I understand your point of view. No one likes to hear people make jokes about his country, even if he might make them himself. I’m an American, so believe me when I say that lately, people don’t say many positive things about my country. I mostly have to put up with it–sometimes they are right, after all. Sometimes I feel the need to defend my country. So I know where you’re coming from.

In Joe’s defense, I spent a decent amount of time with him while I was in Turkey, and I must say that he has a sincere love and appreciation for Turkey, Turkish culture, and the Turkish people. He could return to Australia if he wanted, but he has chosen to live in Mersin because he loves it there.

When he makes a joke about Turkey, he is doing something that is actually quite common in English-speaking culture. We enjoy writing and reading about our experiences as a “fish out of water”–that is, a person in a culture other than his own. This style of writing is a common form of humor in our cultures. If you pay attention, he makes as many jokes about Australia as he does about Turkey. But trust me when I say, he means no offense.