Teaching Mesut Pektas
I am teaching English to the esteemed Mesut Pektas, the head of the Istanbul People’s Bread Factory. He’s also under indictment for taking bribes and… Read More »Teaching Mesut Pektas
Brian Felsen
Overcrowded courts
The economic crisis is really affecting the courts, and there’s a great shortage of judges, lawyers, even courtrooms. Elif’s stepfather Cos is working longer hours… Read More »Overcrowded courts
A tonsillectomy
I’ve been getting sick a lot lately, and every time, it seems to turn into a nasty throat infection where my tonsils swell up. I’ve… Read More »A tonsillectomy
Facing an Ottoman heritage
9/12/98 I cannot get over how kind the Turkish people are. At first, when they encounter an American in their presence, they’re surprised I’m not… Read More »Facing an Ottoman heritage
Elif’s concerts with the Adana Opera
1/15/2002 When we were living in New York, we recorded a CD of Elif singing opera songs by gay composers of the 19th-20th centuries. Somehow… Read More »Elif’s concerts with the Adana Opera
La Dolce Suadiye
1/10/02 The apartment-hunting went more quickly than I expected, with the calm voice of reason tempering my desire to cash in on Turkey’s economic crisis.… Read More »La Dolce Suadiye
New Years with The Anatolian Predator
We went to Antalya (on the southern Mediterranean coast) to spend New Year’s with Elif’s father Kadri, whom my friend calls The Anatolian Predator. We… Read More »New Years with The Anatolian Predator
Eid ul-Adha
It’s the end of Ramazan. Cos didn’t fast this year because his kidney was removed, and since fasting wouldn’t be good for him, he gets… Read More »Eid ul-Adha
Bribing our way to our belongings
We spent days at the docks trying to claim our belongings that we shipped from America. Our first step was to go to the Mega… Read More »Bribing our way to our belongings
Folkloric dancing (with knives)
When we were making COUP last year, everyone was typing on typewriters with carbon paper – and now, I’m seeing computers everywhere. Elif’s mom acquired… Read More »Folkloric dancing (with knives)