31 Aralik 2023 tarihinde hakkin huzuruna kavusan sevgili annem Senay Asma

 

Canim Ailem

 

OLD WORLD LANGUAGE FAMILIES

 

Hepsi GUZEL ve DOGRU

 

Simdi Artik Melek Olan Sadik Dostlar

 

Kusaklar

 

Your Value

 This is a 1000 gram iron bar. It’s raw value is around $20.

If you decide to make horseshoes, its value would increase to $250.

If, instead, you decided to make sewing needles, the value would increase to about $70,00.

If you decided to produce watch springs and gears, the value would increase to about $600 thousand.

However still, if you decided to manufacture precision laser components out of it like ones used in lithography, it’ll be worth $1.5 million.

Your value is not just what you are made of - but above all -in what ways you can make the best of who you are.

Colby Amerine

BAĞDAT CADDESİ’NDEN GEÇEN KAYIP DEMİRYOLU

“Aslında kadim caddelilerden bu sırrı bilen bir kaç kişi kalmış olmalı” diyor Fecriye Hanım, “Biz eskiden Fener Bahçesi’ne Trenlerle giderdik” diye ekliyor, çayını karıştırırken. Hatta o dönemler tramvay da vardı Bağdat Yolunda… Tramvay raylarını ise, bir demiryolu diklemesine keserdi. Eski köşklerin arasında tıngır mıngır giderdi trenimiz, herkesin üzerinde yazlık tuvaletler…

Odanın camlı kapısından balkona vuran ışık

sıcak bir kumaş gibiydi üstünde dizlerimin.

Ben rehavetli bir mahzunluk içinde

acayip şeyler düşünüyordum :

Feneryolu‘ndaki çınar

150 yaşındaymış.

Ömrü bir gün süren böcekler.

Gün gelecek

insanlar çok uzun

çok bahtiyar yaşayacaklar.

İnsanın yüreği ve kafası var…

İnsanın elleri…

İnsan?

Ne zaman ki,

nerdeki,

hangi sınıftan?

Onların insanları,

bizim insanlarımız.

Ve her şeye rağmen

yeni bir dünya için yapılan kavga.

Sonra sen

ben

bir kırık küvet

ve benim

kendime karşı duyduğum merhamet…”

16 Ağustos 1940

“Kırık bir küvet” şiirinden

Mehmet Nazım Hikmet Ran

22 Eylül 1872’de Haydarpaşa Garı’nın açılmasıyla hizmete giren Haydarpaşa-Pendik Banliyö tren hattı üzerinde yine aynı tarihte başlayan ve Haydarpaşa’dan yalnızca 19. yüzyılın ortalarından itibaren özellikle yaz aylarında mesire yeri olarak kullanılan Fenerbahçesi’ne çalışan özel bir tren daha hizmete girmişti. İşte bu nedenle, Fener’e giden yol anlamında bu yol ayrımının olduğu noktaya (bifurcation) o günden sonra Feneryolu adı verilmişti. Ve o yol ayrımının 150-200 metre kadar ilerisine de Feneryolu İstasyonu inşaa edilmişti.

Europe’s Forgotten ‘Hitler’ Killed Over 10 Million Africans — But the West Erased it From History

Most people have no idea of who is pictured above, but you should. The sight of this man should cause a similar revulsion to that of seeing Mussolini, Mao, Stalin or Hitler, as he committed an African genocide that resulted in the killing of over 10 million people in the Congo.

His name is King Leopold II of Belgium.

Most of people never learned about him in school, and have also most likely never heard about him in the media either. This is because he’s not included in the popular narrative of oppression (which includes things like U.S. slavery and the Holocaust).

King Leopold II is part of an ongoing history of colonialism, imperialism, slavery, and genocide in Africa that would clash with the popular social narratives taught in our school system today. It doesn’t fit neatly into school curriculums where, paradoxically, it is looked down upon to make overtly racist statements. However, it’s quite fine not to talk about a genocide perpetrated by European capitalist monarchs that killed over 10 million Congolese.

Belgium’s King Leopold II ran a personal empire so vast and cruel, it rivaled – and even exceeded – the crimes of even some of the worst dictators of the 20th century.

When Leopold II ascended to the throne in 1865, he ruled with the kind of gentle hand that Belgians wanted from their king after the democratization of the country in the wake of the multiple revolutions and reforms. He had great ambitions of building an overseas empire, and was convinced, like most statesmen of his time, that a nation’s greatness was directly proportional to the resources it could extract from those colonies.

