tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90600654568362124152024-03-13T17:20:02.096+01:00Empty Nest ExpatKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.comBlogger522125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-76074382009436550342018-11-11T14:34:00.000+01:002018-11-11T14:34:23.652+01:00The Girl from the Golden Horn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My friend Jen nominated a book I was unfamiliar with for our Istanbook feminist book club, and it became my biggest guilty pleasure read of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Girl from the Golden Horn, by Kurban Said, is a novel relatively unknown to most. It had been published in the 1930s and translated from the German. Truly, there are about two reviews of it online. We didn't have to blow dust off our Kindles obviously to read it, but if this book is sitting in libraries somewhere, I suggest it isn't getting its due. That's a shame, as it has much cross-cultural discernment to share with today's reader.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Are there so many novels that feature young female Ottoman intellectuals? I haven't run across another. The protaganist in this book, despite living in Berlin as an exile from her failed Ottoman Empire, had kept her identity and way of thinking as an Eastern woman intact, no easy thing in decadent European society of Berlin and Austria. The book follows her as she pursues her destiny, <i>with agency. </i></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaBosU3oP0I/W-gfZmxO20I/AAAAAAAAF7o/N3TX4sd1XhoBPkG3rl2u6HacA-anC_vZACLcBGAs/s1600/Contemplating%2Bthe%2BGolden%2BHorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaBosU3oP0I/W-gfZmxO20I/AAAAAAAAF7o/N3TX4sd1XhoBPkG3rl2u6HacA-anC_vZACLcBGAs/s400/Contemplating%2Bthe%2BGolden%2BHorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b></b></i></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i> </i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Contemplating:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>is this the exact perfect spot</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>on Istanbul's Golden Horn</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>to hold our book discussion</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>of Kurban Said's book,</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>The Girl from the Golden Horn?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>I think it will do, what do you think?</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZC7lFUSkp0/W-gfdR88fmI/AAAAAAAAF7s/JeiNdo106mARDqFzG1jlMxcmXofhvOT9wCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BGolden%2BHorn%2Bfrom%2BAyizade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ZC7lFUSkp0/W-gfdR88fmI/AAAAAAAAF7s/JeiNdo106mARDqFzG1jlMxcmXofhvOT9wCLcBGAs/s400/The%2BGolden%2BHorn%2Bfrom%2BAyizade.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Who had the best view of the Golden Horn</i></b></div>
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<b><i>on book discussion day?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Us or the sailboat?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>What a magnificent expat experience!</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzZDyIMSQX8/W-gfz-Lv9zI/AAAAAAAAF74/vKTBICZWMBQ5BYMJ8C3KJo5aXrjnelJIQCLcBGAs/s1600/Girl%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BGolden%2BHorn%2BDiscussion%2BGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MzZDyIMSQX8/W-gfz-Lv9zI/AAAAAAAAF74/vKTBICZWMBQ5BYMJ8C3KJo5aXrjnelJIQCLcBGAs/s400/Girl%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BGolden%2BHorn%2BDiscussion%2BGroup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>We felt lucky to experience the setting, </i></b></div>
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<b><i>each other's company,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and the book all together.</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as it would take a unique writer to portray both Ottoman society and Vienesse society so intimately in this book, we felt unique as readers reading a book we felt would be lost on, for example, most American readers back home. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Jen had been posted to Vienna before she was posted to Istanbul, so you can imagine all of the insight she brought to this discussion from both societies. We had a great exchange of ideas. With three women from the West, and two from the East, there was a perfect number for a fascinating discussion. And here I will stop in my description -- so you get the same joy from the book as I did, knowing nothing about what would happen as I read.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where is the female movie director from the East who will bring the heroine Asiadeh Anbara's story to the big screen? It's so cinematic!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-40973248795589981292018-10-24T16:15:00.000+02:002018-10-27T16:16:00.397+02:00Celebrating the City of Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q80awxQk5gM/W9RsbNdCYtI/AAAAAAAAF7c/iMngb4br2TQ0iaedi_6pbqNsyr07KuWHACLcBGAs/s1600/City%2Bof%2BJoy%2Bmovie%2Bposse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q80awxQk5gM/W9RsbNdCYtI/AAAAAAAAF7c/iMngb4br2TQ0iaedi_6pbqNsyr07KuWHACLcBGAs/s400/City%2Bof%2BJoy%2Bmovie%2Bposse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>My City of Joy movie posse,</i></div>
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<i>Ladies from Global Minds and Istanbook book clubs</i></div>
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<i>here in Istanbul</i></div>
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What a powerful evening last night was! Eight of us assembled for our film screening of The City of Joy, celebrating the work of the new Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Denis Mukwege. He cares for women in the Congo who are victims of sexual violence that has occurred in pursuit of mineral wealth for famous global corporations. Also featured in the film were Congolese humanitarian leader Christine Schuler Deschryver and fundraiser/playwright Eve Ensler.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MNy0MG_iy0Y/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MNy0MG_iy0Y?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<i>The City of Joy Movie Documentary Trailer</i></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/02/1billionrising-in-istanbul.html">One of the most meaningful things I have ever participated in as an activist was the inaugural year of Eve Ensler's #1BillionRising global event.</a> Eve Ensler, a deeply-respected thought leader on the issue of sexual and domestic violence was asking the world to consider how different the culture of the globe could be if the estimated one billion women who have experienced sexual and domestic violence, did not experience the violence they had lived through. </div>
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How would the spirit of those women be different? How well could women thrive with less trauma? How could that impact their families? Imagine one billion families around the globe headed by women whose spirit hadn't been clipped. Eve Ensler's efforts and thought leadership were just so moving. She has raised over $100 million dollars to support women recovering from violence around the globe through her plays, the most famous of which is the Vagina Monologues<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/03/first-rehearsals-vagina-monologues-in.html"> (another great experience I had in Istanbul - acting in my first play).</a></div>
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I remember the inaugural year of #1BillionRising, the journalists covering the story didn't talk to Eve in a studio in New York. Instead, they reached her in the Congo. I remember being so shocked that she would be that far away from the media when her big idea debuted. Watching this movie helped me understand why she was in the Congo. That was where she was needed the most.</div>
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This would be a tough film to watch alone at home on Netflix. I am proud of my fellow book club members for not turning away from this story. No solutions can be found without first facing the problem, right?</div>
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As I watched, I kept remembering childrens' television host, Mr. Rogers. He always said, 'in stressful events, always look for and lift up the helpers.' Why not hold a watch party of your own to lift up 'helper,' Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, and spread the solidarity.</div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-59510583171885863622018-01-09T07:21:00.001+01:002018-01-09T13:52:38.154+01:00Americans, how well do you know your global neighbors?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjHRP_vkn0s/WlRTSKlrlII/AAAAAAAAF6c/OkHD26rVDiocJ5v8_G8wUWsf2rBQG3W8wCLcBGAs/s1600/Lunch%2Bwith%2BSuzy%2BHansen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mjHRP_vkn0s/WlRTSKlrlII/AAAAAAAAF6c/OkHD26rVDiocJ5v8_G8wUWsf2rBQG3W8wCLcBGAs/s320/Lunch%2Bwith%2BSuzy%2BHansen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Americans ladies</div>
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having lunch with legendary journalist</div>
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Suzy Hansen (second from right),</div>
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after her reading at PAWI,</div>
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the Professional American Women of Istanbul</div>
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This month I had the joy of interviewing legendary American journalist Suzy Hansen and reviewing her first book for Lale Magazine, the bimonthly-publication of the International Women of Istanbul. Suzy Hansen's book is called, 'Notes on a Foreign Country : An American Abroad in a Post-American World.'<br />
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American author James Baldwin asked, 'has American prosperity come at the expense of the American Negro?' Suzy Hansen, whose admiration and interest in James Baldwin inspired her to move to Turkey, extends the question. She asks, 'does American prosperity and identity come at the expense of the world?'<br />
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<a href="https://issuu.com/marlet_corporate_publishing/docs/january_-_february_2018__lr_">You can read my review here on pages 32-34 of the January/February issue.</a> 'Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World' was chosen by the New York Times as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2017. Excerpts appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Guardian.<br />
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Thank you to editor Monisha Kar for the opportunity. Thanks also to Monica Fritz, of <a href="https://www.monicafritzphotography.com/">Monica Fritz Photography</a>, for the photos used in the story.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-23383531968693110692017-12-31T13:01:00.004+01:002017-12-31T13:01:45.833+01:00A Month of Turkish Literature for Global Literature in Libraries<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IidVFonsMW8/WkjRMU5Jh_I/AAAAAAAAF6M/UWZNsqsE7aoUcwoMGAPWB9TpDd7qoPKuQCLcBGAs/s1600/Bosphorus%2BFerry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IidVFonsMW8/WkjRMU5Jh_I/AAAAAAAAF6M/UWZNsqsE7aoUcwoMGAPWB9TpDd7qoPKuQCLcBGAs/s320/Bosphorus%2BFerry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>On a ferry between two continents</i></b></div>
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<b><i> is a great place to read</i></b></div>
In the last two years, one of the most fun things I have done is get involved in the fledgling Global Literature in Libraries movement. Did you know that around 3% of what is published each year in English has been translated from another language? It astonished me to learn that English-language readers read so provincially (for comparison, in Turkey, 42-50% of everything that is published has been translated from another language).<div>
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What could the world be like if English-language readers read more globally? Would there be more empathy? Less fear? Would there be more collaboration on big global problems? Would there be more international business and international travel? It's fun to think about.</div>
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In August, I served as the Turkish Literature Month editor for the Global Literature in Libraries blog. See, I was still blogging! Just in a different place. It was so much fun working with over nineteen different contributers from around the world to showcase 50 different titles. Gosh, that was fun. Here's the <a href="https://glli-us.org/2017/08/31/a-month-of-turkish-literature-via-global-literature-in-libraries-initiative/">summation post with links to all the blog posts about Turkish Literature. </a></div>
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You can follow along and read around the world too by following @GlobalLitinLibs on Twitter</div>
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or 'Global Literature in Libraries Initiative' on Facebook.</div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-69267480747525395442015-03-31T05:47:00.000+02:002015-03-31T07:06:01.713+02:00Washington Post: As Boomers Shed Stuff, Their Offspring, Millenials, Reject it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmfSUtecpU4/VRoXSKFMLgI/AAAAAAAAF1w/yoGTNq_HMb0/s1600/Boomers%2BDownsizing%2B-%2Bleather%2Bcouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TmfSUtecpU4/VRoXSKFMLgI/AAAAAAAAF1w/yoGTNq_HMb0/s1600/Boomers%2BDownsizing%2B-%2Bleather%2Bcouch.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/boomers-unwanted-inheritance/2015/03/27/0e75ff6e-45c4-11e4-b437-1a7368204804_story.html">This article</a> about Boomers downsizing and their children not wanting their stuff made me smile, as I have had this experience when I downsized, and I now actually live in a city with my memories on a blog, just like a Millenial! There's a big box of hard copy photos waiting for me to organize into scrapbooks when I get back home to America though. I guess this article is telling me: don't bother.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Maybe the reason Millenials aren't defining themselves by possessions is they all saw this movie short "The Story of Stuff" growing up: </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9GorqroigqM/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9GorqroigqM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Thanks to my friend Hope Gross Mandel for the article. </span></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-25301207371281340912015-03-22T06:35:00.001+01:002015-03-22T09:09:42.867+01:00Watching Tom Shadyac's movie "I Am"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/iYtfnONazTU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iYtfnONazTU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b><i>Official HD Trailer</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for Tom Shadyac's documentary</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"I Am"</i></b></div>
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Years ago, Oprah recommended a movie called "I am" by director Tom Shadyac. If Oprah tells me to watch something, I'm going to do so - after all these years, I love her more than ever. I miss her weekday show. It's as if a friend moved away.</div>
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I finally got around to watching the documentary "I am." It was, just as she described, wonderfully uplifting. I recommend it too! The central questions of the film are "What's wrong with the world? What can we do about it?"</div>
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Watching it from Turkey, I can't help but see how American the inquiry of ideas is in the film. An American viewpoint celebrates individual achievement above all else. In pursuit of capitalism, world and human resources are to be used in pursuit of the profit of whomever is building a company requiring them. The long-term consequences to the Earth or others isn't ranked as high as the need to continue wealth creation. So this is where Tom Shadyac started out and he shared his travels to a different point-of-view.</div>
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The central premise of his new viewpoint (gathered from interviewing some of the most interesting thinkers on the planet) is that we, as humans and species, are all interconnected. In a capitalist society, it's very easy to discount the weak, the elderly, the disabled as non-contributors and to assign them less value. But if they aren't there, what happens to the entire society? Does it continue to exist? </div>
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I reflected afterwards that this idea of non-contributers is so central to American life it even has a number assigned to it: the 47%. It's not a very empathetic point-of-view. People usually spend some time in their life in the 47%, for example, when they are children or an elderly person.</div>
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In contrast, I would describe Turkish culture as a hive culture where people assume cooperation with each other in most settings. The capitalist system is an adjustment in the last generation from an older culture of togetherness among people of the same ethnicity. The spirit of competition and zero sum game is a new practice here.<br />
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A simple example of how it is expressed is that Western students would hide a bad test score from their peers, but Turkish students share this information openly. Their attitude is geared more toward helping each other rather than competing with each other.<br />
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Another idea from the film is that our emotions have the power to influence events and other living creatures. We under estimate the power of each of our individual acts and how they influence others.</div>
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People also live their emotions much more openly here in Turkey and this energy contributes to creating an exciting hum in Istanbul.</div>
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I think a Turkish friend watching this movie would say, "Duh. Everyone knows these concepts that we are all interconnected and that our energy and emotions influence the energy of others." Yet, I don't think all Americans do know that, which is why Tom Shadyac's film resonates so much. </div>
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If you judge the systems based on wealth created, the American system is better. Is that the only way to measure individual success? Humanity's success? In the movie, Tom Shadyac gives up this measure for measuring the success of his own life. And he has never felt happier. He adopts more of an indingenous cultures' viewpoint that pursuit of gain beyond one's own immediate needs is considered mental illness.</div>
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Watch "I Am" for yourself and ask yourself what your cultural lens taught you growing up. Has it changed as you've aged? If so, why? Do you think that your cultural lens will help or hurt the long-term survival of the species - not only the human species but all other species as well?</div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-78670805126008488512015-02-18T12:37:00.001+01:002015-02-21T04:50:30.816+01:00The Rape and Murder of Turkish University Student Ozgecan Aslan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlNfvFHt6uA/VORMhWeA8HI/AAAAAAAAF0A/CyryUgiltfk/s1600/Ozgecan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OlNfvFHt6uA/VORMhWeA8HI/AAAAAAAAF0A/CyryUgiltfk/s1600/Ozgecan.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i>Ozgecan Aslan</i></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Last week, a bright, beautiful 20-year-old Turkish university student named Ozgecan Aslan was the last person on her shared taxi known as a dolmuş. It's a common form of transportation in Turkey. A </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">dolmuş, much like an airport shuttle van,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> carries up to 10 people at a time. Everyone in Turkey uses them. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">It would never have occurred to me to think of one as unsafe. Last week riding in a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">dolmuş cost</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/20-year-old-turkish-woman-brutally-murdered-body-burnt.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78354&NewsCatID=509">Ozgecan </a></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/20-year-old-turkish-woman-brutally-murdered-body-burnt.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78354&NewsCatID=509">Aslan</a> her life. She was raped, stabbed, dismembered, and burned by a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">dolmuş driver</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">, his friend, and the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">dolmuş driver's own</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> father.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1z4D3pd32q8/VOQK9iHL-QI/AAAAAAAAFzg/fGLZTmbyaZ0/s1600/Ozgecan's%2Bcoffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1z4D3pd32q8/VOQK9iHL-QI/AAAAAAAAFzg/fGLZTmbyaZ0/s1600/Ozgecan's%2Bcoffin.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Turkish Women refused</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">to let men near her casket</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">At the funeral, the imam signalled for men to pick up the casket and <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/women-defy-imam-in-murdered-womans-funeral-carry-the-coffin.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78358&NewsCatID=509">Turkish women were having none of it.</a> They refused to step away and carried her casket out themselves, a shockingly unusual act in patriarchal Turkish culture. It was an incredibly healthy response of contempt that signalled to the entire nation, this problem of violence against women MUST be addressed. <span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Ozgecan Aslan, and her fate, was on the lips of every Turkish woman with fury and sorrow all week long. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Turkey, a country famous for its denial of so many of its historic problems, </span><a href="http://womandiesinturkey.tumblr.com/" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">is not in denial on this one</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">. Turkey knows it has a problem with domestic violence and violence against women. The President himself called it "Turkey's bleeding wound." Last year, </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYtuO19-L0A" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">281 women were killed in Turkey</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> (that are known of - with honor killings and such you can't be sure of accurate reporting).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">A Turkish actress started a </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hashtag</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> called #</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sendeanlat</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> (tell your story), asking women to take to Twitter to tell their stories of how they had been harassed in daily life. Last I looked it had close to 1,000,000 tweets in two or three days. Even though the men of Turkey, know there is a problem, </span><a href="http://www.dailysabah.com/nation/2015/02/17/no-imprisonment-for-japanese-tourists-assailant" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> I'm not sure they care enough to fix it</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Murder of females is political</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Graffiti about </span><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Ozgecan Aslan's murder filled the streets. It wouldn't have occurred to me to think of </span><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Ozgecan Aslan's murder as political until I saw the graffiti above that declared it so. Then I couldn't get it out of my mind once seeing it. There were <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/12/22/the-women-battling-an-islamist-strongman.html">so many ways it could be. </a>Like the victims of so much state violence this year, Ozgecan was both Kurdish (an ethnic minority) and Alevi (a religious minority). Was her death going to be used by authorities to further restrict the freedom of women in the country, the way terrorism is used to justify the end of civil liberties for citizens in the West? Immediately, there <a href="http://www.diken.com.tr/sosyolog-nurullah-ardic-ozgecan-aslan-cinayetinden-faydali-sonuc-cikardi-kadinlara-ozel-pembe-otobus/">were calls for women to be segregated into 'pink buses.' </a>Others pointed to<a href="https://www.beaconreader.com/yusuf-salman/young-woman-killed-and-burned-here-is-why#.VN-FZmgivbo.twitter"> the misogynist statements </a>by<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arzu-kaya-uranli/i-ask-where-are-you-mr-pr_b_6694278.html"> politicians that devalued women.</a> The pattern of <a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/02/turkey-government-early-marriages.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+%5BEnglish%5D&utm_campaign=256c106755-February_10_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-256c106755-93119861#ixzz3RQbTVCJL">peeling women away from public life is underway</a> in Turkey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i>Our rebellion is for murdered women!</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">What fascinates me is the similarity of toxic cultures for women -- no matter where they are located. For example, I have always thought of the American state South Carolina as a state badly in need of the fresh breezes of change -- a state still nursing grievances from the Civil War. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Just the other day, one of South Carolina's lawmakers referred to women as a <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150213/PC1603/150219568">"lesser cut of meat."</a> It's easy to condemn the lawmaker, but it must be assumed that this attitude represents the population and it sells. These kind of statements diminishing women are common in both Turkey and South Carolina. Diminishing statements about women sell to the masses in Turkey too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Recently, the Post and Courier newspaper in South Carolina examined how the good 'ole boy culture of patriarchal policy makers contribute to <b><i>South Carolina leading the nation in dead women murdered by men.</i></b> <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/tilldeath/">Despite another woman dying every 12 days</a> at double the national rate, (and at three times the rate of South Carolina men who served in Iraq and Afghanistan combined), policy makers actively ignored a dozen initiatives to do something about the problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>Who matters more?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>The woman or the dog?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>You'd be surprised --</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>or maybe not.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">According to the Post and Courier, the only policy initiative related to domestic violence that got acted on in South Carolina was a proposal to make sure pets were taken care of when domestic violence happens. Indeed, South Carolina must value animals higher than women as 46 shelters for animals exist (one in every county) in the state, while only 18 shelters exist for women state-wide. According to the reporters who wrote the award-winning Post and Courier series "Til Death Do Us Part," a man in South Carolina can get five years for abusing his dog, but will only have to serve 30 days in jail for the first time he abuses his wife or girlfriend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">One of the sad aspects to the Ozgecan Aslan murder in Turkey, is that the mother/wife <a href="https://www.blogger.com/History%20of%20#TurkishCoffee on display http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=238&nid=78519 …">(same woman)</a> of the alleged murders said she had been a battered woman for years. If she had received help, and this battery had been taken seriously in Turkey, would 20-year-old Ozgecan Aslan be alive today? According to the investigative journalism of the four reporters in South Carolina, incarceration saves lives as men are separated from women. That may be, but in South Carolina and in Turkey, there appears to be no interest in helping women in that situation as men choose to view them with morality judgements as <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/tilldeath/parttwo.html">"those women."</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">According to experts quoted in the "Till Death do us Part" series on domestic violence, South Carolina has the most traditionalist culture in the entire nation of the United States, preserving a status quo that benefits the needs and values of the elite. Wow, does that sound like Turkey. And here's what sounds EXACTLY like Turkey, <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/high-school-student-convicted-for-insulting-erdogan-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=78438&NewsCatID=509">"honor culture:"</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.6;">"Surprisingly little research has examined the role South Carolina’s culture plays in domestic abuse and homicides, considering the state’s rate of men killing women is more than twice the national average.</span>One often-cited study about violent tendencies in Southern men came from Richard E. Nisbett, distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.<br />His research revealed a Southern “culture of honor,” one in which for generations a man’s reputation has been central to his economic survival — and in which insults to that justify a violent response.<br />“We have very good evidence that southerners and northerners react differently to insults,”Nisbett says. “In the South, if someone insults you, you should respond. If the grievance is enough, you react with violence or the threat of violence.”<br />In a clinical study, Nisbett subjected northern and southern men to a test. Someone bumped into them and called them a profane term. The reaction: stress hormones and testosterone levels elevated far more in southern men.<br />“He gets ready to fight,” says Nisbett, coauthor of “Culture of Honor: The Psychology of Violence in The South.”<br />How does it apply to domestic violence? Men who perceive their women have insulted them — by not keeping up the house, by talking back or flirting with someone else — launch into attack mode to preserve their power."<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> </span></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> ~South Carolina Post and Courier, 2014</span></span> </blockquote>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Here are examples of that same hypersensitivity to insult in Turkey <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/25/us-turkey-teenager-erdogan-idUSKBN0K30KO20141225">here,</a> and <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/839800/four-arrested-in-four-days-for-insulting-turkeys-erdogan-reports/">here</a>, and <a href="https://reubensilverman.wordpress.com/2015/02/21/where-to-draw-the-line-political-cartoons-in-turkey/">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">The response of disgust that Turkish women felt and voiced about the murder of Ozgecan Aslan was the healthiest human response to this whole sad story. The challenge for Turkish women and those who love them, will be to turn their social media energy and disgust into real lasting change. Sociologist Zeynep Tufekci describes this inability to make lasting change from social media power in <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/zeynep_tufekci_how_the_internet_has_made_social_change_easy_to_organize_hard_to_win?language=en">her TED Talk here.</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIJ6iZ9KecE/VOR0NV-BQDI/AAAAAAAAF0g/3DrGzP9hapg/s1600/Protests%2Bfor%2BOzgecan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vIJ6iZ9KecE/VOR0NV-BQDI/AAAAAAAAF0g/3DrGzP9hapg/s1600/Protests%2Bfor%2BOzgecan.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i>Turkish women took to the streets</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i>throughout Turkey to protest</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i>Turkey's pattern of</i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><b><i>violence against women</i></b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">If the first step, is to drag the whole country out of denial that there is a problem, the women of Turkey, have passed that test with flying colors and not let their nation descend any further (hello, Egypt). </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Respect, Turkish ladies! You have my total respect!</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> </span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">May the women of South Carolina find the same strength. According to the journalists in South Carolina who wrote the award-winning series, </span><a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/tilldeath/partseven.html" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">"Till Death Do Us Part," </a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">30 women's lives and families will depend upon it in the coming year.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">What I would want the women of Turkey and South Carolina to know is, you are not in this alone. One billion women across the planet are rising up each year to ask the world to change this paradigm where violence against women is acceptable. Eve Ensler </span><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/02/i-rise-to-break-chain-as-part-of-eve.html" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">began this movement three years ago</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> and each year it gets bigger and bigger. Luckily, the President of Turkey criticized women for participating so now everyone in Turkey has probably learned what the</span><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/02/1billionrising-in-istanbul.html" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"> "One Billion Rising" </a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">is all about. Next year, may the criticisms of women dancing for change sing out across the land! Strike! Rise! Dance! One billion rising! </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL5N8rSy4CU" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Break the chain!</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-align: center;">You may be interested in these other posts about domestic violence and violence against women in Turkey:</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/02/1billionrising-in-istanbul.html">#1billionrising in Istanbul</a></h3>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/02/i-rise-to-break-chain-as-part-of-eve.html" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">I rise to break the chain as a part of Eve Ensler's #1billionrising</a></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/02/1billionrising-rising-in-turkey.html" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">#1billionrising in Turkey</a></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/04/breaking-silence-on-street-harassment.html" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Breaking the Silence on Street Harassment in Istanbul</a></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/04/vday-2013-one-billion-women-rising.html" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">VDay2013: 1 billion women rising globally and dancing</a></div>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 25.6320018768311px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.kurtulussondurak.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #669922; text-decoration: none;">My First Turkish Movie -‘Kurtuluş Son Durak’</a></h3>
