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My name is Metin. I live in Istanbul with my family. My hometown is Bolu, and I spent my childhood there. I attended primary school in Bolu. When I was 13 years old, we moved to Istanbul, and I couldn't continue my education. My father owned a restaurant, and I started working there when I was 15 years old. I spent my childhood working in the restaurant. I had a busy life as a child. When I turned 25, I got married, and now I have three children. When my father retired, I took over the restaurants as a chef. I thought I had succeeded. I opened two more restaurants. When I turned 29, business started to decline, and I had to close the restaurants. At the age of 31, I met someone and decided to open a gym. I still feel young, so I continued my education, and now I'm a university student. I'm 48 years old and still own a gym. I'm very happy with my life.

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Zeynep's Journey: A Student's Perspective on Istanbul

Amidst the vibrant chaos of Istanbul, I encountered Zeynep, a 21-year-old student from Marmara University. Curious about her perspective on the city, I engaged her in conversation.

Zeynep, with her youthful enthusiasm and bright eyes, shared her experiences balancing studies with the rhythm of Istanbul's streets. As a student navigating the bustling city, she reveled in its diversity and endless opportunities for exploration.

Her story painted a picture of Istanbul through the lens of a young scholar, where ancient history and modern innovation coexist harmoniously. From studying in historic libraries to embracing the city's cultural festivities, Zeynep embodied the essence of Istanbul's vibrant youth.

Through her eyes, I gained a fresh appreciation for Istanbul—a city where academia and adventure intertwine, offering a dynamic backdrop for personal growth and discovery. Zeynep's journey serves as a testament to the boundless opportunities that await those who dare to explore this magnificent metropolis.

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Indeed,everything began those years. I was like I knew that everything will not be like I was expecting but I had to continue with my life because I didn't have another option. Yes, those years were years when my adventures and miracles began. I mean 2004, my own birth year. Years when my father was the hero of the world and I, little Merve, was also the princess but unfortunately as the people said “ The dreams are different from the realities” but humans always dream even if the dreams don't have any possibility to become real.Like me dreaming to be an  astronaut when I was child. And I also  dreamed of things even though I knew I would never find them, for example, going into space and trying to live there. However, fortunately my indispensable goal now is to be a lawyer who does her job well and serves her country. As a result of that, I am studying at Marmara University as a lawyer. Perhaps I will not be what I thought when I was child but what I learned from life is to never stop dreaming even if the dream might not be as your thoughts. Finally, what I can say from my life experiences is that life is very short, we are here today, we are gone tomorrow. Let's not upset each other.

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My name is Baki. I live in Istanbul. Book reading is my favorite pastime because I regretted not doing it sooner. I was born in Erzurum in 1955. When I was 5 years old, we moved to Istanbul because my father needed to work there. We are five siblings. My parents couldn't read or write, but they did their best to educate us. My older brother and sister were going to school, but we were still too young. After a few years, I started school. I couldn't continue school after finishing middle school because we needed to work and earn money. I earned money by shining shoes. I saved some of my money and bought books for myself. My love for school never faded. Years later, I struggled to finish high school. In 2020, I took the university entrance exam with my grandson and got into university. Now I'm returning from school. I'm 70 years old, but I've never felt old because books nourish the soul. There's no age limit for reading. Here's my advice: Value books, read constantly, and gain new experiences.

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His name is Yavuz and he is 25 years old. His job is engineering and he has loved science and technology throughout his life. Since his childhood, he was interested in understanding machines and discovering how they worked. When he started university, he decided to study engineering and is trying to improve himself in engineering, science and technology.

He grew up in his hometown and his family always gave importance to his education. When he started university, he moved to istanbul for study engineering, and this began a journey full of new experiences. During his university years, he did not only focus on his classes, but also worked on different projects and gained new skills by doing internships.

After graduation, he started his engineering career at a technology company. Here, he worked as a team to develop new products and constantly improved his technical skills. In the coming years, he dreams of being the best in his business and one day starting his own technology company.

On the other hand, life is not just work for him. In his spare time, he has hobbies such as listening to music, doing sports and traveling. Seeing new places and discovering different cultures is very important to him. Also, spending time with family and friends is important to him.

In the future, he wants to progress further in the world of technology, finding innovative solutions that can benefit people and make the world a better place.

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His name is MEVLÜT SAMET, He was born in Istanbul. He lives in Istanbul with her family but he is from Nevşehir. Mevlüt is a young man, he is only 19 years old, but unfortunately life has tired him a bit. Mevlüt learned to read and write before starting school. Mevlüt read many Turkish classic novels when he was in the second grade. There was something different about Mevlüt. He could easily do things that his friends had difficulty doing. His teachers made him take an IQ test and he turned out to be extremely intelligent. He had a difficult childhood and he started not going to school because he had to make money. Mevlüt started working at the Grand Bazaar when he was ten years old. Everyone loved Mevlüt in the Grand Bazaar and he learned the job but he missed school and he went back to school. He was selected for the school's athletics team and he came first in the competitions but unfortunately he was late for work and got fired. He started trading and made incredible money and now he's trying to start an international company and he is learning english.

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Discovering Istanbul: A Story of People and Places(Aycan Homan)

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Discovering Istanbul: A Story of People and Places(Aycan Homan)

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In Istanbul, a big city full of noise and people, there are many stories to find. I wanted to learn about these stories and take pictures to remember them. My friend Alp joined me on this adventure.

We walked around the city, visiting famous places like the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. But what interested us the most were the people we met along the way.

We talked to a fisherman who catches fish in the Bosphorus and a young artist drawing pictures of the city. Each person had a different story to tell, and it was exciting to learn about their lives.

I took a picture of Alp with the city in the background and asked him to tell me his story. He talked about his family and his dreams for the future.

Through our journey, I discovered that Istanbul is more than just buildings and streets it's a place where people live and create memories. Each person we met added to the beauty of the city.

As the sun set, painting the sky with colors of orange and red, I realized that Istanbul is a special place where stories come alive. And in the heart of this bustling city, I found happiness in the stories of its people.

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His name is Ma'mun Bereket. He is Syrian. He was born on June 6, 2004. he has 4 siblings. He lives with his family. When he was in the second grade of primary school, the city where he lived was bombarded. He lived in different cities for 2 years. When he lost all his relatives in 2014, he decided to change the country with his family. He first migrated to Hatay and then came to Hatay city in Turkey when he was 9 years old. He waited for the war to end for 1 year. When there was no work in Hatay and the war ended in Syria, he came to Istanbul to find a job opportunity with his family. He was very young and he was very afraid because he had no friends and he did not know Turkish. When he was little, he loved playing hide and seek, but he could not play with anyone because he did not have a friend. His brothers were trying to play with him and make him happy. Even though his Turkish skills were poor, he served as the school president in secondary school for 2 years. He was a very successful student when he was little and once came first in Istanbul in the exam in high school. He goes to Bursa twice a year because his uncle lives there. He likes traveling, taking photos, reading books and going in for sports. He exercises three times a week. He wanted to be a software engineer when he was in high school and he worked hard and realized his dream. He once came first out of 10,000 people in a photography competition. He is a very hardworking person and has a good outlook on life. He is currently studying software engineering and learning English in the preparatory class. He always says, "If you look at life positively, life will look at you positively."

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Aylin was born in one of the bustling neighborhoods of Istanbul, into a middle-class family as their only child. Her childhood was spent in a loving environment provided by her family. Her father worked as a foreman in a factory, while her mother was a housewife who also supplemented their income by doing handicrafts.

From a young age, Aylin showed a great interest in art, particularly in painting. Alongside her studies, she spent her free time indulging in painting. During her high school years, she became enchanted by the allure of graphic design and decided to pursue a career in this field.

When she enrolled at Istanbul University, Aylin focused on courses related to graphic design and began gaining experience in the industry through internships. After graduating, she started working at an advertising agency. There, she participated in various projects, proving herself with her passion and determination. She honed her design skills during these early years of her career and quickly rose to become one of the leading designers at the agency.

However, she began to grow weary of routine tasks and started seeking a field where she could bring her own creative ideas to life. In her quest, she realized that freelance work might be more suitable for her. Determined to carve her path, she opened her own graphic design studio and embarked on an independent career. Although challenging at first, Aylin expanded her client portfolio through perseverance and dedication, working with diverse clients from small businesses to large corporations.

Nevertheless, the competitiveness and intensity of the business world sometimes took a toll on Aylin, leading her to explore activities like yoga and meditation to manage stress. These practices helped her cope better with stress and maintain mental balance.

Now, continuing to work in her own studio, Aylin finds happiness in pursuing her passion and realizing her creative vision. She remains committed to personal and professional growth, constantly striving to improve herself.

