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[Volodiya]

I've had a chance to observe the people in Turkey- especially in Istanbul- quite a lot.

They are friendly and polite- except when driving, perhaps. There is almost no pushing or shoving. They behave well in lines.

Turkish people are rather jolly, and like to laugh.

If you enter a shop or cafe, you will be greeted, almost without exception.

Turkish family and home life consists of lots of contact with relatives- meals and picnics together, etc. The men are helpful, and share, from
time to time, cooking and cleaning up chores; but, the women serve the men at table, with the women making sure the men get enough to eat.

Men and women eat together, at the same time; but, around a table, the men and boys will be shoulder to shoulder, and the women and girls, likewise.

Prayers at table are said after the meal, not before.

Turks eat fast, relative to what I'm used to. Many cold dishes and salads
are eaten from a common bowl or plate, with the attendent reaching across the table accepted as normal.

Drinking alchohol on a daily basis is probably not part of the life of most Turks, the majority being abstainers.

Turks greet each other effusively with many words- and kisses, one each on the left and right cheek. To show respect to someone honored, they take that person's hand, kiss the back of it, then touch it to their foreheads, all in one smooth gesture.

A framed verse from the Khoran is hung over the door: written prayers, and written expressions of those things the family are concerned about, such as an unpaid bill, are placed near it.

Most Turks would probably fall in the mid-range on religion. The men attend the Mosque from time to time, on Fridays: Turks pray privately more or less frequently, and respect the Muslim religion. Calls to prayer, broadcast from the mosques by loudspeaker, occur five times/day, but few stop what they are doing- whether talking, eating, driving, etc.- to pray. Some will pray at the call to prayer if they are home, and not otherwise occupied.

Turkish men are passionate about politics, complaining endlessly about their politicians; but, they are most passionate about football! The women, in general, are not, and tolerate, goodnaturedly, this seemingly
mad pastime and obsession of their men. Men meet in sports clubs to watch the games, drink tea, shout and stomp about. They will watch a game in person at a stadium; then, go home and watch the same game in re-broadcast on TV; then, read about the same game the next day in the paper. A Turkish man often subscribes to two or more daily sports newspapers- just to be sure he doesn't miss anything.

In Istanbul, women dress as they like, and as they like is often just like European women- lots of tight pants and bare skin, weather permitting. In spite of this, there are parts of the city where women will be dressed in a style more in keeping with Muslim tradition. Young men dress very casually for the most part- in slacks and short-sleeve shirts, often with the tails out. You see a few business men and women in suits and fashionable clothes, but not many.

As the most "eastern" of western cities, and the most "western" of eastern cities, Istanbul continues to fascinate and charm me, and many others.

[vre]

Jholland

I really enjoyed reading your observations. It cheered me up Thanks

[Volodiya]

I'm awfully glad to hear that, VRE. You made my day, too!

[Otterman Ollie]

When the call to prayer is filling the air people just go on with their lives as if nothing is happenning of any importance ,but, when the national anthem is played everything stops , at least in my town . I like that .

[calsimsek]

Dear Jholland,
I too have observe the people in Turkey, not just Ist, but most of this country for more than just a few years. I have to say that while most of your staments are true in a general sort of way. It's all to simplistic. This country is a mix of so many different views and life styles, that I think you can't say that this or that is the way Turks are. Most people will tell you that Black Sea people are more religous. This is true for Rize, but you travel about 5 hours along the cost to Ordu and you find high heels and miniskirts. In Ramazan no one eats during the day in Kayseri and at the same time you can drink a beer in İzmir by the sea in Konak.
It's too big a job to attempt to fit this nation into a few lines.
Then again yours was one of the best tries I have read in a long while