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Lady in Embassy cannot speak Turkish?

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I have just called Turkish Embassy in Oslo, a lady answered the phone. Naturally, after her Norwegian greeting, I have replied with Turkish greeting. She said, "do you speak English or Norwegian?"... Ooops! I asked confirmation; "Isn't it Turkish embassy?"!! I can speak even Indian, but the reply has left a "slap" effect! Anyway, after a brief talk, she has transferred me to a gentleman, whose English accent is distinctly Turkish English, and after awhile, he understood that I'm a Turkish and finally I have talked with someone in the Embassy in Turkish, which is suppossed to happen at the very beginning!

The questions are;
1. What is she doing at Turkish Embassy, if she cannot help Turkish citizens?
2. Who has employed her there, if she cannot speak Turkish?
3. Why there is no Turkish greeting BEFORE another language?
4. Why do they think that I should talk at least either of Norwegian or English?
4. lots of similar questions.

Normally, when you call an Embassy, the first greeting message is in Embassy's native language. Because primary purpose of Embassy is to represent the country and help citizens living/visiting that specific foreign country. The homing country's native language can come second, which is to help that country's citizens (e.g. for visas, trading, etc). Third, if caller does not speak either of these languages, which frequently happens, then a third greeting could be in English.

I, however, will investigate above questions, as it sounds awkward. I am calling my country's Embassy, most of them are from Turkey. I do not have to speak neither Norwegian, nor English - not even to live in Norway or in another country (human rights?). Speaking Norwegian is mandatory, if you want to be a Norwegian citizen, and a foreigner has to wait for 7 years under some conditions (e.g. never leaves Norway longer than 6 months, or something like that).

I think I got a bit angry about this or I am over sensitive...

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Comments

Dan Alexandrudantesoft Monday, July 10, 2006 8:11:34 PM

I tend to agree. I think this happens because, e.g. it's easier to find workers skilled in NO and EN than in TR and NO and EN.

From my experience, the Serbian embassy in Bucharest and the Romanian embassy in Belgrade work as you desire.

However, on both occasions, I was looking for the respective consulate service, not the embassy, so a protocol of syncing languages was required. And speaking of skilled embassy workers, the one answering the phone of the Serbian embassy in Romania didn't speak Romanian at all.

Ismailismailp Tuesday, July 11, 2006 3:20:56 PM

It's not always required to employ "somebody" to speak in Embassy's language, as in many Embassies use IVR phone systems answering in list of languages. This is employing "something" and paying once, most probably providing required information without human factor.

I mean, for example, a Norwegian who wants to know about "family integration" or "do I need a visa to visit Turkey" can just press, 2, 4, 5 and that's it! But my question is specific to Turkish citizens, so I need a real person answering me in Turkish. On the other hand, I'm 100% sure that lady answered phone has no idea about what I am asking for, as what I was asking applies only to Turkish citizens leaving Turkey (well, Turkish citizens pay some stupid tax when leaving country for "vacation", or, say, "without official documents saying that you don't need to pay it").

When you, for example, call Norwegian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, an IVR answers phone, first in Norsk, of course, second in Turkish. When you call Spanish "consulate general" - not Embassy, it answers first in Turkish, second in Spanish, same for French, Belgian and Italian consulates.

I don't think this has anything to do with Norwegians, but has everything to do with Ambassador of Republic of Turkey in Oslo...

Fatimahzenya Thursday, August 10, 2006 3:20:37 AM

This post reminds me of the Egyptians working in the American Embassy in Cairo..

The have no clue, even the Egyptians who have lived in USA a long time refuse to talk to them they ask for an American ..

I know the countries in which the embassys are located allocate so many workers per embassy however, their choices of employees are way out of whack sad

Just my 2 cents

Fatimah

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