Where Should I Live in Los Angeles – Culver City?

Where should I live? What about Culver City ?

This same question comes daily especially from out of town and country clients…Choosing the right neighborhood… A lot of factors play in there.

In Los Angeles, I drive around the neighborhood with my clients. Not only looking at a new home but more importantly exploring the neighborhood and community you are planning to move to. Exploring restaurants, shopping, parks, community events and so forth.

Today lets talk about charming Culver City…with its condos and traditional and Spanish-style homes, is a town of galleries, shops, cafes and entrepreneurial businesses. Culver City has been a focal point for motion picture studios since the 1920s and more recently for television production, having been home to MGM Studios, the Culver Studios and now Sony Picture Entertainment. Home of the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Helms Bakeries and the Culver Hotel, Culver City’s condos, traditional homes and Spanish-style homes offer a combination of urban living and small town charm.

The Culver City Farmers market, Tuesdays 3PM-7PM has been one of the best weekday markets on the Westside since its establishment in 1995. The market has flourished along with the stores and restaurants in the downtown area, and has a casual & friendly ambience

Culver City offers tons of great museums from the Sony Pictures Entertainment Museum to the fun Star Eco Station that kids love to the Wende Museum.

The nighlife over here is fun too. Sometimes I stop by at a weekday eve and meet friends for dinner @ Akasha or Ford’s Filling Station. Catching a movie afterwards @ the movie theatre across the street followed by drinks and music at the historical Culver Hotel.

You can find a 2 bedroom condo currently from the $320,000 range to $800,000 range. A beautiful house $670,000 to $1,4 Mil. range.

Ready to move to Culver City or any other area?

Call me anytime @ 310.801.6033 for any real estate needs you have… I help with selling your home, buying a home, investment and with leases. You can also Email Me !

Looking forward hearing from you.

Tanya Stawski
310.801.6033
www.tanya.stawski.com

Realtor at Sotheby’s International Real Estate

Austin – Katerina Aman from Ukraine

Tell us about yourself- who are you and what would be the short story of your life?

Hi, My name is Katerina Aman. First of all, let me start by saying thank you for picking me to be a member of the month for EuroCircle. It is a wonderful organization that has brought lots of new friends into my life and a ton of fun experience throughout the events that it holds here in Austin.

I come from a small town of Kerch in Ukraine, located in the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula by the Black Sea.

My city is of the most ancient cities in the world. There are plenty of various historical and architectural monuments and memorials of different historical periods and cultures on the territory of the city, it is truly magnificent and captivating for one to visit.

Since I was six years old it was discovered that I have a talent to learn foreign languages and my Mom immediately placed me in one of the best
schools in town to learn English. She believed that that could probably help me have a better life one day. I graduated at the top of my class with straight As across the board. I have participated in various regional competitions (Olympiads) and won multiple awards. In 1994 I took part in TOEFL exam in Kiev and was chosen to go to the US to study in an American high school for a full year. Unfortunately due to unstable political situation in Crimea, sponsors on US side declined this opportunity.

I entered Kuban Sate University in 1996, faculty of Oriental languages and later department of linguistics. In 2000 I was finally able to fulfill my dream and come to this wonderful country through CAMPUSA program for students. I worked a full summer for AHRC organization in NY and had completely fell in love with the people, life, and possibilities that I could have if I were born in USA instead of USSR.

I was invited and sponsored to come back on the same program the following year. It was 2001. I was in upstate New York when Sept 11th happened. I felt so much pain, anger, grief and loss. I felt like I had been hurt in a way as well. I felt I was part of All Americans.. Now I reside here in Austin with my husband Greg and our son and I am finally living my American Dream.

We know that your family is very important for you – could you tell us more about them and your family life/traditions?

My husband and Nickolas are everything to me – they are my little world, my life revolves around the two of them and I hope for more children in the near future. Kids are the reason of our existence. I feel that my biggest accomplishment in life was to complete myself as a woman by becoming a mother and I strive to be the best parent I can and to raise our child to be a good citizen of its country with right values and firm believes in what’s right and what’s wrong. I was brought up very strictly, my grades at school were excellent, although parents were in principal’s office quite often for my not so excellent behavior. I had every day chores that had to be done
without expecting any kind of praise in return. My Mother is a very strong willed person that did her best to raise two daughters and give them
education in a country that was not so easy to live in to begin with. She checked my homework every night, I had numerous tutors and I was signed up for classes anywhere from ballet, art school, tennis, ballroom dancing, you name it. I admire home stay Moms here among my friends and family, who spend all their time with children, take them to various classes and are heavily involved in their upbringing, it is very important to me. I am very thankful to my Mom for the person I have grown to be and I only hope Nickolas would feel the same about me when he grows up.

