I Moved Back to Turkey After 10 Years in the US… Here’s What Shocked Me

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]After living in the US for 10 years, I moved back to Turkey. And the weirdest part wasn't the culture, language, or food. It was the small everyday things I stopped noticing until I moved back. So, the first thing that hit me was how much I moved without even trying. In the US, if you want to get 10,000 [music] steps a day, you have to go out of your way.

[00:00:18]Like, you literally have to go on a walk to get your steps in. In Turkey, you hit that number without even trying, just by going about your day. When I lived in the US, I drove everywhere. Grocery store, gym, movies, work, because everything was so far apart. And where I lived, public transportation was not really a thing. So, unless I intentionally went on a walk, there was no walking built into my day. In Turkey, [music] that's the complete opposite.

[00:00:42]Life is much closer together, and most errands are walking distance. And when they're not, public transportation is a real option. This lifestyle makes you move more. So, in the US, movement is something you schedule. In Turkey, it's just a part of your life. Two, the traffic. [music] Driving here isn't just different, it's a completely different system. First, there's just a lot more traffic overall, but it's not just a volume, it's how people drive. What's funny is, my American friends would complain about traffic when we're still moving at 20 uh miles per hour at a 45 mile per hour zone. In Turkey, if you're moving, that's not traffic. Traffic here means you're completely stuck, your wheels are not turning. And uh the following distance, like the distance [music] between you and the car in front of you, basically doesn't exist here.

[00:01:26]Cars are much closer to each other, [music] and they kind of have to because in Turkey, if you leave enough following distance, congratulations, your lane is no longer yours. So, you have to stay alert at all times. And my my biggest pet peeve are the traffic lights.

[00:01:40]They're placed completely different here. In the US, they're usually farther ahead in front of you. In Turkey, they're basically right where the white line starts, where you have to stop. So, half the time you're at the light trying to look straight up at the traffic light, which sucks. And the The light is basically a red, so you don't go on yellow here. And then there's the motorcycles, they come out of nowhere constantly weaving through traffic. So you always have to check your mirrors and blind spots. And the potholes you hit all the time, they're kind of annoying. So being here in Turkey forces you to be more aware as a driver. You can't drive on autopilot like you might in the US. You have to be constantly reading your environment. Three, food culture. One thing I forgot about Turkey is how much food here is tied to actual life. In the US, food often feels like fuel. You eat quickly, sometimes alone.

[00:02:27]It's built around convenience. So like grabbing something on the go, getting food from drive-thru, or eating in your car, or eating in your car or in front of a TV. In Turkey, it's completely different. Even something as simple as breakfast turns into a full experience. Multiple plates, tea, sitting down, talking. Meals are longer, more social, and you're actually present. And without realizing it, you also eat differently. In the US, it's easier to rely on convenience, quick meals, fast food, eating whenever fits your schedule. And another thing I noticed, portions are generally larger and it's easier to overeat in the US. So in the US, you almost have to be more intentional about what you eat. [music] Whereas in Turkey, it happens automatically. In the US, food is fuel.

[00:03:12]In Turkey, food [music] is connection, and that changes everything. Four, social life. Something else that felt really different is how hard it is to not interact with people here. In the US, most of your day can be pretty individual. You're in your car doing your own thing, and you don't really interact with many people unless you plan to. But here in Turkey, even normal daily things involve people. You talk to the guy at the bakery, you ask what's good, what's fresh. You just start a conversation. The cashier, people at cafes, sometimes even random conversations on the street. It just feels more social without you trying.

[00:03:44]And that changes how connected you feel.

[00:03:46]In the US, you can go through your day alone. Here, you're constantly around people. Five, this one surprised [music] me the most. Turkey used to be known as a cheap country, but that's not really the case anymore. When I first came back, I was expecting [music] things to feel a lot cheaper compared to the US, but honestly, a lot of things are either similar in price or more expensive compared to the US. Groceries, eating out, everyday expenses, basically.

[00:04:09]They've all gone up, and the biggest difference here is people are making much less than what people are making in the US. So, even if something costs the same, it doesn't feel the same because the purchasing power is completely different. This matters because it changes how people live day-to-day, and you're more aware of your spending, more selective, and it affects your overall lifestyle. Not just what you buy, but how you plan your life. It's not about what things cost, it's about what they cost relative to what people earn. Six, [music] rhythm of life. Another thing that feels really different to me is the rhythm of everyday life here. In the US, at least where I lived, by late evening, most places already feel empty. People went home, streets got quieter, and the day kind of felt over. But here in Turkey, life feels alive even late at night. You can go outside drinking at 11:00 p.m., and cafes are still full, families are walking around, people are sitting outside drinking tea, having conversation. People just stay out longer here. Plans feel more flexible, and people don't seem as rushed all the time. So, I can say that in the US, nights felt like the day was ending.

[00:05:08]Here, it feels like life is still happening. So, in conclusion, both places have pros and cons. You just don't really see them until you actually lived in both places. And honestly, I'm still figuring it out. So, I'm sure there's a lot more I haven't noticed. If you've [music] experienced both, I'm curious what stood out to you the most because I feel like I've only scratched the surface so far. So, um tell me in the comments. I might do a deeper video on some of these because there's a lot more to unpack. I'll probably have a completely different opinion in a couple of months. Like I said, if you lived in both countries, I'm curious what stood out to you the most. Please tell me in the comments, and um that's it for this video. I'll see you on the next one.

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