It’s been 1 year and 4 months since I moved to Vienna. Before that, I was living in Ankara, Türkiye, working as a Project Team Lead at a software company. I had the joy of leading a team filled with bright minds, hardworking hearts, and constant smiles. We had fun together and, in my opinion, we created meaningful work. It was a chapter I truly cherished.
But then, unexpectedly, life turned in a new direction, and the expat-wife chapter opened its doors, ready to see how I would navigate it. I’ve never been someone to waste time, and I deeply value education, so I took a leap and enrolled in an Executive MBA. Now, I’m just one module away from finishing—and then it’s time to take on my master thesis.
I’m sharing this because I find myself in between: between Austria and Türkiye. I’ve made new friends here, but my closest friends and family are still back home. And when someone asks, “Which one do you choose?” I pause. I automatically start listing pros and cons in my head, as if solving an engineering problem. That’s just how I make sense of the world.
From a work perspective, I’ve noticed a cultural shift that I truly appreciate: in Austria, people respect your time. I used to work late hours without much thought, but here, my colleagues gently remind me to log off, to take my personal time seriously and I’m learning to do just that.
Socially, it hasn’t been as easy. People here tend to be more reserved, more hesitant to connect—and I know part of that is because I don’t speak German (yet). I won’t blame anyone for that; it’s only natural. We all feel most comfortable in our own language when it comes to building friendships.
-how did I become to manage my life between countries?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about names and how they shape us. I have two names. My family and friends call me Ege, and when I hear that name, I feel more relaxed, more playful, even a bit childish—in a good way. There’s humor in it, comfort, and warmth. It brings out the version of me that jokes freely and speaks without overthinking.
At work, though, I’m Gaye. That version of me feels more careful, more reserved. I sometimes hesitate before making connections, and often, I just focus on doing my job well and moving on. It’s not a bad thing, just a different side of me.
I don’t tend to classify things as strictly good or bad, anymore. I believe in karma, and I try to see the good hidden in the bad, and the lessons even in the good. At the end of the day, it is what it is—and sometimes, that simple truth is enough.
And it makes me wonder, if you’re reading this and you have two names too, does this happen to you? Do different names bring out different versions of who you are?
xoxo, ege.
When you’re caught between two worlds, maybe you’re meant to build a bridge.
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