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You can follow <i>'Empty Nest Expat'</i> on Facebook, or just sign up for RSS Feed at the right. Care about domestic violence and violence against women? Why not share this blog post to broaden the conversation.</div>
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Thanks for reading. Don't forget to Strike! Rise! Dance!</div>
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<div>
<i>Heaps and heaps of gratitude to the amazing journalists in South Carolina whose journalism will save lives, move their state forward, and result in a more equitable environment for the citizens of South Carolina. </i></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-25427996454161682182015-02-03T07:56:00.000+01:002015-05-15T02:36:14.827+02:00An Istanbul Food Tour with Olga from 'Delicious Istanbul'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0cEsV6kHag/VM8f4ImsinI/AAAAAAAAFwk/6ApujQblc_s/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0cEsV6kHag/VM8f4ImsinI/AAAAAAAAFwk/6ApujQblc_s/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Olga and me</i></b></div>
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"I'll tell you a secret," my Russian friend Olga Tikhanova Irez said. My husband and I are moving from Istanbul." </div>
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I was shocked. Olga had built a business known all over the world giving culinary walks in Istanbul. She had foodies beating a path to her door. The seats for her monthly <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/enjoying-olgas-istanbulbreakfastclub.html">breakfast cafes </a>were so coveted, Istanbullians were lucky to get a spot. How could she give that up? </div>
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"We purchased a place in Alaçatı, Turkey and we're going to create a restaurant there. I want to feature the food of our grandmothers," she added.</div>
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Alaçatı is a well-known resort area on Turkey's North Aegean coast where many Turks go to vacation. Every year it hosts the world wind-surfing championships because its bay has the perfect conditions for windsurfing.</div>
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I had been to Alaçatı and knew how fantastic its open-air produce market was, how the relaxed resort atmosphere would contribute to joyful gastronomy and a wonderful experience for her future diners. "I haven't announced it yet," she added. </div>
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I was so grateful to know! I simply had to go on one of Olga's culinary walks before she left Istanbul and began her new life. I immediately cleared the next day of any other activities. This was an Istanbul experience on my bucket list that I simply could not miss.</div>
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"Try not to eat before you come. Come hungry." Olga advised with understatement.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B98PtM59pvo/VM8oWRVEQFI/AAAAAAAAFy0/MQR83OyiBQY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B98PtM59pvo/VM8oWRVEQFI/AAAAAAAAFy0/MQR83OyiBQY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1648.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>"Let's take a group photo</i></b></div>
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<b><i>while we're all still skinny!"</i></b></div>
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My fellow foodies on the walk were two couples from Hong Kong, fast friends for twenty years, who had travelled the world together. They were in town for a medical convention where the two doctors would be presenting. The couples' warm friendship and enthusiasm for life added to the joy of the day. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BFJx_E1WkY/VM8TTfu6sLI/AAAAAAAAFt8/r3ay19KMGaI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BFJx_E1WkY/VM8TTfu6sLI/AAAAAAAAFt8/r3ay19KMGaI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1656.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Three different kinds of <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/my-morning-menemen.html">menemen,</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i>wonderful Turkish comfort food.</i></b></div>
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We started at the dock in Kadiköy, a beautiful neighborhood for culinary exploration because so much of what makes Istanbul famous for Turkish food is all available within a couple blocks. Our first stop was a breakfast featuring two Turkish classics: menemen and Turkish tea.</div>
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Olga knows her menemen; her own recipe for the dish had been <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/nov/23/10-best-middle-eastern-recipes">featured in the Guardian. </a>So if she said "this is the place where you should come for menemen," I knew it had to be incredibly special. To preserve her 'secrets' I won't show you the names of any of the places she took us.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kc3xu6DmO7E/VM8TbUbo6jI/AAAAAAAAFuE/710NG7ojxpY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kc3xu6DmO7E/VM8TbUbo6jI/AAAAAAAAFuE/710NG7ojxpY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1659.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A beautiful Turkish tradition:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>soldiers write notes on napkins here</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and pin them to the wall,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>as they come to eat</i></b></div>
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<b><i>one last menemen</i></b></div>
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<b><i>before leaving for their service,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>or return for one</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in celebration</i></b></div>
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<b><i> of surviving it!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6q-V8TjgZ4/VM8TiXUv1bI/AAAAAAAAFuM/LNb_ZjoePE4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6q-V8TjgZ4/VM8TiXUv1bI/AAAAAAAAFuM/LNb_ZjoePE4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I loved the pride of these men -</i></b></div>
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<b><i>all proud menemenciler!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1ljTZVsNuQ/VM8TtmPNI4I/AAAAAAAAFuU/HXkmQ1fOG2E/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1ljTZVsNuQ/VM8TtmPNI4I/AAAAAAAAFuU/HXkmQ1fOG2E/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1671.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Fıstıklı dürüm.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Dürüm is a Turkish word</i></b></div>
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<b><i>used to describe</i></b></div>
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<b><i>anything rolled,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>making this</i></b></div>
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<b><i>rolled-pistachio baklava.</i></b></div>
Next up was a specialty of Gaziantep, Turkey, baklava. Gaziantep is famous as the culinary capital of Turkey. The number one thing to eat there, on a very long list of gastronomic treasures, is baklava. I had never tried fıstıklı dürüm baklava before this day. It has become my new dessert obsession.<br />
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How good is this baklava? Just to learn about this one particular type of baklava would be enough of a culinary education to make the whole day a success. I love it that much. Yet, we were just getting started!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRDyITBezvA/VM8T4ZWBovI/AAAAAAAAFuc/TLhHNezw1CU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRDyITBezvA/VM8T4ZWBovI/AAAAAAAAFuc/TLhHNezw1CU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The walnut-based baklava in back</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is topped with kaymak,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>a very fragile Turkish</i></b></div>
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<b><i>clotted cream</i></b></div>
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<b><i>that can make one swoon.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Kaymak,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>a pillow of extraordinary excellence,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>must be eaten</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the day it is made.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0PeCY-TFDY/VM8ULdMzMlI/AAAAAAAAFuk/teDkNZLcgBo/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C0PeCY-TFDY/VM8ULdMzMlI/AAAAAAAAFuk/teDkNZLcgBo/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1672.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>There are no words.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The taste! The perfection!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The tradition!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I love all of the imagination</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Turks bring to making nuts sing</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in their desserts.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> And then they add: kaymak!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>People travel</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>from all over the world</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to eat this.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VV2tr-vW_9g/VM8UYf__RCI/AAAAAAAAFus/L0l4HP9Uqaw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VV2tr-vW_9g/VM8UYf__RCI/AAAAAAAAFus/L0l4HP9Uqaw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1679.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The green baklava</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is fıstıklı ezme.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Think of it as pistachio marzipan.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Isn't that a brilliant idea?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Pistachio marzipan?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>It is every bit as fantastic as it looks.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>What brilliant imagination!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The other baklava</i></b></div>
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<b><i>features a bit of crunch</i></b></div>
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<b><i>paired with the pistachio goodness.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8IVSexMW3vk/VM8UrxKAqyI/AAAAAAAAFu0/Wokh2ZjdEh8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8IVSexMW3vk/VM8UrxKAqyI/AAAAAAAAFu0/Wokh2ZjdEh8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1685.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>As global as</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Western markets have become,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>there are still</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>many, many produce surprises</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to discover via travel.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kOClesN8PA/VM8U1nSLAkI/AAAAAAAAFu8/kGBmaA6t8lg/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5kOClesN8PA/VM8U1nSLAkI/AAAAAAAAFu8/kGBmaA6t8lg/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1686.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Here are three offerings</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I had never seen</i></b><br />
<b><i>until moving to Turkey.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I love the mystery of them.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>What does one do with them?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>We passed many mysteries</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>as we walked around</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Kadiköy</b></i></span><b><i>'s open-air market.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Olga would</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>patiently explain each one.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kjq4q043JlU/VM8U8LFNMcI/AAAAAAAAFvE/m5VVS_g9Fw0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kjq4q043JlU/VM8U8LFNMcI/AAAAAAAAFvE/m5VVS_g9Fw0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Next up, was one of the most beautiful of Turkish food ideas:<br />
mezes. Mezes are usually the appetizer to a meal and Turks have hundreds and hundreds of different recipes for them.<br />
<br />
The meze tradition is to offer a little taste of this and a little taste of that. I have always thought it was the perfect way to acclimatize children to more sophisticated tastes. "Just try a bite," I can imagine Turkish parents saying.<br />
<br />
We popped into one of my favorite spots in the open-air market of Kadiköy, a great gastronimical shop showcasing tantalizing mezes and superb regional food products.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLQf6PDI4t0/VM8VPvUIKEI/AAAAAAAAFvM/1r12yK-BFgA/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLQf6PDI4t0/VM8VPvUIKEI/AAAAAAAAFvM/1r12yK-BFgA/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1690.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Olga had her favorites</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>she wanted us to taste.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hta9VQW8Rqk/VM8VZYQy2eI/AAAAAAAAFvU/FmGVaq6-FbQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hta9VQW8Rqk/VM8VZYQy2eI/AAAAAAAAFvU/FmGVaq6-FbQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>There were so many choices!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFXIWo_xPfk/VM8VwOKfKdI/AAAAAAAAFvc/L_zYrdCfHA4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFXIWo_xPfk/VM8VwOKfKdI/AAAAAAAAFvc/L_zYrdCfHA4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1693.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Olga assembled a</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>model meze masterpiece.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Most of these mezes</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>are vegetable-based.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>You can't go wrong</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>they are so delicious and healthy.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I love the taste combinations</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>new to my American palate</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>like the carrot and eggplant meze</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>right in the middle of the plate.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I've gone back for it again and again.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>If I could popularize</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>one vegetable</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>back home in America</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>it would be eggplant.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I never grow tired</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of all the different ways</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Turkish cooks use it.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It's fantastic!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>If you had told me that,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I would never have believed it</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>because I really</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>hadn't experienced it before.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_nvKE9h-O4/VM8V1QMcL7I/AAAAAAAAFvk/OjKDCu3C1uA/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_nvKE9h-O4/VM8V1QMcL7I/AAAAAAAAFvk/OjKDCu3C1uA/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1692.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The meat on the left is pastirma,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>a specialty of Kayseri, Turkey.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I lived in Turkey a year before</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I had the guts to try it.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It seemed so different:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>dried meat with a paste around it?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>How could that be good?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Sounds like something</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>mountain men</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>would pack in a duffle.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Then I had pastirma in menemen.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Wow. I'm hooked. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>On the right</i></b><br />
<b><i>a meatball new to me</i></b><br />
<b><i>that was a</i></b><b><i> more subtle</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>taste sensation.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmWXlb7jjUE/VM8WKWWcjpI/AAAAAAAAFvs/dVwDvHvIwaM/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmWXlb7jjUE/VM8WKWWcjpI/AAAAAAAAFvs/dVwDvHvIwaM/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1697.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The mezeci loved giving</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Olga a hard time</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>as they posed for photos.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-TIy4pCqeE/VM8fIAZiGHI/AAAAAAAAFv8/TVQgk6z8qP4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-TIy4pCqeE/VM8fIAZiGHI/AAAAAAAAFv8/TVQgk6z8qP4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1694.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>All kinds of Turkish cheeses</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>vacuum-packed</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to take home to Asia.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTKnP0DfWQI/VM8fZjFW7LI/AAAAAAAAFwE/iA6-V4kVNsI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MTKnP0DfWQI/VM8fZjFW7LI/AAAAAAAAFwE/iA6-V4kVNsI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Next stop: a UNESCO</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"intangible cultural heritage"</i></b></div>
'Turkish kitchen' isn't just about the food. Yes, the food is fabulous. 'Turkish kitchen' is also about the rituals that go with each different food. Our next stop was to try a Turkish ritual so globally cherished UNESCO has labeled it <a href="http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00645">"an intangible cultural heritage."</a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFpNX6nzgcA/VM8ffInIDpI/AAAAAAAAFwM/bISELkDZUJU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZFpNX6nzgcA/VM8ffInIDpI/AAAAAAAAFwM/bISELkDZUJU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1700.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Around the corner</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>from our meze shop</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>was one of Istanbul's</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>most beloved Turkish coffeeshops.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It was the perfect spot</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to wind down</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>from an exciting morning</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>before venturing out</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>for more discovery.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUNYB5235xE/VM8fqMKK_qI/AAAAAAAAFwU/IWbE-ZqBUz0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dUNYB5235xE/VM8fqMKK_qI/AAAAAAAAFwU/IWbE-ZqBUz0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1703.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Each Turkish coffee</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>is accompanied by a</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>glass of water</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and a single bite</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of sweetness.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>See the lokum?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>In English,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>it's known as 'Turkish Delight.'</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AibfASFTVc8/VM8f0ac7BXI/AAAAAAAAFwc/6qRaGeNS444/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AibfASFTVc8/VM8f0ac7BXI/AAAAAAAAFwc/6qRaGeNS444/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1706.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Turkish coffee is exquisitely satisfying. The first steaming hot sip of the foamy concoction sends a signal to all nerve endings: slow down, enjoy, relax.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5H_J6nuQ5wk/VNEIp9VqDoI/AAAAAAAAFzE/iuGA2QTPLl4/s1600/Fortune%2Btelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5H_J6nuQ5wk/VNEIp9VqDoI/AAAAAAAAFzE/iuGA2QTPLl4/s1600/Fortune%2Btelling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Me telling fortunes</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Photo by Olga</i></b></div>
Each sip is savored as simply as the conversation and fortune telling that ensue when the cup of coffee is finished. The cup is turned over and the pattern of the coffee grounds fortell one's future as a friend 'reads' the inside of the cup.<br />
<br />
The ritual of it all is enough to make an overseas Turk cry out with homesickness at a mere photograph of Turkish food rituals.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1I5VrL5Bsc/VM8gEyhAo0I/AAAAAAAAFws/8Zwu6AIFEus/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1I5VrL5Bsc/VM8gEyhAo0I/AAAAAAAAFws/8Zwu6AIFEus/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1722.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Pickled cabbage</i></b></div>
There were more specialty food stores to explore after our coffee. We were off to the pickle place next. It seems everything can be pickled!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OUMwbOmHT_o/VM8gIVvezDI/AAAAAAAAFw0/Bw0Ing8pGZ8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OUMwbOmHT_o/VM8gIVvezDI/AAAAAAAAFw0/Bw0Ing8pGZ8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EP_nH-BPBfs/VM8gWCTZ21I/AAAAAAAAFw8/pYkdvGCHJsk/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EP_nH-BPBfs/VM8gWCTZ21I/AAAAAAAAFw8/pYkdvGCHJsk/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1729.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OL3s7x2wkEY/VM8gemRWVPI/AAAAAAAAFxE/J_duv4VNl1U/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OL3s7x2wkEY/VM8gemRWVPI/AAAAAAAAFxE/J_duv4VNl1U/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1730.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Olga offered us</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>a cool refreshing glass</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of pickle juice.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnPmwJk2HsM/VM8gsn0MX4I/AAAAAAAAFxM/bl79lGRvnzI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnPmwJk2HsM/VM8gsn0MX4I/AAAAAAAAFxM/bl79lGRvnzI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1727.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>She also offered us</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>fresh turnip juice</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>called şalgam.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Don't turn it down</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>because it sounds odd.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It's fantastic,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>especially when paired</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>with the</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>specialty meat kebabs</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>from the cities</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>out East.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Şalgam is zingy, fresh, delicious!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUtUTlF1MGs/VM8g6mf_6LI/AAAAAAAAFxU/xru0zWv5LJ0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUtUTlF1MGs/VM8g6mf_6LI/AAAAAAAAFxU/xru0zWv5LJ0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1733.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>All of these</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>fresh regional food products</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>can be vaccum-packed</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to take home in one's suitcase.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGO9rkm6gjA/VM8hUzvcwFI/AAAAAAAAFxk/xf_1RKxv4d4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YGO9rkm6gjA/VM8hUzvcwFI/AAAAAAAAFxk/xf_1RKxv4d4/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>You didn't think</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>we would go through an</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Istanbul culinary adventure</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>without fish, did you?</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>This gorgeous plate</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of fried hamsi</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>is from the Black Sea.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Black Sea</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>has its own special culture</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and hamsi (fried anchovies)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>makes a Black Sea Turk</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>puff up with pride.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Bet you can't eat just one.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj3zw2wiK6Q/VM8haLiXAwI/AAAAAAAAFxs/uYkxCyhQRjw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj3zw2wiK6Q/VM8haLiXAwI/AAAAAAAAFxs/uYkxCyhQRjw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1746.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I forgot the name</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of this spicy chicken dish</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>but it was tender and juicy</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and yummy over rice.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>After our lunch</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of fish and chicken</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Olga had one last</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>open-air</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>produce market</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>she wanted to show us.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It was huge,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>stretching for several blocks.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>We walked through it all,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>pausing here and there</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to explain</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>produce new to us. </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPp7PFZiCBc/VM8hkSXlMzI/AAAAAAAAFx0/f8y2btC-ksY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MPp7PFZiCBc/VM8hkSXlMzI/AAAAAAAAFx0/f8y2btC-ksY/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>They taste as wonderful</i></b><br />
<b><i>as they look -</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Çanakkale tomatoes.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Why can't we have</i></b><br />
