Welcome to Istanbul !

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Table of Contents
About KIS

About Turkey

Safety

Holidays

Istanbul Apps

Housing

Utilities

Daily Life

Hospitals

Post Office

10

Transportation

11

Survival Turkish

12
Kk amlca Kindergarten & Primary & Secondary
Phone: +90 216 370 4951
camlica@keystoneschools.com.tr
Dragos Kindergarten & Preschool
Phone: +90 216 370 4920
dragos@keystoneschools.com.tr

Erenky Kindergarten & Preschool

Phone: +90 216 355 2518
erenkoy@keystoneschools.com.tr

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Keystone International Schools (KIS) would like to welcome you and your family to Istanbul.
We would like to give you some information about KIS and ease some questions you may have
about Istanbul. We welcome any questions you may have. We understand that relocating to
Istanbul is a big change, whether this is your first time venturing out into the world or you are
an expert ex-pat. We hope that this significant change in your life is a positive one.

About Keystone
Keystone International Schools founders envisioned a school in which children were encouraged to
explore, inquire and wonder about themselves and the world around them. We felt a great need for a
school that would address the heart and will as well as the mind of the child. This whole-child approach
is the cornerstone of our philosophy, curriculum and environment. We believe that education should
open the mind and cultivate human intelligence. Keystones holistic or whole-system approach to
education fosters the capacities needed for a successful, purposeful, and joyful life, ignites intrinsic
passion for learning, and inspires responsibility for self, community and the world.
Keystone education spans early childhood through high school, and, at each developmental stagefrom
toddler to young adultaddresses the students growing capacity for thinking, feeling, and willing
(doing). This holistic, three-fold approach is referred to as learning through head, heart and hands.

Our Philosophy
At Keystone, we hope to instill in our students an intrinsic appreciation for life and a love of learning. It
is our aim to provide children with the skills necessary to become responsible, environmentally and
socially conscious, independent world citizens.
We envision an institution in which children are encouraged to explore, inquire and wonder about
themselves and the world around them. We aim to address the heart and will as well as the mind of the
child. This whole-child approach is the cornerstone of our philosophy, curriculum and environment. We
believe that education should open minds and cultivate human intelligence. Our holistic approach to
education fosters the capacity needed for a successful life full of purpose, and joy. It ignites intrinsic
passion for learning, and inspires responsibility for self, community and the world.

Our Values
Keystone International Schools were established to provide
children with an educational environment with a holistic
approach that incorporates the following tenets:

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Strong connections between individuals
Open and honest communication
The value of all contributions, whether large or small
The health, happiness and safety of children

About Turkey
Geography
Turkey is at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest
Asia. To the north is the Black Sea and to the west is the Aegean Sea. Its neighbors are Greece
and Bulgaria to the west, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania to the north and northwest (through
the Black Sea), Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east, and Syria and Iraq to the
south. Istanbul is divided in two by the Bosphorus, thus the two sides Asian and European.

CLIMATE
There are four distinct seasons in Istanbul. The autumn is mild, the winter is wet, cold and
unpredictable, with snowfall some years and other years no snow at all. The spring is cool, and
the summer is quite warm

Government
Republican parliamentary democracy

History
Anatolia (Turkey in Asia) was occupied in about 1900 B.C. by the Indo-European Hittites and,
after the Hittite empire's collapse in 1200 B.C., by Phrygians and Lydians. The Persian Empire
occupied the area in the 6th century B.C., giving way to the Roman Empire, then later the
Byzantine Empire. The Ottoman Turks first appeared in the early 13th century. They gradually
spread through the Near East and Balkans, capturing Constantinople in 1453 and storming the
gates of Vienna two centuries later. At its height, the Ottoman Empire stretched from the
Persian Gulf to western Algeria. Lasting for 600 years, the Ottoman Empire was not only one of
the most powerful empires in the history of the Mediterranean region, but it generated a great
cultural outpouring of Islamic art, architecture, and literature. Turkey's current boundaries
were drawn in 1923, and Turkey became a republic with Kemal Atatrk as the first president.
The Ottoman sultanate and caliphate were abolished, and modernization, reform, and
industrialization began under Atatrk's direction. He secularized Turkish society, reducing

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Islam's dominant role. After Atatrk's death in 1938, parliamentary government and a
multiparty system gradually took root in Turkey, despite periods of instability and brief intervals
of military rule. Turkey became a full member of NATO in 1952, joined the Organization for
European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) and the Council of Europe, and became an associate
member of the European Common Market in 1963.

