Time to Pretend

When in Konya I realized I had to eat. I was off doing other things and I only had 20 minutes to get a meal in. Konya is a really Islamic/traditional city and I didnt really blend in well with my Zeyenp dress, my Zeynep earings, and my Zeynep boots. I didnt blend in because it seemed like I was the only person with knees or hair in the city.
Anyway, I say this because women dont seem to go into many cafe sort of places here. There are mostly mens club kind of cafes. Strictly men. And I dont know if they would have denied service to a woman.. but trust me, I dont think a woman would go in any of these places.

But I didnt have time to sit down at a restaurant.

So I walked into one.

Oh shit. I panicked. Eyes on me. I messed up. Not badly but a Turkish woman wouldnt make this cultural mistake..

So before I could prove myself as an independent woman or try to change traditional social orders... I did something that required less self-confidence.

I pretended I didnt know Turkish.

Just another tourist.

Trust me, I didnt look like I belonged in this town so it didnt take much to convince them..

"Um... Hello!"

I walked up to the counter..

"Hi. I dont have much time and need something quick to eat." (In English)

"Ughh. One minute! (One minute is a cultural joke about the Prime Minister because its bascially the only thing he knows to say in English)"

He got one of the tea servers who had very good English to help me out. I went on pretending I was a tourist that didnt understand...

Got a toasted sandwich and tea on the house as I waited. The one guy sat with me and we chatted in English.

I would hear the other workers talk to one another.

Its funny what people say so freely when they think you cant understand you..