<b><i>tomatoes like this</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>back home?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gm3bLt5R4JU/VM8h8Pa6jvI/AAAAAAAAFx8/x5kIhTuZcEM/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gm3bLt5R4JU/VM8h8Pa6jvI/AAAAAAAAFx8/x5kIhTuZcEM/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1749.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Skinny green peppers</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>are the Turks' favorite;</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>They are frequently grilled</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and served with kebab.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1owdfsumCA/VM8iNeD-agI/AAAAAAAAFyM/QliL5vnHTdg/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1owdfsumCA/VM8iNeD-agI/AAAAAAAAFyM/QliL5vnHTdg/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1757.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Even before I went on</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>this food walk</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>with Olga,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I think of her whenever</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I see beautiful market greens.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>She knows exactly</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>what to do with them.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Foraging for nettles</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>and </i></b><b><i>spring greens</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>is a beautiful Russian</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>childhood tradition.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNDJyPp2GkI/VM8iUC2Ah7I/AAAAAAAAFyU/sNc83b-oxXQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNDJyPp2GkI/VM8iUC2Ah7I/AAAAAAAAFyU/sNc83b-oxXQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1762.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>These flat beans</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>which I've never seen</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>for sale in America,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>make a delicious cold salad</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>called Ayşe Kadin Fasulye</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>(the woman Ayse's beans).</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHlCYNCEAJ8/VM8it1nt23I/AAAAAAAAFyk/XVaPr4_5O48/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jHlCYNCEAJ8/VM8it1nt23I/AAAAAAAAFyk/XVaPr4_5O48/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B1763.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Plan on buying a lot?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Porters will carry</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>all of it for you</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>as you make</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>your selections.</i></b></div>
I was so grateful to experience 'Olga's Istanbul' before she moved.<br />
I can't wait to follow her restaurant adventure. You can follow her restaurant adventure too via her blog, <a href="http://www.deliciousistanbul.com/">Delicious Istanbul,</a> or make reservations directly at the <a href="http://www.babushkaalacati.com/">Babushka Alaçatı</a> website.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this post, you may enjoy these other foodie posts about Istanbul:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/enjoying-olgas-istanbulbreakfastclub.html">Enjoying Olga's #Istanbulbreakfastclub</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/the-days-of-wine-and-roses-and-tulips.html">The Days of Wine and Roses and Tulips: Wine Tasting at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/07/dinner-on-bosphorus-at-cragan-palace.html">Dinner on the Bosphorus at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski's Bosphorus Grill</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/09/afternoon-tea-and-pastry-with-guest.html">Afternoon Tea and Pastry with Guest Chef Yann Duytsche in the Gazebo Lounge at Çırağan Palace Kempinski</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2015/01/midnight-at-pera-palace-with-istanbul.html">"Midnight at the Pera Palace Hotel" with the Global Minds Book Club</a><br />
<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-26366860390567980442015-01-20T13:05:00.003+01:002015-01-20T13:35:36.329+01:00Exploring Üsküdar's Historic Fish Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrd6Z5vntXc/VL4lJxspghI/AAAAAAAAFso/c5EdmdTjtoQ/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wrd6Z5vntXc/VL4lJxspghI/AAAAAAAAFso/c5EdmdTjtoQ/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B010.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Üsküdar's Historic Fish Market;</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Fishmongers shout to the customers</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>what is on offer.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>It adds to the fun.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jB3Qp4RNb2E/VL4lYX9vMZI/AAAAAAAAFs0/Sp1BOBrcorg/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jB3Qp4RNb2E/VL4lYX9vMZI/AAAAAAAAFs0/Sp1BOBrcorg/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B012.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>There were so many kinds of fish,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>yet I wanted to use the kind</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I was most familiar with.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Where were the salmon fillets?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I saw just one lonely salmon fillet</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>on display.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf2hKtU2H5M/VL4mtSj9JfI/AAAAAAAAFtU/eQLIayu4l0c/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kf2hKtU2H5M/VL4mtSj9JfI/AAAAAAAAFtU/eQLIayu4l0c/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B004.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>When I said what I wanted,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>the fishmonger urged me</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>to go behind the counter.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I did as told, not understanding.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_mwPtFV-_A/VL4kARBe-6I/AAAAAAAAFsQ/iATbCI6mzNs/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F_mwPtFV-_A/VL4kARBe-6I/AAAAAAAAFsQ/iATbCI6mzNs/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B008.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>The other fishmonger opened up</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>the deep freeze and went in.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnjH5ymrXP0/VL4ki40UrII/AAAAAAAAFsY/SskS4ri4atE/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mnjH5ymrXP0/VL4ki40UrII/AAAAAAAAFsY/SskS4ri4atE/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B001.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Will this do?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-lqdY0pZ30/VL4lAKcwGkI/AAAAAAAAFsg/vuWRImsTrVE/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5-lqdY0pZ30/VL4lAKcwGkI/AAAAAAAAFsg/vuWRImsTrVE/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B002.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I almost screamed</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>it was so fun</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>to see that giant fish.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>A memory of watching</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Martha Stewart videos</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>with my oldest child</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>came rushing back to me.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>It was before Martha</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>became really big.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>We marveled that Martha</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>would buy and handle</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>a gigantic salmon</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>in her kitchen.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>She bought the entire fish??</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>We admired Martha</i></b></div>
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<b><i>risking all that money</i></b></div>
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<b><i>preparing one gigantic salmon. </i></b></div>
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<b><i>What if it didn't turn out right</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>when she cooked it?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Martha was thinking big,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>obviously.</i></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uiHc1MHLhA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b><i>The fishmonger thought</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I was German.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>In my imperfect Turkish,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I tried to say,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"I'm not German, I'm American."</i></b></div>
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<b><i>But like all language learners everywhere,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>it wasn't exactly right.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Apparently, I said:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"The German doesn't exist!"</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOhXMjM8MnE/VL4lbnwdn-I/AAAAAAAAFtA/MMaUWah98f0/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOhXMjM8MnE/VL4lbnwdn-I/AAAAAAAAFtA/MMaUWah98f0/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B014.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Custom-cut fillets.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I felt so lucky,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>and so full of anticipation</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to enjoy my own cooking.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-na7XJ2T1GWk/VL4lgROpztI/AAAAAAAAFtI/JhGsNQdo9rQ/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-na7XJ2T1GWk/VL4lgROpztI/AAAAAAAAFtI/JhGsNQdo9rQ/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B015.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I wanted to take advantage</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>of Turkey's incredible</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>nut crop</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and make</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>pistachio-encrusted salmon.</i></b></div>
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Later, after I had my wrapped salmon fillets from the fish market, I went to the nut shop to buy fresh pistachio meats. I was asking questions in slow Turkish about the various kinds of pistachios.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A Turkish man barged into the shop, shouted out his order, oblivious to the fact that I was ordering. The shopkeeper switched to the new, louder patron. "Men get waited on before women in Turkey, even if the woman was first?" I asked, after the man left.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Maalesef (unfortunately)," the shopkeeper replied. I said 'no thank you' to placing my order with him and took my small request (1/4 kilo) to the shopkeeper's competitor across the street.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Roasted pistachio nuts please," I ordered in Turkish. The man reached inside a heated drawer and scooped up the warm nuts into a paper bag for me. It was so satisfying to take my business there. I swear the pistachios tasted better for the lack of sexism!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5PWPWp7frs/VL4oTH2BVOI/AAAAAAAAFtg/NpU-HJ2aJoc/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5PWPWp7frs/VL4oTH2BVOI/AAAAAAAAFtg/NpU-HJ2aJoc/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B017.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>My meal turned out so well!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Martha would be proud, I think.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKktrS4rk6Y/VL4oV1CBTtI/AAAAAAAAFto/ePoPMMa6pWo/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKktrS4rk6Y/VL4oV1CBTtI/AAAAAAAAFto/ePoPMMa6pWo/s1600/2015%2BUskadar%2BFish%2BMarket%2B023.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>My finished dinner</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of pistachio-encrusted salmon</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and Mediterranean bakla,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>pine-nuts & herbs</i></b></div>
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<b><i>(Bakla is Turkey's version</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of green beans).</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Shopping the Üsküdar fish market</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was a fun experience.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And delicious too!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>Interested in other posts about homemade food in Istanbul?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Take a look at these:</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2015/01/chestnuts-roasting-on-open-fire.html">Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/enjoying-olgas-istanbulbreakfastclub.html">Enjoying Olga's #Istanbulbreakfastclub</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/crossing-continents-with-covered-dish.html">Crossing Continents with a Covered Dish</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/my-morning-menemen.html">My Morning Menemen</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/12/christmas-eve-lunch-with-pomegranates.html">Christmas Eve Lunch with pomegranates</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/08/sams-salad-with-cherries-goat-cheese.html">Sam's Salad with Cherries, Goat Cheese, and Pistachios</a></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Yes, 'Empty Nest Expat' is on Facebook. You can follow me there, or sign up at the right for an RSS feed of my blog. </b></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-6667384789759330962015-01-12T13:04:00.003+01:002015-08-23T05:27:44.217+02:00"Midnight at the Pera Palace" with the Istanbul Global Minds Book Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY9ZEc7CXNE/VLN8YrqoGMI/AAAAAAAAFn0/xSuA-ERApq0/s1600/Midnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2Bpublisher%27s%2Bversion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kY9ZEc7CXNE/VLN8YrqoGMI/AAAAAAAAFn0/xSuA-ERApq0/s1600/Midnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2Bpublisher's%2Bversion.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
If ever there was a book that was a perfect match for my Istanbul "Global Minds Book Club" it is this one: "Midnight at the Pera Palace: The Birth of Modern Istanbul" by Georgetown International Relations and Government professor Charles King.<br />
<br />
We selected it for our January read this month, because a reporter and photographer from Ankara, Turkey, were flying into Istanbul to do a photo shoot and cover story on our book club for <i>Tempo</i> Magazine.<br />
<br />
We wanted to pick a book that Turkish readers of the magazine would also find interesting, so that we as a book club had done everything we could to help promote reading culture in Turkey.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UHmeChragQ/VLOGvPu71II/AAAAAAAAFoU/VvRaogo2ETU/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UHmeChragQ/VLOGvPu71II/AAAAAAAAFoU/VvRaogo2ETU/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Red carpet? Of course.</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dlph3aOuCU/VLOGmIYtfyI/AAAAAAAAFoE/JZN6l1-RNR8/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dlph3aOuCU/VLOGmIYtfyI/AAAAAAAAFoE/JZN6l1-RNR8/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The dapper staff</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>immediately greets everyone</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>who walks in the door,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>happy to help you make the most</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of your visit</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2CfCFvGjmE/VLOJE2nBV2I/AAAAAAAAFpQ/2-jpEA1A5YU/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2CfCFvGjmE/VLOJE2nBV2I/AAAAAAAAFpQ/2-jpEA1A5YU/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"Welcome,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to the Pera Palace</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of Istanbul"</i></b></div>
To make our day and the photo shoot extra special, we decided to meet at the glorious, historic Pera Palace itself. The Pera Palace is the hotel that was built by the creator of the luxury train line, the Orient Express, which used to transport glamorous passengers in style from Paris to Istanbul. Upon arriving in Istanbul, passengers would be hand-carried to the hotel from the Sirkeci train station, in a Turkish tahtırevan, or palanquin, as it is known in English.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck7oSDNd-eY/VLOGyjIEuqI/AAAAAAAAFoc/Ge-GxDCw0KQ/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ck7oSDNd-eY/VLOGyjIEuqI/AAAAAAAAFoc/Ge-GxDCw0KQ/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B067.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Imagine seeing Istanbul</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>for the first time</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>through the windows of a</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Turkish tahtırevan</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoIZUza7HoU/VLOG50RAqEI/AAAAAAAAFok/WiWxmbp8dRM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NoIZUza7HoU/VLOG50RAqEI/AAAAAAAAFok/WiWxmbp8dRM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Pera Palace Hotel</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>boasts of the second-oldest elevator</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>in all of Europe,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>installed in 1892,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>only three years</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>after the elevator</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>in the Eiffel Tower.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It's still operational.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EO2JVNfAUjI/VLOT56aSEiI/AAAAAAAAFpg/Os624jUealw/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EO2JVNfAUjI/VLOT56aSEiI/AAAAAAAAFpg/Os624jUealw/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>One special little nook</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in the hotel</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is the Patisserie de Pera</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1LmX5YeG5I/VLOU7tc9h-I/AAAAAAAAFqA/G8o-rtvzJSI/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W1LmX5YeG5I/VLOU7tc9h-I/AAAAAAAAFqA/G8o-rtvzJSI/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B069.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>We didn't meet here,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>but the little patisserie</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is such a happy room</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I can't resist</i></b></div>
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<b><i>sharing photos of it.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lnzd1MKexHE/VLOUFDKQeHI/AAAAAAAAFpo/3aZuB2bP1h4/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lnzd1MKexHE/VLOUFDKQeHI/AAAAAAAAFpo/3aZuB2bP1h4/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B070.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The colors!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaTGvK67h2A/VLOUNIor5vI/AAAAAAAAFpw/xdQkVFAKhMM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaTGvK67h2A/VLOUNIor5vI/AAAAAAAAFpw/xdQkVFAKhMM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PfrAUO72la8/VLOURdFkjrI/AAAAAAAAFp4/xh6hzKMdiDk/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PfrAUO72la8/VLOURdFkjrI/AAAAAAAAFp4/xh6hzKMdiDk/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The friendly workforce</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>know how to make</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>every visit fun,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and who doesn't fancy a</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>festive fascinator?</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhJ0LEHwO8/VLOGqRroJ3I/AAAAAAAAFoM/XyA_e1ORKTM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aIhJ0LEHwO8/VLOGqRroJ3I/AAAAAAAAFoM/XyA_e1ORKTM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Spring flowers</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>abound in the lobby.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkJEi2z5_gk/VLOZk4W2FTI/AAAAAAAAFqM/GHlc2qmUEWA/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkJEi2z5_gk/VLOZk4W2FTI/AAAAAAAAFqM/GHlc2qmUEWA/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B079.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> What could be more dazzling</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to a book club</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>than a spectacular library</i></b></div>
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<b><i>between the lobby and the bar?</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VIb00AoeaA/VLOZplHAdfI/AAAAAAAAFqU/V0_dcIt968U/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VIb00AoeaA/VLOZplHAdfI/AAAAAAAAFqU/V0_dcIt968U/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><i>Our group was meeting in</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the Orient Bar</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ2a73jUKGk/VLObHQHL4bI/AAAAAAAAFqo/T_X2jfZXOww/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJ2a73jUKGk/VLObHQHL4bI/AAAAAAAAFqo/T_X2jfZXOww/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Who else has enjoyed</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the Orient Bar</i></b></div>
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<b><i>before we arrived</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for our special day?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Atatürk,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the founder of the Turkish Republic,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Ernest Hemingway,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>adventurer and famous macho man,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>plus Agatha Christie,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>bestselling mystery writer</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6SUFXGYZh8/VLObcP0ls-I/AAAAAAAAFq4/R9YmuD0rfHI/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6SUFXGYZh8/VLObcP0ls-I/AAAAAAAAFq4/R9YmuD0rfHI/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Giggling with friends</i></b></div>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">before everyone else arrives</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhND8KDAr7w/VLOh_DfzzJI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/WspAfAdsZUQ/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhND8KDAr7w/VLOh_DfzzJI/AAAAAAAAFrQ/WspAfAdsZUQ/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
Our second generation</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
club organizers,</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
Matt Howell</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
and Nilüfer Tufanoğlu</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_azUbZIujbo/VLOk1HK80PI/AAAAAAAAFrk/4Lc5cWmTw-I/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_azUbZIujbo/VLOk1HK80PI/AAAAAAAAFrk/4Lc5cWmTw-I/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B105.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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Our club member</div>
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Filiz Kavak,</div>
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made the day a delight</div>
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by arranging press coverage</div>
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and booking our spectacular setting</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVnzU3mQmlM/VLOmbYajIkI/AAAAAAAAFrw/IAKk0rxSXTM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVnzU3mQmlM/VLOmbYajIkI/AAAAAAAAFrw/IAKk0rxSXTM/s1600/2015%2BJanuary%2BMidnight%2Bat%2Bthe%2BPera%2BPalace%2B102.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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With triple our normal turnout</div>
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it was nice that the bar</div>
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had been set up</div>
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in small discussion groups</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOkPXQgDKd0/VLOiAjtNHnI/AAAAAAAAFrY/RRi-UbeXOyc/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOkPXQgDKd0/VLOiAjtNHnI/AAAAAAAAFrY/RRi-UbeXOyc/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Bookish brain food!</div>
</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQSUmBEZy58/VLOh-D9DprI/AAAAAAAAFrI/wvmzYr2lIEU/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uQSUmBEZy58/VLOh-D9DprI/AAAAAAAAFrI/wvmzYr2lIEU/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Global Minds Book Club</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
prides itself on being</div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
people from around the world,</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
discussing books</div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
from around the world.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
On this day,</div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
with thirty people present,</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
we had five continents represented</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
and fourteen different countries.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
It helped to have at least</div>
</div>
<div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
one Turk at every table.</div>
</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7KZUT3iZpws/VLOoJLkotuI/AAAAAAAAFr8/x-zXKvxAugU/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7KZUT3iZpws/VLOoJLkotuI/AAAAAAAAFr8/x-zXKvxAugU/s1600/2015%2BGMBC%2BPera%2B4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We had such a</div>
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riveting, spirited discussion.</div>
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Nationalities represented</div>
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in my group:</div>
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Turkish, Russian, Polish,</div>
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Netherlands, Venezuelan,</div>
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American, and Chinese.</div>
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What made "Midnight at the Pera Palace: the Modern History of Istanbul" such a fun read is that it was written by a yabancı (a foreigner to Turkey). All of the angst that would go into the description of one's own history wasn't there; it was the fantastic storytelling that remained.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I describe 'Midnight' as an expat history of expat and refugee Istanbul. The book felt so alive and relevant when I was reading about White Russians refugees in Istanbul during the 1920s while the ruble was crashing this month. The club loved reading about the musicians, diplomats, spies, feminists, and future statesmen who contributed in their way to the city Napoleon described as the capital of the world, if the world had one.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I found the central metaphor of why the book was called "Midnight at the Pera Palace" stunning. I won't spoil it by sharing it. Some of our members wanted more Pera Palace stories in the book, and one of our Turkish members said she was surprised that there were no historical surprises. The history in 'Midnight' of 20th-century Istanbul and Turkey was more-or-less as she had been taught. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Istanbul and Turkey. One of our members said "sequel, please!" Personally, I think this author needs a movie contract. The cinematography of this setting, this time, and this history would be irresistible.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Would you like to learn more about the Global Minds Book Club? I am so proud of our book club founder and inspiration, Clarence Lomot Nartey, of Ghana. It isn't easy to create a lasting legacy as an expat. <a href="https://acorporatenomads50cents.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/a-book-lovers-turkish-delight-by-lomot-nartey/">Clarence did.</a> Global Minds Book Club is now starting its fourth year. Clarence, you would have been deeply pleased with yesterday's success.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here are some posts about past discussions:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/03/discussing-books-with-istanbul-global.html">Discussing Books with the Global Minds Book Club</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/03/africa-day-global-minds-book-club.html">Africa Day @ Global Minds Book Club</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Want to find out how you can help promote reading culture in Turkey? Read this post:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/12/ensonneokuyorsun-what-are-you-reading.html">#EnSonNeOkudun What are you reading lately?</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Want to learn more about the Pera Palace Hotel, now owned by the Sheikh of Dubai? Check out <a href="http://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/istanbul/pera-palace-hotel-jumeirah/">the web site.</a> Their memorable <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTEzdDsnAVo">video</a> actually does a great job of capturing what our day was like.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Want to know where 'Midnight' author, Charles King, goes to eat first when he comes to Istanbul? Culinary Backstreets blog has the<a href="http://www.culinarybackstreets.com/istanbul/2015/first-stop-16/"> lowdown.</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Looking for another great book from this side of the world?</div>
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Here's three I recommend:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/02/understanding-iran-power-of-one-graphic.html">Understanding Iran: The Power of One Graphic Novel called 'Persepolis'</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2011/07/ottoman-empire-from-other-side-as-told.html">The Ottoman Empire from the other side as told in "The Bridge on the Drina" </a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/03/restoration-of-order-normalization-of.html">"The Restoration of Order: The Normalization of Czechoslovakia" by Milan Smecka</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Why not follow this blog, <i>Empty Nest Expat</i>? You can do so by signing up for RSS feed, to the right, or 'liking' the <i>Empty Nest Expat </i>page on Facebook. Your choice.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-62834653765187904882015-01-08T16:07:00.001+01:002015-01-08T16:07:26.299+01:00Chestnuts Roasting on an Open FireOne of the street foods Istanbul is famous for is roasted chestnuts. I lived here for four years before I learned it wasn't just a street food, but a cherished Turkish wintertime tradition for home too. Roasted chestnuts must have been a tradition for America as well. That fabulous Christmas carol had to come from somewhere, didn't it?<br />
<br />
