Talking about Formula One Turkish Grand Prix held last week, my husband has drawn my attention to the fact that no car, participating in the race, will have any tobacco brand logo on it, since tobacco advertising is restricted in Turkey, which itself it is actually counted as one of the most smoking countries in the world. Once again, that made me think of Turkey as a country of contradictions.
Russia is not a very logical country as well, but being illogical and an ability of combining such different things in one place are different things.
Thinking about the contradictions, I tried to figure out what their origins might be. Some of them, I guess, stem from the fact that Turkey, being a little old-fashioned all the time in the eyes of Europeans, has opened its door to the tourists and, willing or not, had to accept the rules of tourism and try to keep pace with time. Of course, I am not talking about the technological progress. Turkish people in tourism had to revise their view to people’s behavior, communication and lifestyle. They have to blink at many things, which are still not acceptable in their families and communes. If some people just try to treat the new situation with tolerance, accepting foreigners as they are, some go further and behave ugly even in the eyes of open-minded foreigners. For example, gazing at women, scanning them from head to toes and making vulgar comments are very inappropriate thing not only for Turkey, but, unfortunately, became normal for the guys who work in tourism. In fact, if somebody did the same thing to these guys’ girlfriends or wives, they would beat the offender up.
The other thing, which creates more contradictions in Turkey, is concern government’s policy and Turkey’s aspiration to resemble Europe but not willing to give up on its old habits and ideals. Making steps towards Europe, Turkey had to sacrifice people’s right to smoke in closed public places, which was actually a good thing for the non-smokers, but a torture for the smokers, who seem to constitute a majority in here.
Funny, but there is one dish, which doesn’t fit the European standards, and is already prohibited in many places and will be prohibited completely in Turkey, if it joins EU. The dish is called kokoreç and made out of lamb’s tripe. Being loved by many Turkish people this dish is regarded unsanitary.
Still, what I like about Turkey is that it manages to keep its originality and uniqueness, culture and traditions, which is expressed in many small things such as Turkish folksongs motifs presented in modern music, preferring Turkish “fast foods” to McDonald’s and Burger King, and making things its own way. Maybe, being contradictory is one of the things, which fascinates tourists in Turkey and makes them want to come again, dwell on and try to solve this country’s secret.
Finally, I would like to quote one saying: “If you want to waste your life, try to please everyone”. Hopefully, this is not Turkey’s way of living.
