Honest and Kind: The two best ways I can sum up Turkish culture as of yet. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. If you try to speak to them in Turkish, they will try to speak to you in English. It is a give in take that is built into the community. No one worries about being taken advantage of by people they don't know. For example, on the bus everyone just passes their money through the crowd knowing that it will arrive to the driver and their change will be returned without any problems. All of the service workers are some of the most attendant and generous I have ever encountered. Free dessert is a commonality at restaurants despite the fact that 10% is considered a high tip. In Sariyer some of the shops on the street just leave their doors wide open after closing like its no big deal. Another good example of Turkish hospitality is when we were lost in downtown Istanbul looking for the spice bazaar and asked a young local woman for directions she proceeded to lead us there as if we had our own personal tour guide. It was fabulous. I love the Turks.
The more I learn about Turkish culture, the more things I am noticing about my own American culture.
The American crowd that I have been traveling with has for sure fit into the stereotype for which we are known: loud and oblivious. (Apparently they also assume that EVERY American is wealthy). It is making me more conscious of how respectful I must be to my elders and the public space. I can't lie, I have been hushed on the Dolmus more than once.
The American crowd that I have been traveling with has for sure fit into the stereotype for which we are known: loud and oblivious. (Apparently they also assume that EVERY American is wealthy). It is making me more conscious of how respectful I must be to my elders and the public space. I can't lie, I have been hushed on the Dolmus more than once.
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