Category Archives: Family Challenges

Pul biber stockpile: Mercan Bey high-tails it to the Mısır Çarşısı


As soon as he heard that we were heading out of Istanbul as soon as possible, Mercan Bey went into panic mode.  You may recall that Mercan Bey is a spice trader from the Arabian Peninsula (as I wrote about … Continue reading

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Esma sees jasmine vines, but Karagöz focuses on Coca-Cola consumption


When I last left you, I had just gotten word from the U.S. that a trip home as soon as possible was warranted – as my Father was being admitted to hospice care. At that time, there had been some … Continue reading

Posted in A Karagöz puppet battle, Family Challenges, Visits from the Karagöz puppets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Approaching death in a Turkish-American relationship: Is it time to stir the irmik helvası?


Surrounded by the puppets and M. on the crinkle-comfort white couch, I listened to the filtered  sound of traffic in the windy streets of Nişantaşı coming in through the slanted, modern windows that opened towards me, as opposed to just the … Continue reading

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