Çay, Kahve, and the Café

Affectionately known as Paul's Place, this café serves as our center for daily activity. As the only barista on shift everyday, Rachel is quickly picking up all sorts of useful Turkish phrases and going way beyond that! Monday she was cooking up a storm: Lentil stew over noodles, Turkish vegetable salad, and her (now "world famous") chocolate cake. She did a great job but has enjoyed getting back to the normal "Çay istermusin?" (Would you like some tea?)

It's a cultural experience to sit around and just observe at times. We often do this at home, it's called "people watching". (You know who you are out there!) But in another culture it takes on a whole new dimension because you may think you understand the situation you observe but in reality it's totally different. Take this morning, for example...

I'm sitting in the garden planning an English lesson. A group of foreigners and Turks come sit at my table with their breakfast pastries. A Turkish friend of mine turns to me and offers some..."no, thanks"..."no, try some"..."no, thanks"..."really, you're not hungry"..."no, but thank you". Most would assume this a bit pushy and even rude. My friend quickly explained though that all Turks offer at least three times and most Turks receiving will not take it until the third offer. Ha! Good to know.

This is our way to stay out of the sun from 11:00-3:00 and learn the Turkish language and culture and it is an amazing privilege. So, the next time you're out people watching at Starbucks or the mall, stop and ask yourself "why do we do that?" You might just learn something new about your own culture.