Today I am not at the office in observance of a United States national holiday that I do not recognize, a day commemorating that in which I recognize my complicity yet nonetheless reject; the project of settler-colonial domination and the creation and perpetuation of myths of nation which oppress. Across the North American continent to … Continue reading ‘A National Holiday That I Do Not Recognize’– Reflections on Columbus Day 2015
Tag: Turkey
I was given the opportunity to speak at a symposium organized by the International Relations Department Student Organization at my host university two weeks ago. Though very excited for the chance to talk about women's status, I was more than a little intimidated at the prospect of doing so in Turkish. I wrote an original … Continue reading Ortadoğu Kadınlardaki Statüsü: Gözlemler ve Engeller
To celebrate Thanksgiving 2014 I visited the central-eastern Turkish city of Tokat, joining a group of Fulbrighters for a potluck dinner. While in Tokat I was able to spend some time sightseeing in the city center while spending plenty of time in fellowship (pun intended) with my fellow grantees and our Turkish guests. Before I … Continue reading Tokatsgiving
I make okra. What? The Egyptian Lenten fast is 55 days long (out of about 210 days in the year... The Copts take their religious dietary restrictions seriously, it seems). The fast calls for an entirely vegan diet over those 55 days, excluding all dairy, meat and fish products. I'm not a regular practitioner of … Continue reading I don’t always follow the Coptic Lenten fast, but when I do…
Over Halloween 2014 weekend I traveled to the Aegean coast to celebrate the holiday and do some sightseeing. I stayed with a friend in a unique area of Izmir called Bornova, which I had yet to visit. I had a great time spending a day wandering and site-seeking Bornova's famous Levantine architecture. I'm always intrigued … Continue reading HallowIzmir and a Day-trip to Çeşme
Tomorrow marks the first day of the Festival of Sacrifice, the most important celebration in the Islamic calendar. Corresponding with hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiday is known as Eid al Adha in Arabic, and Kurban Bayramı here in Turkey. It is also known in Arabic speaking parts of the Muslim world as Eid al … Continue reading Bayramınız mübarek olsun
Over Halloween weekend a group of Fulbrighters met up in Eskisehir, a popular liberal university city (maybe the Austin, Texas of Central Anatolia? Not quite as weird, but you get the point) to celebrate the holiday together. I laughed while experiencing a bit of in-country culture shock. Strike one: We traveled to ‘Eski,’ as we … Continue reading ‘Hallow-Eski’
Our last full day in Antalya was spent at the nearby archaeological site of Termessos. Here's that text transcribed, unless the image isn't clear [sic]: Termessos is one of the best preserved and most attractive archaeological sites in Turkey. Termessians referred to themselves in inscriptions as Solymiasa, native people of Pamphylia. Their language seems to … Continue reading Kurban Bayrami Part Two: Termessos
This post sends my sincerest Thanksgiving greetings to my friends and family, wherever they may be. This year marks my first ever Thanksgiving away from my traditional Waggoner family Thanksgiving/ reunion in Wood County, OH. İ took the opportunity this week to teach my classes about the history and traditions of the holiday, which was … Continue reading Şükran Gününüz Kutlu Olsun! (Happy Thanksgiving!)
While visiting the caravanserai of Silahatar Mustafa Paşa Hanı in Battalgazi, Malatya, I was privy to an intimate and impromptu demonstration of the classical Turkish art form known as ebru (sometimes known as water painting or marbling). The oldest determinable ebru works date from the early to mid-1500s; traditionally ebru was used as the media … Continue reading Do Ebru
tess m. waggoner 