Ekmek var mı?

There’s a programme on about Turkey this evening.  Very excited about watching it as I have become quite obsessed with Turkey recently, and have a growing desire to live there one day. 

What draws me to the country are stunning landscapes, the language (love the way it sounds!), the food, the people, the climate … many things in fact!  The only thing that puts me off is the fact that, in spite of it officially being a secular state, religion (Islam) looms large.  (Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I am not an Islamophobe, I’m just an organised-religionophobe). 

I have been learning Turkish for a while now, too.  I’m a beginner still though, as have not been disciplined enough to study regularly … and have never actually been to Turkey!  But I now have some Turkish students in my ESOL class, and have been able to practise a little with them. 

Also, mega-exciting, I had a monolingual Turkish speaking child who came to the clinic the other day and I was able to pick out some of the words and phrases that he and his mother were using! 

Hope the programme will give me an insight into how big an influence religion has on daily life in Türkiye Cumhuriyeti and help me make up my mind …