Things I'd never done before moving to Turkey #6

Go for a shave and accidentally become a Muslim.

I was at the barber the other day. As always, the conversation of religion came up which, in term, leads to discussion of the health benefits of circumcision.

During the rather heated debate (well, monologue really. I never get into a debate about religion with a Turk... especially one who's holding a razor to my neck), the barber asked me to try and recite some Arabic. I did as he said and repeated his words.

"Now you're a muslim!", he said with a smile. "When you say those words, you automatically become a muslim".

"OK cool... How much do I owe you?"

...by the way, if you're interested, this is what you have to say:

“Eşhedü el la ilahe illallah ve eşhedü enne Muhammeden abdühü ve Resülühü”

Or more simply...

"لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله"

Things I'd never done before moving to Turkey #5

Getting stuck in a lift and forgetting to panic.

Being claustrophobic, I thought my first experience of getting stuck in a lift would be something of a screaming frenzy. I guess living in Turkey has toughened me up a bit.

Tonight, I got stuck in the metre square lift in my apartment building. The strange thing was my reaction of complete and utter calm; as though it were an everyday event.

No punching walls. No loss of bladder control. No crying. No tearing at my clothes. Just a very matter-of-fact tap of the buttons and a nudge to the door. It worked too.