Turkish Adventure Ebook

My wife, son and I lived in central Turkey from September, 2009 to August 2011. I am now compiling posts from our blog, Turkish Delight, into an ebook with distinct chapters, for easy download to tablets or smart phones.

What Readers Are Saying

"An American family's Turkish life and travels – intelligent and well researched stuff with a wry humour. Excellent." – Karen, a British writer based in Kusadasi, Turkey.  

Aspiration

“The born traveler -- the man who is without prejudices, who sets out wanting to learn rather than to criticize, who is stimulated by oddity, who recognizes that every man is his brother, however strange and ludicrous he may be in dress and appearance -- has always been comparatively rare.” –Hugh and Pauline Massingham (The Englishman Abroad). 

                                                        Table of Contents

Chapter One

1. When American Economy Collapsed, We Found Jobs Abroad
2. Fantastic Alternative to Underemployment
3. Intimidated By Saudi Stereotypes
4. Venturing Outside Comfort Zone
5. Know Your Limits
6. What Are You Running Away From?
7. Fear, Disorientation and Sheer Panic
8. Allure of International Travel and Adventure
9. First Thoughts of Turkey Turn to Old Horror Film
10. Crash Course in Turkey 101
11. Blast Off

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Chapter Two: Life in Kayseri

1. Venturing Out
2. Competing for the World's Largest Sausage
3. Do I Look Like Frankenstein or Tom Cruise?
4. A Culturally and Politically Conservative Town? And Yet...
5. Turkey's Equivilant of Utah or Mississippi?
6. The Kindness of Strangers: An Islamic Commandment
7. What To Do on Friday Night?
8. Like Living in a Time Warp: America in the 1950s
9. Underside to 1950s Cultural Innocence
10. Of Safety and Nearly Non-Existent Street Crime
11. Late Winter, Early Spring: Two Delightful Experiences
12. First, Second and Third Worlds Right Beside Each Other
13. Discovering a Small Cadre of Americans in Kayseri
14. Video: Teens in Turkey: How 21st Century Kayseri Is

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Chapter Three: Jumping from American to Istanbul Fishbowl and Pondering How Identities Are Shaped

1. Istanbul, Not Constantinople
2. Ancient History Comes Alives
3. First Impressions, Accompanied By An Online Chorus From Back Home
4. How Did Istanbul Get Its Name?
5. If the Walls of Constantinople Were Breached, Would I Be A Christian Today?
6. A Hopping City, With Wild and Friendly Dogs and Cats
7. Istanbul from a Kid's Point of View
8. Brief Recommendations for Istanbul Itineraries
9. "Are You Concerned About Safety and Increased Islamization of Turkey?"
10. Slideshow: 'Must See In Istanbul'

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Chapter Four: Learning Lessons From the Turks About Hospitality, Generosity

1. Was I An Unknown Angel in Their Midst?
2. A Visit from the President of Turkey
3. Men Holding Hands
4. Stirring Opening Anthem and Inspiring Conclusion
5. Teaching Jobs for Jim, School for Alex
6. Incredible Generosity
7. Individualism Vs. the 'All for One, One for All' Approach
8. The Kindness of Strangers

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Chapter Five: Culture Shock

 

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Chapter Six: Religious Bridge-Builders

1. Islamic Imperialism, Christian Imperialism, or Both?
2. 15 Turkish Educators, All Muslims, and One American Educator, on Pilgrimage Together to 'City of Prophets'
3. Visit to Abraham's Cave, Where He Battled Nimrod; Fire Turned to Water; Stakes into Fish
4. Visting the Purported Home of Prophet Job (Ayoub)
5. Travel As a Spiritual Journey
6. Rumi
7. What Would You Do If You Could Not Practice Your Religion Communually? 
8. Traveling Light In This World Is a Key to Happiness
9. Relationship and Dialogue Among Muslims, Christians, Jews Is Path to Peace.
10. Condemnations to Hell Avoided By Interfaith Dialogue
11. A Christian Approach to Islam
12. Similarities Between Islam and Christianity
13. Faith Vs. Tradition in Islam
14. Changing Views of the Koran
15. What Americans Can Learn from Turkey Muslims  

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Further Chapters to be Posted Soon

-- Culture Shock

-- Relationships

-- Cappadocia

-- Ataturk, Contemporary Turkish Politics, and Gulen Movement 

-- Too Much Religion or Too Much Secularism?

-- Exploring Turkey: Ephesus;  (Mountains & Nomads); Fire-Breathing Mountains, Konya, Cyprus)

 

In addition, we have created lots of slideshows on Facebook:

Ancient City of Ephesus and Basilica of St. John. 15 photos. Mother Mary's House. 7 photos.

 Skype Teleconferencing from Cappadocia, Turkey [HQ]

Visits to Ancient Town of Ephesus, and Mother Mary's Humble Abode.

American Corporations in Turkey. 10 photos.

Family Time in Cappadocia. 10 photos. Wagon Ride. 8 photos. Brothers. 12 photos. Our Weekend Getaway: Charming Goreme. 15 photos. Hiking One of the Ancient World's Wonders: Goreme, in Cappadocia. 14 photos.

Kayseri: First Impressions of New Hometown. 14 photos. Pasuma Food Festival 16 photos. Turkey Competes to Produce World's Longest Sausage. 8 photos.  Meliksah Univ. 3 photos