It really depends on what your BF family is like. In some famlies a kiss on both cheeks or hand shake would be OK. In others, kissing the hands of your future in-laws is proper. I'd ask your BF what the proper protocol would be for his family.

Generally i would say if they 'modern' turks then you dont need to kiss their hands just kiss them once on each cheek and be polite (make sure u smile) and the comment about looking shy is a good one hope you are ready to have your cheeks pinched and to be told you are sweet etc!
Can be a little over whelming at first.I will say though when meeting other relatives make sure you kiss older people's hands and just be polite.Dont wear anything too revealing but the best tip i can give you is just try to follow what other are doing around you.Observe what is customary and copy.Good luck,the first time is always the hardest but it will get easier! have fun.

Ask your boyfriend. Only he knows what his family appreciates and expects. My 'new family' for exmaple, would never want me to kiss their hands, whilst others put their hand just in front of your face before you even thought of what you were going to say

Just be prepared that, if one of the elder people from the family, puts his/her hand to you, its likely they are NOT waiting for your hands to shake, but hold it, kiss it and bring the kissed hand to your forehead.


When it comes to kissing the cheeks, in Turkey kissing both cheeks once is customary in any occasion of meeting family or friends.

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Just ask your boyfriend whether his family is the 'hand-kisser type' or the 'cheek kisser type'

i agree with "cheek kiss" type
and normally it's both cheeks
to kiss one cheek is not really polite, or might seem strange as i was told

most appropriate thing is of course to ask first straight away your bf HOW shoud you behave Turkey is full of contrasts and situation migh somewhat differ from parts of the country (east/west/north/south) from family to family.some are quite democratic and other are more traditional with prejudices




btw Catgirl, didn't expect any Finnish here nerelisin? which city?

im in Helsinki now

Ahh yes the good old question about why does a turkish mother have so much conrol over her son and the answer is this: for a turkish man his mother is always the most important woman in his life.A fact which might be hard to accept at first from a more western or european point of view but generally i have found this is the case.Be ready!

I think if you want to be liked you'd better do what is necessary and what is traditional for the country where you go, but first of all you have to talk to your bf of course. And to tell the truth i don't understand..why did't you ask HIM first..?

Oh, btw, hi! ))

On the kissing both cheeks thing...LET THE TURK LEAD! Like in couples dancing the woman's part...you have to let them lead. I want to go to the wrong side every single time! How does it go? To their right cheek first? (my left)???? Don't ask me I go backwards...then it is awkward for both people but they all knew I was a yabanci and was trying. The first meeting is an inspection...there is no nice way of putting it. My fiance's family is fairly modern but still he needed them to formally 'approve' of me before we were officially engaged. I didn't know it was a test, maybe it is better if you don't know. He let me know after the fact they approved of me...well that is good! I don't know if my soon-to-be inlaws are representative of many others. Advice: smile, clean your plate (even after she piles more on), remember to remove your shoes upon entering and remove them again if you forgot something back in the house and were ready to go, bring slippers and shower shoes. If pictures are brought out... be prepared to see a circumcision, I wasn't prepared. I always thought my naked "first shower" picture was too much information!

yes the circumsision picture now that really was too much information but what can you do!