Adana, Turkey Report of what it's like to live there - 05/01/15
Personal Experiences from Adana, Turkey
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Yes.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
New York City - about 24 hours with layovers. You have to go through a European city (usually Frankfurt or Munich) and then through Istanbul. Getting out of Adana tends to be a bit more difficult because of the flight schedules. A lot of flights leave at 3:30 am so you can make it to your other flight via Istanbul.
3. How long have you lived here?
Two Years: 2013-2015.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Government, U.S. Consulate.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
All Consulate housing is in apartments either in downtown Adana or towards the Northern part of the city near the lake. Commute times to the consulate from the downtown area are 15-20 minutes. Commutes from the Northern part can take 20-30 minutes. Housing typically has 3-5 bedrooms with balconies, large living rooms and kitchens. Restaurants and cafes, parks and even a mall are within walking distance no matter where you are housed.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
There is a commissary and BX on base and cost is similar to what you would find in the States. You can find pretty much anything on base that you would typically find in the States, although organic options are limited. The local produce markets around Adana are excellent and very cheap. You can find seasonal produce like strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, etc.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Nothing, you can find anything you need and if you can’t, Amazon ships to APO no problems.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Typical fast food chains like Popeyes, Arby's, Burger King, McDonald's, Subway, etc. Turkish restaurants are amazing and there are some great burger restaurants that recently opened. There is not a lot of ethnic variety but Sushi is becoming popular and a Chinese restaurant recently opened. Everything is affordable.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
We rarely had any insects in our apartment.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
All consulate families use APO on base. Consulate has a pouch. APO was reliable and fast, except around the holidays when things got a little slow. Order holiday gifts well in advance!
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Housekeepers are available and usually cost about US$50 or $60 a day. Most families hire a housekeeper one day a week. Nannies are also available.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There is a small gym at the consulate and there is also a larger, free gym available on base. There are also gyms around the city with cost similar to what you would find in the States, if not a little bit higher.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I had no problem using mine all over the city.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There is a Catholic church in Old Adana, and there is also a wide variety of religious services offered on base.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You really should know basic Turkish before arriving, and if you don't, take advantage of the Consulate's tutor. English is not widely spoken, but people are friendly and usually very patient when trying to communicate with the language barrier.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes. There are hardly any sidewalks that are easily maneuverable (people usually park on them) and you are forced to walk in the street, which can be dangerous. There are very few handicap ramps around the city.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Local transportation and taxis were safe and extremely affordable.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Any car is fine. The smaller the better because parking spaces are tight, but families with SUVs and mini-vans had no problem.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes, it's about US$75/month. It can be slow at times, especially in the early evening when people are getting home from work, but good for the most part.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
You can either bring an unlocked smart phone or buy one when you get here. If you buy or bring a smart phone, it has to be registered with the government and it can be a very tedious process. I used a pay as you go phone, which was just easier to manage.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
No quarantine. We used a local vet, but he provided very basic services. Not sure how he would have been in an emergency type situation. There is an excellent kennel/boarding/grooming facility located about 25 minutes outside the city near the air base called Pati-Pet. It is owned and operated by a retired military couple and they took amazing care of our dog when we went out of town.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
No.
2. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
There are tons of opportunities at children's hospitals and with the refugees who are coming in from Syria. There are also opportunities for volunteer work on base.
3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
The consulate staff generally wore suits/business attire. In public, there was quite a mix. Particularly for the women, you would see anything from mini-skirts and high heels, to very conservative, traditional clothing and head coverings. On average, it was a little more conservative than what you would find in the States.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Because Adana is a couple hours from the Syrian border, travel into Eastern Turkey has been tightened and some restrictions are in place. Aside from that, there were no travel restrictions in the city when we were there. Walking around or even driving around was safe.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
The air quality was a concern when it got bad. Otherwise, no concerns. The private hospitals are great.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
The air quality is okay during the late spring and summer, but in the late summer/early fall it can start to get bad because farmers burn their fields. Winters are the worst because people use coal for heating. It is the worst at night when the temperatures drop. We slept with an air purifier in our bedrooms.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Air quality can be bad during certain times of the year. Air purifiers do help.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
The summers can be very hot and humid. It has been compared to the southern United States (Pensacola, New Orleans or even San Antonio). Winters are mild but can dip in temp here and there.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There is no International School in Adana. All consulate kids attend the DOD school at Incirlik Air Base, which is about 15-20 minutes outside the city. If you live in the Northern part of Adana, the commute is a little longer. We did not have school-aged children while living there, so I can't speak to the quality of the school, but most of our friends seemed to be happy with it. However, it is small. The younger grades are larger. The high school is very small.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
Not sure. I am not familiar with the DOD program.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Yes, but they are mostly Turkish speaking. We enrolled our 2-year old in a local Turkish speaking school for the two years we were there, and we were very happy with it. It cost about US$450-500/month, which is pretty typical. Annual school supplies cost about US$250. There are two other Turkish/English speaking options where others have started sending their children recently. There is also a preschool program and a childcare/daycare program on base, but acceptance is based on parents' rank. We never got off the waitlist. But, it's worth a shot. You never know.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Yes, on base there is soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball/softball, dance, girl/boy scouts etc. You can also enroll kids in local sports programs, but being able to speak Turkish is a must.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The expat community is small, but morale was very good when we were there. We had lots of fun dinner parties!
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Turkish dinners with friends, dinner parties or dinners by the lake, live music venues, hiking or traveling to nearby towns/historic sites, happy hours at local bars.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It is a smaller city (compared to Istanbul and Ankara) but we always found fun things to do. Restaurants, live music venues, road trips outside the city. Singles, families and couples can all be happy here.
4. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Nothing overtly serious that we observed but there are still prejudices.
5. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Traveling to Istanbul, Cappadocia and the beaches of Mersin. The people are very friendly and love children.
6. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Driving to many of the beaches along the Mediterranean coast or driving to Cappadocia. Walking around the city and exploring the shops in Old Town. Going to the ancient hamams.
7. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
Turkish carpets, silver jewelry, travel, food, food and more food.
8. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
It is very affordable to live here. Excellent tourist opportunities all throughout the country, including trips to the beaches and ruins. If you have kids, it is very kid friendly.
9. Can you save money?
Yes.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
How to speak Turkish!
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes.
3. But don't forget your:
Ski AND beach clothes and taste for outdoor adventure.
4. Do you have any other comments?
We really enjoyed our two years in Adana. The travel opportunities are amazing, and the people are kind and friendly. We would definitely go back if given the opportunity. If you have kids, you're in for a treat-they LOVE children here!
