http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/ Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:08:54 +0000 43200 Articles about living in Turkey, that is, residing here as a foreigner. http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/buying-from-the-turkish-markets-r45 Question: I enjoy going to the Sunday market in my town because they always have such fresh fruits and vegetables. But I don't know the names of the things I want to buy. Can you give me a list of the names of fruits and vegetables in Turkish?

Answer: The majority of Turkish people purchase fruits and vegetables from markets set up on certain days of the week. Fruits and vegetables taste so good here because they are grown in lots of sunshine. In most places, the soil is so fertile you can grow almost any kind of fruit or vegetable. Since a lot of it is grown locally, vegetables sold in markets don’t incur the transportation costs that normally add to the price.

Here's a list of the most common fruits and vegetables:

Vegetable - sebze (seb-zeh)
Pea - bezelye (beh-zell-yeh)
Cabbage - lahana (lah-hah-nah)
Spinach - ispanak (ihs-pah-knock)
Carrot - havuc (hah-wooch)
Tomato - domates (doh-mah-tess)
Potato - patates (pah-tah-tess)
Cucumber - salatalik (sah-lah-tah-look)
Corn - misir (mis-ihr)
Pepper - biber (bee-behr)
Red pepper - kirmizi biber (kuhr-muh-zuh bee-behr)
Green pepper - yesil biber (yeh-sheel bee-behr)
Radish - turp (tuhrp)
Eggplant or aubergine - patlican (paht-le-john)
Okra - bamya (bahm-yah)
Mushroom - mantar (mahn-tahr)
Onion - sogan (so-o-aahn)
Garlic - sarimsak (sah-rihm-suck)
Lettuce - marul (mah-rule)
Fruit - meyve (may-veh)
Apple - elma (el-mah)
Pear - armut (ahr-moot)
Orange - portakal (poor-tah-kahl)
Cherry - kiraz (kee-rahz)
Banana - muz (mooz)
Peach - seftali (shef-tah-lee)
Grapes - uzum (ooh-zoom)
Plum - erik (eh-rik)
Watermelon - karpuz (kahr-pooz)
Grapefruit - greyfurt (gray-fuhrt)
Strawberry - cilek (chee-lack)]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:09:53 +0000 2b24d495052a8ce66358eb576b8912c8 http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/riding-a-dolmus-in-turkey-r44
Passengers can normally go to any place in a city by dolmus. When riding city buses or dolmuses, make sure you get on the right one by checking the sign. Reading those signs might be difficult, in that case look for the number on the sign, which is the route number of the dolmus. Sometimes you'll see signs like 8/A or 8/B. That means those dolmuses go to the same district but use different routes.

Riding a dolmus is quite cheap. Passengers pay their fares directly to the driver, if their seat is close enough to reach the driver, or you may pass the fare to the passenger in front of you, who will pass it to the next passenger, and so on, up to the driver. Change is passed back to you the same way. Every city in Turkey has a dolmus system, but the prices will vary according to where you are.

People say "bir kisi" (beer-kee-shee) if paying for one person, or if paying for two people, they will say "iki kisi" (ee-kee kee-shee), while passing their fares to the driver. In some places, there are no particular stops for dolmuses, they'll stop whenever anyone waves them down. In others, there are designated stops where a dolmus will wait until it has enough passengers.]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:57:42 +0000 0a09c8844ba8f0936c20bd791130d6b6 http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/turkish-toilets-r43 Question: I always see a metal pipe in toilet bowls in Turkey. What is this and how does this thing work?

Answer: There is water that comes from that pipe, and it is used for cleaning yourself after you have finished using the toilet. If you look carefully, you will see the tap mounted closely to the bowl to turn the water on and off.

Traditionally, oriental-style toilets are used in Turkey. Oriental-style toilets have two platforms on which to put your feet and squat, with a hole in the middle in which to do your business. You will also see a smaller tap on the wall and a small bucket underneath it. It is quite challenging to use oriental toilets for most foreigners.

Cleansing yourself is done with water after you have finished using the toilet. Cleansing cannot be completely done with toilet paper, which is why it is not widely used in more rural parts of Turkey. So if you're taking a trip, pack some toilet paper! You're unlikely to find it except in modern restaurant, malls, stores, and hotels if you're outside the city.

In larger cities, western-style toilets are found almost everywhere. But throughout the countryside at gas stations and roadside stops, oriental toilets are the norm. There are always separate sections for men and women. Sometimes you have to pay to use the public toilets; the charge is minimal though. Public toilets are always better at hotels and restaurants.

