Tag Archives: tea

Esma muses on what it’s like to be both visible and invisible in Turkey


When in Turkey, I lose my cumbersome Scots Gaelic name in favor of something that is more verbally palatable to the locals. I become “Esma.” As regular readers of this blog may recall, Esma is also the hippie puppet that … Continue reading

Posted in Cross-cultural learning moments, Gendered moments, On Islam and Muslims, Visits from the Karagöz puppets | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mastering çay anxiety: Playing with gender stereotypes through tea service


Perhaps it is the constant nausea and dizziness that are a plague to me this week, but I have spent much of my time with eyes closed, trying to remember bits and pieces of “before sick” to occupy my time. … Continue reading

Posted in Cross-cultural learning moments, Gendered moments, Turkish Food!, Visits from the Karagöz puppets | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Just another çay bahçesi (tea garden) in Anatolia – Or is it?


Anyone who has spent much time in Turkey – especially in the more rural parts of Anatolia – has very likely seen all of the çay bahçesi (tea gardens) with older men hanging out drinking endless glasses of tea. The symphony … Continue reading

Posted in Turkish Food!, Turkish-American Matters, Turklish Moments, Visits from the Karagöz puppets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments