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There is no good time to go on holiday when you are a farmer

 Every year my wife and I take a two-week holiday away from the pressures of the farm and the daily grind.  Our team is fully aware of this and is incredibly supportive.  It is literally never a problem.  Our two managers take over where they are needed.  

This year we went to Turkey, we wanted a bit of heat after a rather cold UK summer, and Turkey was just the ticket.  We rented a house near the beach and it was fully staffed, we even had a driver.  We did that because we often go out for dinner and don't drink and drive, plus the roads in the area we rented are rather dark at night.

Everything was great, both of us made an effort and learned a dozen sentences each so that we could speak to Turkish people and show a minimum of courtesy.  When we added Google Translate on our phone we could get everything done, and be respectful.

One evening our driver dropped us off about a kilometer from our restaurant because the roads were closed between 7 and 9 pm, but he would be able to pick us up from the restaurant, around 10 pm because the roads would then be open.  He wrote it in Turkish on my phone and it all translated easily...

Halfway, on our walk we got a little hot and since we were early decided to stop at a bar on our way.  We were surprised to land in a full of English expatriates bar -- what emerged is that these Brits had emigrated to Turkey in the early 2000, and every night they would congregate in this bar/pub and commiserate that no one spoke English.

As they were speaking I ordered two beers from the waiter, I made my order in Turkish, not really thinking about it, it was not like it was difficult, I ordered two Turkish pale ales that we liked and the waiter told me that they only had another brand.  So I said perfect and thank you in Turkish, so far rather simple stuff.  I mean I could probably order a beer in German too!

Our  British companions asked my wife "How many years have you been living in Turkey to speak so well?"  My wife, bless her soul, said "We've been here a while", with an enigmatic smile.  After cooling off, we left our "new friends" and walked to our restaurant.  My wife then said:  "I didn't lie honey".  I replied, "Maybe not but I wonder how someone lives in a country for twenty years and is still unable to order a beer in the local language".

My wife smiling replied:  "It is a known fact dear, that if you speak slowly and loudly enough everyone understands English.  They must feel so isolated living in a land they don't understand, surrounded by people who probably despise them.  

We took maybe a whole hour of our busy life to learn a few Turkish sentences, they've been living in Turkey for twenty years and never bothered to even do that...how sad!

It was a lovely holiday, the Turks are so very welcoming!  



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