"I was born and raised in Canada, but I've always dreamed of moving abroad. When I closed my eyes and imagined my life in another country, I typically pictured myself settling somewhere like Paris or Mexico City, two places I'd fallen in love with during travels in my early 20s. However, those well-laid plans changed when I fell in love with a Turkish man on a trip to Istanbul in early 2023."
"Falling in love with him felt like a fairytale - the relationship felt equal parts safe and exciting. We dated long-distance for nearly two years, with me going back and forth between Canada and Istanbul for as long as my tourist visa would allow. In December 2024, I made the leap, packed up my possessions, and moved to Turkey on a digital nomad visa."
"When I arrived in Istanbul, I tried to dive into the culture immediately, taking full-time Turkish lessons and learning how to cook some basic local dishes. But just two months after my move, our relationship started to break down. Though I was trying my best to learn more Turkish, he had to primarily communicate with me in English, which put a strain on our relationship. As it turns out, growing a relationship across language barriers is difficult. Ultimately, he decided to end our relationship."
I was born and raised in Canada and dreamed of living abroad, picturing Paris or Mexico City. I fell in love with a Turkish man in Istanbul in early 2023 and dated long-distance nearly two years, traveling between Canada and Istanbul on tourist visas. In December 2024 I relocated to Istanbul on a digital nomad visa, enrolled in full-time Turkish lessons, and learned to cook local dishes. Two months after moving, the relationship deteriorated due to language strain and ended. I felt devastated and suddenly alone, losing my main support system. Adapting to a new country alone has been difficult, but I love living in Istanbul.
Read at Business Insider
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]