Recently, I moved into a new apartment, with a young Turkish woman. The first time she made homemade roasted chestnuts, she said, "now, I feel like it is really winter." Then she taught me how to make them at home. It's so easy, and so satisfying!<br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5lFDVJHPVK0/VK1b-Y4RWHI/AAAAAAAAFms/E4vc9Nwk6Nk/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5lFDVJHPVK0/VK1b-Y4RWHI/AAAAAAAAFms/E4vc9Nwk6Nk/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B513.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<b><i>First, cut a cross into the hull,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>so the hull will steam open later.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1blb7nFLw4/VK1Q-g10DqI/AAAAAAAAFl8/NwI9Gy1enFo/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1blb7nFLw4/VK1Q-g10DqI/AAAAAAAAFl8/NwI9Gy1enFo/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B509.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Then soak the chestnuts</i></b></div>
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<b><i>so they will steam</i></b></div>
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<b><i>themselves over heat.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>If you skip this step,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>or don't soak them long enough,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>(at least 10 minutes)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the nuts become</i></b></div>
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<b><i>hard and bitter to eat.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I discovered</i></b></div>
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<b><i>you can throw them back</i></b></div>
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<b><i>into the water,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to try and get them right</i></b></div>
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<b><i>a second time.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAZeCctTNjc/VK1RUY_90BI/AAAAAAAAFmU/IE8Y7mpdxGA/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAZeCctTNjc/VK1RUY_90BI/AAAAAAAAFmU/IE8Y7mpdxGA/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B517.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Ooohh,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>don't they just look wonderful?</i></b></div>
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<b><i>They cook so beautifully</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in a cast iron skillet.</i></b></div>
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</div>
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<b><i>Grateful for a real fire</i></b></div>
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<b><i>on a cold winter night</i></b></div>
Last week, I was invited to a party at a Turkish film maker's<br />
place on Büyükada Island in the Marmara Sea. "There will be a fireplace!" my friend Burcu said, on an especially cold day. I wondered if it would be possible to roast chestnuts over it, just like the song, so I brought a kilo of large Bursa chestnuts as a gift.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aju663StbY/VK18cJ9gxXI/AAAAAAAAFnk/rBIzfplrQQY/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8aju663StbY/VK18cJ9gxXI/AAAAAAAAFnk/rBIzfplrQQY/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B538.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A fire is so</i></b></div>
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<b><i>comforting on a</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cold, Winter evening</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XT0h8M4D0lA/VK1cP03kw9I/AAAAAAAAFm8/ygm3svPn2u8/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XT0h8M4D0lA/VK1cP03kw9I/AAAAAAAAFm8/ygm3svPn2u8/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B540.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Our host,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Turkish film maker</i></b><br />
<b><i> Erdal Rahmi Hanay</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dNwNOyl2gE/VK1c_7azjZI/AAAAAAAAFnE/Fdgy2T5U2-0/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5dNwNOyl2gE/VK1c_7azjZI/AAAAAAAAFnE/Fdgy2T5U2-0/s1600/2014%2BDecember%2BIstanbul%2B564.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>It was possible</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to roast them</i></b></div>
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<b><i>over an open fire!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Roasted chestnuts</i></b></div>
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<b><i>were such a fun treat</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to cook and share!</i></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oggpO3JRSc/VK1xKLCDt0I/AAAAAAAAFnU/AP884-SZAh0/s1600/Castanea_dentata_range_map_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1oggpO3JRSc/VK1xKLCDt0I/AAAAAAAAFnU/AP884-SZAh0/s1600/Castanea_dentata_range_map_2.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Former American<br />chestnut range</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I became curious why there aren't chestnuts for sale in America anymore. I was sad to discover that at one time, chestnut forests were plentiful in the eastern United States with stands adding up to three billion trees. At one time, chestnut forests accounted for 25-30% of all of Appalachia's forests. Unable to fight off disease from imported Asian chestnuts, the American chestnuts developed blight and died off.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There is a group trying to bring back the <a href="http://www.accf-online.org/">original American chestnut, </a>and a group trying to bring back a disease-resistant <a href="http://www.acf.org/">hybrid. </a>I wish them well. Roasting chestnuts is a beautiful wintertime tradition. We don't want <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kQ1PCP6B0">that gorgeous song,</a> to be the equivalent of an audio fossil hearkening back to an earlier time whose reality we have forgotten. <a href="http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/virginia-wildlife/chestnutstory.pdf">Let's make it real!</a></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-92125788554044044312015-01-05T16:21:00.000+01:002015-04-03T17:07:21.467+02:00Alina Gallo's Memorializations in Miniature:Berkin Elvan & Gezi Park <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaS9rAPfQz8/VKqL-927VbI/AAAAAAAAFkw/xDagjAwBid8/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2C%2BArtist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaS9rAPfQz8/VKqL-927VbI/AAAAAAAAFkw/xDagjAwBid8/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2C%2BArtist.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Alina Gallo, artist</i></b></div>
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One of the beautiful things about my PAWI (Professional Women of Istanbul) group is that I meet interesting American expats who <a href="http://hookedonturkey.com/a-painters-journey-to-istanbul/">are interacting with the region in their own unique way.</a></div>
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This year, I met a young painter who was memorializing key events that have occurred in the Middle East and North Africa through her art. Her name is Alina Gallo. She hails from Long Island, New York. When I met Alina, she was living here in Istanbul, inspired by the events of the region.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_A7r2lSg9Xo/VKqO7FbcWSI/AAAAAAAAFlE/nQ0WyHPIV8A/s1600/berkin%2Belvan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_A7r2lSg9Xo/VKqO7FbcWSI/AAAAAAAAFlE/nQ0WyHPIV8A/s1600/berkin%2Belvan.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Berkin Elvan was</i></b></div>
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<b><i>14 years old when he</i></b></div>
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<b><i>went out of the house</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to fetch bread for his family's dinner.</i></b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIpOS_fhEug/VKqO4XFT7dI/AAAAAAAAFk8/jL-OsPQBOIc/s1600/berkin-elvan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIpOS_fhEug/VKqO4XFT7dI/AAAAAAAAFk8/jL-OsPQBOIc/s1600/berkin-elvan-1.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Struck by a tear gas canister</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to the head,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>as protests were occurring</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in his neighborhood,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Berkin lingered</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in a coma for 269 days,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and then died.</i></b></div>
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In learning about Alina's art, one of the first things that struck me was the humility with which she approached her work. When I first saw her studies for the miniature <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah2UgzPoXeY">commemorating the funeral of Berkin Elvan,</a> I was moved to tears. "this is a masterpiece," I told her.</div>
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Alina demurred. She thought of herself as one artist in a long line of miniature painters who documented moments of history and cultural importance. She drew attention away from her own contribution. </div>
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"It is through me, not of me. That is the power of the miniature form. It becomes an expression of shared experience and collective consciousness. This is the beauty of creative energy." she said.</div>
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Alina's medium is egg tempura, a paint made with egg yolks, ground pigments and water. One of her paint brushes has just three hairs, another has just two. She works with a magnifying glass and illustrator's glasses. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgjQ9Jwkfsg/VKqVf8jjRVI/AAAAAAAAFlo/I3M3MPgo7W4/s1600/Berkin%2BElvan%2BFuneral%2BMarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VgjQ9Jwkfsg/VKqVf8jjRVI/AAAAAAAAFlo/I3M3MPgo7W4/s1600/Berkin%2BElvan%2BFuneral%2BMarch.jpg" height="640" width="355" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Berkin Elvan's Funeral March, 2014</i></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Text with painting: What happens if you and your family live near a place in Istanbul where all of the protests are happening? Fourteen-year-old Berkin Elvan, ran to the store for bread as his family was settling down for dinner. Berkin's family were Kurdish Alevis, so minorities both ethically and religiously in Turkey. Berkin was shot squarely in the head with a tear-gas container by an Istanbul policeman. 15-year-old Berkin Elvan's funeral march took place on March 12, 2014. Elvan died after 296 days in a coma after being struck on the head by a government tear gas canister while going out to get bread for his family during the Gezi protests in June 2013.<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_302923095"> After his death, thousands proceeded with his coffin to the funeral ceremony and </a></span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_302923095">cemetery</a></span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 21.466667175293px;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah2UgzPoXeY">.</a> As a symbolic gesture many bakeries closed that day and citizens tied loaves of bread to doors and windows with black ribbons. As soon as he was buried, mourners and protesters were immediately met with police crack-downs all over the city of Istanbul and in other cities across Turkey.</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: futura-pt;"><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: 27.2000007629395px;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #262626; font-family: futura-pt; font-size: 17px; line-height: 27.2000007629395px;"><br /></span></div>
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Alina's work reminded me of another artist, Walt Whitman, who documented through poetry and prose, youth spent and lost working toward noble visions during the American Civil War.</div>
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Back then, Walt Whitman would sit next to the bedside of a young person who gave his all in pursuit of a better future for his nation and was destined to pass on. </div>
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It mattered to Whitman that his reader know the person behind the sacrifice for a noble cause: what the young person cared about, who he was sweet on, how he wanted to be remembered to his mother. </div>
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In humanizing the individuals behind a great movement, it was as if he said to his audience, "take in the magnificence and the ordinariness of this human being. Feel this loss with me."</div>
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Berkin Elvan may not have been of the Gezi protests, but he was one of the causalities of casually-used excessive force.</div>
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Alina documented the loss of a sweet boy, that many Turks, and others who were watching, felt deeply. Today would have been Berkin Elvan's 16th birthday.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7xPCNrj3JM/VKqQ4uwoxRI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/SCGbOjfOvgM/s1600/1st%2BIPad%2BOct%2B2013%2B094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7xPCNrj3JM/VKqQ4uwoxRI/AAAAAAAAFlQ/SCGbOjfOvgM/s1600/1st%2BIPad%2BOct%2B2013%2B094.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Educated Gezi youth</i></b></div>
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<b><i>literally couldn't wait</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to contribute</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to their country.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Their enthusiasm</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was not welcomed.</i></b></div>
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I was grateful that Alina was in Istanbul to honor the struggles of Gezi Park youth with her attention and work. Like me, she observed the events, but wasn't of the events, She painted it one step removed. I felt like she was capturing what I was watching. The Turks, themselves, they were the ones actually living it.</div>
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The Gezi Youth Generation, members of a secular movement to save an urban park in a city where parks are in short supply, brought an idealism and spirituality to their quest that was deeply moving to experience first-hand. There was purity and sweetness and goodness in that park. You could feel it. It was an incredible privilege to visit it. </div>
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The Gezi youth generation is deeply cognizant of all the sacrifices made by the founding generation of Turkish citizens. Their deep awareness of this can only be called reverence. Watching them gather, sing, camp, help each other, celebrate their democratic wishes with a sense of community that is as rare as it was special made me contemplate the sacrifices of the Turkish people at the beginning of their nation. Now the new nation was bearing fruit. Those sacrifices had found artistic, intellectual, and spiritual flowering with this generation ninety years later. </div>
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The new youth movement was expressed with a collective wish, not for more of the new-found prosperity Turkey has achieved, but a desire to save a beloved spot from over-development, a traditional tea garden, and the trees and park that surrounded it in the center of downtown Istanbul.</div>
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A highly rational (not emotional) Turkish mathematician said to me that, at that moment, if the Turkish prime minister had held out a hand, and said, "I too was once young. I too have known what it was to dream," he would have emerged larger than before. But that isn't what happened. His heart wasn't in that place. Instead, he responded with cold action, deriding all of the young protesters as <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">çapulcu</span>, or 'thugs' in Turkish.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhVc8k2FPFk/VJez-vLV6BI/AAAAAAAAFj4/-gPY1qjmQwU/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BIstiklal%2BRiots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EhVc8k2FPFk/VJez-vLV6BI/AAAAAAAAFj4/-gPY1qjmQwU/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BIstiklal%2BRiots.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Istiklal Riots</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Everywhere is Taksim!"</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uvmYgPPxi8/VKqTSi6hOuI/AAAAAAAAFlc/gC1khsrtDo4/s1600/kadikoy%2Briots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--uvmYgPPxi8/VKqTSi6hOuI/AAAAAAAAFlc/gC1khsrtDo4/s1600/kadikoy%2Briots.jpg" height="640" width="371" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Kadikoy Riots</i></b></div>
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I loved the painting of "Berkin Elvan's Funeral March" and bought it. I then commissioned Alina to do a painting of what happened in my neighborhood during Gezi <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i7td9hedRI">using my experience as a resident </a>and <a href="http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/12/20/time-picks-the-top-10-photos-of-2013/photo/protests-in-istanbul/">this iconic image</a> by photographer Daniel Etter as inspiration. Below is the sketch in progress.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0Ynyrlqck/VJWIXFcloLI/AAAAAAAAFig/QXM8q4eE-Ic/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BBesiktas%2BGezi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ty0Ynyrlqck/VJWIXFcloLI/AAAAAAAAFig/QXM8q4eE-Ic/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BBesiktas%2BGezi.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Gezi Park Movement: June 1st</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-align: left;">Alina wrote:</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-align: left;">"Sketch in progress for a piece depicting a night during the Gezi Park movement in 2013 in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. I have been reconnecting to the Gezi movement with this work- seeing and reading again so many stories of the community coming together for each other and their country. In the foreground waves break up against the pier along sea. Nature in this context reminds me of what holds us all, what cleans the air and refreshes energies amid turmoil. The flag bearer stands am</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-align: left;">id teargas during the riots ... in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.466667175293px;">Beşiktaş</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-size: 14.4444446563721px; line-height: 21.466667175293px; text-align: left;"> on the night of June 1. A Guy Fawkes mask lies on the ground and a broken television in the pile of barricades to reflect the media situation in turkey as well as an evolution towards a social media landscape. In the apartment above families bang pots on the balcony in support and through the trees is Gezi on the hill with a backhoe truck looming." </span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_WgJo4sDCQ/VJcmRx-d3yI/AAAAAAAAFjo/fWVaXDUrLMU/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BSleepers%2Bof%2BGezi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_WgJo4sDCQ/VJcmRx-d3yI/AAAAAAAAFjo/fWVaXDUrLMU/s1600/Alina%2BGallo%2BSleepers%2Bof%2BGezi.jpg" height="400" width="351" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Sleepers in Gezi</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Text with painting: “To contest the urban development plan for
Istanbul’s Taksim Gezi Park a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Turkey
began on 28 May, 2013. Subsequently, supporting protests and strikes took place
across Turkey protesting a wide range of concerns, at the core of which were
issues of freedom of the press, of expression, assembly, and the government’s
encroachment on Turkey’s secularism. Now, having been spared destruction, Gezi
Park and its famous sycamore trees have also become a sanctuary for many Syrian
refugee families. In Turkey, alone the total number of registered Syrian
refugees (Istanbul’s refugees are mianly unregistered) has reached over 800,000
since the onset of the Syrian civil war. Here, those displaced by war sleep,
roll their cigarettes and quietly congregate in the morning hours. </i></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><i>Şişli</i></span><i style="font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: justify;"> Camii
lies in the distance and through the trees cranes cross the sky. The Bosphorus
forms a migration bottleneck for thousands of birds as they travel from Europe
into the Middle East and Africa, a parallel and ancient narrative of mass
movement between continents.” ~ Alina Gallo</i></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alina is applying for a Fulbright Scholar
fellowship for the United Arab Emirates. I’m pleased the idea was sparked when
she visited my<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html"> “Fete for Fulbrights”</a> this summer. Her goal is to teach young
Emirati women at Zayid University cross-cultural miniature arts and the
technique of egg tempera painting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Alina’s miniature themes extend beyond
Gezi. That’s the sorrowful part of the Middle East. It keeps supplying iconic
moments. I was deeply touched to see freelance journalist Marie Colvin’s work memorialized.
Ms. Colvin, a dashing international foreign correspondent, who covered the
Syrian civil war zone in an eye patch due to previous moments of daring-do,
lost her life in her quest to share the conflict with a world struggling to
understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I urge you, gentle reader, to contemplate
the other beautiful miniatures on <a href="http://www.alinagallo.com/">Alina’s new website. </a>Our mutual friend,
Catherine Bayar, has written an appreciation of Alina’s work that appeared in
<a href="http://handeyemagazine.com/content/modern-day-nakka%C5%9F">Hand/Eye Magazine.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Additional press on Alina’s work:</span></div>
<h1 class="page_headers" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="color: #5a2149; font-family: inherit; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 28px;"><a href="http://www.timeoutdubai.com/art/features/42880-tales-of-war">Time Out Dubai: Tales of War, JamJar artist Alina Gallo Explains her Artistic Expression </a></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.portlanddailysun.me/index.php/newsx/local-news/11293-biennial-exhibit-embraces-late-arrival">Biennial Exhibit Embraces Late Arrival </a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2012/06/17/rising-a-big-show-in-a-small-space-wears-its-tensions-well_2012-06-17/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Portland Art Review: A big Portland show in a small space wears its tension well</span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://magazine.naropa.edu/2013-fall/alumni-highlight.php"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alumni Notes: Naropa University</span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://thejamjarresidency.tumblr.com/aboutalina">About Alina Gallo - the JamJar Residence</a></span><br />
<br />
You may be interested in these other posts I wrote:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/06/gezi-park-turkish-protests-where-is.html">Gezi Park Turkish Protests: Where is a Range of Opinion?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">A Fete for Fulbrights</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/05/perfect-tribute-to-vaclav-havel-vaclav.html">The perfect tribute to Vaclav Havel: The Vaclav Havel Award for Creative Dissent</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/06/listening-to-dissidents.html">Listening to Dissidents</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">The Restoration of Order: The Normalization of Czechoslovakia</a><br />
<br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 21px; line-height: 29.9040012359619px;">Yes, Empty Nest Expat is on Facebook, you can follow me there! To make sure you don't miss a post though, I recommend having the latest post emailed to you so it waiting for you in your inbox. Check my sidebar on the right to sign up. Thank you.</em></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-23484214721238229782014-12-10T10:29:00.005+01:002014-12-21T06:59:21.675+01:00My Mom & Sister: Two 'Sisters on the Fly'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Doh_MdB770Y/VISRyHlvffI/AAAAAAAAFgM/ZDWU7_134Cw/s1600/Karla%2B2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Doh_MdB770Y/VISRyHlvffI/AAAAAAAAFgM/ZDWU7_134Cw/s1600/Karla%2B2011.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>My little sister Karla</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AS8T3UYxats/VJZhmD0-LyI/AAAAAAAAFjY/l9wRi8jb_b0/s1600/Morning%2BBreakfast%2Bwith%2Bmy%2BMom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AS8T3UYxats/VJZhmD0-LyI/AAAAAAAAFjY/l9wRi8jb_b0/s1600/Morning%2BBreakfast%2Bwith%2Bmy%2BMom.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Morning Breakfast with my Mom</i></b></div>
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I'm not the only one in my family with a yen to travel. My mom and sister have become "Sisters on the Fly," members of America's largest outdoor women's group. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RftHiZjce6I/VISR1qHRsuI/AAAAAAAAFgU/5qz9IHmrYlk/s1600/Karla%2Bin%2Bcowboy%2Bhat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RftHiZjce6I/VISR1qHRsuI/AAAAAAAAFgU/5qz9IHmrYlk/s1600/Karla%2Bin%2Bcowboy%2Bhat.jpg" height="400" width="398" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>All decked out for a weekend</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>of "Sisters on the Fly."</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">"Sisters on the Fly" offers empowerment and sisterhood through exceptional outdoor adventures. The Sisters like to say that "as a group of women, we challenge ourselves in all that we set our mind to. There is no age, color, religion or political group. All women who want to share in the adventures of "sisterhood" are welcome."</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGPzohwm420/VIgC0NJxlZI/AAAAAAAAFgs/nxfBuhI7tto/s1600/Karla%2BHome%2BTour%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xGPzohwm420/VIgC0NJxlZI/AAAAAAAAFgs/nxfBuhI7tto/s1600/Karla%2BHome%2BTour%2Bphoto.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>My Mom and sister's</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>"Rick Rack Shack"</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5_wBaKoXk8/VIgJd4HuovI/AAAAAAAAFg8/E5tOmgzg9To/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bholiday%2Btree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v5_wBaKoXk8/VIgJd4HuovI/AAAAAAAAFg8/E5tOmgzg9To/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bholiday%2Btree.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> In a rick-rack</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>holiday mood!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjGTsFYbYwk/VIgJjXC8AFI/AAAAAAAAFhE/1EM7YYMkJio/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bbicycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjGTsFYbYwk/VIgJjXC8AFI/AAAAAAAAFhE/1EM7YYMkJio/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bbicycle.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> Camper transportation:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the prettiest little bicycle</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_V4epzPHiE8/VIgJqzdWgyI/AAAAAAAAFhM/6mxZ9q8nAbA/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BSide%2BTable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_V4epzPHiE8/VIgJqzdWgyI/AAAAAAAAFhM/6mxZ9q8nAbA/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BSide%2BTable.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> Holiday spirit!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQEN_OF56c0/VIgJumxjWrI/AAAAAAAAFhU/DtX4ag-DZW8/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bchandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQEN_OF56c0/VIgJumxjWrI/AAAAAAAAFhU/DtX4ag-DZW8/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Bchandelier.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>This is the first time</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I've seen a pink chandelier</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>for an outdoor camper,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I'll admit</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwMaeuG7Izw/VIgJ0fA3ZEI/AAAAAAAAFhc/cYxnXZTvzYA/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BSnowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DwMaeuG7Izw/VIgJ0fA3ZEI/AAAAAAAAFhc/cYxnXZTvzYA/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BSnowman.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> These photos are from</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> a recent holiday open house,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>not an actual "Sisters on the Fly" event</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOZm_QT7kbg/VIgJ5R0j3-I/AAAAAAAAFhk/PBmSZlm678g/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Binteriors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOZm_QT7kbg/VIgJ5R0j3-I/AAAAAAAAFhk/PBmSZlm678g/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2Binteriors.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> Interiors</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7PkGf-m-SjY/VIgKAi5-lkI/AAAAAAAAFhs/NvlSUzxA6iQ/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BTable%2Bfor%2BTwo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7PkGf-m-SjY/VIgKAi5-lkI/AAAAAAAAFhs/NvlSUzxA6iQ/s1600/Rick%2BRack%2BShack%2BTable%2Bfor%2BTwo.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Setting a beautiful table</i></b></span></div>
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<b><i>for an outdoor adventure</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>is a tradition in our family.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>My mom once came back</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>to her campsite </i></b><b><i>in Aspen</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>and the neighboring campers</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>left her a note</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>to say how fascinated they were</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>to watch her set</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>a beautiful table</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>just for herself</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>on the picnic table.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i> They loved her example.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sisters meeting in 'Sisters on the Fly' get together, often via camper caravans, find a great outdoor spot to meet, and enjoy a weekend of laughter and good times. The campers that women have purchased to do this are often adorable vintage trailers that the ladies have customized and made uniquely their own.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Here are some of their adventures: fly-fishing camp, horseback riding, and sightseeing and exploring beautiful natural parks. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
SOTF says, "We encourage you to join us on one of our adventures and let yourself be spoiled rotten, learn to fish, to be a real Western Cowgirl, run rivers, and enjoy pure highway traveling fun. The best part is meeting all those new sisters you didn't even know you had.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i> just "Remember the rules:</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>No men, no pets, no kids </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>...and be nice."</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4YVYYW7czQ/VISR4711YSI/AAAAAAAAFgc/QQMoGF1wpoo/s1600/Karla's%2Bcamp%2Bsite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G4YVYYW7czQ/VISR4711YSI/AAAAAAAAFgc/QQMoGF1wpoo/s1600/Karla's%2Bcamp%2Bsite.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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In 2015, Sisters on the Fly is going to <a href="http://www.sistersonthefly.com/app/webroot/userfiles/170/File/SOTF%20Route%2066%20flyer_rev.pdf">caravan the entire Route 66! </a>Won't that be a sight with all those vintage trailers rolling down America's vintage highway?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Men are banned from events, although my Mom says many women often have their husbands help them get their camper set up for the weekend and then bid hubby adieu.</div>
