Time

God I've been here for over two months Two months How the time flies it doesn't feel like two monthsI think because the times have been so great. I can only excitedly await the 7ish remaining The time that's passed really hit me just tonight when Uygar Mustafa and I were working out the details of having some one replace Uygar once he leaves for his compulsory military service at the end o

Trabzon I will depart from you

There are some places for everyone which you feel a belonging without knowing really why and Black Sea region of Turkey is somewhere like that for me. Ok my father is from this region and when I seek my ancestorywhich ever branch I look for at my fathers side I always end up somewhere in eastern Black Sea but still I spent a very little time of my life in this region and I was in my end twenties

Steady Rollin'

After the high is always the comedown. It came this week with among other things realizing that my classes have gotten less and less satisfying realizing some of the ways in which an Obama administration will fall short on its promises of change Israel employing lobbyists and silly frustration with girrrrrll issues. But that's all okay. There's always the selfcorrection and things are st

"We solve our problems with our hearts"

I was speaking with a Turkish man the other day. We were contrasting people from the west especially Americans with the Turks. He said something that really caught my attention You solve your problems with your minds. Your mind is more important than your heart. We solve our problems with our hearts. While I'm not exactly sure how he meant it he doesn't know much English and I know much

The most eastern country of the West and the most western country of the East

I read in the paper the other day that Turkey has offered to mediate the dialogue between the Obama administration and Tehran assuming it actually happens which I have some reservations about. This is so revealing of Turkey's political situation. What does Turkey have to gain from acting as mediator Turkey sees itself as the bridge between East and West as Erdogan's Turkey's PM governmen

Photos from the past

These are some more photos from over the past year of friends who have visited 304stanbul and places we went.

House of the Virgin Mary

The experience of visiting the House of the Virgin Mary located about 7 kms from Selcuk proved to be a most peaceful one. This house is believed to have been the last home of Mary. She came here to escape the persecutions of the Jews. The house has been visited by Popes Paul VI John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Located close the harbour of Ephesus this house was the setting of the Third Ecumenica