He disguised his business transactions as “philanthropic” and “scientific” efforts under the banner of the International African Society and used slave labor to extract Congolese resources and services. His reign was enforced through work camps, body mutilations, torture, executions, and his own private army

The empire was known as the Congo Free State, and Leopold II stood as its undisputed slave master. For almost 30 years, rather than being a regular colony of a European government, Congo was administered as the property of Leopold II for his personal enrichment.

The world’s largest plantation, registering at 76 times the size of Belgium, possessed rich mineral and agricultural resources and lost nearly half of its population by the time the first census counted only 10 million people living there in 1924.

Interestingly, when we learn about Africa in the U.S., we learn about a caricatured Egypt, the HIV epidemic, the surface level effects of the slave trade, and if you went to a good school perhaps something about South African Apartheid. We also see lots of pictures of starving children on commercials, safaris on animal shows and we see pictures of vast savannahs and deserts in films and movies.

What we don’t learn about is the Great African War or Leopold’s Reign of Terror during the Congolese Genocide. Leopold II essentially turned Congo into his own personal part-plantation, part-concentration camp, part-Christian ministry, and yet history fails to retell the lessons of his tyrannical endeavor.

It seems that when you kill ten million Africans — you aren’t called ‘Hitler’, your name never comes to symbolize the living incarnation of evil, and your picture doesn’t produce fear, hatred, and sorrow — rather your crimes are simply swept under the historical rug and the victims of colonialism/imperialism remain forever voiceless.

How to Set Up a Global Governance Model

Posted by: Suzanne Amidon 

IT research and advisory firm, Gartner, defines governance as, “The organizational style and process for making decisions about business technology and resources.”

If you have successfully expanded your program globally, or are still in the process of going global, one critical and often overlooked activity is to develop a global governance model for your program. Based on my experiences with different programs and models, I understand the complexity associated with the governance of a global program. That’s why I’ve outlined some key insights that I’ve learned when establishing a successful governance team.

A well-run global governance model provides a foundation for the program to meet corporate goals, offers a clear direction to all of the parties involved, and creates structure for sponsors who are taking the required steps to generate a constantly improving program.

The Three Layers of a Global Governance Program

Global governance is a framework for the entire program to help all parties better understand and execute the company’s goals. Many people still think of governance as an executive layer over a program, but decisions and practices should be pervasive throughout the entire program. This isn’t just a high-level exercise; a good governance program has interaction throughout the layers of the program.

The three layers of a global governance program include:

• The Global Governance Team: This group consists of leadership from the client business owner, the VMS technology, and the MSP/VMO. This is the level responsible for overall program strategy.
• The Operational Team: This should include the in-country leaders from the business, the VMS technology, and the MSP/VMO teams. These people are responsible for the day-to-day workings of the program.
• The User Community: This includes sponsors, hiring managers, project managers, non-employee workers, and suppliers.

Goals and Roles of the Global Governance Team

The first task of the Global Governance Team should be to outline the program goals and apply an order of importance to them. Examples of these goals include going global, reducing risk, spend savings, process efficiency, and budget/invoicing accuracy.

In order to execute the determined goals, the Global Governance Team performs several roles, including:

• Keeping the program on track. This team plays a key role when keeping the overall goals of the program on track. This does not mean getting into the weeds of the day-to-day issues, but rather, a general overview of the program’s performance.
• Ensuring alignment to the strategies developed. This team designs key policies to help the operational teams translate strategy into action.
• Prioritizing the projects that the program will tackle. This team is responsible for ensuring that projects and their corresponding priorities align with the determined goals, as well as ensuring that all program resources are aware of the roles they play when executing those goals.
• Enforcing the policies and guidelines developed. This includes formalizing the program communication channels.
• Pursuing strategic growth.This team should be proactively developing their global roadmap for perceived future goals.

Recommendations for Continued Program Success

Meet regularly. In order to ensure that the Global Governance Team is continuously pushing program improvements, this committee should meet once every other month for the first six months and quarterly thereafter. The objective during these meetings is to review the program goals and assess the progress made towards them. Those goals can be refined and changed during these meetings, as the dynamics of business changes constantly. As a result, objectives should adjust accordingly.

