The Ottoman Empire at its greatest extent. Turkey is bordered by Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Iran and Nakhchivan to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Turks are proud of their country and will enjoy answering questions on their culture and history although be sure to avoid political history. It will comprise of a few courses with the main course always meat or fish based, accompanied by bread and a salad. When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone greet the most elderly or most senior first. The culture of Turkey combines a heavily diverse and heterogeneous set of elements that have been derived from the various cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asian region and Eastern European, and Caucasian traditions. You will gain an understanding of a number of key areas including: Once you've read this guide, ensure the success of your Turkey business venture by: Location: southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria, Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior, Ethnic Make-up: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated), Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews), Government: republican parliamentary democracy. There are numerous taxis all over Turkey, which are recognisable by their checkered black and yellow bands. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. This, at times, tends to be coupled with a hug. Within Turkish companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. If you come from a different culture these might seem like very personal questions. Relationships are fostered in the office, over extended lunches, dinners, and social outings. When departing it is not always customary to shake hands although it is practised occasionally. Punctuality is expected although you should be prepared to be kept waiting. The quality of tap water varies from region to region but it is not used for drinking purposes in any part of the country.
Even on shopping trips, stall owners might offer you a tulip shaped glass filled with sweet black tea. Indeed, here are more dating culture in Turkey that you may want to know: 7. The Currency.
Istanbul alone has a population of about 11 million. It is most likely that you will meet and negotiate with less senior members of a family first. Free-roaming cats and dogs are found everywhere – from the doorstep of Starbucks on the Bosphorus and the hectic entry of a popular nightclub to luxurious beaches on the Mediterranean coast. A few similarities exist though and knowledge of these will help you to enjoy your time in the country even more. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They are not being rude, but just simply saying no. Do not use deadlines or pressure tactics as the Turks will use this to their advantage and reverse the tactic by threatening to cancel agreements or end negotiations. Even if you have had your fair share of food, it is quite certain, that you will be told on more than one occasion to eat more and more. Leaving a car in the middle of the street, while popping into the local shop, is common and the horn is a frequent everyday object to be used to the drivers advantage. Even when completing a bank transaction, someone might stand next to you, asking the teller about their own personal financial details. Prior to negotiations know your target figure and work slowly towards it through meaningful concessions. The system as a whole is referred to as the Pontic Mountains (Doğukaradeniz Dağları). Taxis operate using a metering system which starts at a base fare of 2.95 TL. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. Tickets or coins are used for the public transportation in Istanbul, however over 60% of passengers use the “smart ticket” (Akbil) system with an electronic chip. Asking after their team's recent fortunes will always. Similarly women should wear smart professional outfits. They tend to work extremely hard and long hours; so, taking a job in Turkey is not an easy task for a foreigner. Do not back away, as this can be construed as unfriendly. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. When negotiating, the Turks will start at extremes in order to gage your response. So, foreigners are usually hired for teaching, working in large international companies or by press agencies that require native expertise in a foreign language in one of their branches in Turkey. The northern folded zone comprises a series of mountain ridges, increasing in elevation toward the east, that occupy a belt about 90 to 125 miles (145 to 200 km) wide immediately south of the Black Sea.
Men should not wear shorts. During the holy month of Ramazan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk.
Research of road attitudes is strongly advised if you want to drive in Turkey. Cove on a port along the coast of the Black Sea, Amasra, Turkey. Although first encounters tend to include a handshake, when meeting a friend or someone you already know, the general rule is to kiss both cheeks regardless of gender. Turkish pottery is now one of the symbols of the Turkish culture. Before arriving to look for work in Turkey, it is better to find and make contact with a company that will offer you a job. The country has a north-south extent that ranges from about 300 to 400 miles (480 to 640 km), and it stretches about 1,000 miles from west to east. The remainder—Turkish Thrace (Trakya)—lies in the extreme southeastern part of Europe, a tiny remnant of an empire that once extended over much of the Balkans. One thing you will soon realize when visiting Turkey is part of the Turkish culture involves being very sociable. The 50-page document has been authored by one of our Turkey country specialists and provides readers with much more detail that our free guide above. Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to schedule appointments at that time. It is always a good idea to bring gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items. Manager, 'Mudur Bey'. It is acceptable to just wear a shirt with trousers and in most cases to not wear a tie.