While old Turkish houses have only oriental-style toilets, the new ones have both styles. The younger generation prefers to use the western-style toilets and the older generation prefers to use the oriental-style ones. When you visit a Turkish house, you may notice a pair of plastic slippers by the entrance of the toilet. Those slippers are to be worn while using the toilet, and the idea is that you do not wander around the house with the same shoes or slippers than you wore while in the toilet.]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:51:46 +0000 903ce9225fca3e988c2af215d4e544d3 http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/turkish-taxis-r42 Question: Aren't all taxis in Turkey supposed to use their meters? I think I was overcharged for a ride, and apparently the taxi driver wasn't using the meter during the trip.

Answer: All taxis in Turkey have taxi meters and the driver should turn the meter on as soon as a customer gets in the taxi, without being asked. Taxi fares are determined and announced by city councils. All taxis must accept those fares, otherwise they will not be allowed to work.

Taxis are cheap here by European standards. The meter will always show an initial charge as soon as it is turned on, and will add to the fare as the taxi heads to your destination. At night, fares are higher, around 50% more, since the taxi driver is a lot less likely to find a fare at your destination late at night, and will probably have to make the return trip without a passenger. The night rate is in effect from midnight until 6:00 A.M. Airport taxis and taxis at train stations usually charge the night rate even during the day. To know the rate that is being charged on the meter, it will intermittently display "Gunduz" for the day rate and "Gece" for the night rate. Late-night taxi drivers will sometimes accept a fare discounted from the typical rate if they are not otherwise occupied. For example, if you are out on town and know the typical night rate to get back home, you can ask the taxi driver if he'll take you there for less, off the meter. If the taxi driver suggests a higher amount (which they often do) and you say "thanks anyway" and walk away, he's likely to change his mind and give you a ride at the reduced rate. It's their choice. I have heard of one instance where a British expat did this and after the ride, the taxi driver insisted on the higher night rate, and an argument ensued about the price even though it had already been agreed. I don't know whether this was a misunderstanding or if the taxi driver intentionally reversed himself, but I've done this a hundred times and only heard of this happening once in Izmir.

People can ask taxis to wait at the destination. Waiting up to five minutes is not charged. But after the first five minutes, every minute is charged to the meter at the day or night rate, depending on the time of day.Tipping a taxi driver is not very common in Turkey, however it is appropriate to tip the driver if he helps carry baggage or does other things for you.

Traditionally, passengers sit in the back seat in a taxi, especially female customers. It is acceptable behavior, however, to sit in the front seat. Taxis are normally equipped with seat belts only in the front seats, however in some of the older taxis you may find that they haven't been used in years, or that the portion of the buckle which connects to the floor has been rendered useless by some kind of custom console the driver has installed between the front seats. I have heard that the back seat of a taxi is safer during an accident, however that statistic probably included lots of people in the front seat that didn't wear seat belts. Older taxis don't have air bags, where newer ones do.

It is also considered very rude to swear while riding in a taxi. Taxi drivers are not required to carry exact change. However, if you display the note that you have and ask "bozuk para var mi?" (bo zook pah rah vahr muh?), translated "do you have change?" the taxi driver will let you know if he can change the note before you get into the taxi.]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:43:42 +0000 a8baa56554f96369ab93e4f3bb068c22 http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/driving-in-turkey-r41 Question: I've noticed that driving in Turkey isn't what it is in my home country. What do you recommend for driving in Turkey?

Answer: Turks drive very creatively, and enthusiastically, to put it politely. The fundamental rules of safety to survive Turkish driving are: Drive very defensively, avoid driving at night, and never let emotions affect what you do.

A number of accidents occur when a local driver stops, takes some unexpected action or turn causing the foreign driver to hit the other vehicle or be struck by others. Many of the unexpected actions are unexpected according to international driving standards, but are expected here in Turkey. A high percentage of traffic-related deaths are pedestrians in overcrowded major cities.

The following defensive measures can and should be taken to increase the odds in your favor for accident-free driving:

• Always wear a seat belt and keep children in the back seat with seat belts or in a child safety seat.
  
• Always wear a seat belt and keep children in the back seat with seat belts or in a child safety seat.
  
• Drive defensively. More defensively than you would in your home country, it's not just a catch phrase.
  
• Use your horn to get pedestrians' attention and also your lights to get the attention of other drivers. Pay attention when other drivers use their horns.
  
