Normally I do not write about my “word of the year” until the time arrives to close one year and begin the next. But I find myself wanting to talk about this word today, a rainy Sunday morning in Izmir. We are in great need of rain and I am enjoying the mood and atmosphere. This afternoon Fatih and I will host friends at home to watch the Goztepe vs. Alanyaspor soccer match. But this…
I was fortunate to have my father, Ned, and his wife, Mary, come for a visit early this year during my two week semester break at the end of January. It was the first time for each of them to visit the country I have been calling home for seven years. For my Dad, with two of his children calling Türkiye “home,” I guess it seemed like a good time to make the trek around…
Last November for Fall Break I once again journeyed to a new city and country to celebrate my birthday with friends. It was time, after more than 25 years, to travel to Serbia. If you have read the previous blog posts (Oct 2018; August 2019) where I shared about my affinity for Bosnia, then you might understand my need to visit the country that was on the other side of what is referred to as…