Visitor from Turkey

[BReeves]

Have a gentleman from Turkey coming to visit on a business deal. I'm just a dumb okie and don't want to do or say anything that might grade against his culture. Anyone on here have any experience dealing with someone from the middle east? Any advice?

Already figure I will end up on homeland security's radar.

 

[Pokinfun]

pay attention to the food you offer him. If he wants to pray, plan around it. take him to see an American sporting event.

 

[dennishoddy]

Don't cross your legs with the sole of your shoe facing him.

 

[Kyle78]

Just ask him if there is any religious restrictions that needs to be observed. If he's muslim, no pork, alcohol. But you really won't know if he even follows those rules. I would just ask. Take him around the state and show the cultures.

 

[RidgeHunter]

Ask him if Turkey is next to Uzbeckybeckystanstan.

 

[NightShade]

Best thing I can suggest is to ask questions and don't assume anything. If they are coming to the US they probably want to see the things that are a part of our culture as much as anything.

 

[RidgeHunter]

My favorite business/culture blunder happened a few years ago.

I was working on a project shipping to Israel. Had a couple meetings where the customer flew 3 dudes in. One was an engineer in his 70s who spoke limited english, the other two were younger and would translate (hebrew) for him.

Second or third meeting were doing a shop tour with these cats and one of the shop dudes decides bringing up politics with these guys who just placed a $$$$ order was a good idea. Specifically Israel-Palestine relations. I guess he thought because they spoke Hebrew and came from Israel he could assume where they stood. I forget what he said, but the dude just said real bluntly "I *am* a Palestinian."

Shop dude went all pale, reached for his smokes, and kinda lagged behind the group for a while. Lawl.

No politics in business. Safest rule.

 

[Shootin 4 Fun]

Pork. Lots and lots of pork.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Grab him by the collar, get in his face and scream:

"Are you ISIS??? I said, are YOU ISIS????!!!!

Afterwards, take him to Cracker Barrel. Then, order chicken fried steak with cream gravy and a side of bacon.

There, you managed to insult half the planet at one time!

 

[Dale00]

The Turks that I have known were all very "westernized". I do not think you will have any problems. Most are relatively or completely non-religous, but avoiding pork seems like a no-brainer.