I miss my home very much and therefore a have a tradition here in Austin – it is our annual gathering of friends at our house for a traditional Russian meal. I cook usually for three days before that and it is a true feast for stomachs and souls, not so much for liver. 🙂

I speak Russian to my son, I want him to always remember where his Mother and grandparents are from and hopefully speak the language fluently.

What is THE thing/s about Austin captivates you the most?

This city is very fit. I mean, there is not enough pavement in my neighborhood on a Saturday morning for all the healthy lifestyle fans of jogging, biking or strolling! I work out five times a week and my workouts are very versatile from yoga to kickboxing, running and swimming. Some of my friends motivate me to try classes that are absolutely insane, but I like to stay fit and healthy so I always follow all the health and fitness news that my friends tell me. I am thinking about joining my husband and his biking hobby, he got very good at it and is getting ready for his first triathlon next spring.

Another thing that I love about Austin is music of course and it’s ACL festival. I love art and this form of it is the most dearest and
entertaining to me.

I like people here, they smile most of the time, they have a positive outlook on life and it gets contagious. When you surround yourself with
happy, positive people you become one too!

If someone asked you what I should NOT miss while in Austin, what would reply? And what I really SHOULD miss….

I’d say definitely visit Auditorium shores, Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs Pool, State Capitol, UT, museums, etc. There is a lot to see.

At night time I would pay a visit to 6th street, Pete’s piano bar, Elephant Room if you love jazz, Austin Lyric Opera for a maximum classic
entertainment: whatever your heart desires Austin has it, including numerous restaurants of very good authentic cuisines from all over the world. That’s something I have never experienced while living in Russia.

What you really should miss is walking underneath Congress Avenue Bridge, those free-tailed bats make up for quite memorable trail of smell. And try to miss traffic on Mopac and I-35 in the evenings, other than that, Austin has no other drawbacks.

Anything truly memorable that has happened to you since you have lived in Austin?

This year I ran my first marathon here in Austin. It was quite a tough experience, since I did it with a stroller. I also met a great group of people through EuroCircle, some of them became close friends.

What really annoys you about Austin – or maybe nothing does?

There is nothing that annoys me about it, it’s a perfect little city to live
in. It has a tendency to have some weird people on the streets sometimes but
that’s what also makes it unique.

What do you miss most from your country or Europe…in addition to the family and friends?

I miss country side.. Birch trees, rivers, Crimean mountains, the Black Sea. I miss singing folk songs with my grandparents. I miss camping with tents and mushroom/berry picking with my Mom and Dad. I am very outdoorsy as you can tell:)

Do you have a favorite Austin/area restaurant? Why…. what is the good and bad about restaurant in your opinion in Austin.

My favorite restaurant is Maudie’s Milagros on 360. Their food and service are always consistent. Best Margaritas in my opinion.

Where and how would you live in Austin or elsewhere if money is not an obstacle – compared to how you live now or would you stay where you are? Why?

If money were not an obstacle, I would have an ocean front house somewhere in San Diego as a vacation home. Water is my second “air”; I can’t live without it. But I am happy where I am, there are lakes here as well and the Gulf of Mexico is only couple hours away.

What do you think about the cost of living in Europe vs Austin, TX – and the standard of life and life style?

Sometimes I compare costs of necessary items with my grandmother who lives in Ukraine and she is always shocked to hear that everything costs pretty much the same here and there, although her pension is 20 times less.

I think people have different social ladders here and there, and therefore they have different life styles. It is all about how much money you make and what you can afford regardless whether you live in Russia or here in the US.

I also have self made professional business owners among my girlfriends whom I am very proud of. I think to achieve what they did here would have been practically impossible if they were to start such ventures in Russia.

If you could change something about Austin – what would it be?

For the most part the city is very clean but it could use more trash cans in
public places. And of course parking downtown needs to get better.

Anything else you feel you’d like to share with us about Austin or yourself?

I plan to stay here… I don’t see myself living anywhere else. I am planning on staying and raising my children here with my husband.

