While I’ve lived in Türkiye for almost 20 years now, I’m really an American citizen, who grew up in California with mother and father of Irish and Turkish descent.
Perhaps on account of this heritage and having spent important time in all three completely different cultures: the U.S., the United Kingdom and Türkiye, I’ve all the time felt like an alien. While it means I’ve by no means actually had a real homeland, it additionally primes me to be an observer of all the quirky nationwide norms and variations between the completely different international locations. Thus, spending the vacations within the U.Okay. this 12 months has supplied a wealth of perception into how in lots of circumstances the cultures conflict.
10 methods Türkiye and the U.Okay. differ:
The panorama: Let’s face it, there really is a world of distinction between Türkiye and the U.Okay., which turns into plainly evident the second you plop down in both nation. But for starters, within the U.Okay., all the homes and constructions look alike with the traditional Tudor type and brick and mortar properties, all the gardens are landscaped and well-kept, the roads are pristine and there isn’t a single piece of trash. Türkiye in fact differs. The structure ranges considerably from small village properties, villas, condo buildings and blocks, that are constructed from stone or cement and might all be randomly positioned on the identical streets.
The gardens: Most properties in England have uniform gardens for his or her neighbors and a subject for gossip can positively be whether or not or not the neighbor upkeeps their hedges. Not holding on prime of the backyard is taken into account an affront to neighbors. That mentioned, along with being pushed to maintain up with the Jones’, the climate in England is so moist that the gardens are luscious and grassy lawns are par for the course. In Türkiye, which experiences 4 true seasons, having grass year-round is close to not possible because of the maintenance, ie. watering, required within the sweltering summer time. As for the fruit, the U.Okay. has spectacular berries and all types of forest fruits, but Brits ache to search out juicy oranges and engaging tomatoes, which Türkiye is overflowing with.
The trash: Litter, as within the lack of it, is an excellent obsession in England. Not solely is there no trash to be seen on the streets wherever, however there may be an intricate trash and recycling system in place that everybody follows. Every family has three separate bins designated for common garbage, backyard waste, and recycling and collectors come round on particular days of the week to choose it up. In Türkiye, trash assortment takes place in any respect hours of the day and also you merely place your trash in a close-by bin or simply depart it on the facet of the highway. While a widespread recycling system isn’t essentially in place, for many years, Türks have all the time recycled with people making it their self-elected job to gather recyclable items comparable to paper, plastic, glass, iron and steel that they then commerce in for cost.
The put up: While the U.Okay. is trailblazing in the case of recycling, as for the put up, being in England appears like having taken a time machine again to an earlier period. You see, Christmas playing cards are a stable custom within the U.Okay. with every family sending out and receiving dozens of vacation playing cards, that are delivered by the old-school put up. Even higher, to fight the rising way of life prices, this 12 months, many individuals are opting at hand ship their playing cards which suggests pulling as much as folks’s properties and pushing the cardboard via the mail slot. What’s humorous is that family and friends will come so far as the door to ship a Christmas card and slip it via the slot, however then they disappear with out even saying good day. In Türkiye not solely is the common postal service being eclipsed by the comfort of cargo, and mail slots via the door and even put up containers in entrance of the house are almost existent, however for somebody to come back so far as the door and never popover is close to remarkable.
Individualism: In England, individualism is usually celebrated, whereas in Türkiye there’s a stronger emphasis on collective identification and neighborhood bonds. Failure to launch is a international idea in Türkiye the place youngsters are inspired to reside with their households so long as they need and definitely alongside the aged, who’re revered with the very best respect. In the U.Okay., leaving house at 18 isn’t solely inspired, however scorned if not the case, and the aged are principally left to reside independently or in previous age properties.
Social etiquette: In England, there may be an emphasis on politeness, queuing and respecting private house. This signifies that within the U.Okay., there is a common expectation of queuing in an orderly method. Personal house is very revered, with folks doing their greatest to keep away from coming into contact or strolling by in shut proximity. Anything opposite is deemed rude and public shows of emotion could also be subdued. Whereas in Türkiye, public areas might be extra vibrant and bustling. Expressive gestures and animated conversations are widespread, and other people might stand nearer in queues or to the aghast of many foreigners, might overtly lower in line. Such actions aren’t thought of as offensive as they’re within the U.Okay. and Turks are likely to act out of compassion first fairly than reacting negatively to such public infringements.
Communication: While within the U.Okay., politeness and oblique communication are sometimes valued, in Türkiye, communication might be extra direct and animated, with gestures ceaselessly used. Warmth and hospitality are extremely valued, private house could also be nearer and other people might interact in full of life conversations. English humor is usually characterised by wit, sarcasm and dry humor, whereas Turkish humor might be full of life and sometimes includes wordplay, minus the sarcasm, which in Türkiye is one thing merely misplaced in translation.
Approach to time: Punctuality is very valued in England, and conferences and occasions usually begin on time. If eating out reservations are made and adhered to and any delays both means could be thought of an absence of respect and functionality. In Türkiye, there’s a far more relaxed strategy to time, and occasions would possibly begin a bit later than scheduled. While Brits invited to a celebration would arrive on the dot of the anticipated time, in Türkiye the time given is only a common framework and it could be fairly uncommon for anybody to reach or for any occasion to begin on time.
Smoking: In England, smoking is sort of non-existent. I’ve been right here every week and have solely seen two folks smoking a cigarette. The complete nation has just about utterly kicked this unhealthy behavior, and sensibly so, as a pack of cigarettes can price upward of 13 kilos, which if you happen to do the maths is sort of TL 500. There is an initiative to cease promoting cigarettes altogether to the youthful technology in England, whereas in Türkiye, smoking remains to be fairly prevalent.
Rules and rules: While the police and army presence that exists on the roads in Türkiye isn’t seen in England, there appear to be numerous guidelines and rules that individuals should strictly abide by. From ready at crosswalks, not littering and recycling to needing to buy a license to observe tv, the U.Okay. feels very managed and orderly and you’d be hard-pressed to listen to somebody a lot as honk their automobile on the highway, whereas in Türkiye, a automobile horn might be thought of simply a part of the driving course of and there appears to exist this mentality that guidelines had been made to be damaged.
Source: www.dailysabah.com