Our own book about Turkey is an in-depth manual telling you everything that you need to know if you are living, working or doing business in Turkey. It was co-authored by John Howell, Başak Yıldız Orkun, and Burak Orkun. Read about the authors here. Everyone who is living, working or doing business in Turkey should have a copy: whether in printed form …
Continue readingSocial Security in Spain
Social security arrangements in Spain are extensive and expensive. They are also rather complicated and, very likely, different from those to which you are accustomed. Yet it is well worth getting to grips with them before you need to make use of the services provided.
Continue readingVoting & Politics in Spain
Spanish politics is a complex and fractious subject. You’ll learn more about the average Spaniard’s views by sitting in a bar and chatting than you will from guides like this, but I hope this overview is useful (it might prepare you for the pub conversations).
Continue readingTransport Links to and within Spain
As one of the world’s major economies and the world’s third largest tourist destination, Spain is well served when it comes to all types of transport.
Continue readingMarriage in Spain
Marriage is still a major part of our culture – and where better to do it than a vibrant country with, generally, good weather. This guides explains who can marry in Spain and the formalities involved.
Continue readingSex & Sexuality in Spain
This guide is about sex and sexuality in Spain. It covers issues like the age of consent, and LGBT rights and associations.
Continue readingHealthcare in Spain
Click where you see for more information Emergency numbers Call 112 – the general emergency number or 061 for an ambulance Languages spoken: Spanish, English, French and German. The quality of healthcare in Spain Spain has an excellent quality of healthcare. It’s routinely ranked amongst the world’s best. The WHO Healthcare Index put Spain 7th of 191 countries ranked. Of course, if you live in …
Continue readingEducation in Spain
Education in Spain is often very good, but can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Whether your child receives a good education will be, in the main, down to the school you choose for them. Whether you go down the route of private or state education, there is a good selection of schools available in Spain.
Continue readingDriving Licences in Spain
Almost every adult who wants to live or work in Spain will also want to drive in Spain. They need to understand what type of licence they need in order to do so. This guides explains that – and how to obtain a licence in Spain if you need one.
Continue readingDriving in Spain
Every year, hundreds of thousands of foreigners drive in Spain. Many worry about it before they do it for the first time. Very few worry the second time. This guide sets out some common-sense preparations and precautions to keep you safe.
Continue readingLearning Spanish – in Spain or ‘back home’
Despite what some expats will tell you, learning Spanish is important if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Spain. It makes you life much easier and your time in Spain both more productive and more fun.
Continue readingCultural Differences in Spain
The cultural differences between various countries are fascinating and, often, surprising. Understanding them is hugely important if you want to survive – and thrive – in a country that is not your own. Recognise them. Understand them. But don’t be frightened by them.
Continue readingTransport links within the Costa del Sol in Spain
Getting to the Costa del Sol Getting to the Costa del Sol by air If you’re flying into the Costa del Sol, chances are you’ll be landing in Malaga International Airport (AGP). The airport is made up of three terminals. It handled over 14million passengers in 2015. You’ll find plenty of places to load up on shopping or feed and water …
Continue readingHealthcare in Spain
This guide is about healthcare in Spain – the quality of the healthcare available and how to find and access medical treatment.
Continue readingThe Internet in Spain
Introduction Spain is fairly well served by internet providers, though service can be patchy outside of urban areas. Shopping around is paramount if you want to get a good deal – many providers offer promotional prices for new customers, or waive installation fees for a limited time. Internet penetration in Spain According to Internet Live Stats, 82.2% of the Spanish population …
Continue readingDealing with the Administration in Turkey
Dealing with the administration in any new country is tough. Turkey is better than some, and worse than others.
It’s probably worth remembering during the more trying moments that you will experience that there will probably be some Turk in your country at that very moment having exactly the same difficulties with your administration.
Continue readingMoving Back Home from Turkey
There may, for various reasons, come a time when you decide that you want to leave Turkey and return ‘home’. This is something that worries many people thinking of settling in the country but it is, in fact, a rare thing to happen.
Continue readingDealing with a Death in Turkey
Dealing with the death of a loved one is always distressing. It can also be stressful, time consuming and expensive. The stress, time factor, and expense are often worsened by distance, language, and differences in procedure.
Continue readingReceiving Your Pension in Turkey
When you live in Turkey there are no restrictions upon receiving any pension to which you are entitled in another country. It is, in essence, treated just like any other income – although it is sometimes taxed at a lower rate. The policy on this changes often.
Continue readingReligion in Turkey
Religion in Turkey is as old as Turkey itself – which is very old. Islam is still a massively important part of Turkish culture, even though increasing numbers of Turks (and, in particular, of younger Turks living in the western part of the country) are becoming more secular and less strict in their observance of religion. At the same time, many in the centre and east of the country are becoming more religious and conservative.
Continue readingSex & Sexuality in Turkey
As befits an old country right in the centre of the old Mediterranean civilisation, Turkey is pretty much on the centre-ground of gender politics.
