Turkey: A middle eastern nation

1. Turkey: A middle eastern nation Andy Bryant Jesse Macauley Heather McCarty

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Unvi3Yynw

3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpmGTJX6z1E

4. Overview • There are many Turkish communities within the U.S. today. • Some of the largest are in New York City, Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Boston, LA, and San Francisco just to name a few. These are very similar to what we know as Chinatown and Little Italy’s.

5. Climate and Geography Turkey has a Mediterranean climate. • Warm to hot and dry in the summer • Chilly to cool with wet winters. • It is what is considered a temperate climate for that region of the world, that the coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

6. Agriculture • Turkey is a large exporter of teas, and is the world’s biggest producer of hazelnuts, figs, apricots and raisins. • 4th biggest producer of fresh vegetables and grapes • 6th biggest producer of tobacco • 8th biggest producer of wheat • 10th highest amount of cotton in the world.

7. Economics • Fishing and animal husbandry play a big part in their economy. Fishing along the coastlines produce over 450,000 pounds of combined fresh and salt water catches. • In animal husbandry, Turkey ranks as the 20th largest poultry meat producer with 950,000 tons of poultry meat.

8. Religion • Population = 80,000,000 (according to current text) • 99% Muslim • Quran-Arabic • Muslims • Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca • Practice Ramadan • Give Alms • Visit the Holy Lands

9. Food Culture and Tradition • Food and drink are considered gifts from God and proof of his perfection • Afterlife is described as an amazing and abundant garden • The tradition of hosting requires that an item is offered three times to the guest along with conversation and humor • The guest must decline the first two offerings to be polite

10. Feasting and Fasting • Use lunar calendar • 11 days longer • Ramadan-month long fasting • Cannot consume food, drink, or smoke during daytime

11. Food Taboos • “Good Food and Drink” • Unclean food is called “Haram” • Ugly, disgusting and dirty • Polluting • Consuming polluted food inhibits one from performing religious duties • Corrected by a religious bath

12. No-No Foods • Blood • Sausage is not okay • Spleen and Liver are okay • Difference: • Carotid Arteries cut with a knife and bled out while animal is still alive • Facing Mecca • “In the name of God” • Fish and marine life is based on water source

13. Other No-Nos • Pork • Lion • Leopard • Wolf • Hawk • Eagle • Falcon

14. Alcohol • Consider a weapon to diminish the Muslim society • Food Service • Establishments that sell liquor • Serve liquor

15. Food Availability • Bell peppers • Bulgar • Chickpeas • Chili • Cilantro • Cinnamon • Clove • Cornstarch/corn flour • Cumin • Dill • Eggplant • fava beans • Flour • Garlic • Mint • Nigella • Nutmeg

16. Food Availability • Okra • Olives • Orange flower water • Flat leaf parsley (Italian parsley) • Rose water • Saffron • Salep • Scallions • Sesame seeds (typically ground) • Swiss chard (dark leafy green) • Sumak

17. Basic Meal Pattern • Hors d’oeuvres = Meze • Inexpensive • Exceptions are lobster and prawns • Can make up the entire meal • Kebob comes from the Turkish word “Kebop” • Shwarma is rotisserie meat often lamb • Vegetables are abundant • Prepared with olive oil and grill

18. Acculturation • Almost entirely men • Uncomfortable bringing family because of financial insecurity • Employed as factory workers in major cities • Pay was low and the hours were long • Often moved back to homeland within 10 years • Those who stayed form tight knit groups found at coffee shops

19. Family Structure • They have a strong unity of production and consumption together with common properties and belongings. This type of family-style is increasingly more and more rare in the world today.

20. Family • Husband, wife and unmarried children and is more of the majority to modern Turkish social life today. • Father generally responsible for making the majority income • Mother may contribute by working and if not, will embrace full-time care of the home. • Tradition places the father as the head of the family, but the mother has equal say. The father is the representative and protector of the family whereas the mother tend to all day to day concerns.

21. Emancipation of Women • But before the emancipation of Turkish women in 1926, women were treated very poorly and husbands even had the right to bury their newborn alive if it was a girl. • Polygamy was abolished and child custody became the right of both women and men.

22. Communication & Etiquette • Do not require as much personal space as many other cultures and will stand close to you while conversing. • Do not back away, as this can be taken as unfriendly. • Friends and family greet each other with either one or two kisses on the cheek. • Elders are respected by kissing their right hand then placing the forehead onto the hand.

23. Communication & Etiquette • Once relationship has been established, communication is direct & blunt. • It is very important that you maintain eye contact while speaking with Turks since they take this as a sign of sincerity. • Turks much rather do business with those they know and respect, therefore spend time establishing a personal relationship