Earthquakes in Turkey
We suggest you prepare an emergency bag which should include passports/residency
permits/IDs or copies of these items as well as a first aid kit, some petty cash, water and nonperishable food items.
On October 23, 2011, an earthquake, measured at 7.2 in magnitude, struck Turkey in Van
Province, near the border of Iran. The death toll quickly rose to more than 360 and was
expected to climb higher. Rescue teams worked quickly to find survivors in more than 2,260
buildings that had collapsed from the earthquake. More than 1,300 were injured in what was
one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the area in recent years.

Safety
Istanbul is a large and crowded city, and though it is safe, newcomers are advised to exercise
the same caution they would in any large city. Burglary and purse-snatchings do happen, but
are rare. While it is acceptable to dress according to taste, women may find that revealing
clothing will attract unwelcome attention. Although there are many street dogs; rabies is rare
and the dogs are docile.

Emergency Numbers
Fire

110

Ambulance 112
Police

155

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Residence and Work Permits: It is recommended to check with most recent laws with the
Turkish embassy when you are in your home country. Bureaucracy is inevitable and it is best to
be patient when it comes to paperwork.

Turkish Holidays
Date

English Name

Turkish Name

Explanation

January 1

Yilbasi

First day of the new year

April 23

New Years Day

National Sovereignty and
Childrens Day

Ulusal Egemenlik ve
Cocuk Bayrami

Commemoration of the first opening of the

Grand National Assembly of Turkey
at Ankara In 1920. Dedicated to the children.

May 1

Labor Day

Isci Bayrami

May 19

Youth and Sports Day

Genclik ve Spor
Bayrami

Commemoration of the beginning of national

liberation movement initiated in 1919 by
Ataturk's landing in Samsun. Dedicated to the
youth.

August 30

Victory Day

Zafer Bayrami

Commemoration of the victory at the final

battle in Dumlupinar ending the
Turkish Independence War In 1922.
Dedicated to the armed forces.

October 29

Republic Day

Cumhuriyet Bayrami

Commemoration of the proclamation of the

republic in 1923. Also the half-day in the
afternoon of previous day.

November 10

Ataturk Memorial Day

Ataturk Anma Gunu

At 9:05am all citizens of Turkey stand still for a

moment of silence. Do not be startled by the
alarms that are sounded as a reminder.

The major Islamic holidays observed in Turkey are Seker Bayrami (celebrated after the fasting
month of Ramadan), and Kurban Bayrami. As the Islamic calendar is lunar based, the dates of
Muslim holidays observed in Turkey move forward approximately 11 days each year.
Ramadan is the month in which most Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, refraining from food
and water. At the end of the month it is celebrated with Seker Bayrami (Candy Festival).
Kurban Bayrami (Feast of Sacrifice), as it features the sacrifice of an animal (typically a cow,
goat, or sheep) in commemoration of the ram sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son. Both
Islamic holidays are national holidays in which government offices, schools and some
businesses close for approximately 3 5 days, depending on the decision made by the
government.

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Quick Reference Apps for Smartphones/Tablets
LOGISTICS

IBB Cep Traflk : IBB Trafik This app shows live traffic info with a nice color scheme
(green=no traffic, orange=slow but moving traffic, red=youre running really late if you
use this route). It also has road work info, live camera feeds, and the estimated amount
of traffic in the next 15-60 minutes. No Istanbulite leaves his/her home without
checking IBB Trafik.
Metro Ulasim or Metro Istanbul: guides to the underground system Deniz Otobusutimes and routes for the ferries
Deniz Taksi: order your private water transport/taxi
Bitaksi: call a taxi app
Hareket Saati: times for buses, trains. ferries
Nerede bu Otobus or Istanbul Otobus Duraklari: Istanbul bus stops and routes and
times Taksimetre- tells you how much you should be paying for a taxi from point A to
point B. shows you the most direct route, and gives you the numbers of taxi stands
closest to you.
Karayollari Haritasi (Highway Map): name says it all
Sehlrler Arasl mesafesl: calculates the distance between Turkish towns.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Acil ve Onemli (urgent & important): guide to emergency services

Eczane: find the pharmacy closest to you
En Yakin Hastane- (Closest Hospital): find the hospital closest to you in case of
emergency
Migros: online grocery shopping.
Yemeksepeti: get restaurant delivery from practically any place in your area.

