Turkish Hospitality

Below is an article I stumbled across which speaks to the hospitality I have been so fortunate to experience during my stay in Turkey thus far. The author, an American expat living in Turkey, compares Turkey to the United States, but many of hiscomparisons would stand true for Canadian culture as well.

http://www.todayszaman.com/news-201785-132-expat-voice-individualism-vs-the-all-for-one-and-one-for-all-approach.html

One line in particular stood out to me:
There seems to be the collective belief that “we are team members, we are an extended family.”
Just the other evening, the owners of the pansiyon, using Captain as a translator, politely asked that I join them at their table in the courtyard once I was done on my computer- as I was considered to be one of the family.

And similarly:
I don’t worry too much about being stranded in a place where I’m lost, unable to access money and no one speaks English, because my experience tells me the Turks will take care of me. They’ll lead me by the hand to someone they know who speaks English, stay with me until I’ve found my way or even spring for the cost of a cab or bus ride until I’m able to access cash. 

This sentiment could not ring more true for how I feel on my own here- I have found myself getting on ATVs, climbing into ragged cars, and following strangers more often than I ever would have imagined or considered "safe." But there's something about this place....the hospitality, friendliness, and incredible generosity that reassures me every time. Plus they invented Turkish delights.