Turkish Hospitality

Turkish Hospitality
    
January 3, 2008
As I returned home from my first visit to Turkey in December of 2000, the customs officer who cleared me through immigration asked me how I liked Turkey. I told him it was wonderful! He replied, "Oh, the Turkish people, they are the nicest people!"

I never forgot his words, and every American that I have spoken to who has traveled there has also agreed. The Turkish people are so kind and caring. How lucky was I?

Greg Mortenson, Director of the Central Asia Institute, writes in his book, "Three Cups of Tea," that when you are building relationships in this part of the world, sitting with people and having tea is absolutely essential. A former colleague of mine, Jim Hall, who had worked in the Middle East also told me about the customs in this part of the world. "Sitting for hours and having tea is critical in establishing relationships," he said. I learned quickly from subsequent visits that sitting patiently and drinking what seemed like endless cups of tea was inevitable. As hard as it can be for me to sit still, in doing so, I developed further the relationships that I have already come to cherish.

Part of my mission there was on behalf of Around-n-Over. I had promised the General Manager of Aktas Group, Simay Kizilok Ergüç, that I would return to Turkey and make a visit to Bursa to see her again. What an amazing reception I received!

After plant tours and meeting the staff, I sat with the marketing group who heads up the campaign for Erden and the Pacific crossing. Later I conducted an interview with a local newspaper reporter, and was greeted to a special tour of the city, especially the grand bazaar, where the world's finest silks are sold, just as they have been for over a thousand years.

A three hour dinner followed that evening with Mr. Sahap Aktas, his wife and ten other senior managers. Mr. Aktas expressed his continued financial and emotional support for "as long as the journey takes." He wanted me to know that we have a mutual understanding and vision with Around-n-Over, and the employees live this mission every day in inspiring to succeed, as the company aims to be the largest global provider of air spring parts. His kindness and compassion was another example of what I had already come to know about the Turkish people.

After Bursa, I went on to the capital city of Ankara, where I was met by Erden's family and Mr. Hüseyin Vural, Director for the ILKYAR Foundation, our charitable partner in Turkey, the name of which translates to Aid to Elementary Schools. We received news that our donation as Around-n-Over has gone directly to build two libraries in southern Turkey! ILKYAR strives to keep girls in school, especially in poor, rural areas, where an education is not taken for granted. An opportunity to learn while in primary school means a greater chance to pass the exams necessary to move onto higher education. Mr. Vural believes, (as Greg Mortenson does) that if you educate a girl, you educate at least 10 more, and through our efforts to promote education to girls, the world will be a better place. I sure hope so. At Around-n-Over we applaud their efforts and I could see first hand the compassion displayed to continue such efforts country-wide.

Thanks also to Levent Selamoglu and MN Pharmaceuticals for the kind donation received, and all the wonderful people at Aktas Group. In addition, I'd like to thank our PR firm, Marjinal, in Istanbul for their continuous publicity; kind friends and supporters in Istanbul; and our dear family in Ankara for another meaningful visit.

Leaving Istanbul, I looked down on the vast expanse of this city of 15 million people while flying over the amazingly beautiful landscape of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Yet for all the hours spent sitting and drinking tea, I will surely miss it. The kindness of the Turkish people remains ever present in my mind. And a little part of my heart was left behind.

Nancy