Discuss progress and address needed areas of improvement. A program dashboard aligning to the goals is a great way to discuss progress in this meeting, making it meaningful and specific. This meeting should also address any escalations or recommended program and process improvements. Each program should strive for continuous improvement and the Global Governance Team meetings are the place to turn those recommendations into strategy.

The benefits of establishing any sort of governance control over a program or project are generally the same: a conduit for communication, clarity towards the current defined goals, visibility into future program goals, and a more effective process for getting all parties to collaborate for success. Global governance is the opportunity to continuously improve your program and monitor results based on established goals

Change what you're doing, to change where you're going

If you want to achieve different results, reach new heights, or even just change the direction of your life, you sometimes must be willing to make changes to your current actions and behaviors. We can't always expect to get different results by doing the same things we've always done.

Let’s explore the importance of breaking away from our current loop and embracing change in order to move towards a better future.

The Loop: Understanding Our Patterns and Habits

Our daily lives are often filled with routines, patterns, and habits. These repetitive behaviors form a loop that keeps us locked into our current trajectory. While some of these habits may be beneficial, others could be holding us back from achieving our goals or realizing our full potential.

To change where we're going, we must first identify the habits and actions that are keeping us stuck in our current loop. This requires self-awareness, reflection, and the courage to confront our own shortcomings.

Breaking the Loop: Embracing Change

Once we've identified the behaviors that need to change, it's time to take action. This can be challenging, as it often requires stepping out of our comfort zone and facing the unknown. However, embracing change is an essential part of personal growth and progress.

Here are some strategies to help you break the loop and pivot towards success:

• Set Clear Goals: Define what you want to achieve and create a roadmap to guide your journey. This will help you maintain focus and motivation as you make changes to your actions and behaviors.
• Create an Action Plan: Break down your goals into actionable steps, and establish a timeline for achieving each one. This will help you stay on track and measure your progress as you work towards your desired outcome.
• Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or mentors for guidance and encouragement. Having a support system can make it easier to navigate the challenges and setbacks that often accompany change.
• Embrace Failure: Understand that failure is a natural part of growth and learning. Instead of fearing it, use each setback as an opportunity to learn and refine your approach.
• Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to improve and adapt. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow and develop new skills.

Changing what you're doing to change where you're going can be a daunting process. It requires effort, persistence, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Remember, the path to success is rarely a straight line. It's a journey filled with twists and turns, but with determination and the right mindset, you can make meaningful progress towards your goals and create the life you've always envisioned.

If you wish to make changes in your life, you need to find a place where you want to go and take action to achieve your goals. This may mean giving up certain habits, changing the way you behave, learning new skills or broadening your horizons.

For example, if you want to change your career path, you need to find the field you want to go to and take action to achieve that goal. You may need to learn new skills, expand your social circle, take relevant training or courses, etc. to adapt to the new field of work.

In short, changing where you want to go requires changing what you are doing, which requires us to be brave enough to try new things and put in the effort to achieve our goals.

Important point that change is necessary for growth and progress.

It's so easy to fall into a comfortable routine and stay there, but if we want to achieve new heights, we must be willing to step outside our comfort zone and embrace the unknown. Your strategies for breaking the loop and pivoting towards success are practical and actionable. Keep inspiring others to embrace change and pursue their goals! For better or worse, we are what we repeat. Habits are a double edged sword. Embracing change should become an essential part of our quest for growth.

"We can't always expect to get different results by doing the same things we've always done" Albert Einstein

We have to start embracing and accepting failure to "Grow" in life. Failure teaches more than Success. Success sometimes boosts the ego.

What is Active Directory AD?

 

What is Revenue Cycle Management Software and Services Market?

The revenue cycle management (RCM) market refers to the collection of software and services used by healthcare organizations to manage their financial processes, from patient registration and scheduling to billing and payment collection. RCM solutions help #healthcare providers optimize their revenue streams, reduce billing errors, and improve overall financial performance.

During the forecast period, the global revenue cycle management market is expected to experience significant growth, with a projected increase from USD 115.64 billion in 2022 to USD 246.40 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The market size was valued at USD 105.86 billion in 2021.

Key components of the revenue cycle management process include patient registration, insurance eligibility verification, charge capture, claims submission, payment posting, denial management, and patient billing. RCM software automates and streamlines these processes, enabling healthcare providers to efficiently manage their revenue cycle and ensure timely and accurate payments.