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My name is Naz. I was born in Sivas. When I was young, I lived in a village with my family. There were many animals in our village, and I enjoyed playing with them. I didn't like going to school much because I preferred playing outside. But my parents always emphasized the importance of school. One day, we moved to the city with my family. It was a big change for me. Starting a new school was difficult, but I made new friends and gradually got used to it. My favorite subject in school was math because I love playing with numbers.When I entered high school, I started to set my own goals. I dreamed of becoming a computer engineer because I had a great interest in technology. After successfully completing high school, I prepared for the university entrance exam and got accepted. I was excited to study computer engineering at university.During my university years, I faced many challenges but never gave up. I spent most of my time studying and working on projects. After graduating, I found a job at a technology company, and now I have the career of my dreams.The challenges I encountered throughout my life strengthened me and helped me achieve my goals. Now, I always look to the future with an open mind, ready to embrace new opportunities and learning experiences.

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I'm Ömer, and I grew up in the colorful streets of Istanbul. I can say that I spent my childhood running around in the narrow streets of Üsküdar. I've been crazy about football since I was little. I used to play street matches in our neighborhood, having fun showing off my skills, while also managing to be a successful student at school.

Football wasn't just a sport for me; it was a passion. Ever since I was little, my dream was to become a professional football player. I used to attend trainings, play matches, and constantly work on improving myself. But you know, life doesn't always go as planned.

One day, a serious injury during a match changed my life. Doctors told me I shouldn't play football anymore. It was a huge disappointment for me. But I didn't give up. During my recovery, I started exploring different interests. I got interested in music, learned to play the guitar, and started writing song lyrics. Music became a new passion for me and a way to cope with my injury.

By the time I turned 18, I still cherished my love for football and my dreams, but music had become an inseparable part of my life. I wanted to go to university. I planned to study sports management. But of course, I didn't want to neglect music either. I aimed to write my own songs, to touch people's hearts. I looked towards the future with hope, determined to seize all the opportunities life offered me.

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Her name is Rumeysa. She is from Yozgat. She was born on March 24, 2002. She was born in Istanbul. She has two brothers. She didn’t have an easy childhood. Her family were very amgry people. They didn’t allow anything. They g oto Yozgat two or tree times a year. When she was 13, she met a boy in Yozgat. This boy was Rumeysa’s childhood love. They fell in love with each other while playing in the park. Then, Rumeysa and this boy became lovers. Rumeysa and this boy lived different cities, so they always maintained their relationship from a distance. But despite this, they never forgot each other. Two years later, Rumeysa’s family found out that she was talking to this boy. When, her family found out, they became very angry and started treating Rumeysa more harshly. Her family never approved of this relationship. They demanded Rumeysa to cut off communication with this boy. At first, Rumeysa didn’t want to do this, but due to constant fight with her family, she ended her communication with the boy. A year later, Rumeysa started talking to this boy again, but their conversation ended after a while. Everyone thought it was over for good this time. However, after a while, this boy messaged Rumeysa because he was going to the military, and they started talking again. Eventually, they became a couple again. The boy returned from the military after six months and came to Istanbul for Rumeysa. They met face to face for the first time a long time. The relationship continued like this for a while. Rumeysa wanted to marry this boy and also didn’t want to do anything behind her mother’s back. But her mother was very clear about it. Rumeysa decided to talk to her mother about this, but they argued again and their relationship remained strained for a while. But eventually, her family approved of the relationship, and Rumeysa and the boy started preparing for marriage.

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Humans of Istanbul (YUSUF BERKE DİNÇOK) 

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Humans of Istanbul (YUSUF BERKE DİNÇOK) 

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Of course, this is a story about Yusuf. My family resides in Silivri, but I am a 22-year-old student studying electrical and electronics engineering in Tekirdağ:

Although I was raised in Silivri, I attended university in Tekirdağ where I studied electrical and electronic engineering. My family had a modest accounting business out of Silivri. Since I was young, I have had a flair for math and computer science.

When I first enrolled in college, I concentrated on growing as an Electrical and Electronics Engineering student. I did well in the theoretical classes as well as taking part in different projects to get real-world experience. My time at Tekirdağ University was filled with interesting intellectual and social experiences.

In my spare time, I worked as an assistant at my family's Silivri accounting office. Together with enhancing my education in electronics and electricity, this experience offered me fresh insights into the corporate world and more accounting expertise.

Attempting to create a link between accounting and my department is how I'm learning the ropes on the job. That's how my life is going at the moment.

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HUMANS OF ISTANBUL (Melisa Eylül Çetinbay)

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HUMANS OF ISTANBUL (Melisa Eylül Çetinbay)

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My name is Tanya Sirkeli. I was born and grew up in Sofia, Bulgaria. My uncle went to Istanbul when I was a child and he always told me about Istanbul. I always said, "One day I will visit to Istanbul." . My mother is a lawyer and when I was little, I wanted to be a lawyer like my mother. But as I grew up, I became interested in teaching. I discovered my interest and talent in mathematics during my high school years. That's why I started studying mathematics and physics at university. While in my first year of university, I learned that my school had a Student Exchange Program with a university in Istanbul. I applied because this was my opportunity to achieve my childhood dream. I met new people and saw new places in Istanbul. I studied here for a year and when I left, part of me knew I would come back here.

