Morning...?

I've recently discovered what I think is a morning in Istanbul. I think. Maybe. The sun rises, so it must be the sign of a new time, a new day, but as far as a change in pattern or clock goes, I'm still confused. 

Last night, or morning, or yesterday (the 31, night of the 30), I enjoyed tea, mussels, and second hand from cheap cigarettes (not so enjoyable), with five Kurdish men, a El Salvadorian (edgar), a pole (pawel), and a canadian (Jeremy). I was the Mexican sister of Edgar for the night, so don't get too excited. After our American going away party for our co-workers at TOG, Tesev, the Turkish Daily, Koc or otherwise, we ended up making friends with not just our co-workers the average chai man, the usual nut seller, or the guy who cleans your table who only speaks Kurdish, or zazaki (of the Zaza people of course). Chatting about their experiences is unique and when you know just enough Turkish, Arabic, English, or Spanish--well, conversation is limited but entertaining. It was night, but morning. Turkcell was planning its carnival and beginning to hang banners at night's end, but morning to it. I saw men ending their nights and some beginning their days.  

Right now it is nearing 8:00 of the 1st. The sleepy watch guards at the desk of my guest house are just waking up with a heavy dose of Turkish Soap Operas. Perhaps the convenience store has opened. I bet that simit is being made somewhere (its always being made). People are getting up. In my case, my flatmates are leaving. One by one. 

Why am I finding a sense of finality in the morning? (can you feel the subtext of the previous paragraph?). I feel like something is over and its only 8:00AM. Something must be beginning. Normally nights give that sense of closure with the promise of the next day. Anymore, with my insomnia, mornings tell me "Its okay to be awake... now. Too bad Advil PM did not work." 

No. That aside, I've come to appreciate the early morning as limbo. A time of change. Not finality. Forever in limbo, in peace---my mantra. Good Morning Istanbul. Good Night America. Happy 5 o'clock. Somewhere. 

Thank You Spencer Krug

"He was a man of many nations, of revelations, oh revelations."
-The Mending of the Gown by the Sunset Rubdown

With an invocation, thanks to Spencer Krug, I begin my Travel(b)log for this summer, and beyond. Yes, I have big hopes to keep it focused on the interactions I encounter with faith, globalization (at risk of taking Tony Blair's idea), people, politics, and places/spaces. However, like travel, blogs cannot necessarily be branded with a destination before they begin. Keep your eyes open for afore mentioned themes though.

So why am I keeping a travel blog? Where is she going you ask? Well my dear friends, colleagues, family, and unknown cyber readers, I am embarking on a journey with the following itinerary :

-NYC -> Brussels -> Geneva -> Istanbul (throw some Ankara and Athens in there on my own time?)

Props to Yale and a certain generous Mr. Barry for making this possible. Of course I'm sure there will be side trips and adventures as I being my work to network (and mentor) student NGO's around Europe and the Middle East thanks to the Ivy Europe-Middle East Conference I co-chaired, as well as an Internship with Toplum Gönüllüleri. I'll avoid the tedious where and whens and leave them for when they are there and then.

Aside from my work, I would like to say I am going to have some sort of revelation, just like any other (wander)lusty traveler of my age and disposition. Hence why I began this blog with the all holy Spencer Krug song quote. Okay, I partially lied. As much as I want to have revelations, I would like to witness them even more--perhaps in my research on Turkish Sufism or with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (oh please come through with this connection Father/Brother/Uncle Timothy!). To avoid getting your hopes up (or mine) with my religious daydreams, I'll stop now and leave this for a there and then.

I hope for this blog to be more professional as time goes on, when I have real stories and concepts to share. (In the mean time, let me --try-- to entertain you. I'm having fun if that is any consolation.)

To avoid spouting more cliches or unnecessary information, I'll sign off now and begin my global fashion blog. Which you should also follow.

Peace. Pax. Salaam.
D