Well… Been living in Turkey for almost a year, a lot of eye-opening experiences I might not find elsewhere. We (Turks and my people) actually share similar cultures but when looking closer the faux pas would vividly appear and sometimes create conflicts if the people involved are clumsy and emotional. Awkward to see something so familiar yet so different.

• please do not sit cross-legged. It's considered impolite especially in front of elders. Just try holding your legs from making that style when they are still around

• when someone comes, the host says “hoşgeldiniz” (welcome). The person replies with “hoşbulduk” (glad to come here) or “sağol” (thanks) or a smile would do. For muslims, starting with “assalamu'alaikum (selamün aleyküm in Turkish)” is always better.

• “çay? Kahve?” (Tea? Coffee?) is many times asked even within a single day, even in random mid-day(s). Not letting anyone have nothing in their mouth :D

• My country sees 9p.m as maximum, considering their visit would bother the host otherwise. Turks' normal visit hour can last to 11pm or even later. I researched this before marrying one. Night talk at their own parents' can last to 2a.m. That's what happened during our visit to my husband parents'. Asking permission for your own rest is still forgiven.

• oh oh, DO NOT hang your underwear outside, it's considered ayıp (shameful). Do it and see your neighbors especially the landlord telling you to stop it. Let them dry on the indoor hanger. It's like a must to have one in the house.

• We greet elders by kissing their hands. Turks do it by kissing their hands and stick them to forehead (not the elders' foreheads, careful).

• I see when they are (almost) equal in term of age, they stick their cheeks or hugs 3x (right-left-right) while saying “selamün aleyküm”

• Now elders to children especially when the elder loves the child so much (e.g grandma-grandson relationship), she would probably kiss his face non-stop. If the grandson happens to have a wife, both get treated the same. That's a deep love expression especially if the couple is cute.

• An elder might still slip you some money when you farewell after the kissing part even if you are almost 30. Another love expression, anyone?

• Keep yourself from blabbering about politics especially PKK in public. People might hear and come to and fight you over it.

• AKBANK is pronounced akbank, not akabank. Pronouncing it the second way leads to a harsh word (I was told that).

• Those whose habit is calling someone's name partially rather than fully, in Turkey keep yourself safe from making that mistake. Much safer to call someone original way. A name Nalan supposed to be pronounced Nalan instead of “Lan” for it could lead to a drastic change of meaning. You don't know what Turkish name meanings would change into when they are shortened. If you are a foreigner doing it unknowingly and have a kind friend, he/she might tell you to stop it. Meanwhile in another circumstance it might get you in trouble if they don't or they won't understand you being a foreigner possessing only some basic Turkish.

• On the bus when you sit and see an elder/a pregnant lady or anyone who needs it more than you, you should give it or a passenger would tell you to get up.

• People on a wheelchair get helped when they seem needing it everywhere. It happened on several buses I was on. I was glad they didn't frown at the needies nor keep themselves grey-rock.

• It was raining cats and dogs and so we were trapped in a convenient store (A101). We just intended to wait for it to stop since it would be dangerous climbing down the way home as well as we might have gotten ill after. Suddenly a complete stranger who happened to pay before or after us asked where our house was and offered a car ride. He took us literally to the house gate then just left. We were grateful for the help and impressed by the hospitality.

• When sitting around such as on a mosque bench you might get offered a sweet or badem (almond) and/or kuru üzüm (raisin). Happened to me at Yeni Valide Camii as a group of Turkish ladies tried talking to me in Turkish and English then offered their kuru (dry) snacks. They were so welcoming.

• On special Islamic days, you might get a lokum given by someone around the mosque you sit at. Also happened to me. I got rose-flavored one but I raised a question “is it free?” Lol since it's in Fatih area (Firuz Ağa Camii) and anything could be a trap. But it was free and he happily offered to the visitors.

• “Kapat” or “close” in Turkish is something your landlord might tell you if you cook something spicy of your culture and let the kitchen and bathroom doors open mainly if the bathroom is somehow integrated with the apartment hallway by a ventilation but keep the kitchen window closed instead.

• Ok this one wasn't acted out by a Turk. I was in Topkapı sarayı waiting for my husband to finish a namaz (I waited outside the prayer room as I couldn't perform namaz that time). Then an old couple came to wonder if it's a prayer room, standing around me to check it from outside. I confirmed and had a talk with the lady. We exchanged basic stories about who we were. They were muslims from London. When she found out I just got married she congratulated me and made some du'a (supplication). Then we farewelled. But she talked to her husband in a low voice then like the bolt from the blue she came back to give me a bracelet! “It's a gift from us”, I was gonna say no but my surprise of their lovely attention beat my rejection. Her husband also waved at me when I was thanking them, after that they sincerely farewelled. That's one stunning experience with strangers. It captured my heart, Masha Allah. I still safely keep the gift. Apart from the wicked ones, you'll see uncountable great people in Turkey.

• Turkish food fitting me: egg+sucuk, salam, Adana kebab, durum, Beyti, Ali Nazik, domates kebab, mixed kebab, lahmacun, pide, İskender (especially by Hummus restaurant in Istanbul and Kayhan in Bursa), tarhana, mercimek, börek, bulgur, gözleme, and… and… Never ending. Ok it has nothing to do with politeness ^^

• I got a hard time getting my husband’s way of saying no by raising his eyebrows. “Do you want more tomatoes?” asking him, his eyebrows rose. “What? Yes?”, he responded with eyebrows again. “So yes or no?” I didn't get it, he said “this *pointing his risen eyebrows* means no”. Lol it took several months to get used to it, it's totally different meaning in my country. But now almost everytime I raise my eyebrows I remember him.

Those were just few I shared here, more in my pocket. Almost all the things I had were dear to my heart. Turkey always rents a special place in me.