Respect, is like Mr. Clean, A Little Goes A Long Way

During the few months leading up to my trip, in addition to looking for places to visit and eat during our visit, I decided that it would be a good idea to do some research on customs and learn a few words in Turkish. I wanted to at least be able to say please, thank you, excuse me, hello, good bye, and where is the bathroom? I managed to learn all but “thank you” no matter how much I tried I could not get that word to form in my mouth. At a restaurant our first night I decided to go ahead and attempt to say thank you. It did not go well. I learned a few months after our return that there was another informal easier word I could have used. Regardless my attempt to speak Turkish earned me some additional grace. This is something I do before every trip abroad, I will say I don’t know which language I found to be more difficult; Turkish or Hungarian. I have found people tend to appreciate the attempt to speak their language, even in France granted we were in Lyon, instead of expecting them to converse with me solely in my language.

I also try to familiarize myself with the social morays of the country. Adopting the whole “when in Rome” philosophy. I like to comparing visiting a country with visiting someone’s house I respect their rules and appreciate it when they respect mine. The whole do unto others approach. Our first day in Istanbul my friend and I went to the Blue Mosque. We both wore long sleeve tops and pants that covered our legs (it was late March so it was still a little chilly) and took the scarves we packed. When we got in line to go in we covered our heads and removed our shoes. At the door for those who did not bring a head covering or were wearing shorts the attendants provided them with blue scarves so that they could enter. Once inside we were floored by how many of those scarves were discarded just inside the Mosque and how many women were walking around taking pictures with no headscarf and their legs exposed. My advice to anyone traveling is learn a few basic words and phrases and be respectful of that countries customs. Be a guest in their home and not the tourist they wish to go away and never come back.