While she sits at my feet, she yawns as I type away, and she stretches as I contemplate, but as soon as she hears the Microsoft jingle, she sits up with excitement. She knows when the jingle plays that I have stopped working. She is aware that something is going to happen. She has high hopes it will be something that includes her and the things she enjoys.My dog and I have different ideas and perceptions about how to spend the day. Ginger, and for that matter, Kila, too, believe the day should be spent on important dog activities such as walking, hiking and eating, whereas I need to spend time working.
I've noticed that in my neighborhood an increasing number of Turks now have dogs as pets. When you go to the nearby park at certain times during the day, it is crowded with dog owners walking their dogs and children playing. It's a nice family atmosphere.
Until that point of taking the dogs out, I always think I am being incredibly self-disciplined and hardworking, but my dogs perceive it totally differently: They see me sitting motionless and banging on a keyboard while staring at a screen that glows. From their perspective, I sit in a particular chair hitting a machine for hours and am wasting away a beautiful sunny day.
If they had their way, we'd go for walks in the morning, at noon and at night and spend more time sniffing and exploring and eat at least four or five times a day, not just once.
Sometimes when you are new to a place you soon discover that locals spend their time differently from what you are used to.
You'll soon realize that the majority of Turkish men and boys love their favorite national sport: soccer.
Turkish men don't just love soccer, they are crazy about it. If you've been here in warm weather, you know that every street is a soccer pitch in the summer and open to all ages.
If you would like to support one of Turkey's well-known teams, allow me to offer you some tips. The best teams are:
Beşiktaş (İstanbul), black and white
Fenerbahçe (İstanbul), navy and yellow
Galatasaray (İstanbul), red and yellow
Trabzonspor (Trabzon), maroon and blue
Turks love their soccer stars. “Cim Bom Bom” is a chant you'll hear chanted in the streets when there is a Galatasaray game. They are often disappointed with the performance of foreign stars or trainers, but they still have many. Turkey has been successful in Europe and the World Cup.
Turks will definitely ask you who you support. You'll impress them if you are knowledgeable about Turkish teams. They are definitely well informed about European teams.
Generally, few women attend games unless they are accompanied by a male. It is only more recently that females have shown more of an interest in soccer. When I lived in Ihlamur, a neighborhood in the district of Beşiktaş, I always knew when there was a game at the home stadium near Dolmabahçe Palace because the streets and avenues were covered in flags of all shapes and sizes, making it easy for me to learn the colors of the team quickly.
Turks asked me what my favorite team was and were always surprised when I told them the Beşiktaş Black Eagles.
Turkish fans are true fanatics. Every soccer game is like a festival with firecrackers and drums, and supporters dress in team uniforms and wave team flags and scarves; many will have their faces painted in the colors of their favorite team. If you can't go to the game, many cafes have large screens and show the match live. When the favorite team scores or wins, crowds roar and gunshots ring throughout the city. If the local team wins, celebratory processions form down main thoroughfares, with individuals waving flags and cheering while drivers honk horns.
My dogs think all this is nonsense. Walks are better.
Of course, now that I live in Erenköy, I've become a supporter of Fenerbahçe. And whenever Turkish teams play abroad, I support whatever team plays for Turkey.
Note: Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman’s readers. Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
