is impossible. If you want to lose 20kg, break it down into smaller achievement increments. oo Realistic – You should always set goals relevant to the success of your process.

When you can’t see the relevancy, you will be less motivated to complete the journey. For example, if you say you won’t eat your favorite food at all, that may set you for failure. Instead allow yourself to have it during the journey so you don’t feel you are punishing yourself. oo Time – As with the goal itself, the time frame should be realistic too. If you try to rush success, all you’ll get are low quality results and no real sense of accomplishment. Make sure to plan ahead of time and not wait for the last few days of December as your goals will be set based on the mindset of these days only.

When you get excited about your New Year’s resolution or a project, you might be tempted to create lofty goals that seem possible at the time. It’s not until you start working on the goal that you realise it’s difficult or impossible. One of the best ways to keep goals realistic is to create an action plan immediately after setting the goal. This is where it’s important to be as specific as possible.

Write down each step or task necessary to complete the goal.

Think of it as a to-do list. You’ll be able to easily tell if a goal is unrealistic if you can’t create a solid action plan or any task seems hopeless.

No matter how great your action plan might be, it’s worthless unless you actually act on it. One of the best ways to accomplish your goals is to ensure they mean something to you. For instance, maybe you feel disappointed in yourself for not being able to properly motivate yourself. Your goal might involve learning how to communicate better in your family/ organisation and meet your family member’s or your team’s needs. When you feel motivated by the goal, you’re more likely to go through with your action plan.

Your goal should also have a clear result or reward. What’s actually in it for you? If you do become a better communicator, how does that benefit you? The result could be a happier family/team, better results and praise from your superiors.

Write down what the success means to you personally and you’ll be far more inspired. Don’t reward yourself with something that contradicts your goal or resolution. If your goal is to lose weight and have a healthy life then you should not reward yourself with a box of chocolate (!) instead reward yourself with going to a movie or buying something new (perhaps clothes, a membership, or a subscription…)

The most important thing is to remain confident. To make a real change in your life and that of others, you must be confident in your goal’s success. When you have a realistic goal, success is inevitable as long as you’re confident and stick to your action plan. Don’t beat yourself up when you go off track… and instead track every small success and make short-term goals as they are easier to keep.

Use these steps as a guideline for creating more realistic goals. You’ll quickly see a vast improvement in the success rate of your goals.

Stick to your goal, as experts say it takes 21 days to make a new activity a habit and six months to make it part of your personality.

Having an accountability partner is a great strategy especially at times when you feel there are temptations for you to diverge from the main road to your goal like at times when you feel you may skip an exercise or eat your favourite chocolate.

Talk about your list and your goals to people around you so they support you through your process; they will cheer you on each time you achieve a goal from your list.

It’s too easy to fail at a goal, whether personal or professional, when the bar is set too high. Goals should always help you improve in some way, but unrealistic goals simply cause you unnecessary failure. Focus on setting realistic goals and you will see greater success. If you fail to make your resolution happen by March don’t give up and instead start again – day after day you will build the muscle again.

WRITER: SOUZAN BACHIR Souzan Bachir, MBA, PCC, ORSCC, is a professional certified executive,cross-culture, team and relationship consultant and coach. She is passionate about making leadership and self-development programs available to all.

Her wisdom, positivity and clarity make a positive impact on people she works with. Combining 15 years experience in international business with coaching and leadership training, Souzan designs and delivers transformational leadership programs and self-development workshops. Find out more at www.miracoaching.com.

January February 2015

39

SPONSORED ARTICLE: TIME OUT MAGAZINE

SPONSORED ARTICLE

Introducing Istanbul to the little ones

A little marvel of an Istanbul guide has just been published, and it knows how to speak to children.

By Antoine Remise

I

t’s been nearly 20 minutes now that you’ve been trying to conscientiously read the whole passage from your detailed Istanbul guide on how Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque.

You’ve managed to yawn only twice but your seven-year-old kid, after repeatedly pulling your sleeve for the last five minutes, is now staring at you with a look of despair begging you to stop what he or she endures as if it was Chinese torture. Know that scene too well? Then this marvelous little guide titled ‘Istanbul for Kids’ (published by Can Çocuk) was made for you.

Istanbul born and bred author Burçak Gürün Muraben (now living in Australia) had been looking for a handy, engaging and fun Istanbul guide to read to her own children, but realized that most of the children’s books dumbed down the content and were full of mistakes. So she decided to do the job herself. “I wanted to make it cheeky, interesting and packed with high quality information

that was not easy for kids to find on the Internet,” she told Time Out Istanbul.

The book is divided into 12 chapters, one for each of the most famous landmarks of the city like the Grand Bazaar, the Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, and the Princes’ Islands among others (there is also an additional chapter on interesting museums for kids). The chapters are cleverly constructed and mischievously punctuated by short quizzes, gore alerts (a lot on the Ottomans’ taste for decapitation), fun facts and tons of unexpected, amusing and fascinating anecdotes.

In fact, Burçak Gürün Muraben is the queen of anecdotes on Istanbul’s history. “I found as many light and funny historical anecdotes as I could to make it engaging. I thought that if my kids and I found them interesting, others would,” she explained. They are, and as much as children will enjoy reading them parents can also keep some of them in mind to impress guests coming to Istanbul or show off at dinners.

Did you know that some of the earliest vampire stories known were written by Evliya Çelebi, the Turkish Marco Polo, or that the first man to fly between two continents was a bold guy called Hezaren Ahmet Çelebi who threw himself from the top of the Galata Tower and reached Üsküdar only by using wings made of eagle feathers and the prevailing winds? You’ll also learn that one year the winter got so cold that the Bosphorus froze and Istanbullus could ice-skate on it, or that Venus Williams once played tennis on the Bosphorus Bridge.

Accompanying Burçak in her quest to cover centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history are illustrations by Uğur Altun. His enchanting and playful drawings wonderfully illustrate the text, making the reading of this 126 page guide even more pleasant. All in all, ‘Istanbul for Kids’ offers the perfect crash course in Istanbul’s history and is a must-read for all families who want to make the most of their visit here while arousing the curiosity of the little ones. You can find it in most of the city’s bookstores or buy it online (www.cancocuk.com).

IWI MEMBERS GET 25% OFF! 40

That’s 12 issues for the price of 9 - only 45 TL! Every month, your Time Out will be filled with features on citywide happenings, restaurant and café reviews, daily concert, event and exhibition listings, shopping hotspots, expat tips, travel destinations, celebrity interviews and all you want (and need) to know about what’s going on in your city.

Time Out Istanbul in English – Know More. Do More.

Subscribe today by contacting us at (0212) 287-1990 or antoine@timeoutistanbul.com, January February 2015 or by visiting www.timeoutistanbul.com/en

January February 2015

41

SPONSORED ARTICLE: CORNUCOPIA MAGAZINE

ISTANBUL ESCAPE

ASIA FANTASIA

No day need go by without discovering something new and utterly riveting on the shores

I

drive-in diners and just offshore the Leander Tower. At this point, look up at the last of the clifftop Ottoman yalıs built to watch the sun set over the Golden Horn.

The artist Derek Hill called the late Muharrem Nuri Birgi’s house “the most beautiful in Asia”. The yalı is like a jewel box when its shutters are closed and you can still climb the stone path that led down to the shore. This is the district of Salacak. The old boat station alas survives only in the opening to Sidney Lumet’s 1974 Murder on the Orient Express.

In Üsküdar, Asaf Osman Efendi (a tiny rarified café at İmam Nâsır Sk 2, 0216 334 7070) serves tea from all over the world. The Turkish tea is handpicked on the Black Sea by the owner – an egg timer comes with the tray so that you know when to start pouring.

yapı kredi selahattin giz archive

yapı kredi selahattin giz archive

t isn’t easy to get to the sites scattered around the low hills between Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, but it is worth the effort. To visit the Florence Nightingale Museum in the Selimiye Barracks, you need a passport and 48 hours’ notice. But for a grandstand view of Topkapı Palace, the European quarters draped around the Galata Tower, and the whirl of excitement at the entrance to the Golden Horn, simply hop on the Sirkeci–Harem feribot and climb to the upper deck, where seats are arranged in rows as in a theatre.

