We went to the bank yesterday, and as we were sitting around waiting for our number to be called, I was reminded of a cultural difference I often notice but fail to report: the Turkish inclination to flash money. Now, perhaps it’s not so strange to see people holding money in a bank, but in most banks in the United States and Europe, people would keep their money concealed until they got up to the counter. In Turkey, if you look around the bank waiting area you notice that most people have their money out where everyone can see it. Check this guy, for instance— even though he has an envelope in his hand, he has taken the money out of it, and as you can see, it’s a stack of hundreds about half an inch thick. If I measure, for example, the first hundred pages of a book, it’s about the same thickness as that stack. So that’s, what, $10,000? I saw him counting the money at one point, and can confirm it’s not a stack of singles with a hundred on top.
I guess in the bank itself, my Western panic about “don’t give people a temptation to mug you” is a bit silly, since there are two heavily armed guards at the bank door and no one would be stupid enough to try mugging someone. Still, I don’t feel comfortable displaying my cash. I was raised to think that finances are a very private thing, and that you should guard any information, including how much money you have in your pocket, from prying eyes.
Turks seem proud of how much they have— I have Turkish friends who have absolutely no problem telling strangers how much they make every month and how much is in their bank account at any given moment, even if it’s not a lot. And if they come into some unexpected money, they announce it as they would the birth of a child, and everyone celebrates the good fortune together.
Me, if I won some money or had some other windfall, I wouldn’t tell anyone outside my household. Aside from the fact that I don’t feel it’s anyone’s business how much money I have, I have a healthy dose of cynicism in me— I’ve certainly been on the receiving end of people coming out of the woodwork, and in my experience the only way to avoid it is not to let people know when you’re unexpectedly flush. Most of the Turks I know would be happy to tell everyone how much they won, and give a loan to whomever asked for one. They’re so much nicer than I am.
So you’re saying… you won the lottery, but you’re not going to tell anyone? Like, ever?
*ponders*
So you’re saying… you won the lottery, but you’re not going to tell anyone? Like, ever?
*ponders*
I too am not in the habit of displaying any money that I carry, nor tell people how much I earn a month. And I wouldn’t even dream of telling anyone if I won, say, the state lottery. And I am a Turk.
I too am not in the habit of displaying any money that I carry, nor tell people how much I earn a month. And I wouldn’t even dream of telling anyone if I won, say, the state lottery. And I am a Turk.
@RJ: hahaha, my lips are sealed. 😀
@RJ: hahaha, my lips are sealed. 😀
@taujb: Of course, I never said that *all* Turks do this… I was just making a general statement based on my observations from living here. That’s why I said, “most of the Turks I know” instead of “every Turk in the whole world.” 🙂
@taujb: Of course, I never said that *all* Turks do this… I was just making a general statement based on my observations from living here. That’s why I said, “most of the Turks I know” instead of “every Turk in the whole world.” 🙂
I think that guy in the picture is my long lost uncle twice removed! Did you get his number? 😉
I think that guy in the picture is my long lost uncle twice removed! Did you get his number? 😉
@Matt: actually, I’m pretty sure it’s my dad. 🙂
@Matt: actually, I’m pretty sure it’s my dad. 🙂
@Melissa: Maybe we are related? :))
@Melissa: Maybe we are related? :))
haha, nice observation.
on my rare visits to the bank, i rarely do that for time optimization 😀 in other words, to get my work done faster, if my queue thingy is close. so i don’t make anyone wait longer and i don’t wait myself.
haha, nice observation.
on my rare visits to the bank, i rarely do that for time optimization 😀 in other words, to get my work done faster, if my queue thingy is close. so i don’t make anyone wait longer and i don’t wait myself.
@alper: Hmmm, good point… I’m like you, I rarely go to the bank anyway! 😀
@alper: Hmmm, good point… I’m like you, I rarely go to the bank anyway! 😀
Are those U.S. dollars? Are they used in Turkey?
Are those U.S. dollars? Are they used in Turkey?
@Car: most places in the western half of the country, you can use whatever currency you like. If something is priced in lira, you can just ask for a price in euros or pounds or whatever, and pay with that. I’ve had some pretty strange currencies in my pocket before (Thai baht!), and not once has a business in Antalya refused my money.
@Car: most places in the western half of the country, you can use whatever currency you like. If something is priced in lira, you can just ask for a price in euros or pounds or whatever, and pay with that. I’ve had some pretty strange currencies in my pocket before (Thai baht!), and not once has a business in Antalya refused my money.
That’s amazing!
That’s amazing!