To be a foreigner

It's amazing what little things become big when you cross cultures...  There are times when being recognised as a foreigner is delightful - especially in a country with a reputation for superb hospitality; but there are many other times when one wishes simply to blend in. For a variety of reasons I've taken to preparing almost entirely Turkish fare this time round and one of the popular steps in meal preparation for my neighbours is sending off the tray of prepared or semi-prepared food to the local firin (oven - mostly used in this case to cook pide and lavas bread)  I've been very keen to do this but was put off at the prospect of delivering my carefully prepared tray under the watchful eye of neighbours and then putting it in the hand of the baker only to have his look belie thoughts like "a foreigner must have put this together!!!" 

Well, I took the bull by the horns today and after having observed my neighour prepare a simple tray, I did the same and delivered it...  No funny looks or stifled amusment much to my relief, but a great sense of pride in myself, albeit over something exceedingly trivial!

A small sense of consolation came this week when I spoke to another foreigner in our building.  She expressed just the same self-consciousness about delivering a tray to the firin and was only persuaded to do so when a visiter assisted with putting it together.  The big difference between us however is that she is from Istanbul! Here in Turkey however to travel between cities, certainly over any distance is to become a foreigner...I guess then I'm in good company!