4 Adjectives Describing Turks (From an American Perspective)
These are two of our dear friends who embody many of the traits below. We hope that one day you too will be blessed with a Turkish friend.
1—Passionate
Turks are passionate people. Topics ranging from politics to best tea-making practices can arouse a fervor of emotions in the Turkish soul. Turkish TV dramas usually have several slow-motion sequences in each episode to demonstrate the emotion and passion of a situation. (Click below to see one such clip from my favorite Turkish TV show.) The Turkish person most certainly wears his “heart on his sleeve” and it makes for very animated conversation.
2—Practical
I am currently in America and I am struck by the number of bags that we have. From monogramed totes to duffle bags at the gym Americans have a bag for every occasion. Now, Turkish women like their handbags and its not uncommon to see a Turkish man with a man bag, but the number of other bags that Americans use stands in stark contrast to the practicality of the Turks. Turks will often reuse bags they already have, such as from the grocery or clothing store, to carry items around and couldn’t imagine spending, say, $30 on a tote bag to carry towels and sunscreen to the beach. It’s also common for the Turkish kitchen to be stocked with empty containers from the grocery store to be used for excess food and such. Turks are very practical and like to use things they already have.
3—Curious
I debated on whether I should use the word “curious” or “nosy” for this one. “Nosy" has a negative connotation so ultimately “curious” won out, but either way a Turk’s nosiness or curiosity can be a very endearing trait. Friends will often ask if we have lost or gained any weight. When we are cooking sometimes our neighbor will knock on the door and ask what we’re making. If we have a friend with us, other neighbors will stop us in the parking lot to ask to meet our guest. While my initial American tendency is to see these things as an invasion of privacy, I’ve come to see it as a show of care and concern for the happenings of my life.
4—Generous
I once had a conversation with a British lady who was married to a Turk and she said that if a British guest arrived at the airport at two in the morning the host would tell them to take a taxi. However, if a Turk was hosting a visitor and they arrived at two in the morning, the Turk would insist on personally picking them up at the airport. Turks are generous people who will greatly inconvenience themselves to help someone else.
This dear friend on the front left has shown us so much generosity. You can read more about her on our post called the Sille Mom.
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE WEST, KEEP LOOKING EAST!
Leslie Connors
Leslie is a co-founder of West2East. Originally from Tennessee, Leslie has called Turkey home for the past eight years. To read more about her, click here.