The RCM market has experienced significant growth in recent years due to several factors, including the increasing complexity of healthcare billing and coding, the transition to value-based care models, and the need to improve revenue capture and cash flow. Additionally, regulatory changes, such as the implementation of ICD10 coding standards and the shift towards electronic health records (EHRs), have further fueled the demand for RCM solutions.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁:

·Allscripts Healthcare, LLC (U.S.)

·Cerner Corporation (U.S.)

·Conifer Health Solutions, LLC (U.S)

·EPIC Systems Corporation (U.S)

·GeBBS Healthcare Solutions (U.S)

·MEDHOST (U.S)

·McKesson Corporation (U.S)

·Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH) (U.S)

·Optum Inc. (U.S.)

What is Sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea diagnostics refer to the process of diagnosing sleep apnea, a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breathing during sleep. It is essential to accurately diagnose sleep apnea to initiate appropriate treatment and improve the quality of sleep and overall health.

Sleep Study: The gold standard for diagnosing sleep apnea is a sleep study, also known as polysomnography. During a sleep study, various parameters are monitored while the individual sleeps, including brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, and oxygen levels. This comprehensive evaluation helps identify the presence and severity of sleep apnea.

Overnight Home Sleep Testing: In some cases, home sleep testing (HST) may be conducted as an alternative to in-lab polysomnography. HST involves wearing portable monitoring devices that track specific parameters such as breathing, oxygen levels, and heart rate while sleeping at home. It offers convenience and cost-effectiveness, primarily for individuals with a high suspicion of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Screening Questionnaires: Healthcare professionals may utilize screening questionnaires, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale or the STOP-BANG questionnaire, to assess the likelihood of sleep apnea. These questionnaires evaluate symptoms, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness, providing initial indications for further evaluation.

Physical Examination: A thorough physical examination by a healthcare provider can provide insights into potential risk factors and underlying conditions that contribute to sleep apnea. This may include assessing body weight, neck circumference, nasal passages, and other physical characteristics associated with sleep-disordered breathing.

Medical History Review: Gathering a detailed medical history is crucial in identifying factors that could contribute to sleep apnea. This includes assessing symptoms reported by the individual and reviewing any pre-existing medical conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disorders.

Sleep Diary: Keeping a sleep diary for a week or two can help provide valuable information about sleep patterns, daytime symptoms, and potential triggers or factors that affect sleep quality. The diary may include information on bedtime routines, sleep duration, snoring, daytime fatigue, and use of medications or substances.

It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a sleep specialist or pulmonologist, for a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of sleep apnea.

What is Management Consulting?

I work in management consulting, I usually get three kinds of reaction – confusion (What do you do?), well pleased (You must get to travel a lot and make a lot of money), “Meh!” or not impressed (You people are good for nothing except making bewitching PPTs).

So, the question is what do consultants exactly do to invoke such a variety of reactions?

The primary goal of any business is to maximize profits. Financially stable companies desire steady or more growth and the struggling companies intend to turn around their fortunes. The companies can achieve their goals by expansion or improving operational KPIs or both. This calls for a constant need of data driven decision making. Many companies still lack the market intelligence to fairly assess their own position. In many cases, there’s no sufficient expertise available within the organization to analyze the data sensibly. Moreover, the lack of common goal-oriented approach and inter-departmental barriers can hinder the decision making. Lastly, there aren’t enough resources available within the organization to be dedicated to such focus projects.

And that’s where the consultants come in:

1.  Consultants bring in market intelligence with the industry benchmarks to show the stakeholders where their organization stands and where they intend to be (This is the major cause of awe-inspiring moments).

2.  Consultants, being the external party, can operate without bias. After doing the interviews with the various functions of the company, consultants can chart out a plan to achieve the common goal – with all views considered.

3.  Consultants are qualified to create hypotheses and test them. This is what gets the engine running and as Aristotle said – “Well begun is half done”. Do consultants use client’s data to do that? YES. Do they make bewitching PPTs to present their findings? ABSOLUTELY. It means the consultants are qualified enough to analyze the data, spot the patterns / anomalies, and make recommendations. EXCEL and PPT are consultant’s bread and butter and they take pride in their skills.

