As any foreigner will observe, Türkiye is sort of a health-obsessed nation. The folks right here are inclined to eat seasonally with an emphasis on contemporary produce and fermented meals and there’s a lengthy legacy of medicinal teas and cures as evident at any farmers’ markets. This could come as no shock as Hippocrates, thought-about the founding father of recent drugs, was born and died simply kilometers away from Türkiye’s shoreline.
What I infer is that the Turks could certainly know the very best practices to remain wholesome. Reality or fiction, there are some peculiarities surrounding well being that Turks are captivated with which will merely be misplaced in translation for foreigners.
Subsequently, here’s a information to a few of the quirks the Turks have surrounding well being which will appear peculiar to these from different cultures.
Breezes are dangerous
That is the time of yr when prior to now, viral movies have made their technique to the net depicting anyplace from passive-aggressive to full-on arguments in transportation the place one passenger opens the window to get air, whereas one other instantly runs to close it. It’s because most Turks have an aversion to being in direct contact with a breeze or a fan as they consider it can end in them catching the demise of chilly and particularly if they’ve damaged a sweat beforehand.
The upside of that is that just about each outside institution can have a pile of pashmina-like shawls out there for his or her patrons ought to anybody begin to really feel chilly.
AC even worse
Many a Turkish-foreign coupling can attest to the truth that probably the most primary splits of opinions can encompass an air conditioner. The identical may be mentioned for these overseas gym-goers in Türkiye. It’s because, along with breezes, Turks even have a definite distaste for air conditioners.
Whereas they could be proper as there are instances of Legionnaires illness surfacing because of the comforting equipment, the remark that air conditioners may cause facial paralysis is simply thrown round means too typically for consolation. Subsequently, many gyms received’t even flip the air conditioner on and when putting in the equipment they have an inclination to situate it in a nook the place it can come into the least quantity of direct contact with the people it’s supposed to chill down.
Sitting on stones
Whereas the nation is laden with gorgeous stonework buildings, partitions and platforms, Turks refuse to take a seat on them. Based on a number of warnings acquired prior to now, sitting on a stone is perceived to trigger urinary, ovarian and intestinal points. Equally, virtually each seaside in Türkiye is roofed with plastic solar loungers in order that no person has to truly lay on the sand. Coming from California and Los Angeles at that, this has at all times been a conundrum for me as a result of I don’t assume I ever sunbathed on a lounger on the seaside, these have been reserved solely for poolside conditions.
As a substitute, the seaside is the place you’d lay out your towel instantly on the sand and whereas that is practically unimaginable to do these days in Türkiye, it was positively a serious a part of the entire seaside expertise personally whereas rising up.
Slippers, vital private objects
I don’t assume I even owned a pair of slippers earlier than residing in Türkiye. Nonetheless, right here it’s positively a vital merchandise. A lot in order that households may even have spare slippers out there for visitors. There are additionally seaside slippers and slippers to put on at house, that are each distinctly totally different.
This custom is principally as a result of, in Türkiye, one would by no means enter a house with out taking their sneakers off. If there may be any takeaway from this text, it needs to be this. At all times, I repeat, slippers or not, at all times take your sneakers off on the door whenever you arrive at an individual’s abode. Equally, ought to your bag or any piece of clothes hit the ground, the very first thing anybody will do is straight away choose it up for you. Whereas I now actually abide by these cleanliness guidelines, simply to present perspective and whereas fairly an excessive instance maybe, my highschool in Santa Monica had a “sneakers elective” coverage.
No chilly treats in winter
That is one wholesome custom I’ve admittedly not gotten the hold of, however Turks don’t devour ice cream, lemonade or chilly water in winter. In most conditions when one orders water they may even be requested in the event that they would like chilly or room temperature water, which is simply not a factor in my native U.S. In reality, many people nonetheless yearn for tall glasses stuffed with ice cubes for our sodas at any time of the yr, alas most eateries received’t even have ice out there within the colder season months. I consider the idea is that chilly drinks trigger a sore throat, nonetheless, I will need to have constructed up some immunity to that because it actually has by no means occurred to me personally.
No moist hair, swimsuits
Turks may even by no means depart the house with moist hair within the winter months that’s for certain. Whereas this may occasionally make good sense, one customized I don’t perceive is the necessity to change swimsuits after each dip within the sea or a pool. There have to be a great cause for the observe, which I initially assumed was merely for folks to disclose their totally different summer time kinds as a result of it’s positively a steadfast observe for well being issues corresponding to getting an upset abdomen or some type of inner an infection I consider.
Nonetheless, when the seaside golf equipment this summer time resemble the style runways of Paris, know that they’re placing on the most popular present on the town to remain wholesome and to not exhibit.
No garlic, onions in public
Whereas not essentially spurred by well being issues, a peculiar trait of Turks is to decide on to not partake in something that features onions or garlic ought to they’ve some type of social engagement following. Maybe that is simply good sense and is actually kinder to these they plan to breathe upon, I had by no means heard of the idea earlier than arriving in Türkiye, a rustic which apparently sufficient has onions and garlic in practically each dish ready.
That is simply to clear the air for any misunderstandings as as to if your Turkish companion has an aversion to garlic or onions or if they’re merely abstaining in your personal profit, during which case you would possibly need to do the identical, I assume.
