What I like about Turkey

I've been asked a few times recently (by turks) Why do you want to move here? I think everyone wants to get away from their home. The grass is always greener.

My first answer is always THE FOOD - fantastic, tasty mediterranean fare, mixed with ottoman dishes and interesting spices. I've had to pick at random a few times, and I've never had something that wasn't mouth-watering and absolutely delicious. Ok, I ordered liver one time, and I'll admit, it wasn't as vile as the liver I've had in the states, but I'd still rather eat ANYTHING ELSE.

But that answer is too easy. There are plenty of countries and cultures that have delicious foods.

My second answer is THE GIRLS - I really like the look of Turkish Women. That's superficial, perhaps, but how many random strangers do you talk to every day? Now, think about how many you look at. Wouldn't you rather be surrounded by people who you *like* looking at?

Again, thats too easy. There are plenty of places, even in the states, where I could find an 'easy-on-the-eyes' location, though to be fair they typically show a lot of skin, and most times I'd rather just not see skin in public. Sexy is not in the skin - and if you don't agree, you've probably never met a persian girl.

Today at lunch we ordered in for lunch, a traditional food place, tiny, with 3 tables inside and a few family members running the place. Nothing fancy, just good home-cooked food. I'm used to paper or plastic or aluminim throw-away packaging, but these folk brought over plates and bowls and forks and spoons. No deposit, no counting of how many things were left, just trust.

I mentioned this to M and she said "Well, they are across the street from the office and they know us well now, we eat there all the time."

Even in the states that wouldn't happen so I asked "What if they didn't know you? Would they give you the dishes still?" She said "Yes, they would."

The friendliness and focus on business through relationships and not profit/loss margins is an example of the sort of cultural personality difference that I like here. People matter - they can barely stay open, and they know the people around them really like their food, and no one wants to steal their plates, and no one is going to throw the plates away, so it works well.

Can you imagine opening a restaurant in a major US city and using real dishes and utensils for take away or delivery and expecting to not lose half your stock of them every week?