The car ferry links the Old City to the bewildering Harem docks on the Asian shore. When you land, turn left and walk along the shore all the way to Üsküdar. You pass a small fishing harbour,

2

42

January and February 2015 January February 2015

LALE SPECIAL OFFER

of the Bosphorus. The new Cornucopia explores Istanbul from sea to shining sea

Cornucopia’s Bosphorus issue The forthcoming Cornucopia 52 is Part 3 of the biannual magazine’s Istanbul Unwrapped series. You can buy it at good bookshops in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir from January 21 (price TL35). But it also makes the perfect gift for visiting friends and family. We invite IWI MEMBERS to stock up on extra copies by ordering three for the price of two at cornucopia.net/iwi-offer, along with a free a Rifat Özbek tote bag.

The same offer applies to our first two Istanbul Unwrapped issues… while stocks last.

CORNUCOPIA 51 ISTANBUL’S EUROPEAN QUARTER & THE SULTAN’S NEW CITY . THE POLISH CONNECTION . PASTA ALLA TURCA

Sold by order of The 12th Duke of Northumberland and the Trustees of the Northumberland Estates

Edward William Lane (d.1876), Arabic-English Lexicon, printer’s manuscript copy, 40 volumes, second half 19th century, with 10 rare volumes of al-Saghani’s ’Ubab, Egypt or Syria, Mamluk, dated 653 AH/1255 AD Estimate £200,000–300,000 Enquiries +44 (0)20 7293 5804 34–35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA Register now at sothebys.com

January and February 2015 January February 2015

ISSUE FIFTY-ONE 2014

simon upton

ARTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD LONDON 8 OCTOBER 2014 EXHIBITION 3–7 OCTOBER

CORNUCOPIA Issue 51 2014

Turkey for Connoisseurs

ISTANBUL UNWRAPPED PART TWO

THE EUROPEAN CITY

BEYOĞLU BOOGIE

3

43

SPONSORED ARTICLE

HEALTH & FITNESS

A day at

D-Gym

It was with some trepidation that I received a call from our editor, asking me if I would like to have a day at D-Gym, Maslak. I’m not a regular gym goer and I was slightly nervous at the prospect so I asked if my good friend and gym expert, Yvette, could go with me. I need not have been worried – we had an excellent day!

State of the art!

On arrival, we were immediately impressed by the smart, modern building in which D-Gym is housed and by the easy, secure parking outside. The good impressions did not stop there. On entry we were met by the friendly staff who outlined our day for us and showed us to D-Cafe where we enjoyed herbal tea while waiting to meet our personal trainers. This gave us an opportunity to form a first impression of the gym and I admit I was surprised at how big and modern the gym itself is. It has been carefully laid out so each area is comfortable and fit for purpose. From the modern fittings and furniture in the refreshment bar to the subdued lighting and the state of the art equipment in the gym itself, it is quickly apparent that this is a gym designed to meet the needs of the discerning member.

The equipment that was used was extremely modern and in a matter of seconds I had a print out of my weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) including the fat to muscle ratio and how hydrated I was. If we had wanted them to, the staff at D-gym could have designed a fitness program for us, based on our BMI, our goals and our lifestyles. As we were just giving the gym a one day trial run we declined and were instead shown to the pilates studio for a one-on-one training session.

Assessment After meeting our trainers, Yvette and I were shown to the assessment room where we were offered a body analysis.

At D-Gym a body analysis is done for every member when they sign up so that individual progress can be measured and goals can be set. Body analysis has come on since I last had it done.

44

January February 2015

Pilates The pilates studio is modern and bright and there are plenty of workout stations. Each client doing pilates works one on one with a personal trainer who does a body and postural analysis before the session begins. They can then base the work out on the member’s unique needs. I was amazed by how slow and controlled the exercises were and how carefully the instructors observed and monitored to be sure each exercise was done correctly for maximum benefit. It’s true to say that I was stiff the next day but, I am now looking into taking pilates up on a regular basis as I can really see how this effective exercise can make a difference to core strength and flexibility.

D-Gym details If you’re looking for a gym to join, I can now highly recommend D-Gym, Maslak! If Maslak doesn’t suit, the good news is that a second gym is opening in Etiler in December 2014 and it promises to uphold the same standards as the gym in Maslak.

In addition to all the above mentioned facilities, D-Gym Etiler will also house basketball and squash courts. Individual, Family and Corporate membership is available at both gyms.

The Maslak gym opens between 6:30am and 10pm daily, Etiler will open between 6:30am and 11pm.

The facilities After pilates we were shown around the gym facilities which include a training pool, a very big and extremely well equipped exercise studio (equipment includes treadmills, spinning bikes, cross trainers, free weights, etc), not to mention the excellent refreshment bar. The gym also has an excellent spa and Turkish bath facilities where body and facial treatments can be booked. We were in for a treat as Yvette had booked a massage and I had booked a facial.

The spa The products used for the facial were excellent. It took an hour and was a relaxing way to round off my day in a warm, comfortable, serene environment. Yvette, an athlete, asked for a deep tissue massage, and was very impressed by the skill of the masseuse and by the spa facilities.

What more could we ask for than a hot shower, the use of the gym’s fluffy robes and towels and a final visit to the juice and refreshment bar where we enjoyed a delicious fruit platter, a freshly squeezed ginger juice shot and ginger, mint and lemon tea.

WRITER: LOUISE PYE Louise Pye is an English as a second language teacher and freelance writer – and features editor for Lale magazine. She is passionate about travel and exploring new cultures and places. She lives in Istanbul and is enjoying her Turkish adventure with her husband and two children. For suggestions on features you would like to see in Lale in future, email Louise at louiseinistanbul@gmail.com January February 2015

Thank you to the D-Gym staff! Yvette and I had a wonderful day.

Pool image: D-Gym

PHOTOGRAPHER: YVETTE NOBLE Yvette Noble is originally from England, but moved to Istanbul from the USA in summer 2012 with her husband Stephen and 2 of her children, Jack and Dana. Yvette’s older daughter stayed in Michigan for university.

Yvette studied fine art at college and continues to be interested in art, especially photography and drawing. Yvette also loves cooking and is a keen follower of the many food blogs here in Turkey.

45

Image credit: catd_mitchell | flickr.com

HEALTH & FITNESS

Doomed diets, goodbye The new year is a time of great reflection and re-direction for many of us. Nutritionist Marlene Bronte explains why our attempts often fail to improve or change something, such as our diet, when we make promises to ourselves every New Year and birthday.

In fact 38% of us set New Year resolutions related to weight, but only 8% of people are successful in achieving their resolutions. The success rate of New Year’s diet resolutions is not great and since 80% of all dieters fail to lose weight, and one third even gain additional weight, it is interesting to know what the pitfalls are and how we can avoid them.

For many it is the complexity of the diet schemes that discourages them from maintaining their weight loss efforts. So simplicity of the diet is a good predictor of success.

Pitfalls of focusing on weight I believe that most people set themselves up to fail by focusing on their weight as the main indicator of success when dieting. They talk about the kilos they have lost as a badge of honour when in fact many of them go back to their previous weight or more within a year. Those who use diets and exercise specifically to lose weight, though they may be successful in the short term, often end up no slimmer or healthier than when they started, and frustrated that they can’t reach their goals.

46

Many are enamoured by the starvation diet that is trendy at the moment or other extreme diets that have strict rules, eliminate or severely restrict certain foods, or otherwise take a lot of effort – these are usually only successful in the short term. I mean anyone can lose weight eating mostly salads or not eating for certain days – but how long could you keep that up? Over the longer term, these doomed diets fail you.

January February 2015

Plan good habits

Here are four ways you can be more effective in making changes in your daily life.

1. Focus your energy on modifying habits that are most damaging and take this as a starting point without thinking about your weight.

2. Make a simple plan of things you need to do to achieve this. Your habits and behaviours are very difficult to change, and when you don’t have a wellthought-out plan on how you are going to make sustainable changes that fit into your lifestyle, it leads to failure.