ENTERTAINMENT

lstanbul.com : see what's going on in the city this week

Blletlx: online box office
Sinemalar: see what films are playing, where, and at what time www.sinemalar.com
Babylon: see what's on at this popular music venue
Istanbul Eat: restaurant guide

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On the Web

Mymerhaba.com
Facebook foreign women of Istanbul Group; Istanbul Moms Group; Greenlist Teachers
Group; Buy, Sell, Swap Group

What to bringSuggestions:
Bring with you any medication, cosmetics, vitamins, etc., that you use regularly. Some may be
available here, but your particular brand may be difficult to find. Although in recent years the
selection of items available has increased tremendously.
Other items to bring include: Shoes in larger sizes, tall men's clothing, bathing suits in larger
sizes, and converter for travelling.

Housing and Utilities

There are many real estate offices available in Istanbul. You can also check online for rentals
and/or roommates. Apartments, condos and single-family homes range in price depending on
neighborhood. A rental lease normally requires a deposit of one to two months rent. There is
also a realty finders fee.
Utilities:

Utilities can be turned on at utility offices. Cable and internet can be turned on
via telephone.

Electricity:

Ayedas (Asian Side) and Bedas (European Side) 444 6186

Natural Gas: Igdas 444 3636

Water:

Iski telephone number 185

Cable Tv:

Digiturk 473 7373 (cable tv and internet options) and

D-smart 444 6 633 (satellite television and internet options).

Internet:

Superonline 0850 222 1 222 and TTNET 444 0 375

Cell Phone:

Turkcell, Vodafone, and Avea

Daily Life
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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Groceries:

Supermarkets are conveniently located in many parts of town, although lack of

parking space is an issue at most of them. Markets in foreigner intense areas are
likely to have a good selection of imported specialties. Common supermarket
chains are: Macro, Migros, and Carrefour.
All neighborhoods have small markets called Bakkal.

Water:

Istanbuls tap water is not drinkable but there are many bottled water
companies who deliver 5 liter containers straight to your door.
For example: Tasdelen (available in glass) and Erikli (plastic bottle).

Alcohol:

You can purchase beer, wine, and liquor from grocery stores and markets.

Malls:

There are many malls in Istanbul. Some of the larger ones on the Asian side are
Palladium, Optimum, Maltepe Park and Meydan. Some of the larger ones on the
European side are Metrocity, Istanbul Forum, Istinye Park and Akmerkez.

Electronics :

Teknosa http://www.teknosa.com/
MediaMarkt: http://www.mediamarkt.com.tr/
Bimeks http://www.bimeks.com.tr/mapzalar/

Bazaars:

There are also traditional bazaars and organize bazaars in all neighborhoods,
where you can find fresh fruits and vegetables, clothes and miscellaneous items.

Books:

There are a number of place where you can find books in English. D&R, Ramzey,
Greenhouse and some second-hand bookstores in Kadikoy and Taxim.

Hair Salons:

There are a growing number of salons for both men and women.

Restaurants: Turksih Kebabs, Iskender, durum and lahmacun are a few of the delicious tastes
you will find. You can also find a variety of fish during season. If you miss ethnic
foods, there are a few Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, Italian and German
restaurants available. Istanbul has McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried
Chicken, Subway, Burger King, Schlotzsky's, Quizno's Subs, Krispy Kreme,
Domino's Pizza, Little Caesar's Pizza, TGI Friday's, Tribecca, Gloria jean's,
Starbuck's, and more.
Online restaurants: www.yemeksepeti.com

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Hospitals:

There are many hospitals in Istanbul. Keystone Internationals schools have an

agreement and considerable discount for all KIS families and staff with Fatih
University Hospital in Dragos, Istanbul.
Contact Information:
http://hastane.fatih.edu.tr/?&changelang=EN

Pharmacies:

Trke:

0216 458 9000

Arabic:

0530 326 5574

English:

0530 326 5599

Russian:

0533 294 1789

French:

0530 829 9636

Most pharmacies or chemists (eczane) are open 09:00am-I9:00pm

Monday-Saturday. Pharmacies are indicated by a white, square sign displaying a
red letter "E" for easy identification.
For each neighborhood, there is at least one on-call pharmacy
(called 'nobetci eczane') that will be open I9:00pm-09:00am.There will also be an
on-call pharmacy open Sundays. There is a rotation schedule that can be found
at http://www.istanbulsaglik.gov.tr/Index_Nobetci.asp

Banks:

Garanti, Yapi Kredi, HSBC, ING, and many more.

