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Host rating
65 %
Last replied
29 Jan 2025
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Details
Description
Hello! I am Aslıhan, a newly graduated ceramic artist, and I live with my family in Arnavutköy, Istanbul. My family consists of fivemembers: my younger brother Emirhan, who works as a sailor on a ship; my father (Atif), who is a yacht captain; and my mother(Hülya), who is a farmer, (my big sister Bilgehan is living in İzmir). We used to have a large cow barn, but now we use it as a storage area. We no longer have cows, but we do have 6 goats, several cats, and a dog. In our garden, we have many fruit trees and plant vegetables every year to grow our own produce.
I love the place where I live because it offers the best of both worlds: it’s in Istanbul, yet it has the charm of a village. Our house is surrounded by large agricultural fields, and we enjoy a peaceful life close to nature. Recently, the new Istanbul Airport was built near our area, so it’s no longer as remote as it used to be and is constantly developing. Reaching the city center is quite easy with bus and train options available.
In your free time, exploring Istanbul will be an amazing experience. Our neighborhood also has a seaside area facing the Black Sea. You can easily get there by bus and enjoy the beauty of the sea. The rest is up to you to discover!
We want to use Workaway because we believe it’s an alternative lifestyle where we can share experiences, learn new things, and connect with people from different cultures. We would be happy to host you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
House sitting
Interests
Languages
LGBTQ
Vegetarian or vegan
Sustainability
Pets
Culture
Self development
Farming
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Plant care
Drawing & painting
Animals
Nature
Camping
Outdoor activities
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
During your stay with us, you will have the opportunity to experience Turkish culture up close. You can spend time with our family and get a sense of traditional Turkish family life while enjoying my mother’s delicious homemade Turkish meals. You’ll also have the chance to meet and connect with our local neighbors, learning about their way of life and hospitality.
For us, meeting people from different cultures and hearing their stories is incredibly valuable. We also hope to improve our English by practicing with you and learning more about cultural differences. While spending time together, you can learn about Turkish culture, cuisine, and lifestyle, and we can share and exchange knowledge in a meaningful way.
Help
We have several projects we’d like to work on in our home and garden. These projects involve both physical and creative tasks, so they are suitable for people who enjoy hands-on work, are open to learning, and love being in nature. Here are the details about our projects and daily tasks:
Projects:
1- Organizing and transforming the old barn into a workshop:
The old barn, which is currently used as a storage area, needs to be organized. Tasks include categorizing and arranging tools, painting the walls, building shelves, fixing the roof, and addressing any issues with the walls. We aim to transform this space into a beautiful workshop, and I plan to use part of it for my ceramic work.
2-Fixing the fallen grapevine and its metal supports:
The fallen grapevine and its metal supports need to be repaired, which will require welding the metal parts back together.
3- Repairing the iron staircase in the backyard:
-Some parts of the iron staircase need welding, followed by sanding and painting the entire staircase.
4-Pruning the trees in the garden:
The trees need regular pruning to ensure healthy growth.
5-Plastering and painting the goats’ shelter:
The goats’ living area needs to be improved by plastering and painting the walls.
6-Organizing the old hayloft:
The old hayloft, which is currently used as a storage area, needs to be cleaned and organized.
7-Painting the house:
After winter, we plan to paint the indoor of the house.
8- Building vegetable beds and a greenhouse:
We want to build vegetable beds and a greenhouse to plant vegetables in the garden. This project will involve designing vegetable beds and creating small control areas where we can farm more comfortably and efficiently.
These are larger projects, and some of them will depend on the weather and the season.
Daily tasks:
-Feeding the goats.
-General garden cleaning and sweeping fallen leaves.
-Cleaning the water gutters on the roof.
-Keeping the living area clean and tidy on a daily basis.
We will work on some of these tasks together, so we can collaborate and learn from each other along the way. If you have practical skills, are open to learning new things, and enjoy working in a natural environment, you’ll have a great experience here!
Languages
Languages spoken
Turkish: Fluent
English: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
My sister in Izmir speaks English fluently and often helps us with our English. My brother Emirhan and I are also eager to improve our English skills. We hope to practice English with our guests, making it a great opportunity to enhance our language abilities. Connecting with people from different cultures will be a wonderful way to develop our language skills. You can join us in this process, helping us improve our English while also sharing your own language skills.
Accommodation
We offer a clean and secure accommodation for our Workaway guests. There will be a private room for guests, and they will be responsible for keeping it clean. Additionally, our garden and the area in front of our house are suitable for caravan accommodation, where guests can access electricity and water.
We have breakfast together in the mornings and dinners in the evenings, providing two main meals each day. For snacks, the kitchen is usually open, and there may be leftover meals, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits available. My mother prepares snacks and leaves them on the table, so you can help yourself whenever you feel hungry. You can also feel free to ask my mother for food. Tea and coffee are always available in the kitchen.
You can do your laundry whenever you like, ensuring you feel comfortable during your stay.
What else ...
In your free time, you can visit the city center. What you choose to do is entirely up to you; perhaps we can explore the city together. It will be a great opportunity to see Istanbul's historical and cultural richness!
We have some simple general rules that everyone follows in our home. First, we do not wear shoes inside the house; we usually wear house slippers. We can provide you with a pair of slippers to use during your stay. Additionally, we make sure not to dirty the clean veranda with muddy shoes. After taking a shower, we try to leave the bathroom clean and dry. Helping to set the table and clear it afterward is also an important rule for us.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
There is unlimited internet and a desk available for work.
Space for parking camper vans
The area in front of our house is suitable for caravan parking; they can access electricity and water from there.
Can possibly accept pets
We have a garden that is suitable for pets.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