3. Think ahead – part of that planning is anticipating situations in which you’re likely to slip up – such as when you’re at a party, feeling stressed, eating out or travelling.

4. Take it slow and do one change at a time; so don’t try to quit smoking and drinking and diet all at the same time.

Focus on your health

Most people want to see improvements within a few weeks but quick weight loss is usually not permanent weight loss.

Most importantly, focusing on weight and not health means that once you reach your ideal weight you cannot maintain it without sticking to a strict diet because it does not encourage your body to be healthier.

Instead of focusing on your weight it is infinitely better to focus on your health and look at trying to improve your feeling of health and well-being, this motivation tends to keep people focused and motivated for longer rather than a weight focused dieter.

Your ‘new’ plan

Your ‘new’ New Year’s plan for health: 1. Set a goal that you can see yourself achieving and is easily within your reach. Do not set crazily high expectations. Think about a simple change you can make that is achievable with your current lifestyle.

2. Make your plan and include all the things you need for shopping, preparation, cooking, and exercise and then figure out the logistics about how you can fit it into your life.

3. Follow a diet that has lots of variety, yet is simple, interesting, and tastes good – eat more ‘good carbs’ from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; healthy fats from nuts, fish, olive and coconut oil; and lean protein.

4. Stock up; go shopping and buy all the good and healthful foods that you want to eat more of.

Keep them everywhere you sit and eat so you are constantly reminded of healthy options that you want to increase. Keep a tall glass /bottle of water in every room where you are working/ relaxing to help increase your likelihood of drinking more water.

5. Imagine yourself eating like this for a year and put the vision in your head with you following this eating plan for a long time with great results. This is remarkably a simple yet effective tool to improve commitment. Having that image of yourself a year from now being healthier will help lead you in that direction.

Add something positive

Make a plan to add something positive to your life so rather than focus on the elimination and the denial aspect of your new eating plan, think of something good that you want to add into your life.

Your ‘new’ plan will add positive healthful things to your life rather than focusing on elimination and denial aspects. The key is persistence, and if at first you don’t succeed, you know what you must do...try and try again! Be among that 8% of people who are successful in achieving their resolutions! Let this be the year you achieve yours!

The keys to success for any new eating plan or diet are: simplicity, planning and convenience.

6. Manage your hunger or cravings especially at late night or afternoon snack time when you may be likely to choose unhealthy foods/ drinks to give you a ‘quick boost.’

The problem is that a quick rise in blood sugar is usually followed by a quick fall, and hunger strikes again. Try eating every 3-4 hours, always including lean protein (from nuts, lean meats, or beans) to help satisfy your hunger without the dramatic swings in blood sugar that may be causing the craving in the first place.

7. Find others who can help and support you or who have done it and can give you helpful hints and advice. If you need to see a professional get the appointments scheduled with someone you trust.

8. Think through how you’ll deal with temptations and cravings, don’t deprive yourself but if you can’t abstain, occasionally allow yourself a small portion of what you desire most. Sometimes it is easier to give yourself one day (perhaps on the weekend) when you can be more relaxed and allow yourself something you have been craving.

9. Forgive your slippages; no one is perfect and the reality of life can sometimes push you off course of your plan; don’t despair it is all part of the process and with each slippage try to forgive yourself and move on.

10. Spread the news, tell your friends and family and be public about what you want to do. Soon everyone will be cheering you on and helping you when you slip up. Those who love you will always support you to do something to be healthier.

WRITER: MARLENE BRONTE Marlene, a qualified Naturopathic nutritional therapist in England with a degree in Nutritional Medicine in 2010, feels passionately that food and healthy choices can make a real difference to your health and the quality of your life. Marlene helps people to maximise their health and wellness using food and lifestyle choices. Residing in London, Marlene provides one-to-one nutritional therapy consulting via SKYPE or other mobile media applications. Please visit www.inourish.net or email nutritionalmedicine@hotmail.com.

January February 2015

47

SPONSORED ARTICLE: ACIBADEM

HEALTH & FITNESS

Warming winter soups There is nothing more comforting than a bowl of steaming soup in winter. Soups are filling, yet easy on digestion, and often don’t take much time to prepare at all. Ayurvedic expert and nutritionist Ulli Allmendinger shows us how we can expand our repertoire of vegetarian soups.

Soups are one of the great comforts of winter. They are warming, nourishing and easy to digest.

Along with a bowl of steamed greens and some good-quality bread, they can make a substantial meal. For the sake of classification, we can divide soups into three different categories:

Legume-based soups

Pureed vegetable soups

These tend to be the most rustic and filling soups, often a meal by themselves. Use chickpeas, beans, red, green or puy lentils, or mung beans along with vegetables of your choice.

Make sure to at least soak the legumes overnight in filtered water with the addition of an acidic medium (a squeeze of lemon; one teaspoon of yoghurt; or ½ cup of whey).

Pureed vegetable soups, often with a base of root vegetables such as carrots, celery root or (sweet) potatoes, are grounding and filling, especially when cooked with a nourishing meat broth and/or coconut milk or a dollop of fresh organic cream.

Ideally, you can sprout them for 1-2 days for superb digestibility and nutritional boost as well as reduced cooking time. Larger beans are more suitable for constitutions with strong digestion, while smaller beans (mung, aduki) and red lentils are more suitable for people with sensitive digestion and frequent gas/bloating issues.

50

Clear broths with vegetables Clear broth soups are generally lighter.

These soups can be cooked with finely chopped veggies such as carrot, leek, zucchini, broccoli etc. or also a small amount of grain such as quinoa, millet, Basmati rice or barley. They are great during times of sickness (add plenty of ginger, onion and garlic) or if you want only a light meal.

Warming winter spices

Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger: These spices go particularly well with root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes or beets, as well as with pumpkin and butternut squash.

Cumin, hing/asafoetida, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, turmeric, red pepper flakes: These spices all add some kick to soups; cumin, hing and turmeric in particular are great for legume-based soups since they reduce gas formation.

January February 2015

Rice-coconut-lemon soup

Spicy Moroccan chickpea soup

This is a wonderful light soup from a favourite German cookbook of mine. It can be used as part of a detox or recovery from illness. It is light and nourishing, and also makes for a lovely dinner. You may substitute chicken or meat broth and add additional ghee for extra nourishment.

Using sprouted instead of normal chickpeas adds a healthboosting twist to this recipe. The sprouted chickpeas are more digestible and need only minimal cooking time. They also receive a boost in vitamin, mineral and protein content. This soup works well also with other beans or green lentils.

Serves 4

Serves 4

4-6 threads of saffron 1 Tb ghee (a clarified butter) 1 t mustard seeds (black) 2 cloves 1 bay leaf ¼ t turmeric 50 g Basmati or Jasmine rice 2 carrots, chopped finely ½ c leek, chopped finely 2 Tb dry coconut flakes ½ organic (!) lemon (juice and grated rind) 800 ml vegetable broth or water

salt and pepper to taste

Soak saffron threads at least ½ hour in a little warm water.

Heat ghee in medium saucepan. When hot, add mustard seeds, cloves and bay leaf and roast until mustard seeds pop.

1c chickpeas (soaked overnight and sprouted for 1-2 days) 2 Tb ghee (a clarified butter) 1 chopped onion 2 cloves minced garlic 1 pinch hing/asafoetida 2 sticks cinnamon 2 bay leaves 1 t cardamom powder 1 t cumin powder 1 t turmeric powder ¼ t smoked chipotle powder (or isot) ½ c chopped tomatoes 1 Tb brown sugar 750 ml vegetable or home-made chicken broth ½ t salt (depending on saltiness of broth you may need more or less) ¼t black pepper 1 bunch spinach or chard, chopped

When seeds start to crackle, add rice, coconut flakes, vegetables, turmeric and saffron, stir for a minute, then add vegetable bouillon and lemon rind, and cook for 20 minutes.

Serve with lemon juice and top with freshly chopped herbs such as dill, parsley or mint.

Heat ghee in medium pot, then add hing, chopped onions and garlic and sauté until onion becomes translucent.