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<br /></div>
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All kinds of women participate from hard-charging career women to single moms just eeking by. It's a range of ladies who kick back to appreciate the great outdoors and enjoy fun fellowship.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQiNlw5nOWU/VISNL_tro3I/AAAAAAAAFfw/L7xR-OU3PXI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zQiNlw5nOWU/VISNL_tro3I/AAAAAAAAFfw/L7xR-OU3PXI/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B611.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"We were going to</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>change the world today</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>but then something sparkly</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>caught our eye."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Would you like to learn more about Sisters on the Fly?</i></b><br />
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<br />
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<i><b><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/11/elk-bugling-season.html">Elk Bugling Season</a></b></i></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/11/there-are-no-atheists-in-rocky-mountain.html">There are no atheists in a Rocky Mountain Hot Tub</a></b></i></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/11/trick-or-treat.html"><br /></a></b></i></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/11/trick-or-treat.html">Trick or Treat!</a></b></i></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-91674926283233788422014-11-25T19:00:00.000+01:002014-12-24T09:24:25.988+01:00My Jubilant American Summer, Part Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7FCDbcYeaFA/VHRikdUCwgI/AAAAAAAAFeM/JZFfRoGCGqQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7FCDbcYeaFA/VHRikdUCwgI/AAAAAAAAFeM/JZFfRoGCGqQ/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B716.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Greeting her family with</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Cheer Kits,"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>my youngest daughter</i></b></div>
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<b><i>prepared her family</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for her Ironman Race</i></b></div>
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<b><i>with </i></b><b><i>bananas, water,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>race programs,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>race ETAs and suggested sites</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to best see her compete.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
"Mom, I don't care if you skip my MBA graduation, but I want you to be home for my IRONMAN race." So said, my youngest daughter, an avid marathoner.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ8Ijfs4mXw/VHRjP_4tvbI/AAAAAAAAFeU/8UExCl5W7R8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ8Ijfs4mXw/VHRjP_4tvbI/AAAAAAAAFeU/8UExCl5W7R8/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B700.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
I appreciated my child stating it so bluntly. There was nowhere else I could be, but right by her side when she asked like that. The highlight of my jubilant American summer was when our family gathered to cheer my youngest on in her Ironman Wisconsin race.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT8eVjns1tU/VHMBh0oHq6I/AAAAAAAAFb0/oZZszMmJuW8/s1600/Monona%2BTerrace%2Bat%2BSunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT8eVjns1tU/VHMBh0oHq6I/AAAAAAAAFb0/oZZszMmJuW8/s1600/Monona%2BTerrace%2Bat%2BSunrise.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Ironman Wisconsin</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was on September 7th, 2014</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in Madison, Wisconsin.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>Participants were to swim</i></b></div>
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<b><i>2.4 miles (3.86 km),</i></b></div>
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<b><i>bike 112 miles (180.25 km),</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and finish with a 26.2 mile</i></b></div>
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<b><i>(42.22 km) </i></b><b><i>marathon</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and finish within 17 hours.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br />My family gathered</i></b></div>
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<b><i>on the roof of the</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Monona Terrace</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Convention Center,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>designed by Frank Lloyd Wright,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to watch the race begin.</i></b></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADNflxwCrMY/VHMBQ_YyafI/AAAAAAAAFbU/h76jMHPxB_o/s1600/Sunrise%2Bat%2Bthe%2BIronman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ADNflxwCrMY/VHMBQ_YyafI/AAAAAAAAFbU/h76jMHPxB_o/s1600/Sunrise%2Bat%2Bthe%2BIronman.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Sunrise on Lake Monona</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Volunteers wait in the water</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for the race to begin.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojUyQ4cxq2g/VHMH8MlkvKI/AAAAAAAAFdw/qIROmUcRHx8/s1600/In%2Bthe%2Bwater%2Bwaiting%2C%2Bgreen%2Bcaps%2Bfor%2Bmen%2C%2Bpink%2Bfor%2Bwomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojUyQ4cxq2g/VHMH8MlkvKI/AAAAAAAAFdw/qIROmUcRHx8/s1600/In%2Bthe%2Bwater%2Bwaiting%2C%2Bgreen%2Bcaps%2Bfor%2Bmen%2C%2Bpink%2Bfor%2Bwomen.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Green swim caps for men,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>pink swim caps for women.</i></b></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/2jgv1u2imYY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<b><i>Here's what the start of the swim</i></b></div>
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<b><i>looked like from the parking lot helix</i></b></div>
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<b><i>that the runners would later run up</i></b></div>
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<b><i>(five or six floors)</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to get their bikes.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Video courtesy of crushingiron.com</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5SZSZ_zxiY/VHMBODhdTwI/AAAAAAAAFbM/7a8RVtp-Nuo/s1600/The%2Bswim!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5SZSZ_zxiY/VHMBODhdTwI/AAAAAAAAFbM/7a8RVtp-Nuo/s1600/The%2Bswim!.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>It was awe-inspiring to me -</i></b></div>
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<b><i>2,500 swimmers</i></b></div>
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<b><i>all taking off at once.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>It was glorious to watch.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I was really grateful</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for all those years of </i></b></div>
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<b><i>middle and high school</i></b></div>
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<b><i>swim practices,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>knowing my child</i></b></div>
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<b><i>would be swimming</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for an hour-and-a-half.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zcKwy5Qistw/VHMBUvz-IRI/AAAAAAAAFbc/eJiHZSmITPY/s1600/On%2Bthe%2Bhelix!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zcKwy5Qistw/VHMBUvz-IRI/AAAAAAAAFbc/eJiHZSmITPY/s1600/On%2Bthe%2Bhelix!.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Fired up and ready to go!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>After the swim,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Kelly ran up the helix</i></b></div>
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<b><i>knowing her</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>most challenging part</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of the race</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>was next.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyRtExcr47w/VHMBYmetspI/AAAAAAAAFbk/i07eHERItLY/s1600/Oldest%2BDaughter%2BAllison%2Band%2Bher%2Bhusband%2BBrian%2B-%2BIronman%2BSupport%2BCrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyRtExcr47w/VHMBYmetspI/AAAAAAAAFbk/i07eHERItLY/s1600/Oldest%2BDaughter%2BAllison%2Band%2Bher%2Bhusband%2BBrian%2B-%2BIronman%2BSupport%2BCrew.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Kelly's older sister</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and brother-in-law</i></b></div>
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<b><i>were also ready</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to cheer her on</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in our</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cheer crew tshirts.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJxrRs_rOlE/VHMBq2JJoGI/AAAAAAAAFcE/wGx4ErjSvWc/s1600/Kelly's%2BSupport%2BCrew%2BTshirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJxrRs_rOlE/VHMBq2JJoGI/AAAAAAAAFcE/wGx4ErjSvWc/s1600/Kelly's%2BSupport%2BCrew%2BTshirts.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-khfNoAb5mzw/VHMCA3EcU2I/AAAAAAAAFck/MY0fmWdqfDo/s1600/Kelly's%2Bbicycle%2Btransition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-khfNoAb5mzw/VHMCA3EcU2I/AAAAAAAAFck/MY0fmWdqfDo/s1600/Kelly's%2Bbicycle%2Btransition.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>That's Kelly in the red,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>getting her bike.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>The biking portion</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was the one where she had the</i></b></div>
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<b><i>least experience.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>She was bringing</i></b></div>
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<b><i>some bicycling experience,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the rest was hope.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffVERf2rxKU/VHMGWCLbW1I/AAAAAAAAFdQ/8UDRes3Wd1o/s1600/Kelly's%2Bbicycle%2Btransition%2C%2Bshe's%2Bready%2Bto%2Bride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffVERf2rxKU/VHMGWCLbW1I/AAAAAAAAFdQ/8UDRes3Wd1o/s1600/Kelly's%2Bbicycle%2Btransition%2C%2Bshe's%2Bready%2Bto%2Bride.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>"Watermelon Fury,"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was to be her companion</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for the next eight hours.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFDKw90oVcs/VHMF8TUkZPI/AAAAAAAAFdI/oW2-AWyu1iU/s1600/Kelly%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bstart%2Bof%2Bher%2Bbike%2Brace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFDKw90oVcs/VHMF8TUkZPI/AAAAAAAAFdI/oW2-AWyu1iU/s1600/Kelly%2Bat%2Bthe%2Bstart%2Bof%2Bher%2Bbike%2Brace.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I worried Kelly</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was expending</i></b></div>
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<b><i>her energy on</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cheering everyone on.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Every time I saw her</i></b></div>
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<b><i>she was cheering!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFVs6v0hWyY/VHMHMasbDvI/AAAAAAAAFdg/y1y3U-Y_IUA/s1600/Watermelon%2BFury!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eFVs6v0hWyY/VHMHMasbDvI/AAAAAAAAFdg/y1y3U-Y_IUA/s1600/Watermelon%2BFury!.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>No worries, on her part.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>"Bring it on!"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>she seemed to shout.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHb5r3lhGRg/VHMGym_ONQI/AAAAAAAAFdY/p-5KcM6VM9Y/s1600/Big%2BSmiles%2BClose%2BUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nHb5r3lhGRg/VHMGym_ONQI/AAAAAAAAFdY/p-5KcM6VM9Y/s1600/Big%2BSmiles%2BClose%2BUp.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Eight hours on the bike</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is a long time.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>We, as cheer crew,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>did move from site to site</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to cheer her on,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>but we also had time</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to go see</i></b></div>
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<b><i>where my</i></b></div>
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<b><i>oldest daughter worked</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in downtown Madison.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>That was fun.</i></b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/a3ti3qfVUx0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b><i>Here's some video</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of the bike course.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The sounds of the Ironman</i></b></div>
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<b><i>are fantastic.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I love those ringing cowbells!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I knew if Kelly could make it</i></b></div>
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<b><i>through the bike portion</i></b></div>
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<b><i>it was all downhill</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from there.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>She was an experienced</i></b></div>
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<b><i>marathoner and had run</i></b></div>
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<b><i>at least one 50-mile race.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5AwcMfZsVk/VHMCHgwE7-I/AAAAAAAAFc0/9Kp3znpDTK8/s1600/Kelly's%2Bawesome%2Bfans%2Balong%2Bthe%2Bway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A5AwcMfZsVk/VHMCHgwE7-I/AAAAAAAAFc0/9Kp3znpDTK8/s1600/Kelly's%2Bawesome%2Bfans%2Balong%2Bthe%2Bway.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Making ourselves</i></b></div>
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<b><i>easy to find:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Above is my sister,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>my oldest daughter</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and my Mom.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP5_r5AcgS4/VHRkCXG0KII/AAAAAAAAFec/st7jycqiUL0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jP5_r5AcgS4/VHRkCXG0KII/AAAAAAAAFec/st7jycqiUL0/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B737.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Sizm1Ij6E/VHRkhXQQaJI/AAAAAAAAFeg/n7v5frc8wSo/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c2Sizm1Ij6E/VHRkhXQQaJI/AAAAAAAAFeg/n7v5frc8wSo/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B742.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>During the race,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>there was lots of time</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to interact with</i></b></div>
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<b><i>other folks who</i></b></div>
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<b><i>had come to cheer on</i></b></div>
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<b><i>their competitor.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc06Fn-cgC8/VHRnwBx_tFI/AAAAAAAAFfA/VEGt8zpKrWU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wc06Fn-cgC8/VHRnwBx_tFI/AAAAAAAAFfA/VEGt8zpKrWU/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B756.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I loved watching this family.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANP_qXAmjiA/VHRqtzawBUI/AAAAAAAAFfM/o9J5SPg5Ihs/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANP_qXAmjiA/VHRqtzawBUI/AAAAAAAAFfM/o9J5SPg5Ihs/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B743.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>What's not to love</i></b></div>
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<b><i>about a teenage boy</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cheering on his Mother?</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1t63Qo8LU0/VHRrYp1a67I/AAAAAAAAFfU/COHSItBoI2M/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O1t63Qo8LU0/VHRrYp1a67I/AAAAAAAAFfU/COHSItBoI2M/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B745.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>This family's cheer shirts read</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"I trained six months</i></b></div>
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<b><i>to wear this T-shirt."</i></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 17.0666675567627px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kelly says: "Ironman Wisconsin was one of the most fun days of my life! Starting with the swim - bobbing up and down in Lake Monona while watching the thousands of spectators in the sunrise on the terrace. The bike was my hardest leg of the race, but that's because I biked 42 miles further than I ever have in my life! My bike broke at mile 70 and I managed to fix it all on my own, which kept me positive enough to make it to mile 112! The run was just a total blast - seeing everyone around Madison! Thanks so much if you came out!"</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 17.0666675567627px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hBfi7qZeoM/VHMCSyG1OwI/AAAAAAAAFc8/i0W7o2oTvxE/s1600/High%2Bfiving%2BAid%2BStation%2BNumber%2BOne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hBfi7qZeoM/VHMCSyG1OwI/AAAAAAAAFc8/i0W7o2oTvxE/s1600/High%2Bfiving%2BAid%2BStation%2BNumber%2BOne.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><i>By nightfall,<br />I would have been exhausted.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I was amazed to watch</i></b></div>
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<b><i>my daughter stop her race</i></b></div>
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<b><i>at mile 19</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and do push-ups</i></b></div>
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<b><i>with another runner.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4cIu-VXrHk/VHRlcQahkYI/AAAAAAAAFes/NmwWuBjPIrw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4cIu-VXrHk/VHRlcQahkYI/AAAAAAAAFes/NmwWuBjPIrw/s1600/2014%2BChicago%2BSummer%2Bto%2BIstanbul%2BHalloween%2B768.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>High fiving</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and leading cheers!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>No stopping her now.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcUSi2BR-mM/VHMInmKqkGI/AAAAAAAAFd8/VsMPfSru1Do/s1600/Kelly%2Bcrossing%2Bthe%2Bfinish%2Bline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcUSi2BR-mM/VHMInmKqkGI/AAAAAAAAFd8/VsMPfSru1Do/s1600/Kelly%2Bcrossing%2Bthe%2Bfinish%2Bline.jpg" height="253" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Goal met!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Another sound</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from the Ironman</i></b></div>
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<b><i>that will stay with me</i></b></div>
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<b><i>is the voice of</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Ironman Wisconsin</i></b></div>
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<b><i>announcer,</i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAtlpJW-Dio">Mike Reilly.</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i>He's there all day long</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from sunrise to midnight.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>When he pronounces a runner</i></b></div>
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<b><i>an Ironman</i></b></div>
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<b><i>as they cross the finish line,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the way he says it</i></b></div>
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<b><i>brings a lump to the throat.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>He communicates all of the</i></b></div>
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<b><i>hopes, dreams, goal-setting,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>training, endurance, stamina,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>and results:</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Kelly,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>You are an Ironman!"</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XWt3VW1w70/VJp3-bFCbdI/AAAAAAAAFkg/zeWlrhEAONw/s1600/Whole%2BFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XWt3VW1w70/VJp3-bFCbdI/AAAAAAAAFkg/zeWlrhEAONw/s1600/Whole%2BFamily.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>What a wonderful family memory.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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A couple months after the race, my daughter received this email from a fellow participant:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416833078948_18281" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.9400005340576px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"I wanted to tell you (and my husband encouraged me to be brave and do this) how GREAT it was to cross paths with you on the last half of the marathon at Ironman Wisconsin. Your energy propelled me along. At about the EXACT time I was thinking, 'You know, I could just walk this out...," you came up and were like, "JENNY! I'm going to run with you a while!!" And then I thought, "Well, crap. I can't walk now!!" Everything about you had this great exclamation point after it. I was in awe of your spirit and energy....I hope you had a fantastic race and that life is treating you well. Thanks again for all the positive energy you brought to the race. I think people sometimes wonder if something like that matters because it doesn't seem to make obvious differences or whatever, but I think it makes worlds of difference. I saw tons of people perk up all around you even if they didn't verbalize it. Who knows who was able to finish simply because of your energetic encouragement?? So! You take care of yourself. And stay positive.</i></span></blockquote>
Here's a <a href="http://travlete.com/2012/09/19/review-ironman-wisconsin/">review of the Wisconsin Ironman course,</a> with great views of the helix where swimmers transition from swimming to biking. The Wisconsin Ironman gets more spectators than any other Ironman, even the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. An estimated 75,000 people turn out.<br />
<br />
Here are a few other posts on Madison and Wisconsin:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/07/book-that-made-me-crazy-with.html">The book that made me crazy with homesickness for America</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/06/enjoying-neil-degrasse-tyson-at-uw.html">Enjoying Neil DeGrasse Tyson at the UW Senior Sendoff on the Union Terrace</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2010/05/marvelousness-of-madison.html">The Marvelousness of Madison</a><br />
<br />
<i>Empty Nest Expat is on Facebook - why not follow me there?</i><br />
<i>Missed my earlier posts? They're below:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-one.html">My Jubilant American Summer, Part One</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-two.html">My Jubilant American Summer, Part Two</a></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-86403096014807415062014-11-17T17:28:00.001+01:002014-11-20T04:40:49.534+01:00My Jubilant American Summer, Part Two<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfwVeoNeZLM/VGnRfw_ML1I/AAAAAAAAFY8/11NtYXqOGnc/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JfwVeoNeZLM/VGnRfw_ML1I/AAAAAAAAFY8/11NtYXqOGnc/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1786.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Prairie and Pattern</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in the middle of Chicago</i></b></div>
I have always been crazy for world-class architecture. For
years, I have daydreamed about taking my children on the super-popular CAF
(Chicago Architecture Foundation) river cruise celebrating Chicago’s
architecture. I have always daydreamed
about taking them to see all of the <a href="https://tickets.architecture.org/public/show.asp">Frank Lloyd Wright sites in Oak Park,Illinois. </a>I have also never been to see the <a href="http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple/">Bahai Temple </a>in Wilmette, Illinois, for
example. I would love for my children to see the Bahai Temple there to
celebrate, not only the architecture, but the diversity of America’s religious
expression. I didn’t get that ‘Chicago architecture daydream’ done in their
formative years. This was my chance!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRL6PscZbzo/VGnUZUWZRqI/AAAAAAAAFZo/3aoN9XGF7Ng/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRL6PscZbzo/VGnUZUWZRqI/AAAAAAAAFZo/3aoN9XGF7Ng/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1747.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Approaching the</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>James R.Thompson Center,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>formerly known as</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the State of Illinois Building,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>designed by Murphy/Helmut Jahn.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Notice the Jean Dubuffet sculpture</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>in front of the building.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeF8GWtzx3c/VGnTy3BVCSI/AAAAAAAAFZI/ubZkz81FQcc/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HeF8GWtzx3c/VGnTy3BVCSI/AAAAAAAAFZI/ubZkz81FQcc/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1749.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Light abounds at this intersection</i></b></div>
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<b><i>since the building leans back</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>from the intersection.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VE2u61rzhho/VGnT-q6jgKI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/WjF8iOx_Z3M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VE2u61rzhho/VGnT-q6jgKI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/WjF8iOx_Z3M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1763.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Inside, the open, awe-inspiring</i></b></div>
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<b><i>atrium is designed to communicate</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"an open government in action."</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQmyJewh030/VGnUHH0C0xI/AAAAAAAAFZY/JP852SNg7EE/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQmyJewh030/VGnUHH0C0xI/AAAAAAAAFZY/JP852SNg7EE/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1765.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A 'dome,' a fixture of so many</i></b></div>
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<b><i>sacred and governmental buildings,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was instead, modeled</i></b></div>
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<b><i>into the floor</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in tile.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmk9APlpbsY/VGnUPw1t9UI/AAAAAAAAFZg/HfQhdEmTTaY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tmk9APlpbsY/VGnUPw1t9UI/AAAAAAAAFZg/HfQhdEmTTaY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1758.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The sculpture</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"Monument with Standing Beast"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>by French sculptor Jean Dubuffet</i></b></div>
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<b><i>invites a feeling of play</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from all passing pedestrians</i></b></div>
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<b><i>regardless of age.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The State of Illinois</i></b></div>
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<b><i>set aside 0.05% of building cost</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for public art.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I love public art programs</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>and was a inaugural board member</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of my city's public art board</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in my hometown.</i></b></div>
</div>
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Living in Chicago for the summer gave me an opportunity to
plan an architecture outing. It allowed me the chance to join the Chicago
Architecture Foundation and to experience the amazing community of architecture
enthusiasts that has developed in the city.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MgRnLEkRsE/VGnb8JWEBsI/AAAAAAAAFaA/bxHoor_eSEw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1MgRnLEkRsE/VGnb8JWEBsI/AAAAAAAAFaA/bxHoor_eSEw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1046.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i> The untitled Picasso sculpture</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was the first significant public art</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in downtown Chicago.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Kids love to run up and down it.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>The story goes that it was inspired</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>by a woman with a great pony-tail that</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Picasso was dating</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>at the time.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEkU5LBh0TM/VGnbqug6_CI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/EEKQQTTdVmI/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FEkU5LBh0TM/VGnbqug6_CI/AAAAAAAAFZ4/EEKQQTTdVmI/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1746.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
</div>
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When I first walked into the <a href="http://www.architecture.org/home">Chicago Architecture Foundation</a> retail store and meeting point, I started crying. I am sure they thought I was
nuts. I was just so moved! This is how life is meant to be!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine, there are thousands of people all over the world who
join the Chicago Architecture Foundation to <a href="http://arts.gov/audio/jen-masengarb">celebrate, enjoy, mull over,discuss, and preserve Chicago’s architectural heritage.</a> Chicago is the home of
the world’s first skyscraper, has a spectacular master plan designed by Daniel
Burnham due to the Chicago Fire in 1878 that leveled much of the city, and 18
miles of gorgeous beachfront that is open to the public thanks to great urban planning and Montgomery Ward's leadership in the 1920s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s mission is “to inspire
people to discover why design matters.” In 1966, preservation enthusiasts got together
to save a private Chicago residence, the Glessner House, from destruction.
