Türkiye

Turkish Culture

Situated between Europe and Asia, Türkiye is slightly larger than Texas and is in a unique position to highlight some of the best qualities of both continents. The beautiful Mediterranean coastline mixes with mountain ranges and farmlands. In Türkiye, the climate varies by region. Coastal areas have a Mediterranean climate with cool wet winters and hot summers.

In more suburban and urban areas, you will be delighted by skylines shaped by a mixture of modern and Ottoman architecture and find colorful markets filled with ceramics, fabrics, handicrafts, exotic spices, rich Turkish coffee and an energetic game of tavla (backgammon board game).

Host a Turkish Student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

In Türkiye, the family is the main social structure. A traditional Turkish household often consists of two parents, any unmarried children, and sometimes, married sons with their families. It is common for married sons live with their parents until they can survive financially on their own. The family may co-exist together in one house, sometimes with each floor belonging to a different family member’s family. Throughout Türkiye, grandmothers or other family members play a big role in child rearing. In the evenings, it’s very common for Turkish families to gather around the dinner table and watch TV and drink tea together. Expect a flow of friends and relatives visiting for coffee, tea, and lively conversations.

Teenage Life in Turkey

Teenagers in Türkiye attend an Anatolian high school, which is a university preparatory secondary school. A typical school day lasts for 7 or 8 hours and allows students to specialize in either mathematics and science or social studies. Turkish children in rural areas start household chores around age seven. In urban areas, children rarely have chores to do. While some young adults leave home to live with friends or to study in a different city, others stay at home. There is an expectation for married children to visit their parents regularly.

Holidays in Türkiye

Official Language

While Turkish is the primary language, English, French, German, and Italian are spoken by many people around the country. Arabic is also spoken in some parts of southeastern Türkiye.

Communication Styles

While it depends largely on situation or context, the Turkish communication style is generally indirect to avoid conflict. Voicing disagreement may be perceived as confrontational, especially when you’re speaking with someone new. Turkish people tend to speak slowly, with a relaxed sense of humor. Eye contact is expected throughout conversation to convey sincerity. Personal space is smaller in Turkish culture than other Western cultures, as people stand close to one another while speaking.

Turkish Diet

Turkish dishes combine Mediterranean and Middle Eastern styles and are quite rich and varied. Eggplant is the number one vegetable and is often paired with meat in a shish kebab. Food is cooked mostly with olive oil and herbs in the western part of the country, whereas meals can be very spicy and meat oriented in the eastern part of Türkiye. Lamb, beef and rice are common ingredients and seafood is abundant on the coast. If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck because Türkiye is famous for its desserts, especially baklava, a sweet pastry, and milk pudding.