Add spice powders and continue sautéing for another minute.

Next, add chickpeas, tomatoes, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, brown sugar, vegetable stock, salt and pepper.

Bring to boil, then simmer for 20 minutes at low heat to let the spices mingle.

Add spinach and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Turn off heat. If you like the soup thicker, blend or mash one cup of the mix and then add back into the soup – or serve just as is, with a squeeze of lemon and freshly ground pepper.

January February 2015

51

HEALTH & FITNESS Cauliflower potato soup with spiced crumbs I love this soup, especially in winter. The spices and ghee render the cauliflower and potatoes less gas-producing for those with sensitive tummies. I like serving it with chickpea flour pancakes and a date-tamarind chutney. The soup is also delicious with a slice of rustic rye bread.

Serves 4 1 small 2 ½ 2 T 1 pinch ½ t 5-6 c 1 c

cauliflower, broken into small florets medium potatoes, peeled and cubed onion, chopped ghee (a clarified butter) hing/asafoetida turmeric vegetable or chicken broth fresh parsley, chopped salt and black pepper

Spiced breadcrumbs ¾ c breadcrumbs 1-2 Tb olive oil (if you are not vegetarian, use 1-2 Tb of

anchovy fillets in oil, and omit salt and additional oil) 1-2 t red pepper flakes ¼ t salt Option freshly grated black pepper 1. Heat ghee in medium pot, add the hing and turmeric, then onions and sauté for 1-2 min. Add potato and cauliflower, sauté for another minute, then add salt and broth.

2. Bring to boil and then simmer covered for 15 min.

Turn off heat, add chopped parsley and cover.

3. In the meantime, pulse crumbs, olive oil, red pepper flakes and salt in a food processor, then roast in a pan over low heat for 5 minutes or until crumbs turn golden. Set aside.

4. Puree soup to a consistency of your liking, adding more broth if you like the soup thinner. Adjust seasoning to taste, and serve topped with spiced crumbs and additional freshly grated black pepper.

Note: The spiced breadcrumbs can be made in a bigger batch and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. They make a great topping for steamed cauliflower, pasta, and creamy soups.

WRITER: ULLI ALLMENDINGER Ulli is an Ayurvedic consultant, nutritionist and herbalist with a passion for cooking and Ayurvedic nutrition.

Based in Istanbul, Ulli consults clients for a variety of health concerns, gives Ayurvedic cooking and nutrition classes, workshops on Ayurveda and guides detox camps. She also has a line of gluten-free cookies and breads that are made-to-order. For more information, please visit www.ulli-ayurveda.com and www.ulliskicthen. sopsy.com, call 0539 203 04 22 or email info@ulli-ayurveda.com.

52

January February 2015

MUMS ‘N KIDS

Mums ‘n kids news and happenings

The baby group spending a lovely morning at Caroline’s place.

We welcome all mums with young children (0-2+) to join us for our weekly playgroups. Pregnant ladies are also welcome to join us for the baby group. The playgroups are usually hosted by one of the mums at their place.

Sometimes, we venture out to the parks when the weather is good; or meetup at a kid-friendly establishment. More details can be found in the Mums ‘n Kids Announcement page at the back of this Lale magazine.

On 26 October 2014, we had a Halloween party at Gymboree, Ortaköy where the young ones dressed up. They had a great time with the games and crafts led by well-experienced staff.

Our next party will be the Easter Egg Hunt – we hope you will be able to join us then! Keep an eye out for the announcement on the IWI website.

ChienFang Lim

mumsnkids@iwi-tr.org MUMS N KIDS COORDINATOR

Halloween pa

rty at Gymbo

January February 2015

ree

53

MUMS ‘N KIDS

Planning your child’s birthday party

Marking the key milestones in life is important in every culture and your child’s birthday is a milestone you won’t want to miss. Sometimes though it can seem daunting to organise a party when you are new to a country. However, it may be easier than you think to organise a special celebration for your child in Istanbul says our writer, Chienfang Lim. Song circle with jingles and bells at Hotpot Café Şişli

It’s that time of the year again – the date your precious little one was born. Oozing with love for your darling child, you want to organize a fabulous party and invite everyone who loves your precious baby. In Istanbul, this can be done with relative ease. After all, Turks are well known for their adoration of babies and children.

Call in the professionals If you do an online search, you will be able to find many ‘Doğum Günü Organizasyonuları’ who will arrange everything for you. Clowns, balloons, face paint, party favours and decorations are some of the standard offerings you can expect. Some more established companies provide themebased packages from Cinderella to Spiderman.

Keep it simple Otherwise, you can arrange a simple picnic party and let everyone enjoy a breath of fresh air and sunshine in one of Istanbul’s wonderful parks. The benefits of choosing this option are that you save a lot of time planning, your guests are less likely to get lost looking for the venue and you can invite as many people as you like.

For older children you may consider organising a treasure hunt and splitting into teams. Or pack a large trunk full of outdoor games: footballs; skipping ropes; twister; hoola hoops and baseball or cricket. Just make sure you set up camp with enough space around you!

54

Choose a party venue Many of the shopping malls in Istanbul have somewhere you can host a party or birthday treat. Why not visit the Turkuazoo Istanbul Aquarium at Forum Istanbul and enjoy a walk through the shark tunnel? Fungate in Kanyon shopping mall has a soft play area that will delight little ones and a perennially popular lazer tag area for children aged seven years and older.

Further soft play centres can be found throughout the city.

Let’s Play near the Macro Centre in Yeniköy is perfect for young children while Kidsville, which opened last year at Kemer Golf and Country Club in Kemerburgaz, offers 1660m² of soft play heaven for under 12s. A truly lavish option for older, more digitally minded children is to hire ‘The Game’, a 1,500m² dedicated gaming floor at The Point Barbaros Hotel, featuring karaoke, guitar hero, racing simulators and more. It is regularly rented out to big corporations for team events – but works equally well for children’s parties.

For creative types, consider Lola (Lots of lovely art) in Reşitpaşa. The creative mums behind this venture run regular art workshops for toddlers to pre-teens and it is a popular party venue too. If swimming is your thing, Aquatots in Etiler can also organize a birthday party for your little one.

As you can see, the options are wide ranging and you are sure to find something to suit your taste and budget, whether it’s a simple picnic or something more elaborate. For this article I wanted to look at two of my favourite options in more detail: January February 2015

Hotpot, Şişli

Forestanbul, Kemerburgaz

The first is Hotpot Café, located within walking distance of Şişli metro. Adila and Ayça are two German born and raised ladies who are also fellow mothers. They started Hotpot Café with the intention to connect with the international community and provide a safe and fun place for kids.

For those who want to get away from the city buzz and try something more adventurous, then Forestanbul is ideal.

Forestanbul is essentially a big outdoor playground, with an assortment of obstacle courses and activities such as paintball and giant swings. In fact, corporates book the place for the team-building exercises. However, the venue is suited for young children and teenagers with all safety precaution built in. Trained staff members are on-hand to guide the visitors.

There is an indoor cafeteria where food is served. Good luck trying to keep the kids inside when there is such a big party outside. The pricing is flexible, based on the number of courses and activities you select. The manager speaks English and Spanish and you can request to have an Englishspeaking staff member to assist you for the day.

Having a party with Paddington bear

The café has weekly programmes for mums and kids alike, such as teacher-led playgroups, baby yoga, toddler dance lessons and adult Pilates classes. The playgroups are relaxed and cosy, with song circles in English, German and Turkish followed by arts and crafts projects. Hotpot is open daily and you can pop by for a cup of tea and a slice of cake while your child plays in a safe environment. A large window separates the eating area from the play area. Thus, you can watch over your child as you sip your tea comfortably.

Adila and Ayça are extremely pleasant to work with and are happy to consider any special requests. If you are booking their space for the party, special arrangements can be made regarding the food and decoration.

Hotpot Merkez Mah. Perihan Sk. Erbil Apt. No 71-73B, Şişli, Istanbul Tel: +90 212 343 53 53 info@hotpot.web.tr www.hotpot.web.tr

Balancing acts at Forestanbul

Forestanbul also has picnic areas and allows individual visitors. However, do call ahead and check, as this may not be possible if the entire venue has been booked.