Their success led people from across disciplines to form an organization
devoted to sharing this enthusiasm for great design. Since then, it has grown
into a group with a $17 million budget and 9,700 members. 450 volunteer tour
leaders led 6,395 tour departures last year celebrating architecture with
319,661 people. A whopping 1,367
volunteers put on their annual October Open House showcasing architectural
treasures across the city over the course of one weekend. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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It’s such a great value too, to become a CAF member. Members
can go on 62 different walking tours for free. Yes, I said, 62 FREE walking
tours! Members are able to buy tickets to the architectural river cruise at 2
for 1, or 4 for 2 pricing, plus members get discounts in the retail shop, on boat,
bicycle, bus, and Segway tours, free attendance at lunch and evening programs,
and free passes to all exhibitions. Plus, if one were living in the city long-term, what a joy it would be to develop community with
like-minded, design-enthused people. Priceless!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The organization is so successful, it has started a sister
organization just to help people who ask, “how could I get one of these
architectural foundations started in my city?” I thought many times during the summer,
how useful an Istanbul Architectural Foundation would be, now, at a time when
the whole city seems up for grabs for construction with nary a thought to the
archaeological value of some sites. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Having an organized, committed, educated Istanbul
architectural foundation with a budget , a network of communication, and
institutional heft could make a difference. Far easier for design enthusiasts to work through institutional power, rather than through the street protests that have resulted in tear gas, arrests, and deaths for individuals who care about the future of their city.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3WkS0thKz9Y/VGnMI5Uy7vI/AAAAAAAAFYU/pfERREKpM8o/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3WkS0thKz9Y/VGnMI5Uy7vI/AAAAAAAAFYU/pfERREKpM8o/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1870.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>The world's tallest skyscraper</i></b></div>
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<b><i>designed by a woman,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the 82-story mixed use</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Aqua Tower</i></b></div>
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<b><i>designed by Chicago's</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Jeanne Gang</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of Studio Gang Architects</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xE-GMSEs5A/VGnMNrnkUeI/AAAAAAAAFYc/klzOLhKE-mo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xE-GMSEs5A/VGnMNrnkUeI/AAAAAAAAFYc/klzOLhKE-mo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1883.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Notice the amenities for residents</i></b></div>
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<b><i>built into the base of the building:</i></b></div>
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<b><i>a jogging track, swimming pool,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>parks and underground parking.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC-MkcMK7p0/VGnMSdQp2ZI/AAAAAAAAFYk/WRwk-VExL3M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC-MkcMK7p0/VGnMSdQp2ZI/AAAAAAAAFYk/WRwk-VExL3M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1884.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>A park and school</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> are part of the complex.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Since Millennium Park was built,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>one block away,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the residential units</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>available in this area</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>have exponentially increased.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXnPzQcdv_I/VGnMbIGIULI/AAAAAAAAFYs/LDoystg5QCQ/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXnPzQcdv_I/VGnMbIGIULI/AAAAAAAAFYs/LDoystg5QCQ/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1867.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I'm encouraged that</i></b></div>
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<b><i>the world's tallest skyscraper</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>has been built by a woman</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from Midwestern America,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i> in Midwestern America.</i></b></div>
</div>
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I also especially appreciated the CAF’s focus on women
architects. The Foundation works to publicize the gap between the number of women who
graduate with an architectural degree and the number who are actually working
as architects. <a href="http://themissing32percent.com/">There’s a 32% gap.</a> There were <a href="http://www.architecture.org/cwa40">exhibitions about women architects,</a> and bus tours around the city showcasing female-designed buildings
(always sold out). The CAF, and a sister organization, the Chicago Women in Architecture (CAW) serve as
cheerleaders for female design accomplishment. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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One local woman from Northern Illinois was the lead
architect on the world’s tallest female-designed skyscraper to date: Jeanne
Gang. Another Chicago institution, the
MacArthur Foundation, has also nurtured her talent with one of their famous “Genius
Grants.” The grant is a one-time gift of $625,000 with no strings attached to
use how the recipient wants. Gosh, I loved learning about her and seeing her
building. Is it any wonder Chicago is the place where female-led design has
pushed the boundaries?<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rgx4zNLO2vw/VGnA4mv4rLI/AAAAAAAAFWs/4iryVHHmy54/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rgx4zNLO2vw/VGnA4mv4rLI/AAAAAAAAFWs/4iryVHHmy54/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1948.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Enjoying the</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Chicago Architecture Foundation</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>River Cruise</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>with my family</i></b></div>
</div>
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I had one very special day with my children celebrating
magnificent design. Daughter #1 and her husband drove down from Wisconsin for
the day. The two of them, my youngest daughter and I took an CAF architectural
river cruise and saw the city from the point-of-view of the river. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbR6yVRBBOA/VGnBt0IDhNI/AAAAAAAAFW0/nN5T1GQE4-Y/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbR6yVRBBOA/VGnBt0IDhNI/AAAAAAAAFW0/nN5T1GQE4-Y/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1961.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Kayakers check out</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the Chicago River's</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>future riverwalk</i></b></div>
</div>
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We were awed by the design challenges of particular
buildings, the story about how the flow of the Chicago River was reversed, and
the industrial histories of Sears and Montgomery Wards and their impact on the
city.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzdVBQx95s8/VGnGbP35WGI/AAAAAAAAFXI/0v0UoiGBg1g/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzdVBQx95s8/VGnGbP35WGI/AAAAAAAAFXI/0v0UoiGBg1g/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1994.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The engineering challenges met</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>on the construction</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of the Boeing Building were</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>particularly impressive</i></b></div>
Chicago leads the world in most number of <a href="https://medium.com/urban-explorations/seesaws-for-giants-27bf86035302">moveable river bridges.</a> So far, the river's infrastructure benefits boats and cars. It’s exciting to see that Chicago’s next big civic design push is
inspired by San Antonio, creating a future pedestrian river walk for citizens to enjoy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ve4OmocIZ9g/VGnCVlq8KXI/AAAAAAAAFW8/Ga43TykfdsQ/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ve4OmocIZ9g/VGnCVlq8KXI/AAAAAAAAFW8/Ga43TykfdsQ/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1981.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Bertrand Goldberg's "River City,"</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>affectionately known</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>as the "eyebrow" building</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>for the fun shape of the windows.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Notice the boat parking underneath.</i></b></div>
</div>
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Our tour guide noted with a bemused laugh that the Chicago
River has been upgraded from ‘toxic’ to merely ‘polluted.’ She told stories
about how Chicagoans of old used to dispose of their dead horses by dumping
them into the river. I can’t wait to see the day when the
river becomes romantic rather than wretching (well, at least that story was, the river itself looks fine). Go, Chicago, go!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NImQrEuXczw/VGnH6ABym4I/AAAAAAAAFXc/Al-zjhJj3N4/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NImQrEuXczw/VGnH6ABym4I/AAAAAAAAFXc/Al-zjhJj3N4/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2022.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>What a view!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The view from the 16th floor terrace</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of Trump International Tower</i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our architectural river cruise, my family took me out
for a seafood lunch to celebrate my birthday, and then we went to the newly
designed Trump International Tower for a drink. I’m no fan of Trump’s politics, but I was
completely impressed with what he had built in Chicago, beginning with securing
the lot upon which his skyscraper was built. The lot alone speaks to his power.
How did he secure this exquisite piece of land? It has a dead-ahead view of the
Chicago River and Lake Michigan and a view of the Wrigley Building to the left.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZtlJzkaUWU/VGnKCSEt2sI/AAAAAAAAFYI/VM9mcDeJFAo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZtlJzkaUWU/VGnKCSEt2sI/AAAAAAAAFYI/VM9mcDeJFAo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2006.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The Trump International Tower</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>from the Chicago River</i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On 9/11/2001, Donald Trump was in a meeting with his
architect Adrian Smith, who was with the globally-famous architectural design firm Skidmore, Owings, &
Merrill, at the time of the design. Trump and Smith were planning to build a skyscraper
that would be Chicago’s tallest building. For obvious reasons, Trump decided against
this. If the building Trump built is any
less magnificent than what he had planned, I could not see how. It is sleek,
sexy, and timeless, particularly before Donald Trump decided to unnecessarily add his name to the building. We all knew it was yours, Donald. It was unnecessary to 'trump'-it this. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_eCUNzHjf0/VGnH_7GwwEI/AAAAAAAAFXk/oM6bVgVEUdE/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0_eCUNzHjf0/VGnH_7GwwEI/AAAAAAAAFXk/oM6bVgVEUdE/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Selfies with my youngest</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhJG5JjnqAY/VGnIUsmitnI/AAAAAAAAFX0/ByTvcus3FQY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WhJG5JjnqAY/VGnIUsmitnI/AAAAAAAAFX0/ByTvcus3FQY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B2032.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>What a special moment</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>it was to enjoy this view</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>with my family</i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What an uplifting view! All around us were
wedding parties, gussied up and looking pretty, celebrating their special day. As one of my friends said about the pricy
drinks, “you just have to drink your drink very slowly.” Yes, the drinks were expensive, but no more than Istanbul, with its sky-high alcohol taxes.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOoFIr21Hao/VGndfkfJcwI/AAAAAAAAFaM/MyJlb-h-zdw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOoFIr21Hao/VGndfkfJcwI/AAAAAAAAFaM/MyJlb-h-zdw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1938.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Art Deco</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Elevator Doors</i></b><br />
<b><i>at the</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Chicago Board of Trade</i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried to do at least three of the free CAF walking tours each week while I was in Chicago. Because, these tours were so incredible, I didn’t
have time to see many of the amazing ‘secondary’ attractions that Chicago
boasts of that I would also like to see: Jane Addams’ Hull House museum, the
Oriental Art Institute (which I would really now appreciate having lived in
Turkey), the Glessner House, whose imminent destruction in the 1960s lead to the
creation of the CAF, the Pritzker Military Library (another architectural gem),
and on and on the list goes. Chicago in INCREDIBLE.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klZFqtlFnAw/VGnd9HXgIeI/AAAAAAAAFaU/fqfG8ydI10s/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klZFqtlFnAw/VGnd9HXgIeI/AAAAAAAAFaU/fqfG8ydI10s/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1725.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>My favorite building discovery</i></b><br />
<b><i>of the summer</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>was the Marquette Building,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>built in 1895,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and designed by</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Holabird and Roche.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It has steel-frame architecture</i></b><br />
<b><i>and is considered</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>one of the best examples of</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the "Chicago School of Architecture."</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>The building celebrates the voyage of Frenchman</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and priest Jacques Marquette,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the first </i></b><b><i>European settler in Chicago.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> He explored the Chicago River in </i></b><b><i>1674.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Notice the bas-relief sculpture</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>over the entrance that celebrates</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Marquette's exploration of the Great Lakes,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>including, in the far right panel, his burial.</i></b></div>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><b><i>The Marquette Building is currently home</i></b></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>to the John D. and Catherine</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>MacArthur Foundation,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the people who make the</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Genius Grants every year.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>That foundation did an extensive renovation</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of this imaginative, wonderfully-American gem.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVgkrK0HgBw/VGneBP4_QMI/AAAAAAAAFac/I0xGwRzjXeU/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eVgkrK0HgBw/VGneBP4_QMI/AAAAAAAAFac/I0xGwRzjXeU/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1734.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Marquette's expedition</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>is recreated in</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Tiffany glass murals</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>surrounding the atrium.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I found this absolutely thrilling!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeJSbXKuKiM/VGneNg9wwLI/AAAAAAAAFak/SKO7a2Q7M-M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UeJSbXKuKiM/VGneNg9wwLI/AAAAAAAAFak/SKO7a2Q7M-M/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1738.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Yes, people, that is a tomahawk</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>on a brass door.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Elsewhere there were peace pipes</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>in the brass panel fittings.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>You aren't going to see a building like this</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>anywhere in Europe.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFRZmNRhXSE/VGneheA5BBI/AAAAAAAAFas/aR8mcfI5Vfk/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFRZmNRhXSE/VGneheA5BBI/AAAAAAAAFas/aR8mcfI5Vfk/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1729.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Expedition members were highlighted</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>on all sides of the atrium.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>How cool is that? </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It made me wonder why more history</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>isn't highlighted more in architectural buildings.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It helped me recognize</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>architecture's ability to teach,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>awakening interest in history,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>not just design.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-blazBjQubR8/VGneoi4ppTI/AAAAAAAAFa0/lFj8RGSVroI/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-blazBjQubR8/VGneoi4ppTI/AAAAAAAAFa0/lFj8RGSVroI/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1737.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>A teacher could have a field day</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>with the institutionalized racism</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>captured in this description of Marquette, </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>as the "discoverer" of a river</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Native Americans</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>were using on a daily basis.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>It's so fantastic this</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>dated thinking is preserved.</i></b><br />
<b><i>We see not only the good,</i></b><br />
<b><i>but the limits of generations</i></b><br />
<b><i>who proceeded us.</i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also did not get every site seen on my family field-trip daydream. Next time, I’ll have to take my girls to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s
work and Ernest Hemingway’s home in Oak Park. We'll drive out to
Wilmette to see the Bahai House. I’ve added tons more sites I would love to
see, especially houses of worship. There were so many gospel services, jazz
services, and classical music worship services in incredible looking buildings.
I wanted to get to them all!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I consider the impact of the Foundation, it really didn’t
take that many people to change the world. So often, global challenges seem so overwhelming.
It seems they require such large sums of
money and large groups of people. A person could be forgiven for thinking they seem
impossible. Yet, the CAF started with
one project, and then undertook another, and it started growing. In forty
years, using the good will and hard work of around 10,000 souls a year, they
are producing world-class results. That seems so achievable. What exciting
project could your good will and hard work enable?<br />
<br />
Thank you,<a href="http://www.architecture.org/"> Chicago Architectural Foundation</a>, for an inspiring summer of celebrating |"why design matters."<br />
You gave me my very favorite experiences of <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-one.html">"My Jubilant American Summer" in 2014! </a><br />
<br />
Readers, I just realized I've written 63 other posts about architecture. You might enjoy them. Here are a few of my favorites:<br />
<br />
In Illinois:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/06/make-no-little-plans-they-have-no-magic.html">"Make No Little Plans..."</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/06/americas-favorite-architecture.html">"America's Favorite Architecture"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/10/americas-finest-example-of-prairie.html">|"America's Finest Example of Prairie-School Architecture"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/10/living-tribute-to-abraham-lincoln.html">"A Living Tribute to Abraham Lincoln"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/12/why-obama-presidential-library-should.html">"Why the Obama Presidential Library Should be Built in Springfield, Illinois"</a><br />
<br />
In Prague:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/12/was-living-in-soviet-housing-on-my.html">"Was Living in Soviet Housing on my Bucket List?"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2008/12/art-deco-elegance-in-old-town-prague.html">"Art Deco Elegance in Old Town Prague"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/07/i-needed-some-cash-in-my-new.html">"I Needed Some Cash In My New Neighborhood"</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/08/pavels-prague-part-ii-grand-cafe-orient.html">Pavel's Prague, Part Two, The Grand Orient Cafe </a><br />
<br />
In Istanbul:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/07/an-afternoon-of-art-and-natural-beauty.html">An Afternoon of Art and Beauty at the Borusan Contemporary, Part One</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/11/topkapi-palace-part-one-would-this.html">Topkapi Palace, Part One</a><br />
<br />
<b><i>For <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-one.html">My Jubilant American Summer, Part One, </a></i></b><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-one.html">click here</a><br />
<br />
<i>Why not have my latest post sent directly to your inbox?</i><br />
<i>Sign up to follow Empty Nest Expat. See my sidebar to the right.</i></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-23154794530083443832014-11-11T17:03:00.001+01:002014-12-17T05:33:52.025+01:00My Jubilant American Summer, Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NF02EEY_w1Y/VGHwcxzLHWI/AAAAAAAAFSo/SeGOxSVRcWg/s1600/Loving%2BLife%2Bin%2BChicago!%2BSummer%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NF02EEY_w1Y/VGHwcxzLHWI/AAAAAAAAFSo/SeGOxSVRcWg/s400/Loving%2BLife%2Bin%2BChicago!%2BSummer%2B2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Loving Life in Chicago</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Summer of 2014</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This summer I spent two-and-a-half months back in America. It was the longest I'd been home since becoming an expat six years earlier. It was fantastic to spend quality time with my family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RT0iUal11NU/VGH44xkwLII/AAAAAAAAFTc/jb3C9Cl9u9I/s1600/Take%2BYour%2BMother%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RT0iUal11NU/VGH44xkwLII/AAAAAAAAFTc/jb3C9Cl9u9I/s400/Take%2BYour%2BMother%2Bto%2BWork%2BDay.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>We called this</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>"Take-Your-Mother-to-Work-Day."</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since my youngest daughter had an internship in Chicago for the summer, I decided to make the city of Chicago my base. Chicago is so spectacular, so joyfully sublime, so wonderfully world-class, I was just pinching myself every day there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sS4MrUyYvKw/VGH08Ggar-I/AAAAAAAAFS8/Djc59PkKIKY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sS4MrUyYvKw/VGH08Ggar-I/AAAAAAAAFS8/Djc59PkKIKY/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B881.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>My new Brazilian friend,</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Isabela, from Sao Paulo,</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>whom I met in Chicago.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>We explored the Magritte show</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>at the Art Institute together.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have been to Chicago many times. My daughter had to work most days, so my friend, Isabela, and I bought City Passes (a packet full of coupons to get into all the top museums at a discount - a great value that I highly recommend) and thus I started on a summer of experiencing every single main attraction as it if was new to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2X3ZRpaXdE/VGH8oJY9hAI/AAAAAAAAFTo/VDbTYUAhqgE/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q2X3ZRpaXdE/VGH8oJY9hAI/AAAAAAAAFTo/VDbTYUAhqgE/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1021.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>It was scary to stand</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b> in these glass boxes.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The attractions were new too! Every main attraction had added something new to bring people back. For example, the Sear's "Willis" Tower, now has those glass boxes where you go out and stand on glass 100 floors up (that's a lot harder to do than it looks without freaking out, especially given that one of them had developed cracks the week before).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JV1PC4FuLAo/VGH3Lf-hsBI/AAAAAAAAFTI/uhAVWr5ze_I/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JV1PC4FuLAo/VGH3Lf-hsBI/AAAAAAAAFTI/uhAVWr5ze_I/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B879.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>Magritte says "this is not a pipe."</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>It is, after all,</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><b>just a picture of a pipe.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Art Institute had an amazing Magritte show, his first comprehensive retrospective in 65 years. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went to the Field Museum to see the show on the World's Fair, but was blown away instead by the exhibit they had created on bio-mechanics, easily the finest science exhibition I have seen in five years.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12BOf1LnY8k/VGH33vDcWtI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/mat8WO8jOXs/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-12BOf1LnY8k/VGH33vDcWtI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/mat8WO8jOXs/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B991.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I literally paused in reverence</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>in front of this fantastic</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>American art form,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>the root beer float,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>created at the Museum of Science and Industry's</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>old-fashioned ice cream parlor. </i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>And then I ate it!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjVhS91TDZKQhPC_LPJWvKyVgEPO_NaybsjAjt98rnbbbA_mQAvj0CJaKWWhSCzl4O9KC1Q3oVPDi6L3E5MQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>At the Shedd Aquarium</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>(the largest and oldest aquarium</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>in the Western Hemisphere)</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>there was an exhibit where you</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>could </i></b><b><i>touch sting-rays.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>How cool is that?!?</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OYCPzuCrYUg/VGIlwXokfiI/AAAAAAAAFVk/Nj3m_IXWzVs/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OYCPzuCrYUg/VGIlwXokfiI/AAAAAAAAFVk/Nj3m_IXWzVs/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1052.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<b><i>The Adler Planetarium</i></b><br />
<b><i>had state-of-the-art</i></b><br />
<b><i>shows about the cosmos,</i></b><br />
<b><i>but I found myself responding</i></b><br />
<b><i>to the original fixtures,</i></b><br />
<b><i>including these fabulous</i></b><br />
<b><i>art deco iconic representations</i></b><br />
<b><i>original to the building.</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOXNNb1iGZE/VGIl2Tbsu0I/AAAAAAAAFVs/3Ca045U8Q6g/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOXNNb1iGZE/VGIl2Tbsu0I/AAAAAAAAFVs/3Ca045U8Q6g/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1053.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o69BmLsrxyw/VGImBqObhNI/AAAAAAAAFV0/Vo-2rnG-3VY/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o69BmLsrxyw/VGImBqObhNI/AAAAAAAAFV0/Vo-2rnG-3VY/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><i>I was fascinated by this</i></b><br />
<b><i>old-time, low-cost</i></b><br />
<b><i>mechanical way of teaching people</i></b><br />
<b><i>about the </i></b><b><i>night sky in their own city</i></b><br />
<b><i>at the Planetarium.</i></b><br />
<b><i>A box car of visitors</i></b><br />
<b><i>goes into the sphere</i></b><br />
<b><i>with a guide</i></b><br />
<b><i>who points out the constellations</i></b><br />
<b><i>made by the pinpricks of light</i></b><br />
<b><i>that have been punched into</i></b><br />
<b><i>the sphere.</i></b><br />
<b><i>They show up perfectly in the dark.</i></b><br />
<b><i>This contraption is 100 years old!</i></b><br />
<b><i>It's still going strong.</i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1Tdxp1TvLg/VGIAl3xgC-I/AAAAAAAAFUA/J8yWPLXjjFM/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1Tdxp1TvLg/VGIAl3xgC-I/AAAAAAAAFUA/J8yWPLXjjFM/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1475.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Look, World!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This is the planet's largest</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>public library building.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I can't even fit it into one photo.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Who built it?</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>My people, </i></b><b><i>Midwesterners!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ZE7HZuiQA/VGIGK4tD-RI/AAAAAAAAFUg/CgxxrFxXf_Y/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ZE7HZuiQA/VGIGK4tD-RI/AAAAAAAAFUg/CgxxrFxXf_Y/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1415.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>The exquisite Winter Garden</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>on the top floor of</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Chicago Public Library.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IrTmDN1yy0/VGIG7CoBa2I/AAAAAAAAFUo/Nkjtd3gJnIk/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IrTmDN1yy0/VGIG7CoBa2I/AAAAAAAAFUo/Nkjtd3gJnIk/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Boo-yah!</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>This is the greatness of my country.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>We are a marketplace of ideas</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>where the people themselves</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>are entrusted to evaluate them.</b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x3w59wFAn98/VGIHH6QJlkI/AAAAAAAAFUw/qH2dMksWr9U/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x3w59wFAn98/VGIHH6QJlkI/AAAAAAAAFUw/qH2dMksWr9U/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1417.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I was grateful to see</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Senator William Fulbright's</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>words </i></b><b><i>on the walls</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>at Chicago Public Library.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I fear his wisdom is being forgotten</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>since <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">the Fulbright program</a></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">is experiencing</a></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">30% reductions in funding.</a></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0YfxDC9EtI/VGIJmvt4S2I/AAAAAAAAFVE/l3Aqh114cog/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0YfxDC9EtI/VGIJmvt4S2I/AAAAAAAAFVE/l3Aqh114cog/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1741.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Before becoming an expat</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I wouldn't have noticed</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>or understood how wonderful it is</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>that this spectacular Chicago synagogue</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>doesn't require 24/7 police protection.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>That is not true</b></i><br />
