The Bryn Mawr Club of New York City

Tales from the Expat Harem:
Foreign Women in Modern Turkey

It's not too late to join
Anastasia M. Ashman, '86, and Jennifer Eaton Gökmen
as they discuss the issues in their recently published book.

Review by Joan Eaton on amazon.com:
Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gökmen have put together an anthology that surpasses all expectations. The expat womens' stories are each beautifully written and invite the reader into a world that is filled with mystery, color, drama, warmth, pathos, humor, wisdom, and soulful understanding. It offers the reader a lingering glimpse into how each of these foreign women has successfully adapted to a culture steeped in ancient tradition. Each story has a unique flavor but together they create a rich stew of unforgettable experiences that will change how one views another culture. I felt as though I was entering another world each time I opened the book to read another story. I loved it.

Publisher’s comments shown on www.powells.com:
As the Western world struggles to comprehend the paradoxes of modern Turkey, a country both European and Asian, forward-looking yet rooted in ancient empire, Tales from the Expat Harem reveals its most personal nuances. Click here to read more.

From the Spring 2005 Bryn Mawr Alumnae Bulletin:
This anthology of personal essays and travelogue unveils the realities faced by 40 expatriate women—from a Christian missionary in Istanbul to an archaeologist at Troy, a Peace Corps volunteer in Erzurum to a journalist in Silopi—living and working in Turkey. "Many were warned about the dangers of being a foreign woman in Turkey," writes Ashman, "by well-meaning but uninformed people back home, only to discover that the greatest risk is being overwhelmed by traditional Turkish hospitality, like Cappadocian neighbors invading the home of a critically ill recluse to bring her food and medicinal tea." Click here to read more.