Forestanbul Kurt Kemeri Mesire Yeri (Mithatpaşa Mh. Davutpaşa Cd., Çitfalan Kemerburgaz Yolu Üzeri) Kemerburgaz - Eyüp / Istanbul 34075 Tel: +90 212 444 58 67 info@forestanbul.com www.forestanbul.com

Last word The options in Istanbul are limitless and you can have the best birthday party ever for your child. As for myself, my baby will turn one in January when this article is published. I would like to have an intimate event with just my husband and baby at home. For sure, we will share wonderful moments reminiscing the day she was born. And maybe, just maybe, I will sit by and smile as I watch her smear chocolate cake all over herself on her special day.

WRITER: CHIENFANG LIM Chienfang is from Brunei. She finished university and worked in Singapore as a project manager in a variety of industries for 13 years. She met her Turkish husband during a dive trip to Malaysia. April 2013 marked the start of her life in Istanbul. She has a baby girl and runs a career advancement service at www.expertdite.com.

Special thanks to Monica Casalina for providing the information and photos on Forestanbul January February 2015

55

MUMS ‘N KIDS

ANNOUNCEMENTS IWI MUMS ’N KIDS MEETINGS AND PLAYGROUPS We have weekly playgroups organised according to the kids’ ages. These are usually hosted by our members at their homes, meet-ups at parks or walks along the Bosphorus coast. These playgroups are free of charge. This is an opportunity to meet other pregnant ladies and parents of infants or toddlers, as well as share the joys and trials of motherhood while creating a support network. Mums n Kids does not mean mums only – Dads n Kids are just as welcome!

Please contact Chienfang (Mums n Kids Coordinator) at mumsnkids@iwi-tr.org if you have any questions or suggestions.

To join a playgroup, please log in to IWI’s website and visit the Mum n Kids page under the Members’ Section for the coordinators’ email addresses.

The coordinators will add you to the group’s mailing list to keep you updated of future events.

Pregnant and infants (0-12 months)

- Usual meeting day/time: Tuesday, 11am-1pm - Coordinators: Roxana Laos Dahya & Mandeep

Walkers – Younger Toddlers (1-2 years of age) - Usual meeting day/time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm - Co-ordinator: Sarah Wheatcroft

Toddlers (2 +)

- Usual meeting day/time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm - Coordinator: Verda Cakan

OTHER ACTIVITY AND SERVICE PROVIDERS

Bosphorus International Pre-School (BIP), Emirgan www.bipschool.net

Teacher-organised activity, song and circle time, garden play (weather-permitting).

Coffee, tea, milk and cookies provided.

When : Tuesdays Time : 10am-11.30am Cost : FREE Age group : 0-3 years of age Please contact Ms Collette Laffan-Persembe at preschool@ bipschool.net or telephone at 0212 277 8444. *Note: please call on Mondays to reserve. There are only 10 openings every week. Please only ONE known adult per child.

British International School (BIS), Zekeriyakoy / Etiler

www.bis.k12.tr Indoor and outdoor play (weather-permitting), followed by snack and music time. Known adult to stay and supervise child.

Zekeriyakoy (Tuesdays and Fridays)/ Etiler (Wednesdays and Fridays) Time : 9am-11am (both campuses) Cost : 10TL per session Age group : 0-2.5 years of age Please contact Mrs Amanda Ilhan, Preschool and Primary Deputy Director at amandailhan@bis.k12.tr or telephone at 0212 202 7027 ext 116 *Playgroup will start in the week of 15 September 2014.

Eden’s Garden International Preschool Yenikoy, Istanbul www.edensgardenpreschool.com

Baby Ballet Playgroup for Boys and Girls When : Thursdays Time : 9:30am-11:30am Cost : 30TL per session, (no block-booking required) Age group : 0-3 years of age Where : Ballet Studio, Eden’s Garden International Preschool, Guzelce Ali Pasa Cad. No. 50, Yenikoy, ISTANBUL Bring : Soft slippers for little feet Please contact Karen Holyoak Çiftçi, Director at director@ edensgardenpreschool.com or telephone 0212 262 4302

56

January February 2015

MUMS ‘N KIDS Gymboree Play and Music www.gymboreeturkey.com

10% discount for IWI members on Play and Learn classes in the Ortaköy branch. Please present your IWI membership card to claim your discount.

Gymboree Play and Music has been fostering creativity and confidence in children ages 0-5 for over 30 years.

Today there are over 550 locations in 30 countries, making Gymboree the global leader in early childhood development programs. Designed by experts, the age-appropriate activities help develop the cognitive, physical and social skills of children as they play. The programs are also recognized for their unique approach to parent involvement—which encourages participation in and understanding of each child’s development.

Cost: 860TL for 12 classes (IWI discount included) Gymboree members can also enjoy complimentary free-play times during the week. For non Gymboree members, IWI members these cost 30TL per hour.

School Skills program (drop-off) for the 2-3 year olds or 3-4 year olds. 10% discount on full year School skills program for IWI members.

Music and Art classes are also available. ***Limited offer for IWI members: 4 classes for 240TL*** Please contact Esra Taşar at esratasar@gymboreeturkey.com or telephone 212 275 8787 Kindermusik at Play to Learn Pre-School http://www.playtolearn.com.tr

Kindermusik at Play to Learn PreSchool www.playtolearn.com.tr

On the European side in Akatlar, Nişantaşı and Koç University Rumelifeneri Campus and on the Asian side in Ataşehir, offering different music classes.

My Time Program: 18-30 months ABC, Music and Me Program 2-4 years of age Please contact Ms Ozlem Hun at info@playtolearn.com.tr or telephone at 0212 352 3031 or 0532 237 2272.

Full Circle Healing Doula List

There are doulas on both the European and Asian side.

Doulas may be willing to travel to your location. For more detailed information about each doula, and on how a doula can support you, visit www.fullcirclehealing.org.

Do’um

Specialize in pregnancy and childbirth, provide education and counseling services to expecting parents and to bring together experts who believe in the feminine power and work in this field with a natural approach. www.do-um.com/english/english.aspx

LOLA (Lots of Lovely Art)

After-school workshops, toddler art, kinder art, weekend workshops, holiday camps, themed birthday parties. www.lotsoflovelyart.com

Hotpot Café- Şişli, Istanbul

www.hotpot.web.tr Merkez Mah. Perihan Sk. Erbil Apt. No 71-73B, Şişli – Istanbul Located centrally in Şişli, with just a short walk from the metro station, Hotpot café offers playgroups (baby/toddler), yoga (prenatal, yoga, adults), dance and drama classes and other fun activities for both kids and mums.

IWI members enjoy 10% discount. Please present your IWI membership card to claim your discount.

Please contact Adila or Ayça at info@hotpot.web.tr or telephone 0212 343 53 53

IWI’s Mums ‘n’ Kids Team is a volunteer group that organises activities for you and your children to enjoy. Please take responsibility for your own child’s safety.

IWI is not liable for any injury or loss incurred.

January February 2015

57

GROUPS & ASSOCIATIONS Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon

Open AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings in English are held in the Union Han building on Istiklal Caddesi, Tünel, next to the Swedish Consulate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6.45pm (contact 0533 626 5724 ). There is an Alanon meeting at 6.30pm on Thursdays in the same location. On Sundays, there is an open AA meeting at 4,15pm in Harbiye (contact 0539 606 0123). On the Asian side in Kadikoy, there are meetings at 6pm on Thursdays and at 5.30pm on Saturdays (contact 0537 433 8368). A full listing of all English-speaking AA meetings in Turkey with local contacts can be found on the AA Europe website: www.aa-europe.net

Asian Ladies of Istanbul

The Asian Ladies of Istanbul is a non-profit social group established over 20 years ago where ladies from East Asia living in Istanbul get together for various events and can feel at home while far away from their original home. A members-only Facebook page is available for them where they can keep track of the latest monthly luncheons, news, events, photographs and relevant information pertaining to daily life in Istanbul. Please contact the group leader, Kim Cakirkaya at kim.cakirkaya@gmail.com or 0533 463 6930 for further information.