I met my boyfriend in my last year of university and we fell in love. We got married a year later. Around this time, I became interested in professional cake making and I started to a course. Of course, I also started teaching. It was difficult at first, but I got used to it over time. My love, he supported me a lot during this time. We were both working too hard and we needed a change.

The turning point in my life was the idea of going to Istanbul with my husband and opening a Cafe. Our friends told us "this is crazy". But I was feeling it. This was our chance. My friends in Istanbul helped us alot.

We have a very nice cafe now and we are very happy. I don't know what will happen in the future, but if you ask me, this is the Magic of istanbul.

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-Seher

"The 1999 earthquake was one of the challenging periods we experienced. After our house collapsed, we ended up living on the streets and had to face homelessness. However, this situation didn't discourage us; instead, we focused on our children's education. We had to do everything in our power to ensure our children could continue going to school and build a bright future. That's why we decided to earn a living by knitting and weaving blankets at the tent camp.

Knitting and weaving at the tent camp were tough but meaningful tasks. We would wake up early every day and start working. Even during cold winter days, we were willing to endure the hardship for the sake of our children's education. Their future meant everything to us.

Over time, our handcrafts at the tent camp provided us with a source of income. We no longer struggled to cover our children's school expenses. This brought us immense happiness, knowing that we were contributing to their future. Despite working until late at night, we were always ready to face any challenges for the sake of our children's education.

Our hard work eventually paid off. We opened a shop and took our business to a more professional level. Today, our children are successful teachers, and their achievements fill us with immense pride. The difficulties we faced in the past are now a testament to their success.

As an elderly couple now, we take great pride in our children's accomplishments. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their education and believe they will achieve even more in the future. Additionally, our shop symbolizes our ability to overcome the challenges we faced in the past."

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I met a man named Said at the gym. His full name is Said Ait Raho. He came to our country from Fast. He was a very good boxer in his country, but he came here because he could not get the support of his family. His father did not want this profession because it did not enable him to earn money. As long as he continued this sport, his father kept him there. He didn't want it at home and he left both his home and his country. Here he experienced the same problems, he was subjected to racism and no one supported him. He could not participate in competitions. But one day, a sports coach took him by the hand and prepared him for the competitions. This was a turning point for him. At the same time, he experienced various things. He had to get a job and take care of his family because his father passed away during this period. Soon his sister also got sick. He had to work here and take care of himself and his family with the money he earned. But it was not enough, he went to different countries and worked there too. Because he could not work for sufficient wages due to his race. These This is his turning point because he does not receive support from his family, so he cannot receive support in the country he comes from and is subjected to racism. But a sports coach he meets has a small impact on his life. Now he is struggling for both himself and his family.

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His name is H. He was born on October 9, 1999, in Niğde. He spend his childhood in Niğde. His parents moved to Istanbul to start a business. His sister was born in the first year they come to Istanbul. Although it was difficult to start a business at first, they clung to life over time. When I asked him, he said that the most unforgettable moment of his youth was the pain of love. When he was children he wanted to be a pilot but then he studied biology. He says that if he gets married it will be the turning points of his life. Now, he works in the çiğköfte shop he runs with his family. But he has a dream, working at THY... This is hard dream but he will never give up, I believe. Yes, life is hard for some of us but it's still nice to live. Always said he loved life.

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“I didn't know I would succeed”

“My name is Beyza. I'm 24 years old. I live in Konya. I came to Istanbul 6 years ago for university. I am studying medicine. Actually, this was not my dream. I wanted to study law, but before my father died, he always said that he wanted me to be a doctor. My father died in 2020 due to doctors' mistake. So I changed my decision. My goal is to become a heart surgeon. I met my boyfriend in the 3rd year of school. We are thinking of getting married when we finish school. I would love to introduce him to my father. The department he wants is psychiatry. He also came to Istanbul from Sivas. I loved Istanbul very much. But my boyfriend didn't like it. He said that Istanbul is very crowded. I can understand him because she is not someone who likes to travel. Since I love seeing new places, the crowds of Istanbul do not bother me. my boyfriend is very important to me. my boyfriend is very important to me. I was about to drop out in my 4th year at school but he convinced me. I didn't know I would be successful. But thanks to him I succeed. We do not plan to live in Istanbul in the future because house prices are very expensive. We do not want to live neither in Konya nor in Sivas. We want to live in a new city. Maybe we can live abroad. The thing I will miss most in Istanbul will be the cats and dogs on the streets. I feed them every day on the way to school. I adopted a kitten. My cat's name is Maya and she is a female. He had neutering surgery yesterday. My life goes on like this. I understand that I made the right decision by coming to Istanbul.“

