with Sibel and Ozlem

Last time it was summer and they were travelers, and now it is winter and they are locals. By coincidence, we reunited on a very cold day in Istanbul, and for some time we had to cover our faces as we walked because pieces of snow were getting into our eyes. Although I was a bit unwell that day, I was excited that it felt like a late Christmas for me, with friendly company and snowy streets. Especially when walking across busy bazaars, I enjoyed being like a protected ‘son’, who doesn’t have to worry about getting lost, or standing out as a lonely foreigner.

Local friends help my textual knowledge find the right contexts for better understanding. I learned how to distinguish when to drink Ayran and when to drink tea. And their comments on the coffee fortune telling tradition helped me understand the culture better.

It was a privilege to be able to listen to them for a second time, and I am looking forward to the next one in their hometown soon.

@ Istanbul, Turkey, February 8th, 2020