III.

Expatriate Interview

14 October, 2015
Lindseys (Turkish) Life

For Lindsey Scott, the summer of 2006 would change her life forever. After completing
her freshman year at The Ohio State University, Lindsey took a part-time job working at a local
amusement park, Kings Island. Little did she know, her summer job would ignite her love affair
with Turkey. Lindsey was first introduced to Turkish culture when she met a group of students
from Turkey who were taking part in a work studies program which had placed them at Kings
Island. She was immediately drawn to them because they were polite and much nicer than her
American co-workers. Lindsey formed a deep bond with them over the summer.
Lindsey kept in touch with her new friends from Turkey after the summer ended and she
decided to visit them in Turkey for her Spring Break in 2007. She spent a few days in Istanbul
and a few days in Eskisehir. This was Lindseys first experience physically seeing and engaging
in such a different cultureand she was blown away! I didnt even speak the same language
and people would bend over backwards to make sure I felt comfortable and relaxed. Strangers
opened their homes to me, cooked meals for me, bought gifts for me and they didnt even
KNOW me (L. Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015).
At the conclusion of her Spring break trip to Turkey, Lindsey decided that she was going
to study abroad in Istanbul the following school year. She felt as if Turkey was calling to her and
she was itching to answer that call. Lindsey completed her entire senior year studying abroad at
a school in Istanbul, returning to Ohio just in time for graduation. After all of the pomp and
circumstance of graduating from Ohio State subsided, Lindsey was left feeling incomplete. She
felt disconnected from her life in America and could only think about what she was missing out
on in Turkey. I was honestly sad (L. Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015).

Lindsey reflected on a conversation she had with her best friend from Turkey who encouraged
her to move there permanently. Its so easy! Just come! Everything else will work out! Those
were the words that Lindsey would live by for the next five years. She bought a one-way plane
ticket, packed two suitcases, and moved to Istanbul. She didnt have a job, a place to live, or any
idea what she was doing. Lindsey passionately said, In that moment I felt I was following my
heart and that was enough for me (L. Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015).
Lindseys first few months in Turkey were crazy. She finally found a job as a nanny
for an American couple with a one-year old little girl who had moved to Turkey around the same
time that Lindsey had moved. After working for them for about a year, they were placed back in
the United States. Luckily, Lindsey had built up a network of other nannies in Istanbul. Through
her connections, she landed a job teaching at a preschool. She has been teaching there ever
since.
At one point during our interview, we discussed the concept of culture shock and
Lindseys experience adjusting to the culture. I explained that in my class we describe culture
shock as consisting of four phases: Exhilaration stage, Disenchantment Stage, Adjustment Stage,
and Effective Functioning Stage. I asked Lindsey if this model of culture shock resonated with
her and her experience of culture shock. Her response was, That about hits the nail on the
head (L. Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015). However, she made it a point to
clarify that for her, there was an ebb and flow within that model.
The first phase of culture shock, referred to as the exhilaration stage is, Filled with
excitement, hopefulness, and even a feeling of euphoria as the individual anticipates being
exposed to a different culture (Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, & Roy, 2013, p. 11). Lindsey
explained that her first trip to Turkey and the beginning of her study abroad trip would be

categorized under the exhilaration stage. She was eager to try and do everything! According to
Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, and Roy (2013), The disenchantment stage begins when (they)
recognize the reality of the new setting, start to encounter some difficulties, and adaptation and
communication problems being to emerge (p. 11). For Lindsey, the transition into the
disenchantment stage was marked by realizing that the call to prayer would wake her up at 5 a.m.
every morning. She said it took her a really long time to get used to it and occasionally it still
makes her jump. Another pivotal moment for Lindsey during her crisis period of culture shock
was her first experience of a sacrificial holiday in Turkey. Lindsey recalled watching her
neighbors sacrifice a cow in their front yard. Its just something Ill never be able to un-see (L.
Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015). Apparently its now illegal to perform in
the streets but the police dont ever stop it. Enforce the law? Psh, no way (L. Scott, personal
communication, September 25, 2015).
Over time Lindseys uncertainties and difficulties began to decline, which is
characteristic of the third and fourth stages of culture shock. Lindsey believes her adjustment to
Turkey kind of happened unintentionally, as she didnt really struggle with it. Lindsey stated that
she just got used to things and accepted it as, Well This is Turkey (L. Scott, personal
communication, September 25, 2015). Lindsey explained that there is a Turkish phrase for it,
Burasi Turkiye (Here is Turkey). This phrase seems to almost be a simple explanation of the
way of life in Turkey. Lindsey gave me a couple examples of this phrase in context. She said if
a train is running two hours late but nobody is telling anyone anything, you dont get mad. You
have a tea, because Burasi Turkiye. A lot of things that typically bother Americans, do not
bother Turkish people. Lindsey has had to learn to let a lot of things go and just tell herself,
Dont get upset, Here is Turkey (L. Scott, personal communication, September 25, 2015).

Our conversation then moved to discuss one of the most prominent differences Lindsey
has noticed between American and Turkish culture. Without hesitation, Lindsey noted that
Turkeys culture is very much centered around family and religion. It leans more towards the
collectivist side of the spectrum. According to Samovar, Porter, McDaniel, and Roy (2013), In
collective cultures people experience a profound allegiance and attachment to their families (p.
80). Lindsey has witnessed that even teenagers seem to prefer to spend time with their families
as opposed to spending time with friends. Moving away from your family is almost unheard of
in Turkey. If someone does decide to move away, its never permanent. Lindsey really
appreciates the collectivist feel of family life in Turkey. The idea of family above everything
else is something that Ive always admired about the people here (L. Scott, personal
communication, September 25, 2015).
Parenting also appears to be handled differently in Turkey, which Lindsey finds
humorous at times. As a teacher, she is constantly working in conjunction with the parents of her
students. She explained that a lot of the parenting stuff that seems common sense for
Americans is almost unheard of in Turkey. For example, children are allowed to stay up at night
until their parents go to bed (which is really late), but they have to get up at 6:00 for school in the
morning. The kids always seem sleep deprived. Also, parents spoil their children rotten and then
dont understand why she has trouble disciplining them.
Lindsey believes that traveling has made her a better listener. It has forced her to see
things from various viewpoints, which has allowed her to be able to appreciate other worldviews.
While during our interview we mainly devoted our time to discussing the differences between
American and Turkish culture, Lindsey made it a point to address something extremely
fundamental. Lindsey stated, Ive learned that you can sense human sadness and dont even

necessarily need to speak the same language to console someone who needs it. For me, this
statement speaks volumes to the importance of understanding and appreciating intercultural
interaction and communication. It is imperative that we can acknowledge the differences
between cultures, but then be able to move beyond those differences to value and advocate for
universal human needs.

References
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., McDaniel, E. R., & Roy, C. S. (2013). Communication Between
Cultures (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth Publishing.