Two Different Countries and Their Cultures

I spent 35 years of my life in Turkey and the last 2 years in the US. America is a larger country than Turkey, which is why it hosts different cultures. The cultural differences and lifestyles between these two countries can be explained with a couple of examples.

Many people like to do outdoor activities. In Turkey, there are cafeterias called tea gardens outside. People meet their friends there and spend time until midnight. The situation is different in the USA. People go home early and go to sleep very early. During the day it is the opposite. Americans are going outside, walking, running, and cycling. The people of America do this because they have so many good places and areas. In Turkey, people cannot always do this. Because Turkey is a crowded country, there are no close walking areas and sufficient space. In contrast, in the USA there are many beautiful trails and bike lanes next to the roads. There is not enough space on the roads in Turkey, so there are no bicycle lanes on the roads. If you are cycling on the road, it will not be safe for you. The fact that city planning is suitable for outdoor activities is also an important factor for lifestyle.

Another difference is the tip. You don’t have to pay a tip when you go to a restaurant or other dining area in the US. However, if you do not pay a tip, the waiters’ attitudes may change. People generally give tips. In Turkey, you can give a tip if you want, but you don’t have to give a tip if you don’t want to. The waiters’ attitude does not change in this case. This culture between Turkey and US is very different. For instance, in Turkey, waiters generally serve you free tea or coffee after your meal. Sometimes when I go to a restaurant, my eyes look for this culture.

America is a country with a larger surface area than from Turkey. Everything in America is big, just like its own region. Roads, houses, cars, food, and even people (just kidding). One portion of food can be eaten by two people. Drinks are served in large glasses with ice. In Turkey we cannot drink iced drinks except in summer. The roads are bigger than in Turkey, so there are no traffic jams in the USA. In the USA, maintenance and repair work are more expensive than materials, and everyone tries to solve their own problems. I guess that’s why they have big cars. They buy materials and equipment and transport them themselves in their big cars. These big things are exactly the opposite in Turkey. Turkey has a smaller surface area than the USA. That’s why the houses are smaller than houses in the USA. The cars are smaller than US cars. Because of transportation, maintenance and repair works are cheaper than materials. Therefore, people don’t need to buy big cars.

In conclusion, America has a larger surface area than Turkey. Americans can enjoy outdoor activities because they have large and beautiful natural areas. American people always give tip after the meal. On the contrary, tea or coffee is served after the meal in Turkey. Also, maintenance and repairs in Turkey are cheaper than in the USA. People call maintenance and repair service, and they get their work done. Both countries have different cultural structures as well as different lifestyles. These differences in culture and lifestyle highlight the diverse nature of both countries, showcasing the various ways people around the world live and interact.