At the end of last year you may recall the reveal of my word for 2024–this was to be the Year of Voice. My intentions were to focus on two aspects of voice: (a) speaking more Turkish and (b) using my authorial voice (doing more writing). My summer plans included staying in a more remote location to do personal writing as well as forcing myself to be amongst villager Turks who speak less English causing…
I have lived in Göztepe, a neighborhood in İzmir, since I first arrived to Türkiye more than six years ago. But I didn’t start attending the local soccer club’s matches until last fall. It has expanded the love and appreciation I have for living where I do. Growing up in the U.S. I was a fan of American football for most of my life. Both of my parents attended Michigan State University and are lifetime…
Dating someone from another country and culture allows us to see our own country/culture through a different lens. I began to learn this while I lived in Mongolia and was married to Zorig. That was the first time I resided outside of the U.S. (except for military assignments). Everything was new, foreign, and unusual to me. I decided I would accept the life I encountered there as “normal” and do my best to assimilate. That…