ARIT (American Research Institute of Turkey)

The Friends of ARIT Istanbul, with branches in North America and Ankara, was established to support the ARIT in Turkey and carry out its scholarly activities. The Istanbul Friends run a yearround program of tours and lectures for members and guests.

Member¬ship is open to all interested residents of Istanbul. For further information call 0212 257 8111.

CHICAS - Spanish speaking women of Istanbul

A group open to all ladies who speak our language, or would like to practice it. We host lots of fun, hilarious Latin parties and cultural events. Come on, jump on in, you won’t regret it! We have our own blog: http://chicasestambul.blogspot.com/ and we’re on Facebook under “Chicas Estambul”. Email chicasestambul@yahoo.com.mx or phone Ninoska Gutierrez Sierra 0533 651 3581, Norma Maranges 0532 314 29 34 or Lorena Martinez 0533 388 6309.

CIRCOLO ROMA (Comunità italiana)

The Italian association organises several activities, such as cooking classes, dinners, parties, Italian and Turkish conversation classes, piano lessons, zumba, tamurriata, Italian cinema, medieval fencing, painting on porcelain, capoiera, singing and other activities for children and much, much more. The wonderful liberty hall can also be hired for private parties and conferences. Email Paola Maresia Maresia@superonline.com or Elsa Zambonini elsazambonini@ yahoo.com, tel 0212 244 17 59 or visit our website info@ circoloroma.com.

Die Bruecke

‘Die Bruecke’ is a platform for the German speaking community.

It was founded in 1989 to serve the needs of a steadily growing community. It is not a German club; it is open to everyone who speaks German. Die Bruecke issues a monthly newsletter. Different gatherings, charities, information concerning everyday life, binational education, help with bureaucracy and immigration laws in Turkey are covered as well as assistance to newcomers. Website www.bruecke-istanbul.org, email info@bruecke-istanbul.org.

DNSI - The Dutch School of Istanbul

The AWI is a social network open to Americans, Canadians and spouses of US or Canadian citizens living in Istanbul. The AWI provides social programmes ranging from special interest groups to charities. If you’re a newcomer to Istanbul please contact our newcomers committee so you can start to feel at home in your new country. Email Debbie Abdo or Sia Israfil at awiistanbul@gmail.com.

We provide Dutch language and cultural lessons to students aged between four and 16. Our mainstream programme is for primary and secondary students with at least one parent of Dutch nationality. Our afternoon programme is for students aged four-13 who are learning Dutch as a foreign language. We also offer a two week Dutch summer school. There is the possibility of Dutch language courses being offered for adults in the future. Please check our website www. dnsi1991.org or email directeur@dnsi1991.org.

Belgian Friends of Istanbul

Fransız Fakirhanesi – Little Sisters of the Poor

AWl (American Women of Istanbul)

The Belgian Friends of Istanbul help Belgian newcomers to feel at home and make friends quickly. We gather every month around a drink, brunch, dinner, walk or cultural activity. We also try to keep our traditions alive with activities such as the annual St. Nicholas party for the children or New Year’s dinner. We have our own Facebook page where members exchange useful information about job opportunities, housing, babysitting, Belgian cultural events in Istanbul, where to find Belgian products, etc. Email Nathalie Bevernaegie at bfistanbul@gmail.com.

Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts

The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of America is a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

All boys in grades one to five (ages six to ten) holding a foreign passport are welcome to join Cub Scouts. Older boys (ages 11-18) with foreign passports are welcome to join Boy Scouts. Activities include hiking and camping. Email Vicki Gunay graygunay@gmail. com or phone 0532 314 11 34.

Bridge group

Email Mother Mary psdptr@gmail.com or phone 0212 296 4608.

FOCI (Friends of Contemporary Istanbul)

Working with the international community in promoting the growth and development of contemporary art, the Friends of Contemporary Istanbul aim to enrich the rising art scene in Turkey and to contribute to the cultural life of Istanbul. Email jasmine.taranto@gmail.com or phone 0532 687 7899.

Friends of India Association (FOIA)

The Friends of India Association (FOIA) is a registered group formed to connect Indians in Istanbul through various social events.

Our aim is to keep the spirit of India and Indian culture alive by organising various festivals and activities through the year. If you are a newcomer to Istanbul and would like to know more or join the association email any of the following: Jugnu Saglik: jugnusaglik@ yahoo.com, Ambili: ramachandran.ambili@gmail.com or Diya: khera. diya@gmail.com. We are also on Facebook as Istanbul Indian community (FOIA).

Our friendly bridge group meets on Fridays at 11am -- all levels welcome! We play in a relaxed way and sometimes have a chat in between hands. Playing bridge in our group is a way to spend a pleasant Friday. Please contact Sandra on 212 257 9781 or 0532 483 5319.

58

January February 2015

Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts is the world’s largest organisation dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build character and gain skills for success in the real world. In an accepting and nurturing environment, and in partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop strong values, leaderships skills, social conscience and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. Girls aged 5 and up are welcome. Email Kat Bekham usagsoistanbul@gmail.com or phone 054 2300 24 92.

Istanbul Ottomans Rugby Football Club

We practice every Saturday afternoon between 4 and 6pm, except on days when there are official fixtures, at the Dikilitaş Spor Kulübü in Besiktas (directions available at www.ottomansrugby.com).

Players of all ages (17+) and all levels of fitness are welcome.

Please contact one of the team officials on the website for more information.

PAWI

InterNations is an organisation where globally minded people have the opportunity to network and exchange valuable tips and topics regarding expatriate subjects. We organise events and provide opportunities for our members to meet and network twice a month. For further information please see our website http://www. internations.org.

The Professional American Women of Istanbul is a network of American/Canadian women and spouses of Americans/Canadians living in Istanbul. PAWI strives to empower and support members by promoting personal and professional growth. Members inspire each other to achieve and share success. Each monthly PAWI meeting features a guest speaker, and locations alternate between the European and Asian sides. Contact info@pawiistanbul.com or visit www.pawistanbul.com.

International Women’s Bible Study

Patchwork Group

Istanbul Accueil

Photo Club of Istanbul

InterNations

This group meets Tuesdays from 10am until 12.30pm. Contact Vicki Günay on 0532 314 1134.

Welcomes French speaking newcomers in Istanbul. We publish a weekly newsletter listing many events and activities. All Frenchspeaking people are welcome! Email istaccueil@gmail.com or visit our website www.istanbulaccueil.org.

IWI Tennis Group

If you enjoy playing tennis please join our group. The IWI Tennis Group is up and running and takes place at Torch Tennis in Tarabya. Teams are based on skill levels and we welcome all players from beginners to advanced. If you are interested in joining please contact Kenan Dundar on 0535 390 4983 or email kenan. dundar@torchsportsclub.com.

Luso Brasileiro

Portuguese speaking group. Contact: Isabel Ponte Gulpan 0212 669 4943 or 0532 274 1653.

NVI – Dutch speaking people of Istanbul

The Dutch Club Istanbul is a group of people who like to keep typical Dutch festivities alive, for people who have connection to Holland, who like to meet up with Dutch-speaking people. On a monthly basis we organise a get together. Among the festivities we do the typical celebrations like Sinterklass (5 December) and Koninginnedag (Queens day). For further information and details check our website (www.nv-istanbul.org) or contact: Lisette Ruygrok at secretariaat@nv-istanbul.org.

Istanbul International Chamber Choir

IICC is a fun women’s choir, which was founded in 2009 and sings a variety of choral styles from light classical to musical, jazz and pop. The choir organises a Christmas concert and a spring concert in June. A weekly rehearsal takes place at Rumeli Hisarı. The group is always looking for enthusiastic members and for more details you are kindly invited to contact Anderske Kaspersma at anderske@ kaspersma.net or 0532 746 9448.