• Dusk is a dangerous time to drive on intercity highways since most drivers delay turning on their headlights until well after dark (saving electricity?). Oncoming traffic can be difficult to see. Additionally, Turks often drive small motorbikes with no lights at all, and while wearing dark clothing. They can be very difficult to spot up until the last second.
  
• Watch out for trucks and buses that take the right-of-way without signalling, whether they are entitled to it or not.
  
• Check all mirrors and use directional signals for lane changes and don't forget to confirm, with a direct visual check. Use your mirrors, but don't expect Turkish drivers to use theirs. They often don't.
  
• Use four-way flashers to warn drivers of suddenly slowed or blocked traffic to avoid being hit from the rear.
  
• Always look for an escape, that is, where you'll go, if someone doesn't see your four-way flashers and comes up from behind without slowing down.
  
• Drive as if your mission is to not be involved in an accident, cause one, or strike a pedestrian. Keep that in your mind.
  
• Always expect the unexpected.
  
• Guess nothing about what another driver will do. If you're using logic, you'll probably be wrong.
  

Pay special attention to all of the following which are very common while driving in Turkey:

• Passing in the right lane and cutting in front of other vehicles from the right side
  
• Unexpected lane changes and stopping at unexpected locations to pick up or drop off passengers, especially by "dolmus" minibuses, taxis, inter-city and intra-city buses. This includes main highways where you would not expect someone to suddenly stop
  
• Completely careless and unskilled drivers
  
• Drivers who drive in the middle of the road and give way to no one
  
• Drivers who overtake on blind curves
  
• Drivers who attempt to pass you while you are passing other vehicles
  
• Tailgating drivers
  
• Pedestrians completely unaware to oncoming traffic so they continue to walk or run in front of vehicles to cross streets or highways
  
• Trucks parked at night without lights on the highway rather than on the side of the road, placing rocks in the road as a "warning" rather than using their four-way flashers
  
• Cars driving at night with no lights or with lights missing
  
• Animals on the highway, including herds of sheep or goats outside of major cities
  
• Tractors, horse carts, and farm vehicles driving with no lights, and at slow speeds
  
• Oncoming drivers playing flashing light games whether you have your high-beams on or not
  

In case of an accident, do not move your vehicle unless its position is putting other drivers at risk. Leave the vehicle where it is and aid the injured. Warn approaching drivers of the accident scene. Contact the traffic police and they will respond to investigate the accident. If you move your vehicle without a justifiable reason, you can be cited for changing the accident scene.]]> Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:04:38 +0000 0f28b5d49b3020afeecd95b4009adf4c http://www.turkeycentral.com/page/index.html/_/turkey-articles/turkish-living/bargaining-with-turkish-shopkeepers-r25 Question: When I go shopping in the shops outside of Incirlik, the shopkeepers treat us very kindly and, most of the time, they offer us something to drink. How can I say "no" without offending the shopkeepers?

Answer: Turkish people are very generous and hospitable. They like to please their guests and customers. All the merchants consider their foreign customers to be guests of Turkey before they consider them as a customer.

Customers will be offered Turkish tea, coffee, and soda at many shops. People should feel free to accept these gifts. Customers should not think they should buy something from that shop just because they drink a beverage. It is very normal and natural for people here. If you are not thirsty, kindly tell them that you have just had a drink at another shop, before coming into their shop or that you are not thirsty at all. They will not be offended.

Some shops may offer beer or other alcoholic beverages. Think twice, or even three or four times, before accepting their offer. Traditionally, Turkish people do not offer alcoholic beverages to their customers. After the second or third alcoholic beverage you may feel over the clouds and end up buying something you do not need or be overcharged. Besides, consuming alcohol in shops, except restaurants, bars and discos, is against the law.

From time to time there may be some shop agent outside the gate or in the alley trying to convince you to go their shop in Adana. They claim they have higher quality goods, with lower prices in their shops. Do not trust them. Find your own shop for shopping.

Bargaining is part of the shopping experience here and it can be fun. Some shops have fixed prices and they will not lower them. If you ask for a bargain, they will not be offended. But most of the shops bargain with their customers.

When you go window shopping, the shopkeepers or attendants will try to help you and invite you inside the shop. If you do not want to go inside you can easily say "Sadece bakiyorum" (sah-de-jeh-bak-ee-your-umm) which means "I am only looking."]]> Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:50:49 +0000 3def184ad8f4755ff269862ea77393dd