<i><b>everywhere in the world.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>May it ever be so in my country.</b></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BImZ8yAL3EA/VGIu5WxlgsI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/RJCFxyoZM7w/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BImZ8yAL3EA/VGIu5WxlgsI/AAAAAAAAFWQ/RJCFxyoZM7w/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1863.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<i><b>While in Chicago,</b></i><br />
<i><b>I watched a Palestinian protest</b></i><br />
<i><b>about Gaza</b></i><br />
<i><b>go through the streets</b></i><br />
<i><b>of Chicago.</b></i><br />
<i><b>I was struck by how the police</b></i><br />
<i><b>led and followed the demonstration</b></i><br />
<i><b>protecting the people demonstrating.</b></i><br />
<i><b>After watching Turkey's</b></i><br />
<i><b>best-educated youth</b></i><br />
<i><b>tear gassed all year</b></i><br />
<i><b>for wanting</b></i><br />
<i><b>to protect</b></i><br />
<i><b>Taksim Square's Gezi Park,</b></i><br />
<i><b>I was so grateful watching how this</b></i><br />
<i><b>Chicago protest was handled.</b></i><br />
<i><b>When I stepped up to</b></i><br />
<i><b>the police officer to say thanks,</b></i><br />
<i><b>he said,</b></i><br />
<i><b>"we are all about the first Amendment</b></i><br />
<i><b>and the exercise of free speech in Chicago."</b></i><br />
<i><b>I immediately teared up.</b></i><br />
<i><b>I was so damn grateful</b></i><br />
<i><b>for this attitude.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><i>Being an expat makes</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><i>my gratitude</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><i>for America's</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b><i>accomplishments even greater.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d20uyYjXcc/VGIgCrNQIQI/AAAAAAAAFVU/dwhsxhrn4Ic/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d20uyYjXcc/VGIgCrNQIQI/AAAAAAAAFVU/dwhsxhrn4Ic/s320/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><b>Rotary International started in Chicago.</b></i><br />
<i><b>I've been in four different Rotary Clubs</b></i><br />
<i><b>across America.</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you're a Rotarian,</b></i><br />
<i><b>I'd just like to say "thank you,"</b></i><br />
<i><b>for all that</b></i><br />
<i><b>you've done to help end polio.</b></i><br />
<b><i>If you're not familiar with Rotary,</i></b><br />
<b><i>let me tell you.</i></b><br />
<i><b>Each Rotarian, around the world,</b></i><br />
<i><b>doing their small part,</b></i><br />
<b><i>has collaborated to eliminate polio worldwide.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Rotarians are almost done,</i></b><br />
<b><i> since there</i></b><br />
<b><i>are usually less than</i></b><br />
<b><i>5,000 cases a year globally.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Know a Rotarian? Thank them.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Don't know what polio is?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Thank them again!</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlZFpMEyL5E/VGIIeRmibqI/AAAAAAAAFU8/rsR5FVuYCXk/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlZFpMEyL5E/VGIIeRmibqI/AAAAAAAAFU8/rsR5FVuYCXk/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1682.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This is Jenn and Alex,</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>my very first AirBnB hosts.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39HCx-AReVk/VGIySocZ6fI/AAAAAAAAFWc/t-e_QF9_uGA/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39HCx-AReVk/VGIySocZ6fI/AAAAAAAAFWc/t-e_QF9_uGA/s400/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Jenn and Alex</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>were fantastic to stay with</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>while I was in Chicago.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>This is the typical Chicago beach</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>two blocks from their house.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>They taught me about Uber too</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>while I was there.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BM33A1_G-o/VGIq93k4gAI/AAAAAAAAFWE/4q0_Bv0gfxw/s1600/Reading%2Bin%2BGrant%2BPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BM33A1_G-o/VGIq93k4gAI/AAAAAAAAFWE/4q0_Bv0gfxw/s400/Reading%2Bin%2BGrant%2BPark.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>Plotting my explorations of Chicago</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>in Grant Park.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-two.html">In Part Two of</a></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/11/my-jubilant-american-summer-part-two.html">"My Jubilant American Summer"</a></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I'll share my very favorite thing</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>I was able to experience in Chicago</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><i>for the first time.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>First and last photos</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>courtesy of Chicago photographer</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Peter Yankala</i></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-41453430241742184622014-08-17T11:49:00.001+02:002015-08-22T18:59:36.661+02:00Back in print from 100 years ago - Turkish and American women reflecting on their cross-cultural experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtOrsFBV3V4/U_BwTiHo5mI/AAAAAAAAFRE/ZohJHbdsapo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vtOrsFBV3V4/U_BwTiHo5mI/AAAAAAAAFRE/ZohJHbdsapo/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1654.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3zd8ZQS5m8/U_BwyZ2HxtI/AAAAAAAAFRM/hwnMN5wknrw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3zd8ZQS5m8/U_BwyZ2HxtI/AAAAAAAAFRM/hwnMN5wknrw/s1600/2014%2BAmerican%2BSummer%2C%2BPart%2BOne%2B1655.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I came across this marvelous book series "Cultures in Dialogue" the other day, and wished I could park myself down immediately to see what had changed for American female expats living and writing in Turkey 100 years ago, and what was the same.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's how the series publishers describe it:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cultures in Dialogue returns to print sources by women writers from the East and West. Series One considers the exchanges between Ottoman, British, and American women from the 1880s to the 1940s. Their varied responses to dilemmas such as nationalism, female emancipation, race relations and modernization in the context of the stereotypes characteristic of Western harem literature reframe the historical tensions between Eastern and Western cultures, offering a nuanced understanding of their current manifestations.</span></span></blockquote>
Obviously, the Ottoman Empire is no more, so it would be impossible to see the Sultan at Yıldız Palace as Anna Bowman Dodd did.<br />
<br />
Anna Bowman Dodd, the author pictured above, traveled throughout Istanbul and shared her impressions of household management, education, slavery, marriage, women's rights from a female travel writer's point-of-view.<br />
<br />
The eternal conversation on cross-cultural female emancipation will still be occurring in some form 100 years from now. How interesting it would be to see the progress from 100 years back.<br />
<br />
Even today, only 12% of Turkish women have been out of their country. How fun it would be to read Zeyneb Hanoum's impressions of Europe as she visited it at the turn of the last century or to read the memoirs of the famous feminist from the early Turkish Republic, Halide Edib.<br />
<br />
So many books, so little time! Kudos to the publishers for bringing these historical voices back to the conversation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You may also be interested in these posts:<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/12/ensonneokuyorsun-what-are-you-reading.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/12/ensonneokuyorsun-what-are-you-reading.html">#EnSonNeOkuyorsun What are you reading lately?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-little-library-in-anatolia-by-kaya.html">"My Little Library in Anatolia" by Kaya Genç</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-people-who-go.html">"The People Who Go"</a><br />
<br />
<i>Follow Empty Nest Expat on Facebook to ensure you'll never miss a post! See you there.</i><br />
<br />
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</h3>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-37886305137441557172014-05-31T11:08:00.001+02:002014-06-12T16:41:02.700+02:00Meeting Chuck Hunter, a visit to the home of the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eQjfMpZUdc/U4l3-xMsVtI/AAAAAAAAFQA/8zA-BZRJfq4/s1600/CG+%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9eQjfMpZUdc/U4l3-xMsVtI/AAAAAAAAFQA/8zA-BZRJfq4/s1600/CG+%234.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Consul General</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Charles (Chuck) F. Hunter and me.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Note the spectacular suzani</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>in the background.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This year, we have a new Consul General in Istanbul, as Consul General Scott Kilner has retired from the foreign service and his three-year mission to Istanbul was finished.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Our new Consul General is named Chuck Hunter. He was born in Wisconsin, and attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, like his father and grandfather. Raised in California, he attended Stanford University for his M.A. and PhD. He speaks French, Arabic, and Turkish in addition to English. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Chuck is an openly gay foreign service officer. This *is* history. After all, it was just a few years ago, that the policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was ended in the American military. That policy required gay people to be inauthentic if they wanted to serve their country. Those days are over.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My country is actively expanding the spectrum of Americans who represent it, and I find that to be fantastic. <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2014/03/who-stole-american-dream-hedrick-smith-discuss-middle-class-troubles">The American economic dream may be in trouble</a> for the lower and middle classes, but gosh darn it, our democracy is becoming more diversified. Indeed, I read just the other day that <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/16/first-native-american-woman-confirmed-as-federal-judge-/9160947/">a Native American woman, a member of the Hopi Tribe,</a> was appointed to be a federal judge. If that isn't exciting, I don't know what is.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nY_ZaRfUmHM/U4l31cX76vI/AAAAAAAAFPo/lKypD_saqzI/s1600/CG+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nY_ZaRfUmHM/U4l31cX76vI/AAAAAAAAFPo/lKypD_saqzI/s1600/CG+%231.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I love being represented</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>by a State Department diplomat</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>who is a young mother</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of a 15-month-old child.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Go America Go!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Pictured above, me with</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Deputy Principal Officer</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Deborah R. Munnuti</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eu9d4JobaCY/U4l34EDGXSI/AAAAAAAAFPw/034Ca2_Gjhg/s1600/CG+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eu9d4JobaCY/U4l34EDGXSI/AAAAAAAAFPw/034Ca2_Gjhg/s1600/CG+%232.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Me and Zlatana Jovanovic-Dicker from Kosovo.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Zlatana is an architect and</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><a href="http://fengshuination.pbworks.com/w/page/12673173/FrontPage">feng shui consultant</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>married to American</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Craig Dicker,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>General Public Affairs Officer</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of the American mission.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cHzCsgZCMW0/U4l4BQuKL_I/AAAAAAAAFQI/1WQQ2_8xElA/s1600/CG+%235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cHzCsgZCMW0/U4l4BQuKL_I/AAAAAAAAFQI/1WQQ2_8xElA/s1600/CG+%235.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Friend <a href="http://artteachtravel.com/">Anita Hobbs Horton</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and me giggling at the fun</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>of being two Americans enjoying</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>exotic Turkish divans</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and Middle Eastern tables</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>inlaid with mother-of-pearl</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>at the Consul General's home.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>A pinch me, "We're living in Istanbul!" moment.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqps06mxpic/U4l4IemlDqI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/lC0N6A_TYNs/s1600/CG+%236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqps06mxpic/U4l4IemlDqI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/lC0N6A_TYNs/s1600/CG+%236.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Celebrating a shared moment together</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>as Americans in Istanbul:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>the <a href="http://www.pawistanbul.com/">Professional American Women of Istanbul</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and our Consul General Chuck Hunter.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>A wonderfully uplifting morning!</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i>You may also enjoy these posts:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/a-fete-for-fulbrights-and-friends.html">A Fete for Fulbrights and Friends</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/11/meeting-kilners-visit-to-home-of-us.html">Meeting the Kilners: A Visit to the Home of the U.S. Consul General in Istanbul </a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/11/voting-in-american-election-as-overseas.html">Voting in the American Election as an Overseas Voter</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/04/we-are-here-because-enough-people.html">"We are here because enough people ignored the voices who told them that the world could not change!"</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/04/president-obama-in-prague.html">President Obama in Prague</a></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Why not follow 'Empty Nest Expat' on Facebook? You could be my 100th follower. Thank you.</b></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-65902249130324120392014-05-23T06:08:00.000+02:002014-05-23T06:09:08.528+02:00A Fete for Fulbrights and Friends<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_b51SXjiNU/U3wJMAzaDEI/AAAAAAAAFPI/AXcLywAYfnM/s1600/Fulbrights+%238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r_b51SXjiNU/U3wJMAzaDEI/AAAAAAAAFPI/AXcLywAYfnM/s1600/Fulbrights+%238.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> My Turkish Breakfast</i></b></div>
If someone were to ask me what I did this last weekend, I could only reply "have breakfast." Besides <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2014/05/enjoying-olgas-istanbulbreakfastclub.html">the uplifting breakfast I had at Olga's </a>on Sunday, I also held a small 'Fete for Fulbright Scholars and Friends' on Saturday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUj4fdyiPTk/U3wI3qfHsQI/AAAAAAAAFOk/C3pMFOZheQk/s1600/Fulbrights+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUj4fdyiPTk/U3wI3qfHsQI/AAAAAAAAFOk/C3pMFOZheQk/s1600/Fulbrights+%25232.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Three incredibly dynamic young women</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>who inspire me:</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Dr. Öykü Üluçay (she is Turkish),</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Caitlin Nettleson, an American</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>about to finish her Fulbright year,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and Cassandra Puhls,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>a Fulbrighter interested in</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>international education policy.</i></b></div>
<div>
When I was young, it was always older people who inspired me. Lately, I've been finding it's the twenty-somethings (including my own children) who are touching my heart and filling me with hope for the future.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In Istanbul, I realized I knew several young Fulbright Scholars. I wanted to celebrate their excellence and give them an opportunity to meet or see those who are from a different year than theirs, plus introduce them to a few other dynamic young people who also inspire me. Not all of them could come. For example, one of them was getting married that day. </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of highly competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the Fulbright program, competitively selected U.S. citizens may become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in over 155 countries. Fifty-three Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes; seventy-eight have won Pulitzer Prizes. More Nobel laureates are former Fulbright recipients than any other award program. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The program was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills." ~ from Wikipedia, May 21, 2014 </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixuFr7xuBjg/U3wI7xcYqWI/AAAAAAAAFOs/J8eT4-_fi-c/s1600/Fulbrights+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixuFr7xuBjg/U3wI7xcYqWI/AAAAAAAAFOs/J8eT4-_fi-c/s1600/Fulbrights+%25233.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I was grateful for a spectacular Spring Day</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>so we could enjoy the garden.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Od4BQ4SMJno/U3wJHmVNUUI/AAAAAAAAFPE/KTFaDYIGNJ4/s1600/Fulbrights+%25236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Od4BQ4SMJno/U3wJHmVNUUI/AAAAAAAAFPE/KTFaDYIGNJ4/s1600/Fulbrights+%25236.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>American Fulbrighter</i></b><br />
<b><i>Abigail Bowman,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and her Turkish friend</i></b><br />
<b><i>Mert Tuncer.</i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Fellow Iowan Abigail Bowman graduates this June with her M.A. in Ottoman History from Sabancı University here in Istanbul.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When Abby was in 7th grade, she had to write a paper on a revolutionary or a reformer. Her uncle suggested the founder of the Turkish Republic, <span style="text-align: center;">Atatürk.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Abby's paper and presentation made it all the way to 8th place nationally in America's National History Day competition. The </span><span style="text-align: center;">Atatürk Society of America was so thrilled that this young student honored their leader, they sent her to Turkey to experience the country when she was a 9th grader. A lifelong interest in Turkey began to grow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Anybody who knows Turkey can imagine how Turkish people respond to Abby when she says she wrote a paper on </span><span style="text-align: center;">Atatürk in 7th grade.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icFXwPF3DHM/U3wI_1XzuDI/AAAAAAAAFO0/uFbk9jk8_7c/s1600/Fulbrights+%25234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icFXwPF3DHM/U3wI_1XzuDI/AAAAAAAAFO0/uFbk9jk8_7c/s1600/Fulbrights+%25234.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>I was so happy Fulbrighter</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Elizabeth Rocas could come.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>She brought her visiting American</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>friend from the States, Jacqueline.</i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MGzwQikp_4/U3wI1JEk9gI/AAAAAAAAFOc/EFY9v3tySfY/s1600/Fulbrights+%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MGzwQikp_4/U3wI1JEk9gI/AAAAAAAAFOc/EFY9v3tySfY/s1600/Fulbrights+%25231.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>Fulbrighter Niko Dimitrioğlu</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i> and Elizabeth Rocas</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>discovering they both speak Greek.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>What else does Niko speak?</i></b><br />
<b><i>English, French, Uyghur,</i></b><br />
<b><i>Afghan Persian (Dari),</i></b><br />
<b><i>and Manderin Chinese.</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNNqCxEi6xs/U3136QaQ-mI/AAAAAAAAFPY/k4fekkN0-Js/s1600/Fulbrights+%239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNNqCxEi6xs/U3136QaQ-mI/AAAAAAAAFPY/k4fekkN0-Js/s1600/Fulbrights+%239.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
<b><i>Visiting Texan Shane Largo</i></b><br />
<b><i>represented another</i></b><br />
<b><i>inspiring young American</i></b><br />
<b><i>living here in Istanbul</i></b><br />
<b><i>but unable to make it to breakfast:</i></b><br />
<b><i>her daughter</i></b><br />
<b><i>Katy Herrera.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
These young <a href="http://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/fulbright.pdf">Fulbrighters</a> who are sent out into the world to contribute to, explore, research and develop expertise in different countries are such a wonderful investment in America's future. Frankly, it is such a strategic investment. What could save America more money on wrong moves internationally than subject experts who can advise policy makers on given countries and cultures?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You'd think that would be an easy sell in Washington D.C. You'd be wrong. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/commentary/funding-cuts-lack-opportunity-leave-us-without-expertise-inte">America simply does not invest as much</a> as other countries in its international experts, <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/russias-diplomats-are-better-than-ours-105773.html">even much smaller countries like Russia</a>! For example, the Russians have over 16 ambassadors with more than five years of experience, the Americans have none! (Political scientist Ian Bremmer, Twitter, May 2014).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/05/11/international_disaster_in_the_making_inside_obamas_under_the_radar_plan_to_eviscerate_the_fulbright_program/">Salon</a> puts current funding for the Fulbright program at around $234.5 million a year. Next year, a $30 million cut is proposed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is no constituency to argue for increasing the funding, save the alumni. The <a href="http://www.cies.org/about-us/what-fulbright">Fulbright Program</a> doesn't create any jobs at home. It doesn't result in hefty contracts for American corporations. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So this blog post is a message in a bottle to my fellow Americans. When I read about how the Fulbright program funding is in trouble, and I know the quality of the people who go through the program, I want to share with my fellow Americans a wish to keep this program not just alive, but growing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It seems like common sense to invest in folks who understand other countries and cultures deeply via a non-militarized way. Intercultural exchange is a way to promote a more peaceful and prosperous world. I ask Americans to support continued, and even increasing, funding of the Fulbright program from now until the future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>I invite you to follow the Empty Nest Expat blog on Facebook!</i><br />
<br />
You might also be interested in reading:<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/11/talking-about-my-people-iowans-to.html">Talking about "My People, Iowans," to the Travel Junkies</a></i><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/12/why-obama-presidential-library-should.html">Why the Obama Presidential Library Should be Built in Springfield, Illinois</a></i><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/04/president-obama-in-prague.html">President Obama in Prague!</a></i><br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/04/we-are-here-because-enough-people.html">"We are here because enough people ignored the voices who told them the world could not change" </a></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-78298508155580978882014-05-19T07:56:00.000+02:002014-05-21T05:29:17.893+02:00Enjoying Olga's #Istanbulbreakfastclub<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VBDK5JPFZQ4/U3mQjpO1lnI/AAAAAAAAFNg/ababmJt7CyA/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+cafe+%2312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VBDK5JPFZQ4/U3mQjpO1lnI/AAAAAAAAFNg/ababmJt7CyA/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+cafe+%2312.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Watching the passing ships</b></i></div>
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<i><b>in the magical morning light</b></i></div>
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I knew it was going to be a magical day just from the weather. The morning light was sublime. I missed the ferry just as it pulled away from the dock and didn't mind a bit. To sit down in this beautiful little ferry terminal, and watch the passing ships, was a moment of Zen stillness.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tiUSzOF6abI/U3mQSrryzaI/AAAAAAAAFNM/X1fibeT-eGs/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%252311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tiUSzOF6abI/U3mQSrryzaI/AAAAAAAAFNM/X1fibeT-eGs/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%252311.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Passing by Maiden's Tower</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and the Üsküdar Mosque</i></b></div>
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The half hour of still calm was broken only by my own laughter at myself when I looked down and realized my own silliness. I was carrying dress shoes across continents to wear to breakfast, forgetting that no one wears shoes in Turkish homes.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BcgjlfwkBVk/U3mQlbQYFLI/AAAAAAAAFNs/UvburIp5o-U/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%252313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BcgjlfwkBVk/U3mQlbQYFLI/AAAAAAAAFNs/UvburIp5o-U/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%252313.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Enjoying the passing parade</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of ferries on the Bosphorus</i></b></div>
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I was on my way to Olga Tikhanova Irez's home in Moda, a fashionable neighborhood on the Asian side of the straight. Olga is originally from Russia and is married to a Turk. She used to be a strategic management consultant and gave it all up when she realized what really made her happy was exquisite food: sourcing it, buying it, cooking it, and sharing it. She blogs at <a href="http://www.deliciousistanbul.com/">Delicious Istanbul</a> and tweets at @Delish_Istanbul. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RltyuhyXnCA/U3mO5C0yE1I/AAAAAAAAFMc/88s5Ccoz3ao/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RltyuhyXnCA/U3mO5C0yE1I/AAAAAAAAFMc/88s5Ccoz3ao/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25232.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Olga slicing the first of four</i></b></div>
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<b><i> fresh-from-the-oven</i></b></div>
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<b><i>homemade loaves of bread</i></b></div>
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<b><i>served that morning.</i></b></div>
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This was the third time I had been to Olga's breakfast. Once a month, she hosts a breakfast cafe in her home and 14 very lucky people get to come to breakfast. It always sells out. It is always hard to get a reservation and be one of the 14 (you have to fill out the form on her blog, and do so immediately when she posts her monthly invitation).</div>
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The first time I went I met all kinds of interesting locals, both Turks and expats, from all over the city. It's such a small intimate gathering that everyone had a chance to learn about everyone else there.</div>
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The second time I went she was just back from Morocco where she had gone to learn <a href="http://www.deliciousistanbul.com/blog/2014/03/15/moroccan-spinach-salad-and-fez-cooking-class/#more-3664">Moroccan cooking</a> and she prepared a Moroccan breakfast for us. I pinched myself for being there!</div>
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One of the things that distinguishes Olga is her standards. I tease her that she could be the princess and the pea, so sensitive is she to any product that in less than top notch, and therefore unworthy of her table. If you sense a certain snobbiness...well, you are right.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_XwcEgj2Tc/U3mc0wGmhfI/AAAAAAAAFOA/TEfowZe0xgA/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+%2317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9_XwcEgj2Tc/U3mc0wGmhfI/AAAAAAAAFOA/TEfowZe0xgA/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+%2317.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Olga began to assemble her buffet.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Turkish breakfast is famous</i></b></div>
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<b><i>for consisting</i></b></div>
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<b><i>of real actual food.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Look at those fresh-baked savory pastries!</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And that homemade hummus</i></b></div>
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<b><i>made with lentils.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Oooh, and three different kinds of jams.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And not just any cheese,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>but cheese sourced direct</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from the farmers themselves.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahe1dSWWOjQ/U3mPTQ0UX9I/AAAAAAAAFMs/ece9jPxRHA0/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ahe1dSWWOjQ/U3mPTQ0UX9I/AAAAAAAAFMs/ece9jPxRHA0/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25234.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The final magnificent spread.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Afiyet olsun!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WAW6OEWndI/U3mcsNmNyHI/AAAAAAAAFN4/paPiojOuk_E/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+Mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WAW6OEWndI/U3mcsNmNyHI/AAAAAAAAFN4/paPiojOuk_E/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+Mark.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Marc Gulliet, of @TurkeyReport</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and <a href="http://enjoy-istanbul.com/">enjoy-istanbul.com</a>,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>deserved a great breakfast.</i></b></div>
