When Hamid and I met three years ago, he was the first Iranian I had ever met. Having only really heard of Iranians through the conservative media’s harsh lens, I was unsure of how to approach what seemed like a vastly different culture. Anticipating this, Hamid’s first act as educational ambassador was to quickly turn…… Continue reading A Night to Remember
One thing I definitely don’t get enough of living in Turkey are poultry puns. That’s a joke. So it felt rather ironic that although they are thousands of miles apart, I still couldn’t get Ray Charles’ nostalgic tune out of my head during our trip to Georgia. Georgia was one of those places that I never…… Continue reading Georgia, Georgia
One of my favorite classes while in community college taught me that overall health is based on five interlocking components of wellness: the spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical. Though one room off but still on theme, the famous writer Rumer Godden rightly noted that: “There is an Indian proverb that says that everyone…… Continue reading Holistic Peace
It was decided that the launch of the first and final voyage by an AI controlled spaceship would take place on the 5th of November 2064. Although only a handful of scientists could say they knew about the historic event beforehand, not one could say with confidence whether or not they would live to tell…… Continue reading Artificial Indian
“I put you good American music” he says, dribble forming at the corner of his mouth. His hands shake as he raises his cigarette once more to his eager lips and takes an easy drag. A fresh raspberry dots the left side of his chin, his dangling cigarette calling to mind the glory days of Marlon…… Continue reading Socially Sanctioned Ambassadors
I’ve always loved to read, but as I get older I find that I tend to have more excuses for why I don’t read than actual books on my shelf. So as the New Year dawned and I looked for new ways to improve myself, I turned to Goodread’s Reading Challenge to help get me back…… Continue reading Bibiliophile
Eager to escape the impeding sweltering heat of the city, Hamid and I knew as soon as school let out that we were long overdue for a holiday. After some coaxing from our new friend Lisa who had recently transplanted herself down to the famous beach area of Oludeniz, we knew we had to change…… Continue reading Oludeniz
This is the worst experience of my life, you said–tears forming at the creases of your patience, a wild longing to be grounded painting shadows on your wounded ego’s confession. My stomach rose and fell and ebbed and swayed as I took your horror to bed, sweet talking it into something humorous we’d be…… Continue reading Tivoli
Ever since I first came to Turkey six years ago, I’ve been itching to go to Capadoccia. Many friends have come to visit over the years, and more than once I’ve sent them over without ever actually visiting myself. So when my friend Daniel came to visit this past week, my perfect hiking partner, I…… Continue reading Invisible City
Let the earth claim me as her own,
Let her alone carry the knowledge that I was here.
That my name has never been
And will be never be anything more than
silence.
Like Australia 