Continue readingDrink & Drugs in Turkey
Turkey is rather schizophrenic when it comes to its attitude to alcohol and drugs. As a substantial wine producer it is, perhaps, not surprising that social attitudes to the consumption of alcohol are very relaxed. As an Islamic country, it is perhaps equally unsurprising that their attitudes towards drunken behaviour are unaccepting and uncompromising.
Continue readingHealthcare in Turkey
Healthcare is right at the top of people’s concerns when moving to – or even visiting – a new country. Will it be of a good standard? How do I access it? What will it cost? Will the doctor – and the nurses and other health workers – speak my language?
Continue readingEducation in Turkey
Your children will have a great time living in Turkey. Because of the climate and the freedom that children still enjoy in a country largely free of crime, they will probably lead a far more active and outdoor life than they would have done in your own country.
Continue readingDriving in Turkey
Driving in Turkey is pretty simple – especially if you come from a country where they drive on the right-hand side of the road. Simple, but not unexciting.
Continue readingMoving Money & FX in Turkey
Foreign exchange (FX) is one of those boring subjects which it is so easy to overlook when planning your international affairs. Doing so is a major mistake!
Continue readingUtilities in Turkey
Utilities: not the most exciting part of a move, but definitely vital. It’s best to learn what to expect before you come to Turkey.
Continue readingHousing Options in Turkey
Where you live is one of the largest factors when it comes to how happy you are going to be in Turkey.
There are four main options when it comes to choosing a place to live:
Cultural Differences in Turkey
Moving to or doing business in another country always throws up issues arising from the basic cultural differences between your ‘home’ country and the ‘new’ country. Turkey is no exception.
Continue readingBusiness Culture in Turkey
Whatever your reason for doing business in Turkey, you will probably find that there are some big differences in business environment and culture.
Continue readingBanks & Banking in Turkey
Banking is an important part of the Turkish economy. The sector is made up of a mixture of state-run banks (usually specific to a certain area, e.g. agriculture) and private banks.
Continue readingMarriage in Turkey
Turkey still has one of the highest rates of marriage in the world: about 7.75 women out of every thousand in the population get married each year. We’re also blessed with a low – but growing – divorce rate (20%).
Continue readingShops & Shopping in Turkey
Shopping – love it or hate it, it’s a big part of life. It can be confusing in a new country, but Turkey isn’t complicated.
Continue readingLearning Turkish – in Turkey or ‘back home’
Learning Turkish is important if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Turkey.
The good news (if you’re a Westerner): it is written in the (slightly modified) latin alphabet. You won’t have to learn a completely new script.
The bad news: the language may not seem intuitive to most Europeans and Americans. Turkish base words can stand alone – prefixes are not part of the language – but are built in complexity by the addition of suffixes. Words can therefore get very long!
Continue readingSocial Security (Welfare Benefits) in Turkey
In order to benefit from the Turkish Social Security System, residents in Turkey must enrol with the Turkish Social Security Fund (Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu – SGK).
Continue readingPolitics & Voting in Turkey
Turkey is a large nation with a complex political structure.
Continue readingDrink & Drugs in Bulgaria
Drinking and smoking in Bulgaria is easy. Cigarettes are cheap (though you can’t smoke indoors any more), and local beers, wines and spirits are affordable and pretty tasty.
Continue readingReligion in Bulgaria
Bulgaria, despite the post-war communists’ oppression of religion, is largely a country of faith. Only an estimated one fifth of the population are atheists.
Continue readingThe Internet in Bulgaria
Depending on where you are in Bulgaria, the internet can be surprisingly speedy or hair-pullingly slow. The popular expat city of Varna, for instance, has notoriously bad internet speeds – whilst little Pazardzhik (with around 70,000 occupants) has the fastest internet speeds in the country.
Continue readingReligion in the United States
Freedom of religion is enshrined in the US constitution, and the States – whilst being overwhelmingly Christian – are home to communities of many faiths.
As always, look carefully at the city of region you’re hoping to live or work in before making a decision. Will you be able to find somewhere to worship? Are the religious attitudes too conservative for you to be comfortable? Is there a high level of discrimination against your faith?
Sex & Sexuality in the United States
While the US is a developed nation, there are still some issues when it comes to sex and gender.
As with so many things in the US, the details are all at the state level. Carefully examine the state you’re considering for any ‘deal breakers’ when it comes to gender, sexuality or gender issues.
The Internet in the United States
Getting internet in the US is easy. Getting fast internet is doable. Getting fast, cheap internet is difficult.
Continue readingReligion in Spain
Click where you see for more information Introduction Whilst you might not see much of the Spanish population in church every Sunday, you’ll certainly experience some dramatic examples of religious culture in the form of parades, processions, costumes and rather a lot of days off work. If you’re of a different religion, fear not! Although communities of minority religions may be …
Continue readingReligion in Italy
Italy is predominantly a Christian country. More specifically, it is a Roman Catholic country (hardly surprisingly, with the Pope sitting right in the middle of it).
Continue reading