1. The Republic of Turkey Crystal Jackson World Geography Week

2. Geography Turkey spans both the continents of Europe and Asia.

3. Modern Turkey Government is a democratically-elected republic. While the religion is 99% Muslim, Turkey is a secular country. Associate member of the EEC

4. Languages Only 75% of population speaks official Turkish language Up to 18% of population speaks Kurdish. Kurds live in southeastern Turkey.

5. Turkish Expressions Merhaba = hello Hoscakal = goodbye Evet = yes Yahir = no Bakar misiniz = excuse me Lutfen = please

6. Food Unique blend of east Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. Kebabs = meat on sticks Dolmas = stuffed vegetables Meze = small dishes served with alcohol Turk Kahvesi = coffee

7. Meal Etiquette While most Turks eat with spoons and forks, they rarely eat with knives. While urbanites eat at tables western- style, rural Turks still eat on the ground on a cloth. Use your hands to shield your mouth when you pick your teeth. Eat everything on your plate!

8. Turkish Customs Turks value punctuality. Your host pays for your restaurant dinner if he invited you but you pay if you issued the invitation. Make sure your host drinks before taking wine as a gift.

9. Turkish Literature During Ottoman Empire era, Turkish literature mainly influenced by Arabic and Persian writers; after World War I, Turkish writers were more influenced by European literature. Turkey has one Noble-prize winning author named Orhan Pamuk. Mr. Pamuk has written novels about the tension between western and Ottoman society in Turkey. Ironically, in one recent poll, 70% of all Turks admitted that they do not read books.

10. Haghia Sofia Haghia Sophia - now a giant mosque, this building was originally built as a giant church in AD 537. The inside features many mosaic art masterpieces.

11. Cappadocia Cappadocia- located in the middle of the Anatolian peninsula, the Cappadocia region is known for its underground cave cities and “fairy chimney” rock formations.

12. Hisarlik or Troy Discovered by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, the Turkish city of Hisarlik was also the location of the ancient city of Troy. Troy was featured in Homer’s masterpiece “The Iliad.” This area is one of the most heavily excavated in the world.

13. The Evil Eye Many Turks believe that the “evil eye” can be deflected with blue charms which will return the ill will back to the person who cast it. These charms, called mavi boncuk, are incorporated into Turkish jewelry and decoration.

14. Works Cited "APA - 70 Percent of Turkish Citizens Never Read Book." APA -. Web. 06 June 2011..http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=97615 Bainbridge, James. Turkey. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet, 2011. Print. "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Pamuk Wins Nobel Literature Prize." BBC News - Home. Web. 06 June 2011..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6044192.stm Swan, Suzanne. Turkey. New York: Dk Pub, 2010. Print. "Turkey." U.S. Department of State. Web. 06 June 2011..http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3432.htm "Turkish Food - Turkey." Turkey Travel Guide. Web. 06 June 2011..http://www.turizm.net/turkey/tips/storyfood.html