ISTANBUL CULTURE SHOCK - CIGARETTE SMOKING IN THE CITY

I know, I know, I could have picked something more positive to talk about, like cats. You know, they’re cute and all that. But that wasn’t the first thing that really stood out to me when I was getting used to the city. Honestly, guys, the smoking culture in Istanbul is wild. It’s crazy, to say the least. Smoking even indoors at stores? I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. And don’t judge me, even if I had a million eyes, I’d still say I’ve seen it with all of them.
 

You see old grandmas and grandpas smoking like it’s nothing. At first, I thought, “You do you.” But then I noticed something even more shocking….students, young teenagers, walking to and from school in their uniforms, casually lighting up cigarettes like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Maybe that’s just normal where smoking culture is this strong, but damn, it blew my mind.

People get off the bus, or the subway, and the first thing they reach for is a cigarette. Like, they haven’t even fully stepped out yet. It’s wild. I hate to admit this, but where I’m from, it’s kind of the opposite, alcohol is the big problem. Drinking is way out of hand there, though no one drinks on their way to school. Alcoholism is everywhere, among both teenagers and adults. Probably an alcoholic nation, honestly. Also crazy.

Speaking of crazy, I remember the first time I saw a public fight,it started over a cigarette butt. Someone flicked it, and it hit the guy behind him right on the chest. Just like that, boom, a whole fight erupted🫠.
 
What do you think about the smoking here? I’ve noticed people smoke heavily even around young kids. Some Turks absolutely hate smoking, while others treat it like drinking water, just part of everyday life. 
 
Insert random memory, I remember asking one of my brothers once why he drank so much alcohol, and he said it was because of the dizziness, it was  the best part of it for him. 
Man, now I am just missing home for real🙂‍↕️.
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