4.  Yes, the consultants are paid to travel (from the most buzzing locations to the remotest of the villages where a plant is set-up). Although the trips are seldom enjoyable, the timely deliverables are always expected. Consulting professionals will wake up at 3 AM to catch a 6 AM flight for a 10 AM meeting, work the entire day, catch a flight back to hometown in the evening 7 PM, reach home by 10 PM (if there are no delays) and go to work the next day. They are efficiency monsters. They get done more in less time and save their client's time and money.

5. A consultant's main role is to act as a governance buffer and sell political capital to their clients. They help reinforce or provide reasonable justification to decision-makers within the company. This is the real product, management consultants are selling underneath

To summarize, consultants solve an organization’s strategic and/or operational problems in a structured manner using a data driven approach within a stipulated time to help it grow or stabilize.

So, whenever a business faces a problem that needs solving, we’ll be there to deliver!

What's the double bass?

 The largest and lowest-pitched member of the viol family, the double bass dates back to the 15th century, and is generally considered to be the grandfather of the string family. A staple in classical music, as well as dance and jazz bands, the double bass can be played with a bow, or by plucking the strings with your fingers. By the 1950's, the double bass found its way into many popular groups at the dawn of rock'n'roll's inception, including notable favorites like Bill Haley and the Comets. Today, the double bass is still widely used, and within this section of options, you'll find a wide variety of exceptional models to choose from. 

Whether you're a budding orchestral student or a touring rockabilly artist, this selection contains an extensive range of double basses from well-known and renowned brands. From Bellafina and Engelhardt to Etude, Florea and many more, these companies consist of experienced craftsmen who take pride in assuring that every double bass is made with meticulous attention to beauty, durability and playability. 

For a double bass with impeccable construction and a rich sound, the Bellafina Model 50 double bass outfit is considered to be one of the finest models available for advancing student players. With its thumbwheel height adjusters on the bridge to accommodate various playing styles, as well as its slender neck for quick movement on faster orchestral passages, this double bass is the full package at a more than affordable price. Another option to think about is the Palatino Upright 3/4 – Size Billy Bass. Containing a cutaway design for easy access to the upper mid-section of the fingerboard, this model is actually one of few cutaway upright basses currently available. Plus, the instrument's maple bridge makes changing the tone easy, allowing you to go from hopping rockabilly sounds to cool and warm jazz.

One of the many great things about taking up a musical instrument is coming to realize that you don't have to stick to your instruments commonly associated genre once you master it. The double bass is a perfect example of an instrument that has spanned many genres over countless centuries, which is why anyone with a passion for music can benefit from learning one.

Bir toplum böyle çöker işte!

Devletin yerini kaba kuvvet alır,susulur.

Yasanın yerini din alır, korkulur.

Yolsuzluklar,cinayetler birbirini izler.

Eller kollar bağlanıp götürülür.

Vuran vurur.öldüren öldürür ve bütün bunlardan sonra bir çete gelir ve devleti teslim alır.

Uğur Mumcu

Is Turkey dangerous? This is what we’ve learned so far!

Posted on March 23, 2016 

Article by Cynthia Bil

Turkey has been portrayed in a bad light lately by the media: people dying in bomb attacks, the war between the Turks and the Kurds, the many refugees from Syria fleeing into Turkey to make their way towards Europe, the turbulent atmosphere near the borders of Syria and Iraq,…. Tourists are staying away because they are afraid. Too bad because Turkey is a spectacular country with very welcoming people!

One of the many breathtaking views!

People who haven’t visited Turkey yet assume that it’s a third world country with very strict Islamic rules. We’ve only been here for a couple of weeks but we can already say that this is not the case! The villages are still very traditional but the cities have a blend of local and international influences in the buildings, the shops and in the dress code. Some men and women are still dressed traditionally (sleeved tops, loose trousers, knee-length dresses or skirts, headscarves) while the younger generation are dressed in the same clothes we would wear in France, Belgium, Italy,…

A blend of traditional and western clothes on a market

A woman in traditional clothes interacting with a woman in western clothes

The first place we visited was Marmaris, a little city on the Aegean sea where we arrived by ferry. We noticed this is a touristic city with a lot of trendy coffee shops and restaurants. Most towns and cities located on the West Coast of Turkey are built in a more Western European style. There are lots of hotels and resorts for holidaymakers. The more inland we went, the more we saw traditional villages and towns. Apparently Turkey is very diverse depending in what area you are. The country is very big ( 783,562 sq km), has a large variety in landscapes and we’ve only seen 2 out of the 81 provinces of Turkey so far so there is still a lot for us to discover!