I would love to go to cooking school one day as I am a great cook and love it but there is a lot of room for growth and perfection!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that climate is very suitable for me as well. Although I come from Russia, I am very cold intolerant: So yes, I am staying where I am 🙂

Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season 2013.

Connect with Katerina Aman:

EuroCircle: eurocircle.com/community/user/163697-katerina-aman/
Facebook: facebook.com/katya.aman

 

Expatriates: Ulla Lange – Life in Colorado as An Interior Designer from Finland

I have always been interested in Colorado as I keep hearing about its majestic nature. In fact I have only been to the airport in Denver, never been to any of the cities. Unfortunately we have not had luck in finding a great leader/team for running EuroCircle Denver/Boulder yet. I met Ulla online and since architecture and interior design is a great interest for me – not to mention that a former NY team member Anu Arponen was an architect as well – I absolutely had to interview her.

Where are you originally from? Where are you living now – since when and where did you move from?

My name is Ulla Lange and I am originally from Finland. I live in Boulder, Colorado, 15 min walk from the downtown, so not in the suburbs, although in a residential, single family neighborhood. I have lived in Boulder since 1993 and I moved here from a small town called Waldwick, in New Jersey. Before that I lived in London, New York City, Phoenix, AZ, and Boulder Colorado, which was the first town I lived in after moving to the States.

Did you move with a spouse/children?

I did move with my (then) spouse and two children.

Why did you move; what do you do?

We moved, as we had gotten tired of the congested metro New York City area, the hectic life style and wanted to experience a more outdoors oriented lifestyle. Also our children had their cousins and one set of grandparents in the Boulder area.
Initially I moved from Finland to the US, as I got married.
I am a partner in an architecture firm – not a licensed architect, but have a degree in architecture and work mainly as an interior designer.

What do you enjoy most about Boulder/Denver, how’s the quality of life compared to Finland?

Absolutely, I like the fact that everything is close in Boulder and that I do not have to use my car every day, if I don’t want to. There are great bike paths in all parts of the city, good public transportation, easy walking distance to stores, etc. and a real downtown, unlike many other American towns.
It is an open minded, small city, where people are very health conscious and environmentally aware. It offers great opportunities for any kind of fitness and the weather is such that it is easy to spend lots of time outdoors. We typically have 300 days of sunshine every year. Boulder also has many good restaurants, a great farmers’ market and dozens of grocery stores that carry organic and locally produced produce. The university offers a variety of cultural events and continuing education opportunities.

Usually there are some negatives, what are the ones for Boulder/Denver? What do you miss most about home?

In Colorado I miss the proximity to any large bodies of water. The climate here is dry and there a very few, mainly man made lakes. I miss having a real autumn and spring – here seasons are much more blended together.
I would like Boulder to be a bit more international (and fashion conscious – although that sounds really petty and superficial).
I miss cultural events in my own language and my friends, whom I have known for decades. That has become more pronounced, as years go by.

Do you feel Boulder/Denver is safe right now? Are there any areas expats should avoid in your opinion?

Boulder feels very safe to me, although it is not crime free. I don’t think there are any areas I need to avoid.
Denver is a different story altogether.

How would you rate the public transport? What are the different options? Do you need to own a car? How would you rate the healthcare?

Very good for an American city. You do not have to own a car to live in Boulder. Healthcare is very good and there are many options for alternative treatments and practices, as well as conventional ones.

Food/Restaurants/Entertainment – any comments – or recommendations are always cool.

Good restaurants. Entertainment: some live theater and dance, many good concerts, small art shows. For entertainment, Denver has a lot more to offer.

Which are the best places/suburbs to live in the city as an expat?

Just about anywhere in Boulder. Close to downtown is nice, as one can walk to many amenities. But there are also large homes further from downtown and in the surrounding areas.

Do you go out a lot – hobbies?

Not so much these days, restaurants 3-4 times a month, movie theaters, some art shows and live performances.

How do you rate the standard of housing in the city (compared to Finland or other countries you know)?

The standard varies quite a bit. There is student housing, which is rather basic and outdated, but also very nice houses and apartments which are modern and closer to standards in Finland, although there, as well, one can find many different types and standards of housing.

What’s the cost of living compared to home? What is cheap or expensive in particular?

Boulder is expensive by American standards, but compared to Helsinki area, somewhat less.

What are the locals like; do you feel you mix mainly with other expats?

