“Dear Charlotte: As a regular and interested reader of your column, I wonder if you can help me with this small query, please? I may have the opportunity later in the year to have a friend stay with me in the UK for a few days. He is a Turkish Muslim. He lives in what I understand to be a fairly ‘strict’ part of Turkey (Şanlıurfa). I know that he drinks alcohol, though not often, but I am a little ignorant regarding food. Is it an absolute forgone conclusion that he will only eat halal meat? Or is it possible that he would eat meat that is not halal? Would it be a very naive/offensive question for me to ask him outright? Many thanks. From: Avril (UK)”
Dear Avril: I think your visitor will be touched by your being so considerate. I’d like to ask what other Turks reading this think about your question and offer some feedback. Look forward to hearing more about your time with your visitor.
“Dear Charlotte: I am an exchange student and have been in Turkey about a week. I came across your column in the newspaper and thought I would write and ask you about the major contrast in buildings. It disturbs me to see a shanty place on the front steps of ultralux modern skyscrapers? They are obviously struggling to stay warm in the place that has smoke puffing out of the chimney, plus burning coal is bad for the environment. Are there no zoning laws and regulations on set standards of living for residents? From: Uli (Germany)”
Dear Uli: I am sure you are referring to what is known in Turkish as gecekondu. Gece means “night” and kondu means “landed,” hence gecekondu translates as “landed at night.” Shanty houses and towns began to occur during Turkey’s industrialization and rural migration in the period between 1945 and 1985. These shanties you see dotted across the landscape in urban areas represent a bottom-up, spontaneous action, especially prevalent during the first wave of mass migration, to provide mass housing under conditions in which conventional or government-initiated models of housing supply failed. The act of taking land was sanctioned by the government to pass the costs and political hurdles of urbanization on to the migrants themselves. As long as these newcomers provided for their own welfare and had gardens in their own courtyards and could walk to jobs in nearby industrial factories, it was acceptable. It reduced the costs of urban living. In many cases the place where you see a shantytown or remains of one used to be the periphery of the town. I’ll share more in another piece.
“Dear Charlotte: I read your column this morning ‘Crossing cultures’ (Jan. 29, 2011) and felt like it was addressed to me! I recently graduated and had the choice to move to [Washington] D.C. for a job there or travel to İstanbul for an internship for four months. It was not a difficult decision. … I have absolutely loved my experience thus far I must also admit that it has taken a bit of adjusting. On the plane ride here, I learned merhaba, but that was the extent of my grasp of the Turkish language. Needless to say I realized how helpful knowing the language would be when I got lost on my first day and found myself playing charades with a pedestrian and a police officer (this occurred en route to my Turkish language class, of course). … Both of my roommates are devout Muslims and know English as well as I know Turkish, so we have had a hilarious week of huddling over the mini-dictionary (or Google Translator) and cultural blunders (on my part). I am open minded and thrilled to be immersing myself in a different culture, and … broaden my perspective in innumerable ways. From: A.N. (Louisiana)”
Dear A.N.: Thanks for the feedback and comments. The sentiments you shared at the end of your letter are so true. Just think about the situations in the news these days and the changes evolving.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -- Margaret Mead
