My Turkish Mothers

In my building there are 2 ladies, friends, that "adopted" my roommate and I. One lives on the 7th floor, the other the 2nd floor. They both have teenage daughters, but are happy to adopt 2 more. We always suspected it, but it was confirmed when my roommate's parents came to visit. We all were visiting with the 7th floor neighbors, and she told my roommate's mother, "I have 3 daughters: my daughter, your daughter, and her roommate." Our "mothers" fuss at us if we don't visit them every week. They fuss at us if we aren't wearing socks in the winter. When the cold weather came, they asked if we had warm blankets.

Usually we visit them separately. Sometimes if we come, they'll call and invite the other. Occasionally they'll come together to our house. One night my roommate and I were winding down at 10 pm, and they showed up at our doorstep with a plate of fruit and a plate of pastries. They said "we've come to you," handed me the food, and stepped inside. So I put on the pot of tea while my roommate picked up the living room. They visited with us for an hour or so and went home. They also showed up late one night to see Jess's parents before they left...


They have their differences though. When we go to the 7th floor, she offers us coke, cookies, and candy. The 2nd floor neighbor is more like my mom. She offers us tea and fruit. And she cooks for us. She came by one night and brought us something like a spinach quesadilla without cheese, made with homemade whole wheat tortillas. One night she dropped by to invite us to dinner. I had a bit of a cold, so my roommate told her we couldn't come because I wasn't well. Our neighbor went and returned a few min later with a tray full of food--soup, something like a dumpling stuffed with ground beef (icli kofte), and plenty of extra parsley so I can get the nutrients I need to feel better soon.


So, don't worry, at least there's one mother making sure that I eat a nutritious meal occasionally. And, if we're lucky, she'll teach us how to make some of the great food she serves us! Of course, that isn't to say that 7th floor has never cooked for us. Earlier this month when my roommate came back from out of town (at about 11:30 am), our 7th floor mother from her balcony saw my roommate with bags in tow. So a few min after Jess put her bags down, our neighbor showed up and invited us to breakfast! I love Turkish breakfast--scrambled eggs with tomato and onions, fresh bread with local honey, and a selection of cheeses. And don't forget the tea!

Of course, they were so excited to meet Jess's parents last month, and so I better get prepared for when my mom comes to visit! And my mom better prepare her stomach!