Living in another country

Living abroad is ... exciting - bewildering - fascinating - confusing - eye-opening - infuriating - self-confidence-building - self-confidence-destroying ...

Thanks for visiting Tales from a Small Planet, www.talesmag.com, where personal essays, Real Post Reports and Real School Reports tell you "what it's really like to live there."

We're non-profit, and our mission is to share uncensored and honest information about both the delights (new cultures, fascinating people, unique opportunities, exotic foods) and the challenges (loneliness, loss of identity, struggles to accommodate special needs) of living abroad.

Talesmag has open board positions!

We are looking for a Treasurer and a Member-At-Large. If you are interested in joining our team as a volunteer board member, please send an email to: [email protected] with your name, email address, and how you'd like to be involved.

Click here for our Tales: honest personal stories, essays and humor about living abroad

Post Report of the Day

Ankara, Turkey

What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?

At Park Oran, there is a nice (and free) gym with an indoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts. There is also a private gym with an outdoor swimming pool, but I do not know...

What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?

There are many Turkish and foreign household help to choose from. Most want to be paid in USD and most want around $10/hour.