However, it’s okay to use it to cook food, make tea after boiling it and brushing your teeth as long as you don’t swallow the water. Building a relationship with your Turkish counterpart(s) is therefore critical. As the most important meals of the day and an ideal opportunity for friends and family to gather, you may receive an invitation to breakfast rather than dinner. Talking about sensitive historical issues, such as the Armenian issue or the division of Cyprus. East of the Yeşil the system is higher, narrower, and steeper. All fish and kebab restaurants have meat-free mezes on their menu that include yogurt, herbs, hummus and eggplant salad. This can apply to men as well and is normal social behaviour.
It may be a good idea to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to accept payment from your guests. Pre-school, primary, secondary and higher education institutions are part of the formal educational system in Turkey. Turkey is divided into seven regions: Marmara, Aegean, Black Sea Mediterranean (Southern), Anatolian plateau, Eastern Anatolia, and South Eastern Anatolia, which are further sub-divided into 81 provinces. Regular passenger ferries and fast ferries also provide services for passengers wishing to travel between the shores of Bosphorus.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html, http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/turkey/livinginturkey/Pages/Welcome.aspx, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=turkish-citizens-mistrustful-of-foreigners-opinion-poll-says-2011-05-02, http://www.turkishclass.com/forumTitle_22081, http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_tr.htm, http://www.meb.gov.tr/english/indexeng.htm, http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205403094_text, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/18/turkish-taboos, http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Turkey.html, http://www.lingo24.com/knowledge/business-intelligence/turkey/, A Job in Dublin : 5 Reasons to Work in Ireland, Top 6 areas with job vacancies in Germany in 2020. You may hear this from a waiter, a secretary, taxi driver, doorman, shop staff and many others. Turkey is often referred to by travel and history experts as the gateway to Europe and the Middle East. The avid tea drinkers that they are, shopkeepers will interrupt your shopping spree by offering tea. However, students can be granted financial support, if they do not have the funds necessary to continue their education. A lady wearing a traditional headscarf usually does so because of religious beliefs and occasionally you might see a woman in a full length burka. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. These narrows—which include the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles—are known collectively as the Turkish straits; Turkey’s control of the straits, the only outlet from the Black Sea, has been a major factor in its relations with other states. Nine Things To Know About Turkish Culture, Why invest in Beyoglu Istanbul real estate, Lycia's incredible legacy, the Lycian Way, EU negotiations and Turkish property prices, Download macro-economic & investment analysis, Should I use a solicitor to buy property in Turkey, Buying property in Turkey through a company, Capital Gains Tax On Sale Of Turkish Property, VAT exemption when buying Turkish real estate, Cameron At social occasions greet the person closest to you then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise. When conceding ensure you present this as a favour and a decision made out of respect and liking for your counterpart(s). Although this is changing with the influx of big multi-nationals and a more corporate culture in some of the larger companies, many businesses are still family owned and run. Because of Turkey’s geographical position, the improvement of transport is a priority for both its economy and its social development. It is best to ask a florist for advice on what is best to take. The doctoral programs consist of courses, a doctoral qualifying examination (both written and oral), and the defending of a doctoral thesis. The pedestrian crossing doesn’t mean much so don’t expect any car to stop for you when you’re walking to the other side. All Rights Reserved. Simply change the country name depending on which guide you are referencing. Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance, preferably by telephone.
Certain gestures and body language have different meanings varying from rude to insulting and offensive, such that the following should be avoided: Standing with your hands on your hips or in your pockets. Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Durham, England. You will be expected to wear a suit and tie. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. Business dress is conservative. Turkey is in the Eastern European Time Zone and adheres to EET (UTC +2) during the winter and EEST (UTC +3) during the months of March to October.