I have some international friends, but also American ones. I hardly consider myself an expat, as I have lived most of my adult life in the US. People tend to be open and friendly in Boulder, well educated (rated the highest educated city, most advanced degrees per capita some years ago). Tt is fairly easy meeting people and making friends

Did you have a problem getting a work visa/permit? What’s the economic climate like in Boulder/Denver, is there plenty of work?

This does not really apply to me, as I got a green card right away (through marriage) and now have US citizenship (dual with Finland). There seems to be plenty of work, but it could be challenging for certain professions.
Generally speaking finding work in Boulder should not be too difficult, especially if you are open minded and are in the right industry, those being IT, things to do with sports and recreation, healthcare (especially care for the elderly), also possibly also restaurant work. My own field, architecture, is very saturated, and there is barely enough work for all the firms and independent architects and designers here. There is very little new construction going on in Boulder, but definitely a lot of remodeling work. If you are skilled in a construction trade (carpenter, electrician, etc.), your chances of finding work are most likely pretty good. Boulder’s atmosphere is also very entrepreneurial and it is known for many start-ups.

How does the work culture differ from home? Is it very different working here as an architect, design, taste wise, regulations, pricing…all that..

I have only worked very little in Europe in architecture and design, so it is hard for me to compare. Design tastes have been much more traditional and decorative, but the last few years have seen a real shift towards more modern design, in buildings, furniture, etc. American s tend to work longer hours than Europeans, and Boulder is not an exception. Vacations are shorter in general, but work environments are much more casual and relaxed than in New York City, for example. Most likely the same applies to comparisons to European design firms.

Did your spouse or partner/kids have problems adjusting to their new home? What are the schools like, any particular suggestions?

This does not apply, as my spouse (then and now) is American.
Public schools are quite good in Boulder and there are several private school options, as well.

Connect with Ulla Lange:

Ulla’s current job (Nov 2013): Workshop8.us
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ulla.lange
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/ulla-lange/7/484/432

Boulder and Denver Chamber of Commerce have information for people moving into these two cities.

 

Austin – Nov 22 2013

Join us on Friday, November 22 at a 6:30pm to – whenever you feel like leaving – at this brand new location opened in October.
Tapasitas has reverse happy hour on Friday Nov 22 until 9 pm (NOTE: we start at 6.30 pm as there is a private party until 6 pm)
$5 wines by the glass, $5 drink specials and $ 5 tapas specials from 6-9pm.

In a true thanksgiving spirit this event is co-hosted by a few other European/international groups:

Global Austin, Margie Kidd
www.globalaustin.org

Austin Polish Society
www.austinpolishsociety.org/new

Danish Club Austin, Emily Grace Sorensen & John Linnet
www.danishclubaustin.com

Casa de Espana Austin
www.casadeespanaaustin.com

PS. EuroCircle Austin had its first even on Nov 20 2010!! EuroCircle as an organization started in 1999 in NYC.

Tapasitas is a tapas bar that makes its home in the very heart of downtown Austin. Tapasitas offers an assortment of hot + cold tapas, classic + modern cocktails, espresso, desserts + cigars to all who visit.
***Valet out front or street parking on West Ave (especially if the weather is rainy many people may prefer valet)

With a patio that can turn any season into patio season and a view of Austin’s bustling West 6th Street, Tapasitas makes for the perfect start or finish to any evening on the town.
Menu and details : www.tapasitas.com

Miami – Nov 21 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013 6:00pm until 9:00pm in EST

Join us for a VERY happy hour a la Peruvian. All ladies will be entitled to complimentary drinks from 6pm to 9pm with the purchase of one appetizer, and the gentlemen will enjoy 2-for-1 drinks.

Salud!

Gian
EuroCircle Miami

Connect with Gian:
EuroCircle: Gian Sol

Boston – Nov 20 2013

Join us on Wednesday, November 20, for Russian Voices: Readings and Conversations with contemporary Russian poets Polina Barskova, Anna Glazova, and Maria Stepanova. This event celebrates the release by Zephyr Press of Relocations, a new anthology of Russian poetry, and brings together the three poets whose works are collected in the book and two of their English language translators (Catherine Ciepiela and Sibelan Forrester). Also participating are local poet Katia Kapovich, BU faculty members Olga Livshin, Yuri Corrigan, and Katherine O’Connor, and Jim Kates, Zephyr Press.

