Our Family Vision

In 2016, we moved to Izmir, Turkey. Prior to our move, we make this vision statement to help remind us along the way why we wanted to move there.

Why?

There are a number of reasons: Together desired to live and serve people in another country. Plus, we wanted to have the adventure together as a family and are fortunate enough to have the skills and ability to do so.

Why now?

We have been on this timeline since we got engaged. It was something that we wanted to do while we were still younger but after we’d been married for a little while. With where we are in life; we believed there was never any easier time than now.

Why Turkey?

We have both spent time in Turkey before we were married and enjoyed the culture, people, and food. We have traveled back twice since we were married and both times had our desires confirmed. In addition to our own desires, it is a country in which we want to share our culture with others!

Why Izmir?

Both of us had spent time in Istanbul in the past and liked the city. In fact, it is where we met! You can read more our story here. However, there are some lifestyle benefits that Izmir offers that Istanbul does not. Primarily, it is more affordable, less crowded, and more laid-back city. Also, as Turkey’s third largest city containing ~4 million people, there should still be plenty of both work and personal opportunities.

Do you work in Turkey?

Yes and no. No, we don’t work for any Turkish companies. Yes, we do work. Prior to our move, Jason worked to create a software consulting business in the states, and thankfully it is fruitful! Jason’s business is able to be done via the internet at any location while supporting our family. Catie is working part time on this website and language learning.

What will you do?

Our first few years we will focus on language learning. The goal is to quickly develop a strong base on which to stand. We both have a background in Turkish (Catie more than Jason) and spent a month persuing language full time to get us to a good starting point. After these, Catie has continue to focus on learning the language more full time while Jason spends a 1/4 time of language and the rest on his consulting business. It is the goal for both of us to become relatively fluent as quick as possible but due to being supported by Jason’s business – it won’t be possible to spend years with language learning as our sole focus.

After these first few months, the vision becomes a little more cloudy. Initially, Jason focuses on working for, maintaining, and growing his current client base. Due to the financial and legal difficulties with working in Turkey, the easiest transition will be to avoid working directly with or for Turks; since this requires a difficult to obtain work visa. While Jason does has some good ideas about how to expand his business into the community, they will have to sit on the back-burner at the beginning.

Personally, we are involved with a local community. We enjoy meeting our neighbors, going out to eat, hanging out by the seaside, etc. We love our neighborhood and are so happy here!

How long will you stay?

We plan on staying for 3 years. We think this will give us enough time to get a better feel for what our life would look like there and help us to make longer term plans. At this point, it feels short-sighted to make plans beyond this. There are too many unknowns. After 3 years, we may decide to stay for another 3 years or we may decide that it would be best to move. At this time, we are certain that 3 years is a good amount of time.

Read about our first year abroad in our EXPAT YEARS SERIES.

How do you plan on updating folks back home?

Great question. As we moved and are still transitioning, part of our communication plan is continuing our bi-monthly podcast as well as extra emails along the way for those who are subscribed here. We hope that this website will start to be a central point for our family to record memories and dreams as well as help to inform others of our lives overseas.

following the funks