Turkish Memes
1. PANADOL/PANAMAX
Why do our parents suddenly become doctors before they leave for Turkey? Every time we visit Turkey with my family, my parents stock up on Panadol and other medications. If you open my suitcase, you will find 30 boxes of Panadol which my parents have so kindly snuck into my suitcase, along with some heart-burn medication and hemorrhoid cream (don’t ask)
2.BLOOD PRESSURE MACHINE/TANSIYON MAKINESI
I don’t know about you guys, but we have definitely taken some of these to our relatives. I remember being a kid and seeing one of these being gifted to my aunty like it was the rarest thing they could have. Nowadays, I think this sort of stuff is more accessible and affordable to locals in Turkey. So our heroic efforts are no longer needed.
3.CHOCOLATES!! AND LOTS OF IT
This ones a no brainer. I think 90% of our suitcases are filled with chocolates.We load up on them like Turkey doesn’t have any chocolate. I think every foreign Turk travelling to Turkey should be sponsored by Cadbury. I personally like to take Tim-Tams as they are specific to Australia.
I do however think that only the German-Turks have the right to brag in this department, because they produce the best stuff !
4.RANDOM SOUVENIRS
We like to take souvenirs specific to the country we are coming from. My family and I are from Australia, so we like to take leather cow-boy hats (purchased from a local market) and anything related to kangaroos and koalas. My aunty still has the same Kangaroo shaped clock on her wall in Turkey which we gifted her 10 years ago.
5.UGG BOOTS/SLIPPERS
Not entirely sure if this is just an Australian-Turk thing , but these things are considered gold in Turkey (at least from our perspective anyway) This is what we take to the older relatives which perfectly complements the Tansiyon makinesi (blood pressure machine)
6. IPHONES
Now this is a generous gift ! I’ve seen many foreign Turks gift Iphones to their relatives in Turkey. This is mainly due to the fact that Turkey charges huge taxes on Iphones. Add to that the horrible conversion rate, Turkish locals would need to fork out 26,000TL to purchase one iphone . This is approximately 2989USD which is still significantly expensive even after the conversion .
7. MEAT
This one always makes me laugh. I cant speak personally, as my family have never taken meat to Turkey, however, I know many that have. A family I know here in Australia packed sucuk, pastirma & shredded doner meat . I’m assuming this has something to do with meat quality & price in Turkey.
8. NESCAFE BLEND 43
Another item you can definitely purchase in Turkey, but we take it anyway. Maybe this has to do with the price of the product in Turkey ? Or maybe Coffee from overseas tastes a little sweeter? This is why we have issues at the check-in counter for having luggage that is 15kg over.
9. PERFUME/AFTERSHAVE
This is basically the gift you buy for no one in particular, but if they come visit you while you’re in Turkey, you’ll give them one, along with a block of chocolate. I remember taking 20 bottles of “Britney Spears-Fantasy” and handed them out like they were peanuts.
10. TUPPERWARE, POTS & KITCHEN APPLIANCES
Like we aren’t already taking enough, I catch my mum stuffing a 2kg pot into my suitcase because her suitcase has already reached the 25kg weight limit. Pretty sure they have this stuff over there!
My friend recently told me a funny story of his mum taking an entire microwave from Australia , all the way to Sakarya, Turkey. We laughed, but then we thought about it. We realised we’ve never seen any of our relatives in Turkey use a microwave. I’m certain you can definitely purchase one over there, but maybe culturally Turks have no interest in using microwaves. Maybe it’s a western thing?
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We would love to hear your thoughts on our list in the comments ! Maybe you can help clarify why we take some of these items with us !
Lollllll. This is hilarious !! So true . I don’t think anything in my suitcase is ever for me