When moving to Turkey or any other country abroad, it is necessary to behave in the right manner. There are many foreigners that move abroad and think that many of the rules in their new country do not apply to them. Of course, this is not true and if you act that way, you will find yourself a very unpopular person among the Turks. And, if that doesn’t bother you, it would be a good idea to reconsider moving. However, for most of you, it’s
most likely that you want to move and be accepted and well liked as a foreigner, and this is not a hard thing to accomplish. As long as you behave correctly and get involved with the Turkish community, there will be no problem whatsoever. Here are some things that you should NOT do:Criticize the Turkish life and culture
In order to fit in as a foreigner in Turkey, you have to embrace their culture and way of life. Even if you don’t approve of all of their differences from you home country, you are in Turkey now, and you just have to accept it. There is no point in moving there, if you’re not willing to go along with their ways.
Be noisy
When you start your life in Turkey, it is important that you speak at the normal volume of voice you would in your home country. And, this goes for asking for things too. If you make a request to a Turkish person and they do not understand what you’re trying to say, do not talk louder in order for them to hear. This will not make them understand any better and they will most likely class you as arrogant if you go about doing it that way.
Live the same way you did in your home country
One of the main points in moving to a different country, is to enjoy and embrace the new culture, yet there are many foreigners who do anything they can to try and merge life in their home country into life in Turkey. One thing that you should be aware of: It does NOT work. The more you try to do it, the unhappy you will feel in Turkey. If it’s the food you’re missing from your home country, why not ditch that and try to enjoy the local specialty and Turkish dishes; it’s unlikely that you won’t find anything you like to eat, after all Turkish food is delicious.
Not integrating with the locals
Why on earth would you choose to live in Turkey, if you aren’t prepared to integrate with the locals in your community? Although it can be daunting, it’s a great way to make friends, learn the language and understand the traditional Turkish way of life. Even if you aren’t entirely ready to mix solely with Turks, there are many expats living in Turkey who can share their experiences with you and help you out. As long as you don’t separate yourself from the Turks and mix only with expats, there won’t be a problem.
