Gurbet: The Melancholy of the Homeland and Longing

If a character leaves their home city for Istanbul or goes abroad, they enter a state called Gurbet. There is no direct English translation, but it signifies the feeling of being a stranger in a foreign land.

Gurbetçi Culture

A Gurbetçi is someone living away from home. In series, this is usually depicted through letters, phone calls, or sad songs (Türkü) that express Hasret (Longing/Yearning). It is a deeply emotional state that implies your soul is still back in your village or hometown.

Why It Matters

This explains the immense pressure characters feel to succeed in the "big city"—if they fail in Gurbet, they have let down their entire family back home.