the turkish way

One of the hardest things for me to get used to is the 'turkish way' of paying for things. I am so used to fending for myself. All my friends can attest to my massive penny pinching techniques and here, that just doesnt work. The turkish way is one person pays the bill. Whats mine is yours. share share share. I know you are thinking whats the problem? that sounds pretty good right? Well yes and no. Yes, i love the idea of community living, its fabulous and makes life great. I love that i come home and my roommates have made dinner and offer me some. They always make plenty. Whats bad is that I need to return the favor. Im never here at nights since that is when i teach. And I just dont see it panning out, Also im confused as to what food we share and what we dont share. Apparently bread is community. There are things that I dont wnt to share that ive started to just keep in my room. That would basically be my treasured peanut butter and nutella. I feel horrible that I just cant wrap my head around how everything evens out. When i go out for a drink i want to pay for my drink and not everyone elses to. I keep a close watch on my money and right now I havent been paid, so seeing 30 lira go on a round of drinks is devestating to me. HOwever it is rude if I dont take a turn. Something to get used to.. or i try to suggest cheaper things to do!

Another thing i have notices is how turkish people justleave food out. In america we are super concerned with food safety. Here not so much. People will make dinner and leave it on the stove. I believe ther is still spagetti on the stove from 2 or 3 days ago. Refridgerators arent prized possessions in turkey and microwaves are almost unheard of. Leftovers? no, you eat it now, maybe some a little later in the night but you never put it in the fridge to eat the next day. That is another penny pinching thing i cant shake, which is why most nights i just have a sandwich to eat.

Oh the things to get used to. Last night i went out with a turkish friend and his roommate for his birthday. It was actually a really fun night. all of our plans failed miserable so we sat on istiklal street (the main road in taksim) and had a beer and people watched. Some drunk old man kept talking to them in kurdish and it reminded me of all the drunk old man stories from minneapolis. It was very entertaining. Then one of the people selling roses walked by and the guy whos birthday it wasnt, stopped him bought me a rose and sat back down. Turkish people know how to flatter a women.

Oh the woman flattering note. I did decide that in all the aspects i think american men are failing me, most turkish men are over the top.. Why is there no middle ground?