The symposium features individual panel discussions with each of the poets and a concluding roundtable, to be moderated by Katia Kapovich (see schedule below). The poetry sessions will be followed by a “philosophical cabaret” performance featuring Russian Jewish singer and songwriter Psoy Korolenko and musical collaborator Alyona Alyonkova, a reception, and a book-signing. The performance, entitled “Russian Riches,” contains compositions based on texts by Russian poets of the 20th century.

11:30 Welcome: Katherine O’Connor + Jim Kates
11:45 Panel I: Polina Barskova + Cathy Ciepiela
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Panel II: Anna Glazova + Olga Livshin
3:15 Break
3:30 Panel III: Maria Stepanova + Sibelan Forrester
4:45 Break
5:00 Roundtable: Katia Kapovich (Moderator), Polina Barskova, Cathy Ciepiela, Yuri Corrigan, Sibelan Forrester, Anna Glazova, Olga Livshin + Maria Stepanova •
7:00 “Russian Riches” Philosophical Cabaret Performance, Reception + Book-Signing: Psoy Korolenko + Alyona Alyonkova

Free and Open to the Public. Join us for all or part of the celebration. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Europe and the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature, the literary journal AGNI and Zephyr Press with support from the Center for the Humanities at Boston University and the Jewish Cultural Endowment.

Photo Credit:
Marc Chagall’s 1914 oil on canvas, “Study for `Over Vitebsk.’”

Boston – Nov 21 2013

Join us on Thursday, November 21, for an evening of conversation with Dubravka Ugresic, one of Europe’s most distinctive novelists and essayists. From her early postmodernist excursions, to her elegiac reckonings in fiction and the essay with the disintegration of her Yugoslav homeland and the fall of the Berlin Wall, through to her more recent writings on popular and literary culture, Ugresic’s work is marked by a rare combination of irony, polemic, and compassion. The event will be moderated by Igor Lukes, Professor of International Relations and History.

Reception (wine, beer, small bites) and book-signing to follow.

Following degrees in Comparative and Russian Literature, Dubravka Ugresic worked for many years at the University of Zagreb’s Institute for Theory of Literature, successfully pursuing parallel careers as both a writer and as a scholar. In 1991, when war broke out in the former Yugoslavia, Ugresic took a firm anti-war stance, critically dissecting retrograde Croatian and Serbian nationalism, the stupidity and criminality of war, becoming a target for nationalist journalists, politicians, and fellow writers in the process. Subjected to prolonged public ostracization and persistent media harassment, she left Croatia in 1993. In a voluntary exile that has in time become emigration, her books have been translated into over twenty languages. She lives and works in Amsterdam.

This event takes place as part of our “European Voices” series – an ongoing series of conversations with artists and writers, activists and intellectuals exploring questions at the intersection of politics and culture. Co-sponsored by the literary journal AGNI. Funded in part by the European Commission Delegation in Washington DC.

By BU Center for the Study of Europe – contact Gülce Aşkın or Elizabeth Amrien for more info

Istanbul – Marc Guillet (Netherlands) Reporting from Istanbul

Who Is Marc Guillet – and what does Marc do/where?

I am an all round and passionate reporter and publicist with 30+ years of experience in Muslim countries (specializing in Turkey and Iran) and the United States. Since 2006 I live in Istanbul where I cover major news events, as well as economic, social, political and religious trends in Turkey. When I’m not busy with working for the media I give presentations on the Turkish economy, politics, business culture and social media.

At what age did you know that you wanted to be a reporter/journalist?

From a very young age, I was interested in news. Especially in politics at home and abroad. I remember when president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was ten then. And the day that Martin Luther King, Jr. was gunned down at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. I wrote a paper in English in high school ‘When Black Power meets non-violence’. I read as many newspapers as I could get and was always busy with the news when my peers were doing other stuff. I was an activist as well and protested against the war in Vietnam and against the human rights abuses in Iran during the regime of the Shah. As a student I helped writing pamphlets and brochures. And I wrote letters to the editor of newspapers and op-ed pieces about Iran. I went to Tehran in July 1979, just after the Islamic Revolution, and worked there as a freelance reporter for a couple of weeks. I was still a student at the University of Amsterdam. I studied political science, international relations and modern history of the Middle East. After graduation from university I got a job as copy editor in 1982 at the foreign desk of the Dutch national news agency ANP, where I stayed for 5 years. In 1987 I joined the foreign desk of Algemeen Dagblad, a national newspaper in the Netherlands. From 1999 – 2006 I was posted as a full time correspondent in New York, covering the USA, and visited all 50 states. Since the Summer of 2006 I’m based as an independent reporter in Istanbul (Turkey).

