Turkish People hosting an Indian girl

One of the most enriching experience that I had been living with the Turkish people. I must agree that Turkish people are one of the most hospitable people you will meet while traveling in Turkey. They treat their guests with so much love & care that it is bound to leave your heart touched. And I got this chance to live with Turkish people not once but thrice during my time in Turkey. And I was delighted.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE:

My first experience was right in Eskisehir where my friend hosted me for two days before I embarked on my journey. I was almost homeless when she came in and asked me that I could stay with her for a couple of days. I instantly agreed. She was living in a student hostel as she was studying in this city but was originally from another place. She also gave me her bed which was so generous of her. We both had fun in her apartment cooking Indian food, talking, going for walks and did many more things for those two days. I’m so glad I met her there in Turkey & she is more than a friend to me. She is like my sister.

With my friend in Eskisehir

MY SECOND EXPERIENCE:

I lived with a host family in an offbeat city called as Salihli, which lies in the Manisa province, almost 1 hour by road from Izmir. We had been there to meet our friends and to spend some time with them. Although, we had no plans of staying there over-night, we ended up staying with one of the families. They offered us to stay with them & we immediately accepted the offer. It was just too late to go back to Izmir and we wanted to spend some more time with them before we were back on our journey.

The very first day we went to one of the historical site and then ended up having a small barbecue picnic outside the town in a small garden. I really cannot remember the last time that I went on a picnic like that. It was just the perfect way to spend an evening with everyone. Gathering, talking, playing & finally eating.

The next day we started with the breakfast, where I ate one of the best home-made cakes ever: the German cake. No one knows why it’s called the German cake. The host family had baked it but I couldn’t stop eating it. After that, we headed to a tiny village called as Caberkamara Koyu, the hometown of our host, to meet with his family & for lunch. He had a farm full of grapes with all kinds of variety. Laughing, playing and eating fresh grapes directly from the grapevines was exactly how it was. I remember that my friend, who is absolutely crazy about fruits, was overjoyed looking at the farm. She couldn’t stop eating & clicking pictures of the fruits in various angles. Personally, I had never been to a grape-yard before and it was the first time I had experienced something this amazing. 

Later that day, the lunch almost made me nostalgic as it was after weeks that I had eaten something home-made. It instantly reminded me of Indian home-made food (Maa ke haath ka khana). Nothing beats home-made food cooked by mothers/fathers. Everyday eating in a café, restaurant or rather cooking by myself had kind of made me sick of outside food. Hence I savored each & every bite with utmost satisfaction. After such a hearty meal it was time to bid adieu to such a remarkable experience. We left with so many promises of meeting each other again sometime in the future. Why does good times always comes to an end? Sigh! Nevertheless, I really wish to meet them again sometime.

With Turkish people in Caberkamara manisa Turkey

MY THIRD EXPERIENCE:

The, second, and the most bewildering experience I had been in Yalova, when an old friend invited me to stay with her family. We met each other almost after a year & i couldn’t have been any happier. She picked me up from the bus station & took me to her house. All along the way, we were reminiscing our time when we had first met in Egypt and talking about our experiences there. On reaching, we were thrilled to see the view from her house. There were swimming pools, beach and plenty other activities to do in her complex.

Soon after we headed straight to the beach for the spectacular sunset. It was windy and the sky was changing colors every minute. It was a sight to behold. One of the best sunsets I had seen in Turkey. We talked a lot & clicked plenty of pictures & then headed off for dinner. It was another home cooked meal for dinner & that reminded me of Indian home-made food once again (maa ke haath ka khana). It was so delicious that I couldn’t stop eating even though I was so full. Later with a food baby, we walked around the complex with an ice-cream (there’s always room for dessert). That night we played the ever-famous Turkish game: Okay. Yeah! that’s the name of the game ‘OKAY’. The next morning, my best friend prepared delicious breakfast for us and later we all headed off to the pool for a swim & some relaxation.

I was here for just one day but I wish I had stayed longer.

We are crazy

CONCLUSION ABOUT TURKISH PEOPLE:

Turkish people are really very kind and hospitable. They treat their guests with a considerable amount of respect and within no time you feel at home when you are with them. Not only as a guest but also as a traveler I received lots of help, warmth & love from strangers even when we both couldn’t speak each other’s language. Humanity is the only religion they say. They say the truth. 

13 thoughts on “Turkish People hosting an Indian girl

  1. What an amazing experience you had! I think if more people got to really spend time with people in different countries and from different cultures, we would all get along so much better.

  2. It’s so nice that you started with a friend in Turkey. It helps in a foreign place! Staying with locals totally enriches your experience of a place. The food, historic knowledge, places you would not otherwise see, I’d say you are very lucky!

    I have never heard the term ‘food baby’ before. I assume it means full stomach. Right?

    It’s good to know that Turkish people are so friendly. Thanks!

  3. Being in a person’s home and eating a home cooked meal is fantastic. It seems extra special when it’s outside your hometown or country. How long were you in Turkey?

    I recently was welcomed into the home of my new friend’s family in Mexico. I do live here, but it was the first of that type of experience. They happened to be serving home Pozole, my husband’s new favorite soup. The experience gave me the warm fuzzies. The kids welcomed my non-Spanish speaking kids and everyone had a wonderful time. I won’t soon forget the experience.

  4. What a wonderful experience and a reminder of the generosity of mankind. I’ve been warmly welcomed into people’s homes before and it is humbling and fun. Eating home cooked meals and living with the locals is truly an enriching experience. Wishing you many more such experiences in the future.

  5. Sounds like you’ve had some unbelievable experiences with local Turkish families, the BBQ picnic must have been great, right outside the historical site 😀 – As long-term traveler I find that these are the types of things that make traveling what it is. The experiences you have, the interactions with locals, and feeling their friendliness. You friend didn’t have to give up her bed for you but she did it out of kindness and friendship. 😀

  6. I’m so glad you had a great experience and it seems your hosts were kind and generous! I think homemade food really is the best and it’s so awesome you were able to experience that in such a genuine setting. I will have to look up this okay game. What does it entail? How is it played? It would have been nice if you elaborated on that point a little more.

    I’m also curious why you made the distinction of Indian girl in your title. What, if any difference, is there between Turkish people hosting an Indian girl and any other type of human being. I was waiting for you to get to that point but you never did. Could you explain this distinction?

    1. Hi Jose! I don’t really think that there is any distinction of them hosting me or any other person from another country. The only reason for me to mention Indian in my title is because I’m an Indian and this post basically revolves around my experience with them.

      Also the game you’re asking about okay is kind of hard to explain in words for me. It’s only when you start playing you’ll understand how it works & it’s rules. I hope you find some info on it especially from someone who plays this game quite often.

  7. I have several friends from Turkey, and I can concur that they’re some of the most warm, kind and hospitable people I’ve ever met. I’ve also heard and read from a lot of travelers that staying with local families (as opposed to a hotel, etc.) is really the best way to soak in the culture. I’m glad that all three experiences you had turned out so well and were so memorable!

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