People
Our rare conversations with Turks have been unfailingly friendly, even effusive. Turks are indeed hospitable, perhaps because hospitality is one of the five pillars of Islam. Everyone wants to visit the US or, if they have, it was the trip of their dreams. Far more often, however, we just enjoy watching them.
Language
Some public signage and many menus are in Turkish and English (but not German or French or Chinese or whatever). So though we’re more language-deprived here than anywhere we’ve been, we English speakers do have it easier than other visitors. Still, a few more Turkish words are looking familiar: Omlet, Salata, Çokolata for chocolate, Büfe for buffet, Kahve for coffee, Okul (like the French école) for school, Asansör (like the French ascenseur) for elevator, Bagaj for baggage, Resepsiyon for reception, Müze for museum, Turizm for tourism, Bira for beer, Biftek for beefsteak, Adres for address, Pilav for rice, etc.
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