What has been the most exciting story that you’ve covered during your career?

Reporting on the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and their aftermath. I was an eyewitness of an event that changed history. I was only two blocks away when the second of the Twin Towers collapsed. And I interviewed a lot of people – relatives of victims, rescue workers, and many others – who were affected by this traumatic event. In the weeks before the first anniversary of 9/11 A colleague and I wrote a series of stories on other traumatic events in the recent history of the United States since World War II. The first story was about the surprise military strike conducted by Japan against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

Is there any particular story, an award or a moment throughout your career that you are proud of?

Absolutely, the publishing of my book ‘Exotic America’ (2006) – unfortunately in Dutch only – about aftermath of hurricane Katrina, 9/11, drilling for oil in Alaska, prom nights, gun control, abortion, death penalty, racism, gays, evangelicals, illegal immigration, the war on drugs, prison rodeos, square dancing with tractors and roller girls. One reviewer compared my book with ‘Notes from a Big Country’, or as it was released in the United States, ‘I’m a Stranger Here Myself’, by American writer Bill Bryson.o

What would you say is the biggest misconception that people have about your profession?

That journalists should be completely objective. Number one that is impossible, because reporters are human beings too, so they have their political views, they like and hate certain things, people or developments. The way editors and reporters select news stories is subjective as well. The New York Times has another selection of what is news and another way of writing about issues than The Wall Street Journal. Professional reporters want their stories to be interesting, balanced, informative, accurate, and compelling. Not all journalists have to strive for objectivity. Op-ed writers and columnists have the freedom to write biased, subjective pieces. Probably more people love to read those biased pieces, so they can write or make their own comments about them.

What do you enjoy most about doing what you do?

Meeting all different kinds of people and visiting all kinds of places are the best part of my profession. As a reporter I want to tell their stories. To get to know them, to find out what drives them. I’m not an office tiger but a stray dog in the way I report. My best stories are always about people I met

What have you found to be the biggest difference between the types of stories you covered in your own country, and the ones you currently report on in Istanbul?

Not much difference. I have always been working at a foreign desk, so reporting on foreign news was what I have been doing as a reporter all my life, also when I was based in the Netherlands.

Are there any stories that you hate to cover?

Stories about most celebrities, not all of them though. I wrote with pleasure about Bob Dylan in my book, about Louis Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen and others.

Do you ever get into disagreements /fights with other reporters, news teams or the governments?

Not all authorities like what I write. And I sometimes disagree with colleagues about their selection of news or presentation of news items in the paper.

What advice would you give to other aspiring journalists and reporters aiming for the stars in Muslim countries?

Just be professional and passionate about what you do and you will have success in any country..

What and who captivate you in the world of the Muslim countries– and why?

The story of what Egyptians call the October War and Israelis the Yom Kippur War of 1973. I wanted to know all about it, about the background, about the history of the Israelis and the Palestinians. It captivated me and was the reason why I started to study political science and the modern history of the Middle East. It is still one of the main stories of our time with new developments like the Arab Spring and the civil war in Syria. Fascinating to observe how citizens in Muslim countries try to develop democracy while struggling with autocratic regimes.

Since you are Dutch – must ask what do you miss most from the Netherlands – think you ever return to live back there? And how is the Dutch community in Turkey….

Long trips on my bicycle I miss most in Istanbul and my family of course. When I retire, 4 years from now, we want to move close to the Netherlands, to the city of Gent in Belgium. Then I want to go back to my roots, spend more time with family and friends and enjoy life. We have a couple of thousand of Dutchies in Turkey. I organize a networking event in Istanbul once a month for them as NLBorrels Istanbul.

What do you see the best about the Turkish culture/people vs. Dutch (or American)?

Dutch and American are very direct, straight, honest. People in Turkey prefer to be more polite, diplomatic when they discuss things with a client or a colleague.

The U.S. and the Netherlands are a ‘sorry’ culture. You admit a mistake and say sorry.

Turkey is an ‘honor and shame’ culture. Respect is very important. Most Turks try to avoid to admit a mistake, they prefer to blame something or somebody else, because if they admit a mistake their honor is damaged.
I love the friendship and hospitality in Turkey. And I admire the ambition and positive ‘can do’ mentality of the Americans and the Turks.