Street view in a city (Marmaris)

Street view of a little village (Islamlar)

Despite of the more western look of the cities at the coast, we definitely knew we were in Turkey because we saw the flag everywhere! In the streets, on boats, on cars, on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere, hanging on the front and inside houses,… we’ve never seen so much red as in our first days in Turkey! The Turkish people have the highest respect for their flag. It’s sacred for the Muslim Turks because of the star and crescent embellished on it (the star and crescent are seen as typical Muslim symbols). For others it is a symbol for their independence, honor and history.

Flags in the city

Boats with flags or flags with boats?

Another sign that we were in Turkey and specifically in a Muslim country, were the many mosques. The first time I heard the call to prayer, I had a huge smile on my face! The sound represented that we were in another culture! The Muslim are called to pray five times a day. The call is heard at dawn, at noon, in the middle of the afternoon, just after sunset and about two hours after sunset. The muezzin, a man appointed to call to prayer, climbs the high tower of the mosque, the minaret. He calls through a speaker in the Arabic language “Hasten to prayer”. That’s the moment where the people stop whatever they are doing, get out their little mat and start praying.

One of the many mosques 

The minare

However in Turkey we haven’t seen people praying in public like Niko saw in Morocco and I in Senegal. We also noticed that they are not following the strict rules that other Islamic countries have. We’ve learned that Turkey is one of the few secular Muslim countries in the world. This means that there is a separation between religion and governmental state and that the people are free in their religious beliefs. Even though most Turks consider themselves Muslims, they don’t have to follow the rules of the Islam very strictly. They can go out, drink alcohol, socialize with each other in ways that other Muslim countries would see as a ‘sin’. The religion is more of a cultural thing. That’s also why a lot of women don’t wear head scarves.

How did Turkey become a secular state? After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (the founder of the nation) came about and made some drastic changes in the country to detach itself from its Islamic heritage. He formed the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and abolished the Islamic justice system and adopted western justice and law methods. He made it law that women could wear their own choice of clothing (that’s why the headscarf is not obligated). He introduced the Latin alphabet (before that the Turkish language was written in Arabic) and helped a whole country to learn it. I think I don’t need to explain why he is called ‘The father of all Turks’ and why his statue and portrait can be found everywhere in Turkey, nearly as much as the Turkish flag!

I think I like this man too!

We were also pleasantly surprised how open-minded most Turks are. They are so welcoming towards strangers! Okay, I’ve heard they love to sell you their merchandise but the people we’ve met were just genuinely kind and friendly without expecting anything in return! The first night Niko and I grabbed a bite in a little local restaurant. We’ve had lahmacun (we call it a Turkish pizza) and ayran (a typical Turkish yogurt drink) for only €2 each! The owner of the restaurant loved to hear us practice our Turkish with him. He offered us some free tea and even gave us a loaf of bread when we said goodbye! The next morning we went to a little coffee shop with internet (so I could send my mum a text we arrived safely in Turkey). The waitress was very friendly and happy to practice her English with us. She even went to get her mother from the kitchen to introduce us to her. Again we got offered free tea and her mother gave us a big bag full of little cakes for the road. We had not even been 24 hours in Turkey and we were already overwhelmed with gifts and tea!

Lahmacun aka Turkish pizza!

And then comes the hitchhiking part. The very first time I felt a bit out of my comfort zone. It was the first time since the beginning of our travels. We’ve read about hitchhiking in Turkey but we know that every experience is different and that we had to find out for ourselves. And so far, we can only say that hitchhiking in Turkey is safe, easy and fun! The people are incredibly kind. Our first driver invited us for lunch and tea (is it possible to get a ‘tea belly’ instead of a ‘beer belly’?). We had drivers getting out of their way to drop us off in a good place to continue hitchhiking and one even gave us his umbrella when it was pouring down with rain! Remember what I wrote about Philotimo in Greece? Turks also have this attitude towards life!!

Our first impressions of Turkey? It is not dangerous here! It is a beautiful and enriching country with many ancient traditions and historical sites to discover, an unbelievably friendly culture and very tasty food!

Our travels in Turkey have only started but we are already in love! We feel safe and welcome and can’t wait to explore more of this interesting country!