I'm attracted to the East because I have some southern blood in my family; however, I was born and raised in a small town in Bukovina. I worked in a beauty salon for several years. I was a nail and make-up artist, and I knew how to do both well. Both my bosses and clients were always pleased with me. But I wanted to grow, to achieve something myself. Several times, like many Ukrainians, I vacationed in Turkey. Each visit to this sunny country made me realize that I wanted to stay here forever.

Having saved up and earned money, I decided to open my own business in Turkey - a beauty salon. It turned out that this area is not as developed here as in Ukraine. If we have such salons on almost every street, the artisans work to the highest standard, then in Turkey, the level of professionalism in this segment is much lower. I am a purposeful person; you need to act if you decide to move. I found free language courses on the Internet and slowly learned the language. I watched films in Turkish and read books.

My older sister picked up this idea. Together we moved to Istanbul, immediately applied for a permanent residence, rented a room, and started promoting our salon. We couldn't hire staff in the first months; we couldn't pull on finances. We had to work as craftsmen, but we did not hang our noses. We hope for the best and plan to expand. Gradually, regular customers appeared, primarily migrants; there are also local women with whom it is quite pleasant to communicate.

How I bought the property in Istanbul - I share my experience.

We didn't have any problems with housing. I bought the apartment in advance. I took care of this while still living in Ukraine. Friends who moved to Turkey a couple of years ago advised me of an excellent real estate agency whose specialists helped them find and buy property. We turned to Hayat Estate and did not regret it. At our request, they found an excellent two-room apartment in Istanbul in the Kaitkhane district; the agency took care of all the paperwork.

I just had to come to Turkey and contact a local expert, who was advised to me by the agency. He checked that there were no debts from the previous owners on the housing, walked around the apartment, and told and showed everything. I paid him about 1.5 thousand lire.

What were some of the problems I encountered when I arrived in Istanbul?

Moving to Istanbul was relatively easy for me. I had friends here; I knew the language a little, and I wanted to live and work here. There were some difficulties and minor annoyances for which I was not ready. It was connected with my business and everyday problems. For example, I did not know I could not connect electricity or gas to my apartment, which was registered as property, until I had a paper confirming a residence permit. In Ukraine, this would be hard to imagine. I concluded for myself and recommended it to everyone - in preparation for the move, you should learn more about Turkish orders and laws.

Gradually, our life in Istanbul improved. We talked a lot with friends and made new acquaintances. We spent hours wandering around the city, observing the temper and energy of the residents. Something surprised; something seemed strange. I understood that this is a country with a different culture and rules. You have to get used to it.

On the one hand, the Turks are very similar, talkative, open, and sympathetic. When you stop to chat with someone on the street or in a shop near the house, you need to keep your ears open to them when it comes to business. They tried to deceive us now and then. I encountered this both at work and in the market. At first, I was a little upset, and then I realized that this is a kind of sport for the - "fool a tourist/visitor." We should take it into account, but this should not be offensive.

Why did I like Istanbul?

My sister and I like Istanbul - both the old, historic city and the new quarters. Everything you need for life is here. Before moving to Turkey, we lived in a quiet place and were not very accustomed to the hustle and bustle of a big city. From the abundance of shops, bright lights, and the constant feeling of movement, at first, it was unusual, but we soon got into this rhythm and felt free and light. We especially like to drink coffee after work, eat sweets, walk the streets, and get some air. It seems that the city never sleeps, all the cafes are open all night, but we are not afraid to walk until late. There are a lot of policemen on the streets; they keep order supremely well.

I liked the level of medicine. I had to go to the hospital a couple of times for help. I was pleasantly surprised. These are real pros. It turns out that in Turkey, they take the training of doctors very seriously. Medical professors are incorruptible. Students will retake tails until they have learned everything. Prices for medical services are not high, relatively affordable, and if you have insurance, pharmacies will sell you medicines at an excellent discount. I purchased the insurance policy through the agency that dealt with my residence permit. It cost me about 1.3 thousand lire. If you do it yourself, it will turn out cheaper.

Is it expensive to live in Istanbul?

Of course, a big city requires a lot of money. Somehow, my friends and I decided to figure out how much we needed to live comfortably in Istanbul. We concluded that if you don't show off too much, about 7 thousand lire per person is enough when you have your own home. If you rent an ordinary, not fancy apartment, you will need about 3 thousand more. Everyone, of course, has different appetites; someone needs more, someone less.

We try to earn money, not spend a lot; we put all available funds into the business. We don't have our car until we need it. We don't take a taxi; it's too expensive for us, we prefer the metro. Yes, and traffic jams in Istanbul are such that you can get stuck in them for a long time; the metro is more convenient. Public transport can quickly get to any part of the city, even at night, even during the day.

I am satisfied with my life; I am glad that I moved to Istanbul. For those who will do the same as I did, I can say - do not be afraid to change your life, and you will succeed!