Angie Browning, grandmother of junior Madalyn Behling, immigrated from Turkey to Germany in 1972 and there met her husband Dennis Browning, who was stationed there in the army and is from Milwaukee. Angie then immigrated to the United States with her husband in 1976.
“I went to Germany with friends. I lived in Germany for four years. Met my husband there and got married in Germany in an Army base,” Angie said.
Although they immigrated in 1976 to the United States, they still carry a lot of traditions and values from when they lived in Turkey.
“We make Turkish and German food a lot. We also have lots and lots of evil eyes all over our house to get rid of bad energy,” Behling said.
The evil eye has been around for some 7,000 years and is the belief that someone can cast an evil gaze that causes harm and misfortune to someone. The blue eye, which is most often depicted as four concentric circles in the shape of an eye, is used to ward off these evil gazes.
“We have the blue eye all over our house and I have a tattoo of one on my neck. In Turkey it’s a very big tradition to have them because they believe it watches out for evil and shuns evil away,” Denise Browning, daughter of Angie Browning, said.
American and Turkish cultures vary in many ways. Some of these include the culture surrounding shoes in the house and what grocery shopping looks like.
“Their culture is very different from ours. Religion is a top priority in their lives and they have to pray multiple times a day. Family is very important to them and they have big gatherings with lots of food,” Denise said. “When you enter someone’s home you take off your shoes. And when you greet people you hug and give a kiss on each cheek. I don’t remember any actual grocery stores there, they were all small jam packed mom and pop shops that sold everything you can think of. And they have big markets on the streets where people go to get their fresh foods and clothes and jewelry that vendors sell.”
Another difference between the two cultures is the language spoken; in Turkey the main language is Turkish, and most residents speak it.
“I understand some Turkish, my grandma is fluent in Turkish and she used to be fluent in German as well,” sophomore Madalyn Behling said.
Although the Browning family immigrated to the United States, Denise was able to visit Turkey when she was younger and experience their culture firsthand.
“I went there when I was 10ish. I was able to pick up on the language very very quickly. I could play and communicate with the kids no problem,” Denise said. “But I don’t ever use it so I forgot most of it. I did teach all (my) girls to count in Turkish and taught (them) some words, but I don’t know if (they) remember.”
While her grandma and mom have both taken trips to Turkey, Behling has not had the opportunity to do so.
“I haven’t been to Turkey but it’s definitely on my bucket list,” Behling said.