Anything else you would like to share with us?

I wrote a booklet with four self-guided walks tours in Istanbul. Two on the European and two on the Asian side of the Bosporus.
You will find them here on my website www.enjoy-istanbul.com/walking-2/strolling-through-istanbul-with-my-book/

The self-guided walks don’t cover any of the touristic highlights, but show expats and foreign tourists ‘my’ Istanbul. I will show you Istanbul like a local.

Connect with Marc Guillet:
Website: facebook.com/marc.guillet
LinkedIn: tr.linkedin.com/in/marcguillet
Website in English: www.turkeycorrespondent.com/
Website in Dutch: www.turkijecorrespondent.nl

New York – Nov 19 2013

Photos © Eurocircle. For privacy reasons we ask you not to copy these to Facebook or other social networks

Join us at this hip new hotspot in the Flatiron district as we where we will celebrate the upcoming holiday season with great friends, music and drinks. No Cover for this event.

Featured Hosts:

Maryana Ivlev, Ukraine
Pascal Sabattier, France
Sherry Kumar, Serbia

There will be Eurotini’s and Italian Rose Moscato for $7 on special throughout the evening.

Rosewood takes its inspiration from the whims of the glamorous European glitterati along
with the aristocratic British Victorian era. Designed by Gregory Okshteyn of Studios Go, the newly redesigned 3,000 sq. ft. interior features a cleverly lit rose petal designed ceiling along with wood panel and copper plated corridor. The comfortable deep buttoned banquet seating provides the lounging experience.

We look forward to seeing you on the 19th!

Best,

Alexandra and the EuroCircle NY Team

Where Should I live in Los Angeles… Beverly Hills?

Where should I live?

I receive this question daily especially from out of town and country clients…Choosing the right neighborhood… A lot of factors play in there.

I remember when I moved to Chicago back then it was important for me to live in downtown close to work @ Michigan Avenue. Parking was a challenge.

In Los Angeles, I drive around the neighborhood with my clients. Not only looking at a new home but more importantly checking out the neighborhood and community you are planning to move to. Exploring restaurants, shopping, parks, community events, if you have children definitely the school district is extremely important. Not only have I worked in the past as the Admissions director of a Beverly Hills private school, but more importantly I am a mom and know first hand the ins and out of private versus public schools.

Today lets talk about Beverly Hills…Home to over 30,000 residents. Professionals and families…It is located within the Golden Triangle, is nestle up against the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains on the north side. Beverly Hills is bordered by Westwood Village and Century City on the west, West Hollywood and Fairfax District on the east, and Los Angeles City and the 10 freeway on the South. Rodeo Drive between Wilshire Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard include not only the ultimate shopping mecca, but an area of large homes referred to as the Flats.

This is an incredible place to access all of the commercial and cultural offerings such as the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Farmers market, Greystone Mansion as well as a private and undisturbed residential haven to come home and still conveniently be located to nightlife. Families with children mostly pick Beverly Hills because of the school district.

Mark your calendar for Sunday Nov. 24th 2013 from 5PM-6:30PM

In front of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and the 200 block of Rodeo! 150,000 lights will be lit, DJ’s, Santa, BHHS marching band, ice sculptures… A winter wonderland of magic

Beverly Hills is a dog friendly city with beautiful parks ( I have checked out all the parks with our dog 🙂 ) tennis courts and entertainment… In the morning I enjoy breakfast @ Le Pain Quotidien or at Barney Greengrass restaurant from the top of the building with an amazing view. For lunch and dinner there are tons of amazing low key and fancy restaurants.

Are you ready to move to Beverly Hills???

Condos actively on the market for sale are starting at $550,000 for a 2 bedroom up to $12.8 for a 3 bedroom in The Dome of the prestine Montage hotel.

Single family homes actively on the market starting in the $775,000 range up to $47,500,00.

Call me anytime @ 310.801.6033 for any real estate needs you have… I help with selling your home, buying a home, investment and with leases. You can also Email Me!

Looking forward hearing from you.

Tanya Stawski
310.801.6033
www.tanya.stawski.com

Realtor at Sotheby’s International Real Estate

Editor’s Note: Tanya Stawski and Ajay Babber, our LA Team leaders know the city really well – ask them for advice when needed. We asked Tanya to write a few articles about different areas in LA so the readers get a better idea about the city – as well as the cost of living there. Maybe we should consider other cities to do this as well. What do you think?