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HUMANS OF ISTANBUL                ZEHRA NUR MERİÇ

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HUMANS OF ISTANBUL                ZEHRA NUR MERİÇ

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"I finally found peace." Hello, my name is Seca. I am a doctor and I currently have a three-year-old daughter and five-month-old twins. I met my current husband ten years ago. We were both very young then and we loved each other very much. I was in the third year of medical school and he was in the final year of civil engineering. At that time, I knew my family would be against our marriage, so I didn't tell them about my wife. We were lovers for ten years. At the end of ten years, I realized that I needed to tell my family about my husband. When I first told my parents, my father objected. He didn't like my husband and didn't want me to marry her. There was no reason. According to my father, I should have married a doctor, but that wasn't always what fathers said. Finally, my wife and I got married. My father still didn't want him, but I found peace. Then my daughter was born and two years later my twins were born. Me and my wife are very happy. If you ask about my father, he is currently playing games at home with my three-year-old daughter.

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"Do people feel lonely in the middle of the crowd?"
"My name is K. I am 22 years old. I am from Erzurum, but I came to Istanbul to study. I had been accustomed to village life, to people's chats, and closeness since my childhood. I had a small family but it felt like I had the whole world. A village and a family were enough for me. The people I was used to, the faces I was used to, and the smiles were starting my day with great happiness every morning. Was it just the people I was used to? Of course not. Every morning, the crowing of the chickens and the chirping of the birds were also making me happy. Every day, we would get up and take care of our cows, meeting their needs. Where were those days now, and how had I suddenly found myself lost in a big city far away from my family? Was I living the life I had imagined or the life I was forced to live? I hadn't imagined my life to be like this while working towards university. Istanbul, which seemed like the center of a fun and vibrant life from afar, now made me feel like a helpless person, alone in the midst of the crowd, far away from my family. I had friends, but how sincere and close were they to me? Could any of them be as close to me as a brother, listening to all my problems and finding solutions? Despite it being my first year in Istanbul, I missed my family and my village. Do people feel lonely in the middle of the crowd?"

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HUMANS OF ISTANBUL

His name is S.E. He was born on March 16, 1996, in Gölcük, Kocaeli. They moved to Yuvacık, Başiskele, during his childhood. His childhood wasn’t easy as he and his mother suffered physical and psychological violence from his father. Because his parents were consanguineous, which was more common in Turkey at the time, S.E. and his mother didn’t receive protection from their relatives and were subjected to bullying. They faced significant financial difficulties during their childhood. Their house was made of stone with a broken roof. They had only one stove to heat the house, but due to the damaged condition of the house, they had difficulty heating it. They also didn’t have enough money to buy food. They were also excluded by their relatives during that time. This was because S.E.'s father was an alcoholic with serious psychological problems, so he didn’t provide a father figure. During that time, his father didn’t come home because he was cheating on his mother and spent all the money he had on alcohol and the woman he was cheating with. At one point, when S.E. started primary school, his father brought the woman he was cheating with to their makeshift home, and they lived together for a long time. As a result, his mother and he went through very difficult times and continued to suffer from his father's violence. Because they had an arranged marriage, meaning his father and mother were actually cousins, none of their relatives supported them, and S.E. was bullied by his cousins. Because during his childhood, S.E. had no money, he was subjected to peer bullying by his cousins, who had a better life than him. When he started primary school, he had to get through the day with only one Turkish lira due to financial difficulties. As he got older, his father tried to prevent him from studying and continued to be violent. However, S.E. struggled to study and managed to complete middle and high school. During high school, he made a promise to himself, "I’ll save my mother and myself from this life." Therefore, despite all the difficulties, he started working part-time during high school. After graduating from high school, he entered a vocational college program and started working while studying, and he began to support his mother and himself because his father didn’t  give him money. After graduating from university, he got a better job and moved to a better house with his mother, and he applied to a hospital for his father to receive treatment. His father received positive feedback from the treatment, and although they didn’t  want to, they started living in the same house with their father, who didn’t return to his old habits. During this time, he had a sibling who is now 10 years old, and he made a good marriage and formed a happy family with his wife and their 1 year old child.