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Post Office:

Post Offices are located all over Istanbul.

You can find international parcel rates here:
http://www.ptt.v.tr/tr/tarifelyurtdisjkolitarifesiytl.htm
and international letter rates here: http://www.ptt.rov.tr/tr/tarifel l.htm

Couriers:

National
Aras Kargo TEL: 444-25-52 www.arascar&o.com
Yurth;i Kargo TEL:444-99-99 www.yurticikargo.com
International
DHL TEL: 444-00-40 www.dhl.com.tr
Federal Express TEL: 444-05-05 www.fedex.com/tr
UPS TEL: 444-00-33 www.ups.com.tr

Transportation:
Istanbul Kart is a convenient reusable magnetic card which has the added advantage of
providing discounted fares on both public and private city buses, the metro, and public boats
so you don't have to search for a ticket or token seller: You can reload your Istanbul Kart at the
places which sell it (usually white vestibules near larger stops).
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Transport/

Mode of
Transportation
Metro
Sea bus
Ferries
City Bus

Istanbul Card

Ipad/Table App / website

yes
yes

Metrobus
Tramway
Tunel
Taxi
Mini-bus
Dolmus

yes
yes
No - token
No -cash
No - cash
No -cash

http://www.istanbul-ulasim.com.tr
Deniz Otobusu / http://www.ido.com.tr/en
http://www.sehirhatlari.com.tr/
Hareket Saati/
http://www.iett.gov.tr/en/main/pages/buses/156
http://www.iett.gov.tr/en
http://www.iett.gov.tr/en
http://www.iett.gov.tr/en
Bitaksi

yes

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Intercity Bus: The intercity bus service is cheap, comfortable, and efficient. The onboard
service is similar to that of airplanes in that stewards frequently offer drinks and
snacks. The more reliable companies are Varan, Pamukkale, Niliifer, Metro and
Ulusoy. The buses stop at their own company-owned restaurants and pit-stops
which are generally clean and comfortable.
Airports:

Ataturk Airport is located on the European Side in Yesilkoy. Major Interational

Airlines all fly out of this airport.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located on the Asian Side in Kurtkoy. Airlines that fly
out of this airport are Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, German Wings, etc.

Museums:

Istanbul has many historic sites including Aya Sofia (St.Sophia), Kariye Camii
(St. Saviour in Chora), the Hippodrome, the city walls and underground cisterns
(Yerebatan), Topkapi Palace, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (Ibrahim
Pap Sarayi), the Naval and Military museums, Dolmabahce Palace, the
Archaeological Museum in addition to the Istanbul Modern art museum, Santral
lstanbul, and special interest museums like the Sadberk Hamm Museum and the
Rahmi Koc; Museum of Transport, Industry and Communications.

Nightlife:

There are bars and cafes for almost every taste, many of which offer live music,
both foreign and Turkish. Closing times vary from district to district. Bar prices
range from reasonable to very expensive. There are frequent concerts,
performances, and music festivals of many descriptions, and in summer many of
these take place outdoors. The main concentration of night life attractions are in
the Beyoglu/Taksim area of the European side, and Kadikoy and Caddebostan on
the Asian side of Istanbul.

Day Trips:

Some nearby sights, beaches and day trips may be of interest to you.
Riva Beach, Sile, Agva, Belgrade Forest, Park Orman, Kilyos Beach, The Princes
Islands, and Anadolu Feneri.

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Keystone International Schools Welcome Guide 2015-16

Survival Turkish Words/Phrases:

English
Hi/Hello
Good Morning
Good Evening
How are you?
Fine, thank you.
Thank you
See you later
Goodbye
Im lost
Can you help me?
Help!
How much is this?
Where is
Go straight
Go right
Go left
bank

Turkish
Merhaba
Gunaydin
Iyi Aksamlar
Nasilsiniz?
Iyiyim tesekurler.
Tesekurler
Gorusuruz
Hoscakal
Kayboldum
Bana yardim edermisiniz?
Yardim!
Bu nekadar?
Nerede.
Dogru git
Sa git
Sol git
Banka

We hope your transition to Istanbul is an easy one. We hope you enjoy your time at Keystone
International Schools. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for this newcomers guide
to Istanbul.

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