User:Secheal/sandbox

Today "The total population of Meskhetian Turks living in the world is estimated at 600,000." Approximately the population of Meskhetian Turks is known to have dispersed to nine different countries: Turkey (40,000), Kazakhstan (150,000), Russian Federation (70,000- 90,000), Georgia (600-1000),Azerbaijan (90,000- 110,000), Kirghizstan (50,000), Uzbekistan (15,000), Ukraine (10,000) and the United States (12,500) In 2004, the United States officially accepted 12,500 Meskhetian (Ahiska) Turks from Krasnodar as refugees. It is estimated that 25,000 Meskhetian Turks were accepted in the refugee program, but only half were unable to pay the required passport fee and almost 17,000 settling them in 66 cities in more than 30 states (including the District of Columbia) in the end of 2007. After the 1944 exile, Meskhetian Turks have been taking good care of preserving their culture and language. They regard Turkish as the core of identity and they see language as a way to exist. Even though both they have faced with discrimination and forced to differentiate themselves from other groups in the society and they have dealt with dominant society not to be assimilated by using their language. They are loyal to their mother tongue and they give lots of importance to keeping their mother tongue and Turkish identity alive. The Turkish language remains the dominant language among Meskhetian Turks, despite their exile. They have actively preserved aspects of traditional culture and Turkish culture is a dominant influence in their social life. “Shared language may demonstrate shared cultural components between Turks and Meskhetian Turks, yet one cannot assume a cultural connection as a result”. Their cultural values such as household, kitchen, dressing, family, wedding ceremonies, festivals and laments are similar to those in Turkey’s eastern part. In adapting to American culture, language is an important obstacle for Meskhetian Turks. Most of the Meskhetians in US know little or no English but they enrolled to English courses as they came to US Lots of the marriages occur as a result of elder people’s arrangements. Marriages among the community are supported and marriages outside the community are usually not allowed. Their marrying ceremonies last one day in general but sometimes they can last two days.