Istanbul International Rugby Center

Founded in 2007, this is the only Rugby Club in Istanbul with coaching for children and teenagers. Turkish, English, French and Spanish all spoken. The club has coached over 400 international children aged 5-16. Rugby training is every Saturday 12.30 - 2pm at Dilikitaş Sport Club in Beşiktaş.

Please contact the Club President Gülseren Gomez or the Technical Director Mr Luis Gomez on 0538 642 4513 for further information or see our website: www.istanbulrugbycenter.com

Contact Gaye Hiçdonmez at gayehicdonmez@gmail.com or 0532 700 0693.

The Photo Club of Istanbul organises photography classes and workshops, monthly photo treks and other activities for photographers of all levels of experience. Membership is free and is open to anyone with an interest in photography. Beginners are welcome. Email photoclubofistanbul@gmail.com to request an application form.

Speech Bubbles

Speech Bubbles Theatre is an Istanbul based drama group established in 1988 aiming to perform high-quality English language musical theater while donating the proceeds to charities supporting children and education. Speech Bubbles is composed of amateur and professional dancers, singers and musicians from the international community.

Speech Bubbles also runs a part-time school of performing arts for young people over ten years of age and adults for three hours on Saturday mornings where everyone has the chance to gain confidence, develop their performance skills or simply just learn how to act, sing, dance and most importantly have fun! Email: tom@ speechbubbles.org or visit our web site: www.speechbubbles.org.

South Africans in Istanbul

Please contact esbie@hotmail.com if you are interested in forming an informal group of expatriate South Africans.

SWEA (Swedish Women Educational Association)

A world-wide network for Swedish or Swedish-speaking women with a chapter in Istanbul. Email jessica.lundgren@jlu-prod.com or phone 0539 234 7043.

Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Needs Looking for the support of other parents of children with special needs and additional resources for your child? Please contact Carol Crous for more information on 0533 730 7148 or 0212 223 9700.

Toastmasters International – Istanbul Chapter

The English speaking Istanbul toastmasters club is the first Istanbul local branch of Toastmasters International, an organisation that helps its members improve their communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment. ITM meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 19.30-21.30 at the Gönen Hotel in Taksim. Guests are welcome to attend two meetings free of charge.

Email vp-membership@istanbultoastmasters.org or president@istanbultoastmasters.org.

Union Church of Istanbul

We are an international, inter-denominational church that offers services in English. Please contact Elaine Van Rensburg 0212 244 5763.

January February 2015

59

IWI

IWI MEMBERSHIP ID CARD

PARTNER OFFERS 09/2014

09/2015

Our Partner Offers page lists various offers and discounts that our partners are extending to IWI members

In order to redeem these partner benefits, you must show your IWI Membership ID card.

If you lose your card, contact our offices at: Adnan Saygun Caddesi, Oz Topuz Sokak. Camlitepe Sitesi, No. 74 Blok C1 / D2 Ulus, Ortakoy.

Isda Bebek Wellness Center is pleased to offer you the most incredible gifts...

EFinst 10% off for IWI cardholders The most professional and successful private Turkish language school for foreigners in Turkey teaching students how to speak the language accurately and fluently from the first lesson! The EFINST Turkish Centre İstanbul has over 12 years experience in meeting the language and training needs of those who wish to study and improve their Turkish. We are dedicated to promoting international understanding through education and raising the standards of language learning.

Contact: info@turkishlesson.com or 0212-282 9064. www.turkishlesson.com

For a complete list of services please visit our website www.isdabebek.com

Time Out subscriptions Time Out Istanbul in English is offering a 25% discout on subscriptions for IWI members.

Make Time Out your monthly go-to guide for the city by contacting: Omer Karanis, omer@ajansmedya.com www.timeoutistanbul.com

Planet Lifestyle Club is offerıng IWI members a 30% discount on all fitness memberships. Please contact sales manager Mr. Hicabi Akay at 0530-955-4490 or hicabiakay@ planetlife.com.tr. More details can be found on their website www.planetlife.com.

Dentram Dental Clinics Dentram Dental Clinics offers 20% discount on all treatments to IWI members.

The offer is valid at all three clinics: Dentram Levent; Dentram Bağdat Caddesi; Dentram Acarkent.

Please have your IWI member card with you. www.dentram.com

For the “Midas and Microplus” body reshaping systems we offer 10 bonus sessions for each 10 sessions purchased.

Also…in our ‘’antiaging and weight loss sessions’’ we offer a %30 discount and for “spa and massage treatments ‘’ a %50 discount with cash payment .

İsda Body &Soul Works Bebek Kücük Bebek Caddesi No:23 Tel: (0212) 265- 26 86

Richmond Nua Wellness Spa Turkey’s first and only destination Spa, Richmond Nua Wellness Spa, offers all members of the International Women of Istanbul 20% discount on all services during 2014. Please present your IWI membership card during your hotel check-in to benefit from this special offer.

For more detailed information: 0264 582 21 00, richmondnua@richmondnua.com Address: Sahilyolu Mevkii, Sapanca – Sakarya Web: www.richmondnua.com

Steven Kitching British hairstylist I’m happy to offer a 20% discount to all IWI members when booking your first appointment.

I have twenty years experience in cutting styling and colouring and offer a professional friendly service in the comfort of your home.

For more details and appointments call or e-mail (0551) 412- 4784. stevekitching@hotmail.co.uk

Chill Out Spa Nişantaşı British salon owner Ann Marie Sabuncu is offering IWI members a 30% discount on all treatments and package programs. Chill Out is a small boutique spa using quality products from Decleor. Latest technology LPG body treatments and reflexology are just some of the treatments available. For more information please contact Ann Marie on 0212 231 1159. www.chilloutspa.com.tr

60

January February 2015

Tarabya Torch Tenis offers individual and group lessons for children and adults of various skill levels. Our experienced coach will help to instill basic tennis skills and proper techniques in beginners as well as help develop professional skills for advanced players. Coach Kenan Dundar has extensive experience giving lessons to foreign students of all different levels and age groups.

Every tennis court at our club meets the specifications for professional tennis courts but the tennis club not only has great tennis courts, it also has all the necessary modern infrastructure for training, warm-up and rest after the game.

Tarabya Torch Tenis offers excellent opportunities for training and education but our tennis club is not only about the lessons and playing tennis, it is also lively, relaxing and a great place to meet other tennis fans and make interesting acquaintances.

Tarabya Torch Tenis is pleased to offer a 10% discount to IWI members. Courts are open from 7 am to midnight and for more detailed information please contact: 0531-945-2588 or pautova@hotmail.com or visit www.tarabyatorchtenis.com

Concept Languages Located in the heart of Etiler, Concept Languages is offering free Turkish conversation classes to any IWI member presenting their card. Classes will take place twice a month between 14:30 –15:30 and for full information and reservations Please Contact: Başak Toksoy (0212) 351- 18 40 basak.toksoy@conceptlanguages.com

Momma Zen/annezen Momma Zen/annezen is a centre which specialises in yoga, massage and aromatherapy for the pregnant woman, baby yoga and baby massage workshops and kid's yoga.

We also offer a doula service and breastfeeding workshops, as well as massage and yoga for non-pregnant women.

Momma Zen also teaches HypnoBirthing classes in English and runs workshops on making natural skincare products.

For IWI members we are pleased to offer a 20% discount on the full price of prenatal yoga and birth classes, workshops, massages and kid’s yoga.

Momma Zen/annezen Kordon Yolu Sokak 8/1, Kordon Apt, Kalamiş, Istanbul.

Tel: 0216 345 0866 Jo Harris: 0536 8285587 www.momma-zen.com www.annezen.com/program

Incirli Saraphane -- Soul Group At Incirli Saraphane more than 20 Turkish wine companies came together and created Turkey’s richest wine bar for you.

There are more than 500 different kinds of local and imported wines at very special producer prices. You can enjoy your wine with music, local & imported cheese and charcuterie selection.

Incirli Saraphane is offering a 10% discount for all members on our wine and cheese workshops, both those we have in our regular calendar of events and private workshops you may wish to organize for a group of 8 or more. In addition, if you dine in one of our other restaurants on the same day (Kydonia or La Mancha) you will receive a complimentary dessert.

