My 5 BIGGEST Culture Shocks in Turkey 🇹🇷 an American's perspective

Ahhh yes, the weird and wonderful world of Türkiye 🌞🇹🇷 no matter how much I read up on the country before I arrived, there were still some little things that managed to shock me here and there. If you've been to Türkiye, what things shocked/surprised you upon arrival? Let me know! 💬

—————
📚 My language learning resources and templates:

☕️ buy me a coffee (if you are so inclined!)
—————
💌 social media:

📷 instagram:

🐥 twitter:

🎵 spotify w/ english, german, spanish, and portuguese playlists

—————
💌 about me: my name is Elysse, I'm 23 years old from the southern U.S. I've been learning languages for about 8 years, and I speak English (native), Spanish (C2), German (B2/C1), French (C1), Portuguese (B2), American Sign Language (advanced), and Turkish (A1). I'm interested in learning Hebrew, Chinese, Georgian, and maybe Náhuatl as well :)

video edited by the lovely Ariana Lazo 💌

#languagelearning #polyglot #türkiye

[Hilal-ctuh]

Flying to a country without knowing that they requiere visa must be the most American thing on earth.

[showmoon]

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is not an image but it is an idea. The idea of secularism, voting rights of women, democracy, revolution, resistance, and independence. This is the reason.

[volkanaydin]

If you do not have a visa, you need to enter Turkey through the Syrian or Iranian borders.

[lewessays]

Simply, Atatürk saved Turkey from breaking apart after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
As a foreigner who has studied turkish history to a certain degree....I f*** love the guy lol 😆

[peacefulmind]

I'm sorry, but comparing America's founding fathers with Ataturk is incredibly ridiculous.
Ataturk saved a nation from occupation. America committed genocide against Native Americans. It's not the same thing.

[ahmetgunay]

Atatürk is the founding father of Turkey, like really important dude, okay? War general, Turkish independence, all that shit.

American way to describe a hero, Iol

[Wahwahrah]

I am not even Turkish but my heart has a love for Turkey 🇹🇷 Ataturk I have learnt a lot about him and I love the man he saved Turkey. The country is beautiful, best customer service in the world, men are gentleman I always see them stand up on a dolmush ( Turkish bus) if a woman is standing. Food wonderful, beautiful beaches, mountains, the country is beautiful steeped in history. Instabul is a facinating city I have travelled a lot around the world Turkey is one of my fav countries. It’s secular so the fact that it’s modern is great love you Turkey please don’t change 🎉

[strawberrywhatever]

The reason why Turks love Ataturk is not just he was a war hero and the founder of the country, but the freedom people have gained because of him, especially the freedom of women! while you're there you should do a little research to find out what an amazing man he was.

[nono-fols]

It is CRAZY that you don't know you need a visa but still able to come all the way and stay. it is INCREDIBLY hard for a Turkish person to get a US visa. And if i would somehow buy a plane ticket and went there without a visa there would be no way I'm entering. Damn privileges.

[nafissagani]

I had the same observation about Turkey. The Turkish people are a proud patriotic nation, which is so rare these days. And they all clean, neat and presentable, their self pride is admirable.

[eren]

inanılmaz ya resmen inanılmaz vize dediği de kapıda aldığı pul toplasan 30 dolar falan hadi 50 dolar olsun
birde bizim çektiklerimizi çekse neler der neler ???

İşte düşünün Türkiye'deki bir profesör dr vize alarak Amerika'ya giderken bu arkadaşa karşıdaki vezneden vize pulu al dediler diye şok oluyor inanılmaz ağlıyorum artık ya, off ya off

[samy]

The arrogance of Americans to think they can travel anywhere without a visa. If all countries require a visa to USA why wouldn't you require a visa to travel to other countries too? D'oh....

[ardaarsen]

Yes. 100 years from now we will still stand still at 9:05 every 10th November

[loraivanova]

I'm a Bulgarian who has been learning Turkish for many years. (I began learning like 10 years ago but then I stopped and started learning Greek instead. A year and a half ago I decided to finally improve my Turkish. I'm 25 now...) Anyways. I just wanted to say that I found your reaction at the squat toilets funny. 😅 I mean I understand why you got frustrated. It looks a bit "scary" if you're not used to it. All toilets in my elementary school building were squat toilets. And I still see them/use them when I'm in a smaller village or a resort by the sea... Tbh I don't think Turkey could surprise me with anything for 2 reasons. We're neighbours and we know each other very well. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Plus some of our habits and traditions are pretty similar. Some things are more like Balkan things and not so much Turkish things. But I haven't been to Turkey. I have been listening to Turkish music, watching Turkish series and learning Turkish language for years. But you never know until you experience it by yourself I guess... Anywayyysss. Hopefully you will enjoy your time there. 🇹🇷🖤🇧🇬

[emelyusuff]

But why did you assume that Americans can enter any country in the world without visa. Even they need visa for some countries. Next time do better research instead of blaming people for doing their jobs

[aylinyaman]

Also, you need to read more about Ataturk, because when you do, you will realize your forefathers are not comparable to Ataturk for the span of accomplishments accomplished by a single man. We don’t put him on the pedestal of respect just because he was the founder of Turkey. He literally fought off every country that was on our doorsteps (I mean even Australians were all the way from down under at our western shore), so with his military expertise not only he fended off the countries who were attacking the remnants of Ottoman Empire, but also after founding the Turkish Republic, he made countless reforms he did from clothing to alphabet, from agriculture to economy He made the country secular which was extremely important and modern for a predominantly Muslim country. . He even gave us women’s rights way before some European countries have had their women’s rights at the time. So, again, this man has earned huge respect for more than just founding a country, but also giving it a 180 degree makeover in the best foresighted way possible. As a modern Turkish woman I owe a lot to him, and that is just facts.

[wlogan]

I'm very surprised the airline let you fly without checking for a visa. If you're refused entry, the airline is getting fined and/or has to fly you back.

[ricknoelle]

With regard to the VISA. I don't think you mentioned it but for those curious, it is very easy to get a VISA to travel to Türkiye as a US citizen. You get an eVISA online. It literally takes 5-10 minutes and costs about $50. So don't fret about that. Easily solved.

[mhmtasil]

To understand people's feelings about their flag and Ataturk, I recommend you research Turkish history more deeply. If you research about Turkish salvation war, which was against the biggest countries of the world, you may understand the sacrifices' of people they have made for their countries.

[yorumustasi]

It is your fault, please don’t understand me wrong, when you visit a country you must know the basic rules. Have respect for the police, it is false how you call them, they are right, it is so wrong to fly in a country without the basic informations and without money, because if you have no visa it is possible that you must fly back, in the USA it is the same, and if you don‘t have money, you make Problem for all, for yourself, for the police, for your state if they must help you. Every Police must comminicate with the other Police Officers. It is insult disrespect the Police Officer, they make just his job, they are there to ensure that the law is followed. Make self reflection and you realize that you are wrong. Every visiter is welcome in Turkey if they show respect, i recommend you to show more respect. Greetings from Germany.