Exploring the culture, history, and cuisine of Turkey through the eyes of not-just-another-tourist
I wrote the following piece last September. For no particular reason, I decided to hold on to it. We lost my brother this week, and for no particular reason, I feel it's time to share my writing with you. September 5, 2017: Many of my readers have followed this blog faithfully for years. Not only... Continue Reading →
A big congratulations to our friend Ozlem at Ozlem's Turkish Table. She has published her first cookbook and I can't wait to read it! I just finished ordering my copy. Yes, she ships to the US! Ozlem's blog has been my go-to for Turkish cooking. Why just this past weekend I paid her blog a... Continue Reading →
Hello old friends! It's been a long time. And I am feeling a bit nostalgic tonight. It's over a year now since we returned to the States. Although I felt relieved when we left, I can't say I don't miss Turkey. I do, I really do. Tonight I pulled out an old hard drive looking... Continue Reading →
Today was the big day! The solar eclipse finally happened. It came to 'merica! Haha. In Philadelphia, we had a view of about 75% coverage. It started at 1:21 pm EST. It hit its maximum coverage at 1:21, and ended at 2:44 p.m. I decided to watch from my backyard. Unprepared, I charged 2 sets... Continue Reading →
What I thought as a kid: “Americans” fought the mean Indians. "We" won and then afterwards we all got together, shared the harvest and had a great Turkey dinner. Then we lived in peace and harmony. Jews killed Jesus and collected big taxes on everything. In order to enter Heaven, one had to follow the... Continue Reading →
It's almost 8 months since I left my home and moved back to the States. So many times I have had ideas for blogs posts. Good ones and bad. Happy and sad. Angry. But I didn't write. This week an old friend told me he felt like he had lost touch. Although we really don't... Continue Reading →
My husband and I left Turkey in October. We were back in the U.S. in time to celebrate a wave of holidays - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. We moved into our home about three weeks ago. It's been a whirlwind. We truly enjoyed being here with my family. All went well enough.... Continue Reading →
When I woke up at 4:53 this morning, it had been 10 days, 9 hours and 33 minutes since I had stepped on US soil. I had left Turkey approximately 13.5 hours before that. I left the country for many reasons - in search of a better job, a more peaceful existence, a better life. Turkey... Continue Reading →
Dear Friends, The day has finally come, my last full day in Turkey. I know, I know. I should've told you sooner. In fact, there are a lot of things I wish I would've done, I could've done. But I didn't. These last few months have been trying, nay, extremely difficult. I had bright moments,... Continue Reading →
Fear and the Loss of Freedom to Be Afraid "By the time this clip was finished, we knew what was going on. There was much to be said, a lot of fear, and things to do. It was not long before an emergency bag was packed and I had made the dreaded first call to... Continue Reading →
Freedom is a word that is thrown around, well, rather freely. It has its definitions, translations, usages. It's been used to describe personal and political agendas. Great minds use the word in literature, in laws, in expressing themselves. Little minds abuse the word in literature, in laws, in expressing themselves. ... Continue Reading →
My brother has created a website to promote his lovely hand-crafted furniture. I welcome my readers to peruse the site and photos of his work. Feel free to contact him directly if you are looking for furnishings (truly artwork) from reclaimed wood. Just click the below link. Bill Henson Custom Wood Work
U.S. Embassy Ankara, Turkey Routine Message for U.S. Citizens: State of Emergency August 8, 2016 U.S. Embassy Ankara informs U.S. citizens resident in or visiting Turkey of potential impacts of the 90-day state of emergency imposed by the Government of Turkey July 21. The state of emergency expands the authority of security forces in stopping, searching,... Continue Reading →
Musings of a Philadelphia lawyer - who married a Turk, quit her day job, and set out for adventure!
-by Terry Henson Kaymak
Adventures in Ankara 