For more information see our website: www.incirlisaraphane.com

Kadiköy Şifa KadiköyŞifa offers IWI members the current tariffs with the following discount: • 10% for all medical services at KadiköyŞifa hospitals.

• Longevity and Wellness Clinic services: o a discount of 20% for cash payment more than 1000 TL o a discount of 10% for installment payments of more than 1000TL o a discount of 7% for single procedures.

• Varix Center Clinic (varicose veins and vascular surgery) 15% discount.

Seyahan Jewellery In appreciation of the warm reception at the 2013 Christmas Festival, we are offering a 20% discount on all our products to IWI members. The concept of our shops is that we provide unique, handcrafted jewellery from all over Turkey. Working directly with the artists, our handcrafted pieces are products of regional tradition, local materials and contemporary design.

We are located in: Hazzopuli Pasaji 3/E (off Istiklal) and Camekan Sokak 4/J (behind Galata Tower)

Hillside Sports With a ‘feel good’ mission, these sports centres provide multifunctional and boutique services. Hillside’s unique products consider personal needs with a team of friendly, experienced and internationally certified experts. We introduce the world’s latest sports trends and provide a colourful range of products to members, combining fitness and fun.

The ‘Hillsider community’ consists of Hillside Etiler, Hillside İstinye and Hillside Trio members. Activities, tours, cultural travels, tournaments and parties enrich the lives of the community of members. Hillside City Clubs are wellness addresses that satisfy all needs of their guests and makes sure they feel good.

We offer a 20% discount on general membership to IWI members.

Ottoman Silks Authentic and opulent Ottoman designs – transformed into a contemporary collection of kaftans, handbags, pillows and shoes. 100% made in Turkey, the Ottoman Silks collection is now on sale via our website (www.ottomansilks.com) and also in three different locations: The Museum Hotel, Cappadocia; Sofa, Istanbul; and Cesni, Ankara.

Contact details: oo Hillside City Club Etiler 0212 3522333 (Alkent Sitesi Tepecik Yolu Etiler) oo Hillside City Club Trio 0216 3241111 (Trio Konutları, Kozyatağı) oo Hillside City Club İstinye 0212 3672000 ( İstinyePark AVM, First Floor)

IWI members receive a 20% discount.

January February 2015

61

IWI

PARTNER OFFERS

Purovel Spa & Sport An oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city! A member of the ‘Leading Spas of the World’ welcomes you to a healthy and revitalising lifestyle within a stylish and contemporary environment.

We offer a 15% discount on any of our spa treatments for IWI members during January and February 2015.

Contact details for reservations: purovel.istanbul@swissotel. com or 0212 326 2990.

GRAND BAZAAR DISCOUNTS The following vendors in the Grand Bazaar are offering 10% discount to IWI members: • • • • • •

Boynuz Steak House & Kasap Boynuz offers IWI members a 10% discount.

Polignon Mah. Polignon Cd. Fevzi Cakmak Sk. No:2 Istiniye

•

Koç Leather & Fur Kıyıcı Bag KaptanBros, lighting and home decoration Tarkan Özbudak, fine Kütahya and İznik handpainted ceramics, tiles and more İgüs, cashmere & silk Pako and Rudi çanta, leather bags and at the Spice Market…

Ucuzcular Baharat (Bilge Kadıoğlu): Spice market no:51 Eminönü

Phone: 0212 2291910 www.boynuzet.com

IWI

DIRECTORY

62

January February 2015

IWI

CLASSIFIED ADS

PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE

ADULT BALLET CLASSES

Call me for more information: Hatice Yildrim Tirli 0532 260 4118 or 0542 434 1932.

IWI member Canan Sadalak, professional ballet teacher and soloist with the Istanbul State Ballet company and her colleague Evelyn Avidor offer a weekly ballet class on Wednesdays between 14.00-15.00 or 18.30-19.30

I can come to your house... Pregnancy massage, cellulite massage, relaxing massage, full body massage, osho re-balancing, massage or wax.

TURKISH LESSONS:

PRIVATE AND CONVERSATIONAL For ladies and men, group or one to one lessons, at your home or workplace, from an experienced native teacher fluent in English and French. Adjustable to your needs and time schedule.

Please call 0530 310 21 32 or email rbensan@ superonline.com for full information.

GERMAN LESSONS

German lessons from experienced native German school teacher.

Please call 0532 235 20 86 or email susannecakir@gmail.com for further information.

PIANO LESSONS

Recapture your childhood fun with adult ballet lessons or enjoy a new experience while improving muscle tone, flexibility and co-ordination.

For further information contact: canan.sadalak@hotmail. com

MUSIC LESSONS

Piano, singing and music theory lessons (solfeggio) are provided by Dobrinka Chavdarova. Has 10 years of practice as a teacher in Istanbul. Bulgarian herself, uses fluently Russian, English, Turkish, has master classes in Munich and Varna. The lessons are suitable for children and adults, beginners or advanced and are given exclusively privately only at the students home, so an instrument is needed. The method of teaching is the Oxford one, combined with lots of other pieces, depending on the natural and pianistic abilities of the student.

References are available.

If you are interested please mail at dobra_music@abv.bg for further information.

Hello everyone — I’m back in Turkey and will be resuming piano lessons. Enjoy learning any type of music your heart desires; classical, musicals, classic jazz & more.

For all enquiries, call Aysel Poyraz 0532 244 3130

NON-COMMERCIAL CLASSIFIED ADS ARE FREE FOR IWI MEMBERS!

January February 2015

63

IWI POLICIES & ADVERTISING MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all women who hold a Non-Turkish passport or who are married to a foreign passport holding spouse.

For application details, please visit our website www.iwi-tr.org.

Membership registration is also available at our Newcomers meetings, held each month on both the European and Asian sides. Please refer to the Newcomers page in this Lale magazine for details of timing and location.

Changing Address or Lale Problems?

Don’t forget to give us your new address (postal and/or e-mail) to avoid delay in the delivery of your Lale magazine or for up-to-date IWI member information.

Contact our Membership Secretary by e-mail at membership@iwi-tr.org.

If your Lale magazine doesn’t arrive, please contact the Membership Secretary membership@iwi-tr.org

64

Membership Directory Membership information is only available online in the members only area of the website at present, but depending on sponsorship availability, may again be printed in the future as it was in the past. Whether online or in print, any and all member information is provided to IWI members in strictest confidentiality. Provision of member information to third parties contravenes IWI policy.

ADVERTISING

To place an advertisement please contact us at advertising@iwi-tr.org.

Advertisements must be confirmed through signed contract before any payment is accepted.

Classified ads: Restricted to 50 words.

Member cost: FREE (Non-Commercial Ads) Non-Member cost: $60 + 18% V. A. T. All advertising costs are payable by bank transfer. No cash payments accepted. A copy of the payment transfer (dekont) should be sent via email: advertising@iwi-tr.org.

Only paid advertisements can be included in Lale.

Payment Details Bank: Garanti Bankası Branch Code (Hesap Şubesi): 340 Etiler TL Account (TL Hesap): TR03 0006 2000 3400 0006 2991 17 USD Account (USD Hesap): TR09 0006 2000 3400 0009 0939 67 Customer Name: İstanbul Uluslararası Kadınlar Derneği İktisadi İşletmesi

DISCLAIMER

Lale Content The IWI as an organization and the IWI Board members act within the laws of Turkey pertaining to publishing but they do not accept any liability regarding the accuracy or content of the contributions supplied by our advertisers or members’ articles. In order to comply with these laws or publishing standards the IWI reserve the right to reject or edit any submission to Lale. Furthermore, the IWI does not accept any responsibility for any of the services rendered by any of our advertisers.

Programs Cancellation of a program reservation after the deadline remains fully payable.

Please refer to our website www.iwi-tr. org for up to date details, last minute additions or program changes. The IWI reserves the right to cancel programs due to insufficient numbers. You are responsible for both you and your child’s safety and the IWI cannot accept responsibility for injury or extra cost incurred during any activity organized by the IWI, or advertised in Lale.

January February 2015

BIS