The Turks are well-known for their hospitality and willingness to associate with foreign tourists, but these are just some of the many beautiful features you can see when you visit Turkey. Ironically, I call these qualities “superpowers,” but in all honesty, there are certainly many places where the Turks do well. The way they live right now, make meaningful connections, and enjoy life to the fullest are all qualities they should admire. The following is a list of some of how the Turks stand out to foreigners and tips on how to have a better back!
You are wrong
Anyone who has ever been to Turkey knows that the Turks are well-known for their hospitality. Basically what their generosity is, whether by giving gifts, serving tea, or spending time with people, the Turks are there and willing to do everything possible for the foreign visitor or anyone who happens to visit. This can be nice and surprising and is extremely acceptable for those unfamiliar with the culture here all of a sudden you may find yourself carrying a bunch of new products, a plate of baked goods, or an invitation for tea or coffee. And we know that, as the saying goes, the latter will give you 40 years of friendship
Expat tip:
A good rule of thumb would be to retaliate as much as possible. For example, many would have heard of the tradition of returning a plate in which a food item was given a new item. Also, when you commend someone for something, be careful how they give it to you unexpectedly right away.
Bad day friends
There is a Turkish saying "kötu gün dost" which translates very well into English as "bad friends of the day." But unlike the expression “a friend of the worst weather,” this does not mean that they thrive on the plight of others. It simply means the presence of people when they are not at a high level or need help. Turks will do their best to help someone else and give value to paying their respect and money when needed.
If God forbid, a family member or someone is ill; friends, neighbors, and acquaintances will always call to ask what they can do. If someone happens to stay in the hospital, the Turkish people will happily visit you and will spend the night as a "refakatçi" (caregiver) but in Turkey that is not a paid position, and work is voluntarily taken by family and friends.
In Turkey, there is also the custom of "image", which is better described as lending. While this has often been the way many rural people build their homes in rural Turkey in the past, the best example of this kind of helping mobility was seen this summer in the wildfires that plagued the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. At one point, the volunteers were frustrated as the number of people in the danger zone and the number of donated items were high and figurative.
Expat Tip:
Try to embrace the Turkish practice of jumping to the aid of a person when you can, as helping a person to carry a heavy load can go a long way in Turkey.
Memory like an elephant
This brings me to the great power of Turk, which is their ability to remember people and likewise command with perfect accuracy. Decades later, Turk can remember a face or a name and what happened between each other.
Expat Tip:
Try to remember the people you meet and their names as it will be very enjoyable and know that almost everything you do will go to the memory of your Turkish viewer memory
Heavy emphasis on weight
By comparison, the Turks are a healthy group and most of them pay close attention to their weight and surprisingly to foreigners, the weight of others. The Turkish people do not care where they ask for a person's weight, whether they know him or not, and they will always give up their comparative weight. Similarly, Turks will see and comment positively on a person’s weight and whether they have lost or gained even just a few pounds.
Expat Tip:
Take any weight loss step by step and don't get upset if Turk tells you exactly.
Default to package
Turkish culture is historically traditional and thus in their heritage, the Turks would live in one place only to collect and move on to another when their needs and age were called upon. Now, I don’t know how many genes play a role, but the Turks are undoubtedly well equipped to deal with spontaneous development. If the plans change or something more inviting is about to happen, the Turks have the natural ability to just walk and flow. They like to hold in-depth conversations under the hood, can easily get into personal inquiries, and can be great friends all night long. Turk can also sleep well in other people's places and will be prepared to spend time late into the night or better, heading for other entertainment.
Expat tip:
It's not difficult to simply attempt to partake in the second here in Turkey as the Turks do, yet if you feel hauled in any capacity, the Turks are likewise exceptionally seeing so obviously and put forth your lines. After all, not all of us have the energy to go out at night and have tea all day without side effects. Alas, this is also a very important Turkish power.
The earth is their oyster
The two most widely spoken Turkish expressions should be “yaparız” (we will do) and “bir şey olmaz” (nothing will happen). This is because the Turks always have good intentions and like to believe that if there is a will, there is a way and in many cases, this can be true. You may encounter these types of Turks and be swept away by their charm, selfishness, and the common joie de vivre and if so, chances are you will enjoy the ride.
But, know, the Turks are also less likely to complain and have the ability to adapt to difficult situations so they can be better equipped to take risks than others.
Explanation Tip:
Don't have unrealistic expectations of what can and can't be done and stay calm. It can be fun to dream of a grandfather, but as an outsider, you need to always know how much adventure you want and the laws of the land.
The dark side
While the Turkish people are generally patient, kind, understanding, and receptive, there are rare situations, as is the case anywhere in the world, where there can be a "Jekyll and Hyde" situation. Examples of where this might happen are in cars, offices dealing with large numbers of people and, as the ex-pat can attest, wait in line.
Expat Tip:
Try not to lose your cool and be as kind as possible. If you donate your place to the line do it kindly, and they will be grateful because the Turks know a lot about it and it is in every case best to manage an upsetting circumstance with generosity.
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