A few question about Turkey
 

Hi, I've posted before on this forum regarding Turkey, but as the trip gets closer I keep thinking of other ???

On a trip to Morocco several years ago, we were encouraged to bring along pencils, ball-point pens, etc. to give to children that seemed to be around the tourist venues. Is this an acceptable thing in Turkey?

I am considering booking Airport Shuttle Istanbul for our airport tranfer, because we are arriving a day prior to the tour's transfers. Is anyone aquainted with it? Their price seems reasonable.

Any suggestions for a dinner in the area around the Grand Hotel Surmelli which is in Gayrepette (sp??). This is our tour hotel and we will have done some meals prior to our arrival there.

Thanks for any information. I've learned a lot about Turkey from reading this forum. It was extremely helpful last year when we went to Croatia/Slovenia and it did not disappoint this year, either. Ciao!!mhm

I have been to Turkey several times, and I have never taken anything to give to kids (or anybody, I don´t know anybody there). And nobody has asked anything.

The only countries where people have asked for ballpoints etc. have been Egypt (kids, that was sort of a hobby, they collected), Cuba (they really needed them), and Cambodia (same as Cuba).

We just too a taxi from airport to city. And also that was very reasonable. Leaves in front of the terminal. Didn´t charge anything extra even though he had to criss cross and look for the hotel.

I don't know who "encouraged you" to take pencils to give to children in Morocco. Whoever it was needs their head examining.

So here's the lovely lady and gent from the USA handing out freebies for no reason at all. Don't do it. Why? One - it encourages begging: Two - it's extremely patronising. But of course it makes YOU feel good.

If you want to improve the life choices of people in countries less fortunate than yours, then give to an NGO that runs proper projects.

Otherwise you just reinforce the them and us stereotype.

If you do it in Turkey you will be introducing a habit amongst children that certainly wasn't in evidence the last three times I have visited.

But then if we leave it up to you, Turkey will become one of those places where children see foreigners as a source of (unexplained) largesse, and pester and pester.

Does it do anything for them? NO. Just imposes Western guilt and habits on a country that would rather not have them.

Same applies to countries that really are in dire straits (think Malawi or Zambia or Bangla Desh) - not that you would ever think of going to them (much too dangerous - haha).

Have I convinced you - probably not.

So as a last throw - your going at all puts foreign currency into the target country's economy. If you happen to stay and/or eat in places that are locally owned (unlikely I suspect) then you make an even bigger contribution.


NO PENCIL GIVEAWAYS, PLEASE.

I'm relatively new to this forum but after reading this last response, I certainly would feel less than inclined to ask a simple question for fear of the repercussions.

we could probably do with a newbie's sticker... :-)

generally people give facts but you have to assume that to many of us we have a steriotypical view of people who ask questions. Suffered it myself (been accused of being American!).

Keep coming back. The issue of gifts, tips and culturally unique behaviour is an emotional trigger.

still when I went to Cuba I was asked to bring books and soap because......Cubans read more than other people and the soap factory blew up

No.
Whether or not it is acceptable or desirable to take these sorts of gifts for children in the developing world:

Turkey is a modern part of the developed world, an associate member of the EU and probably going to become a full member of the EU within the next few years. So, no, taking gifts like this is not appropriate. It's more likely to get you picked up for being a potential paedophile than anything (what would you think of a stranger handing out presents to your children?)

I'm a little confused as to why you think Morocco and Turkey might be similar though. Morocco is north Africa. Turkey is Eurasian (and I think extremely close to Greece not just physically but culturally).

You are not travelling to the third world/developing country by going to Turkey.

Now here I have to put a point. Southern Italy, Turkey and Morroco are roughly the same in terms of developing country. I wouldn't give pens to the first two 'cause it makes no sense while the secret police would pinch them off the kids in Morroco.

Views?

I went to Turkey last year for 16 days and the only children I saw were either sightseeing with their parents or a large school group on an educational outing in Istanbul. None of these kids looked like they were in need of anything. The kids in the school group were better dressed than we were - LOL! I imagine Turkish parents give their children the same advice I received from mine...do not accept gifts from strangers.

afterall,
What's up with your anti American vitriol on this and other posts?

I am American, I worked for an international ngo for 5 years. We were adjacent to the UN, and our mandate was to provide training programs and materials to developing countries worldwide. We recieved copious amounts of mail daily, and many letters from children in Africa requesting paper, pencils, pens and erasers so they could continue with schoolwork in places where these things were in short supply. We were not allowed to send those things because we were a training organization, but I saved some of those letters-one in particular from a young boy in Africa.

I think your response is extremely wrong-minded and I think it arises from a personal politcal agenda- not from anywhere else. I do not think your way is a way to build good bridges. only to instill anger. Just my opinion, expressed alongside yours.

Mercy, if you want to give something to those children, a pencil is not a bad choice- but I think you should take time first observing the children's behavior and activities before you open you pockets, because they likely spend time around tourists daily and it may be a mistake to open yourself to interacting with them in that environment, which is tourist oriented, and school oriented. (In other words-they might be organized around getting money, not pencils)

Have a wonderful trip!

I meant to say...NOT school oriented

We also just took a taxi from the airport to the hotel when we arrived a day before the "official" arrival date for our tour. Very easy.

I am sorry that I asked this question, because I seemed to have started a "war"--after posting on this forum on and off for about six years, I have seen many strange and different questions (and answers) , but have not suffered the "flaming" that some people often mention. I can see why people hesitate to ask questions. I did not imply in my question that I felt that Turkey was a 3rd world country--I merely wondered what might be appropriate to give to kids. If that was offensive, so be it. Ciao. mhm

Sorry if I took your question the wrong way.

But to me it did imply that you felt Turkey was third world as normally you only take these sorts of things to countries where many people are too impoverished to buy simple things like pencils for their own children.

Otherwise just handing out gifts to kids on the street, I find rather weird behaviour. I know you didn't mean to come across that way, but do think about my question. Would you like a complete stranger giving presents to your children on the street? Would you do this if you were travelling to New York, or London, or Sydney etc? I don't think you would.