Life Abroad, A Different Shade of Green
In Istanbul, hanging out your laundry is the only way to dry.
"Doesn't it drive you crazy, coming from San Francisco to this?" another ex-pat asked me recently after finding out about my environmental inclinations. And while it's true that recycling bins are few and far between, and organic foods not exactly the norm, in some ways, I've found it easier being green in Istanbul.Laundry on the lineDespite knowing all about the benefits of line-drying, for example, I must confess that only my most delicate items ever found their way onto a clothesline in San Francisco. But in Turkey, where dryers are rare, I've found line-drying easy to get used to--though it does require a bit more planning ahead, and an extra pair of sheets.
Eating with the seasonsDitto buying foods in season. Though the large supermarkets do carry some imported and out-of-season produce items, fruits and vegetables generally appear for a few weeks or months and then disappear again. When I started thinking about wintry foods like brussels sprouts, I began to see them in the stores. The mandarin oranges this time of year are amazing, as were the strawberries that overflowed from every produce stand in the summer, but are scarce now. I've found myself thinking more about what I can cook with what's available.
A spectacularly scenic ferry ride is a common form of public transportation in Istanbul.Getting around townAs I did in San Francisco, I get around primarily on public transportation. Due to the price of gas, incredible congestion, and utter lack of parking in central Istanbul, hardly anyone I know has a car, so I don't even have to feel guilty about bumming a ride from time to time.
Lights outThough it was likely done for the economic, not environmental, benefit, my apartment building and almost every other one I've been in here has its hallway lights on a timer or motion sensor. (A cell phone's glow comes in handy on the occasion the timer times out before you get to your door.)
Not going to wasteAnd even though recycling per se is rare, by separating my cardboard, cans, and bottles and leaving them in a bag next to the trash bin, I know they'll be put to good use by the scavengers who still ply the streets. Being green may not be a popular lifestyle choice in Istanbul, but many of the facts of day-to-day life are surprisingly ecofriendly.
More about green lifestyles:AmIGreenOrNot Online Community Breeds Green Camaraderie and CompetitionLiving the Green Lifestyle at Oberlin CollegeGoing Green in DCG Magazine: Guide to Green Living in the 21st CenturyShare Your Green EpiphanyJapan Likes Green Lifestyles – China Next?Sunday Times Guide to the Green LifestyleDay in The Life of a Treehugger