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<b><i> He and his wife had been reporting</i></b></div>
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<b><i>from Soma, Turkey</i></b></div>
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<b><i>all week</i></b></div>
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<b><i>on the mining disaster.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x8tzfSSzNo/U3mQBuyOaRI/AAAAAAAAFNE/0aozPVSwK1A/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+Orhan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_x8tzfSSzNo/U3mQBuyOaRI/AAAAAAAAFNE/0aozPVSwK1A/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+Orhan.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Orhan Bozkurt,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>owner of <a href="https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1698067">Ligos Guest House</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i>near the Küçük Hagia Sophia</i></b></div>
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<b><i>in the Sultanahmet area,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>gave Olga's cooking the 'thumbs up.'</i></b></div>
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This month I co-hosted Olga's breakfast with her. She cooked breakfast and I shared with our guests how to use Twitter to update and globalize your personal learning network (PLN). It was great fun to compare experiences with people. Their energy completely uplifted me for the rest of the day - actually even now, as I write this.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz9k6-z8tq4/U3mQhgrZoMI/AAAAAAAAFNc/eMck7CTPiWM/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%252314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz9k6-z8tq4/U3mQhgrZoMI/AAAAAAAAFNc/eMck7CTPiWM/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%252314.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></div>
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<b><i>At the end of the meal,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Olga hand-roasted and crushed</i></b></div>
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<b><i>cumin, cardamon,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and other spices to make her</i></b></div>
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<b><i>final batch of tea.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"It's a wonderful detox," she said.</i></b></div>
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I floated out of Olga's home, well fed, completely and spiritually uplifted; it just seemed to me that all of Istanbul was gloriously, gratefully 'alive.' </div>
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After a week of horrible news from Soma, I felt a sense of gratitude for the sheer gift of life. It gave me a new energy to live to the fullest and take pleasure in small things.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1eIvmv1vc7g/U3mQbDDTgnI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/VyLlQ_LibPw/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+cafe+%239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1eIvmv1vc7g/U3mQbDDTgnI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/VyLlQ_LibPw/s1600/Olga's+breakfast+cafe+%239.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I stopped on the way home to</i></b></div>
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<b><i>'take tea' at the Moda Tea Garden</i></b></div>
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<b><i>along the Bosphorus.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>It's an Istanbul tradition to while</i></b></div>
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<b><i>away hours here over a glass of Turkish tea.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xa_s43cOVjo/U3mP6tI5XtI/AAAAAAAAFM8/wFXJGWYG9M8/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%25238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xa_s43cOVjo/U3mP6tI5XtI/AAAAAAAAFM8/wFXJGWYG9M8/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+cafe+%25238.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I was too well-fed to join the long line</i></b></div>
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<b><i>at Famous Ali's Ice Cream Shop,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>another </i></b><b><i>Moda neighborhood</i></b></div>
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<b><i>beloved, weekend</i></b></div>
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<b><i>tradition in Istanbul.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byxIbGef9Mk/U3mPknpXnCI/AAAAAAAAFM0/5jRr7H_UaxQ/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byxIbGef9Mk/U3mPknpXnCI/AAAAAAAAFM0/5jRr7H_UaxQ/s1600/Olga%2527s+breakfast+%25239.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The trip home across the Bosphorus</i></b></div>
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<b><i>was quiet, contemplative & joyful</i></b></div>
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<b><i>thinking about the</i></b></div>
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<b><i>amazing friends</i></b></div>
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<b><i>and food</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I had experienced that day.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I was and am grateful.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>I invite you to follow the Empty Nest Expat blog on Facebook.</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i>You may also be interested in these posts:</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/07/enjoying-istanbul-waffles.html">Enjoying Istanbul Waffles</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/crossing-continents-with-covered-dish.html">Crossing Continents with a Covered Dish</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/04/my-morning-menemen.html">My Morning Menemen</a></i></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/12/christmas-eve-lunch-with-pomegranates.html">Christmas Eve Lunch with Pomegranates</a></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/01/playing-more-with-pomegranates.html"><br /></a></i></b></div>
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<b><i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/01/playing-more-with-pomegranates.html">Playing More With Pomegranates</a></i></b></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-81403301750338075442014-03-23T13:18:00.000+01:002015-01-18T05:51:42.576+01:00#TwitterbannedinTurkey creates an opportunity for Turks to create and broadcast more than a single story about their nationThe last time my free speech was censored in Turkey was right before a local election. The entire Google Blogspot domain was shut down. The reason cited for the shutdown of Google Blogspot was someone live-streaming football games over their blog. I was new to Turkey. The fact that this censorship of an entire domain (not just one person's site) happened right before a hotly-contested election struck me as interesting.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ebn7pfH2JWw/Uy6s03y6j3I/AAAAAAAAFJk/YfNeXOk9yBE/s1600/Twitter+balks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ebn7pfH2JWw/Uy6s03y6j3I/AAAAAAAAFJk/YfNeXOk9yBE/s1600/Twitter+balks.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Freedom of tweet!</i></b></div>
Last week, I was scheduled to give a workshop to Istanbul educators on how to use Twitter. As it happened, my workshop was scheduled for the heart of Taksim Square. That Twitter workshop had to be cancelled due to protests that were so huge they made the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/14/world/europe/turkish-leader-deplores-unrest-calling-demonstrators-fakers.html?">New York Times</a>.<br />
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The protests were a reaction to the death of a young man named Berkan Elvan who had run to the store for bread in a neighborhood with ongoing protests. On his trip to the store, Berkan was shot in the head with a tear gas canister. Berkan had been 14 at the time he was shot, had lingered in a coma for 269 days, and finally passed away at the age of 15. His death has not been investigated, nor has anyone been held accountable.<br />
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Berkan is a member of a religious minority, the Alevis, as are many of the other victims of state violence this year.<br />
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How strongly did people in Turkey feel about his death?<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah2UgzPoXeY"> Take a look at his funeral.</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD9zCNfxibc/Uy6tZxRJgmI/AAAAAAAAFKY/WS0KFR6NavI/s1600/Twitter+banned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MD9zCNfxibc/Uy6tZxRJgmI/AAAAAAAAFKY/WS0KFR6NavI/s1600/Twitter+banned.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>No chirping allowed.</i></b></div>
Amazingly, less than a week later, Berkan Elvan's death is no longer in the headlines. The conversation has been completely changed away from police brutality. This week's outrage is that Twitter has been censored. Why? So that stories that would be "insulting" to those in power can not be accessed. An election is less than one week away.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eRGukhvGH0/Uy6tCNt14BI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/hr_e4pFVWpA/s1600/Twitter+Shot+in+midflight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4eRGukhvGH0/Uy6tCNt14BI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/hr_e4pFVWpA/s1600/Twitter+Shot+in+midflight.png" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq7AKAGD-jY/UzIh6zjxEiI/AAAAAAAAFME/DtmOVj16Wb0/s1600/Arrow+in+Twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lq7AKAGD-jY/UzIh6zjxEiI/AAAAAAAAFME/DtmOVj16Wb0/s1600/Arrow+in+Twitter.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
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Excessive drama and outrageousness happens every week in Turkey. On the one hand, that's what makes it so fascinating to live here. Yet I don't want to be like one of those Jews in Nazi Germany who were in denial about how bad it could get. They didn't leave when all signs were screaming that they should.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDHHo6-1WtU/Uy6s9LyYhII/AAAAAAAAFJs/cGpvYvx_g4A/s1600/Twitter+mug+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JDHHo6-1WtU/Uy6s9LyYhII/AAAAAAAAFJs/cGpvYvx_g4A/s1600/Twitter+mug+shot.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Twitter had a bad night in Turkey!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZgyhQ6vfEQ/Uy69fTcy16I/AAAAAAAAFKk/tvDZDcZLERU/s1600/Twitter+as+Turkish+flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZgyhQ6vfEQ/Uy69fTcy16I/AAAAAAAAFKk/tvDZDcZLERU/s1600/Twitter+as+Turkish+flag.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Faster, little bird, faster!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AO1lJ-tgom8/Uy69hcvaDDI/AAAAAAAAFKs/6DbNyrR_GjY/s1600/Twitter+at+the+airport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AO1lJ-tgom8/Uy69hcvaDDI/AAAAAAAAFKs/6DbNyrR_GjY/s1600/Twitter+at+the+airport.jpg" height="198" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Hoşgeldiniz! [Welcome]</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfr2eROwbK8/Uy-5Ies7BFI/AAAAAAAAFLw/qaaPw68JMBo/s1600/Twitter+under+the+gun.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfr2eROwbK8/Uy-5Ies7BFI/AAAAAAAAFLw/qaaPw68JMBo/s1600/Twitter+under+the+gun.png" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
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<b><i>I hope for his sake he doesn't miss!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-dTyIKv2GY/Uy-5O6b6eqI/AAAAAAAAFL4/rQ7BhmGf85M/s1600/Twitter+Sultan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-dTyIKv2GY/Uy-5O6b6eqI/AAAAAAAAFL4/rQ7BhmGf85M/s1600/Twitter+Sultan.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Sultan of Twitter</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj6UzuWFHKE/Uy69kQKBxRI/AAAAAAAAFK0/k8-GzIPBidE/s1600/Twitter+Byrds+Horror+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj6UzuWFHKE/Uy69kQKBxRI/AAAAAAAAFK0/k8-GzIPBidE/s1600/Twitter+Byrds+Horror+Movie.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Byrds! The Byrds!</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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The Twitter ban may not be as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHzM1gXaiVo">cinematic as it was in Nazi Germany</a>, but there is no doubt about it, banning Twitter was the equivalent of a book burning. All of the tweets people send are just shorter books. Even the United States State Department <a href="http://blogs.state.gov/stories/2014/03/21/21st-century-book-burning">agrees it was a book burning.</a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_45DD42mUPk/Uy6tGhK5N3I/AAAAAAAAFJ8/vf71MGuIT48/s1600/Twitter+Jail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_45DD42mUPk/Uy6tGhK5N3I/AAAAAAAAFJ8/vf71MGuIT48/s1600/Twitter+Jail.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first episode of Twitter censorship ended with Turkish citizens <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-bans-twitter-but-more-people-start-tweeting-2014-3#ixzz2wmb5KBJQv">breaking all records of Twitter use.</a> As you can see, the memes about it were delightfully creative. The second episode of Twitter was harder to surmount as the government had banned more spots.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rvebWuxEek/Uy6tNVQqx5I/AAAAAAAAFKE/r3hQFCYfR8s/s1600/Turkey+is+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rvebWuxEek/Uy6tNVQqx5I/AAAAAAAAFKE/r3hQFCYfR8s/s1600/Turkey+is+ready.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Turkish people were ready.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Power to the people!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpuob1_bbc0/Uy69sPcE0YI/AAAAAAAAFLI/iHRGaA3DvYc/s1600/Twitter+Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpuob1_bbc0/Uy69sPcE0YI/AAAAAAAAFLI/iHRGaA3DvYc/s1600/Twitter+Turkey.jpg" height="386" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The government of the</i></b></div>
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<b><i>Turkish Nation</i></b></div>
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<b><i>seemed to willingly</i></b></div>
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<b><i>trash its "place brand"</i></b></div>
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<b><i>as an up-and-coming</i></b></div>
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<b><i>secular democracy.</i></b></div>
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It occurred to me watching Turkish creativity erupt due to Twitter being banned in Turkey, that it was the Turkish people's golden opportunity to create more than a single story about Turkey. <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/03/africa-day-global-minds-book-club.html">"The Single Story"</a> is an idea of Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that we often get just one story in our heads about a place and it creates the entire identity of a people.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b75AW1G3Uis/Uy7ICNXefUI/AAAAAAAAFLU/qhY_XitpIvc/s1600/Twitter+won't+fit+in+the+bird+cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b75AW1G3Uis/Uy7ICNXefUI/AAAAAAAAFLU/qhY_XitpIvc/s1600/Twitter+won't+fit+in+the+bird+cage.jpg" height="286" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Oh, he won't fit!</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9DntN3WA9o/Uy7IGE6cyAI/AAAAAAAAFLc/xz235yg4TmA/s1600/Twitter+zipped+shut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B9DntN3WA9o/Uy7IGE6cyAI/AAAAAAAAFLc/xz235yg4TmA/s1600/Twitter+zipped+shut.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Zipped shut!</i></b></div>
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Yes, the actions of their government may have received all of the negative headlines, but the response has been fun [so far] and it continues to be beautiful. Why shouldn't the world hear and have many, many stories about Turkey!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8oT6m0pOPM/Uy6tQz8K-UI/AAAAAAAAFKM/ER8J4txsi3o/s1600/Twitter+in+Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g8oT6m0pOPM/Uy6tQz8K-UI/AAAAAAAAFKM/ER8J4txsi3o/s1600/Twitter+in+Turkey.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i> Sing, Turkish tweeters, sing!</i></b></div>
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<i>You may be interested in these other posts about censorship in Turkey and elsewhere:</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-blog-is-censored-in-turkey.html">This Blog is Censored In Turkey</a></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2011/05/turkish-government-issues-list-of-138.html">Turkish Government Issues List of 138 Forbidden Words on Websites</a></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-did-you-think-of-royal-wedding.html">What did you think of the Royal Wedding?</a></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2011/05/blogger-censorship-finally-ends.html">Blogger Censorship [in Turkey] Finally Ends</a></i></div>
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<i><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2010/12/does-world-need-opposite-of-nobel-peace.html">Does the World Need the Opposite of a Nobel Peace Prize? </a></i></div>
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<i>You can follow both my blog in Facebook at EmptyNestExpat, and on Twitter at @EmptyNestExpat.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Update: Berkin Elvan's Funeral March was memorialized in miniature by miniaturist Alina Gallo. <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2015/01/alina-gallos-memorializations-in.html">You can read about it here</a>.</i></div>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-77398510113707281972014-02-12T05:29:00.003+01:002014-02-17T09:50:47.640+01:00When the Olympics Come to Your Country, What Will the Athletes Wear?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AS7h-B5vQu8/Uvrnxg1rOuI/AAAAAAAAFJE/eX-eAo7OOLo/s1600/German+Olympic+Uniforms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AS7h-B5vQu8/Uvrnxg1rOuI/AAAAAAAAFJE/eX-eAo7OOLo/s1600/German+Olympic+Uniforms.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The German Olympic Team exhibiting pride</i></b></div>
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The Olympics this year are in Russia, a country still trying to catch up from a disastrous century. Because of this legacy, Russia culture is not exactly leading the world in thought leadership. They are still catching up. For example, Russia is not so safe for a black or gay person to visit. Russians are famously bigoted.</div>
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The world wants to let Russia know they disapprove, <a href="http://www.bustle.com/articles/14944-greece-wore-rainbow-gloves-at-sochis-opening-ceremonies-and-other-olympic-gay-friendly-looks">and they have generally done so in a firm, obvious, yet loving way.</a></div>
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It made me wonder, what message will the world send to the next country that gets the Olympics? Is this the start of a new political tradition, where Olympic committees and corporate sponsors combine to poke fun at old ways of thinking? What will the athletes need to wear to send your people a message when they come to your country? What will Google and other corporations need to incorporate into their messaging? </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBHjAx2ausI/UvrnrLl8IvI/AAAAAAAAFJA/umrNzjMyOpc/s1600/Gay+Olympic+Google+Doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HBHjAx2ausI/UvrnrLl8IvI/AAAAAAAAFJA/umrNzjMyOpc/s1600/Gay+Olympic+Google+Doodle.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i>The Google Doodle exhibits Rainbow Pride</i></b></div>
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There are so many messages the world could send my country, America, they might have a hard time sticking to one! </div>
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Would the athletes all dress up as dollar bills and ask America to stop endlessly adding to its debt since this is hurting emerging economies, not to mention, our own? </div>
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Would the athletes all dress up like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9e3dTOJi0o">Lily Tomlin at the phone company</a> to demand America stop spying on the world? <a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2009/01/three-hours-in-berlin.html">After all, there's a STASI museum in Berlin decrying surveillance behaviors as evil</a>. America once engaged in a Cold War against these behaviors; now the President of the United States defends them. Has America's NSA become just as ridiculous as Lily Tomlin's phone company operator? It kind of makes you wonder who actually *did* win the Cold War. Maybe the Russians are thought leaders, after all?</div>
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What if the world decided to poke fun at us for being so selfish that we as a nation are currently okay with 50 million people living without health insurance? That's the equivalent of five Czech Republics worth of people! Or ten Denmarks! Maybe it would take being teased by the world for America to finally step up and enact the public option so that all people have equal access to health care?</div>
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Or what if all the countries we keep invading organized the world into asking America to stop the imperialism? I don't know how that would translate into Olympic fashion. I'm sure some creative mind could make it happen. </div>
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It seems to me, the list of what the world could 'poke fun' at America for is long. The question is, which issue would they pick?</div>
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The Olympics may turn into a tradition of sport supplemented with a world contest of public comedy on the side. It will be interesting to watch this develop. What would the athletes and corporations tease your country about? </div>
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<b><i>You may be interested in these other Olympic-related posts: </i></b></div>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2012/07/bravo-david-cerny-you-have-europe.html" style="background-color: transparent; color: #669922; text-decoration: none;">Bravo David Černý! You Have Europe Giggling Again. This time with your Red London Double Decker Bus doing pushups!</a></h3>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #555544; font-family: tahoma, 'Trebuchet MS', lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com.tr/2013/03/the-best-war-expansion-prevention.html">The Best War Expansion Prevention Protection Ever</a></h3>
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-76036155171291288482013-12-05T08:08:00.001+01:002015-08-22T19:03:00.338+02:00#EnSonNeOkudun What are you reading lately?If one stays in a country long enough as an expat, it's easy to see places where one could contribute.<br />
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Turkey recently had its 90th anniversary and it got me to thinking about Turkish reading culture as Turkey approaches its centennial as a Republic. Reading culture here is still a flame in need of kindling, simply because of the incredibly interesting history of the Turkish language.<br />
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Turkey used to have an alphabet that looked like Arabic script. It was hard to read because it wasn't consistent, and it contained many loan words from Arabic, Persian, and French. Often court language and the language in the hinterlands wasn't the same.<br />
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Atatürk reformed the Turkish language by adopting the Latin alphabet. Think about what a gigantic change that was for Turkish people to absorb! And that was just one of the reforms he was undertaking at the time. When the Republic was formed, only 10% of the population was literate (it was an empire, after all).<br />
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I often tell my friends Atatürk and his generation changed the language so people could learn to read, the next generation did exactly that, and now the third generation's job is to learn to<em> love</em> to read.<br />
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I meet Turkish "reading role models" everywhere. As a librarian, I nurture, support, and help create reading communities. I thought that Turkey and the Turkish language needed a Twitter hash tag like the English-language one that celebrates reading culture called #Fridayreads. To use a Turkish hash tag that suggested #Fridayreads had religious connotations, so after another false start I finally settled on #EnSonNeOkudun.<br />
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I know people will be enthusiastic about something they just read and share it with this hashtag 24/7. But, because Friday is one of the heaviest volume days on Twitter, our beginning community of readers will concentrate their reading celebration all on one day, Friday, every week. Someone looking for a good read for the weekend is sure to find one. Weekly rituals become just that, rituals!<br />
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I hope to create conversations about books, blogs, magazine and newspaper articles and help readers discover reading culture and just plain help people find great things to read. People tweeting using this hashtag won't be only using Turkish because there's a sizeable population of Turks reading in multiple languages. Plus, there's a whole expat community in Turkey who also wants to get in on the fun. They'll be tweeting in their native languages.<br />
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One of my very favorite things about the idea is that it brings people together, rather than polarizes them. Turkish folks could use some of that right now.<br />
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I have messaged friends and my tweeps I've never even met "Can you help me launch <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ensonneokuyorsun&src=hash"><s><span style="color: #66b5d2;">#</span></s><b><span style="color: #0084b4;">ensonneoku</span></b></a><span style="color: #0084b4;"><b>dun</b></span>? Let's celebrate Turkish reading culture - tweet your read each Friday in Turkish or English. Thank you."<br />
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The response has been so touching. People say things like, "What can I do to help? Thanks for asking me to participate. I will ask my friends to do it too." Truly, it makes me tear up. I think the phrase "what can I do to help?" maybe even more of a set of magic words than please and thank you. It's fun to build something together with people.<br />
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So I ask you, Turks and the Turkophile community: #EnSonNeOkudun? What are you reading lately?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-32053709052311113362013-11-20T05:20:00.000+01:002013-11-20T05:36:03.597+01:00"The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain" by Peter Sis <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday I read a children's picture book that took me right back to the nine months I spent in Prague, Czech Republic.<br />
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Peter Sis, a Czechoslovak immigrant to America in the 1980s, wrote about what it was like to be born at the start of the Communist regime and grow up in a totalitarian system. <br />
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When I lived in Prague, I had listened with extraordinary intent to Czech friends who had gone through this history. I loved hearing their experiences, their wisdom from what they had been through, and learning from them how people and families cope with a dystopian reality.<br />
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Peter Sis has compressed his own history and his nations' history into this graphical history that can be read in less than an hour. He bore witness! He warned! It's as if he is handing the reader at home the conversations we expats got to have in Prague with our Czech friends about what it was like.<br />
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I can't recommend the book enough. It would make a wonderful book to read together as a family for an intergenerational discussion about freedom.<br />
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This book has been widely acclaimed both as a Caldecott Honor book for distinguished illustration (the author's wonderful drawings help tell the story), and as the winner of the Siebert award for the most distinguished informational title in America, for children, in the year it was published.<br />
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<a href="http://media.us.macmillan.com/mp3/9780374347017.mp3">Here is a short interview with the author. </a><br />
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<em>From</em> "The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain"<br />
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<i>“When my American family goes to visit my Czech family in the colorful city of </i><i>Prague</i><i>, it is hard to convince them it was ever a dark place full of fear, suspicion, and lies. I find it difficult to explain my childhood; it’s hard to put it into words, and since I have always drawn everything, I have tried to draw my life— before </i><i>America</i><i>—for them.” —Peter Sis</i><br />
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<em>You may be interested in these other reads:</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2009/03/restoration-of-order-normalization-of.html">The Restoration of Order: The Normalization of Czechoslovakia" by Milan Simecka</a></em><br />
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<em><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-we-survived-communism-and-even.html">How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed by Slavenka Drakulic</a></em><br />
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<em><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2010/04/in-prague-you-can-enjoy-reading-cafe.html">In Prague, You Can Enjoy Reading "Café Europa" at the Café Europa</a></em><br />
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2010/12/wwii-was-worse-for-central-europe-than.html"><span style="color: #669922;"><em>WWII was worse for Central Europe than even our histories and memories tell us</em></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2010/12/heda-kovaly-czech-who-wrote-of.html"><span style="color: #669922;"><em>Heda Kovaly, Czech Who Wrote of Totalitarianism, Is Dead at 91</em></span></a><em> </em><br />
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<em><a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/02/understanding-iran-power-of-one-graphic.html">Understanding Iran: The Power of One Graphic Novel named "Persepolis"</a></em><br />
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<em>The 'Empty Nest Expat' blog is on Facebook! Follow my adventures there.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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<!-- AddThis Button END --></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12855990208488482147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9060065456836212415.post-86197900830499079702013-10-27T06:38:00.000+01:002013-10-27T06:38:02.425+01:00A Gift to the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KavaA8KxRfA/UmyhlqN6XHI/AAAAAAAAFH8/uEOZDCeumVs/s1600/sidewalk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KavaA8KxRfA/UmyhlqN6XHI/AAAAAAAAFH8/uEOZDCeumVs/s640/sidewalk.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>The Sidewalk Along</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Barbaros Boulevard in Istanbul</em></strong></div>
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One of the pleasures of my daily life in Istanbul is this sidewalk. Every time I walk on it, I am filled with gratitude for the thoughtful planner and builders who created it. The width of it seems extraordinarily luxurious in a crowded city.</div>
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Trees were planted long ago by people who would never get to experience them grown the way I do everyday when I walk under them. These people created a gift to the future.</div>
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I always ask myself when I am walking here, "did I plant a gift to the future today?"</div>
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You might also enjoy these other posts with amazing walks:</div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2013/04/its-tulip-time-at-istanbuls-emirgan-park.html">It's Tulip Time at Istanbul's Emirgan Park</a></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2012/11/topkapi-palace-part-one-would-this.html">Topkapi Palace, Part One: Would This Environment Keep You Conquering?</a></div>
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<a href="http://the%20best%20view%20in%20cadenet,%20france%20is%20now%20free%20to%20all/">The Best View in Cadenet, France is now Free to All</a></div>
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<a href="http://empty-nest-expat.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-needed-some-cash-in-my-new.html">I Needed Some Cash in My New Neighborhood</a></div>
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