http://josephbernardo.weebly.com/
Please visit the website above for my latest blog entries, interviews, videos and photographs!
Regards,
Joe
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
First Interview (Segeundo)
Dear Rotarians,
- As previously mentioned, I am currently working on a photojournalism project based on the people of Istanbul. Please scroll down to my April 3rd blog entry to learn more about this project and my reasoning behind the first interview with "Seguendo", an immigrant to Turkey from Ecuador.
- Please scroll down to the next blog post to read my brief interview with Seguendo. This interview is divided into three sections: life history, Istanbul and personal reflections.
- Please scroll down to the photos section of my page to find three photos taken of Seguendo last month. I recommend viewing the photos before reading the interview to get a better "feel" for the man and the conversation.
- Lastly, a few important points regarding the interview below:
1. Although Seguendo has had a positive experience in Istanbul, at times he is very critical of the Turkish police. Please do not interpret Seguendo's statements as being completely accurate and objective. This is merely the opinion of one man, not a statement of truth. Personally, I've found the police in Istanbul to be quite helpful!
2. I intend to interview a variety of people in Istanbul in order to represent a variety of opinions. Some interviewees will be more critical than others.
3. I will provide a more in-depth analysis of this interview when I've finished my project. To provide just one bit of analysis, I found it noteworthy that Seguendo answered all questions by referring to his tribe or group. Very rarely did he speak as an individual.
Regards,
Joe
- As previously mentioned, I am currently working on a photojournalism project based on the people of Istanbul. Please scroll down to my April 3rd blog entry to learn more about this project and my reasoning behind the first interview with "Seguendo", an immigrant to Turkey from Ecuador.
- Please scroll down to the next blog post to read my brief interview with Seguendo. This interview is divided into three sections: life history, Istanbul and personal reflections.
- Please scroll down to the photos section of my page to find three photos taken of Seguendo last month. I recommend viewing the photos before reading the interview to get a better "feel" for the man and the conversation.
- Lastly, a few important points regarding the interview below:
1. Although Seguendo has had a positive experience in Istanbul, at times he is very critical of the Turkish police. Please do not interpret Seguendo's statements as being completely accurate and objective. This is merely the opinion of one man, not a statement of truth. Personally, I've found the police in Istanbul to be quite helpful!
2. I intend to interview a variety of people in Istanbul in order to represent a variety of opinions. Some interviewees will be more critical than others.
3. I will provide a more in-depth analysis of this interview when I've finished my project. To provide just one bit of analysis, I found it noteworthy that Seguendo answered all questions by referring to his tribe or group. Very rarely did he speak as an individual.
Regards,
Joe
INTERVIEW WITH SEGUENDO
A. BACKGROUND / LIFE HISTORY
1. Please introduce yourself.
My name is Segundo Bartolo Cordoba Aquilas Chavin. I come from a place called San Roque in Ecuador. It's in the countryside.
I came to Istanbul with my friends. We've just arrived and are still learning about the city. We're here playing music and selling handicrafts. Sometimes the police let us do these things, sometimes they don't.
In the past we've also worked in Germany and Italy. We've travelled to many places. What else do you guys want to know?
2.Can you tell me more about your family and your life in Ecuador?
I am married to a woman named Maria Estela. She lives in the countryside and is taking care of our land, where she is planting "tomate de arbol". There will be a harvest in five months.
My wife is also taking care of our three children. My children are named Christina, William and Ulysses. They are fifteen, twelve and seven years old respectively. Now they are going to school in order to prosper in the future. We want to send them to college but it is very expensive…I miss my family very much.
3.What was your life like in Ecuador?
I was twenty-three when I first left. Now I am thirty-eight. Before, I worked in Ecuador selling arts and crafts. I wove carpets, ponchos and bags. At one point everybody was producing the same things, so nobody was buying. I had to leave the country to sell my products and make a living for myself.
I was born in a place called Imbabura. This is a site which attracts many tourists from all over the world. People come to see the beautiful lakes: Aguacocha, Guicocha and San Pablo. In particular, Lake Aguacocha is very popular.
Imbabura is also famous for its fish dishes. Fish salad is a very traditional dish from my region. Also, we often serve "chuchos", which are small, white, delicious fruits.
My people descend from the ancient Incas. However, in Ecuador we suffer from poverty and discrimination. We suffer from hunger. We work very hard and get paid very little. When we work on a farm or "hacienda", we only get paid around five U.S. dollars per day. Now the food prices are going through the roof. Today, a kilo of papa is around thirty-give U.S. dollars when last year the same amount was five or six dollars. We are almost in a crisis. There is much suffering from hunger.
We are also discriminated against by the military. For example, recently three indigenous people were killed by the military in southern Ecuador. There was a confrontation over the excavation of some gold mines. When a gold mine is excavated, waste often enters the groundwater, the rivers and the streams. The indigenous people were protesting this because they use this water for drinking and cooking. They were protesting exploitation.
Now we have a new president in Ecuador. My people like him, but we are still concerned about his treatment of the indigenous tribes. Generally, I don't have personal opinions about politics. The leader of our community decides whether we vote for a politician or not.
4.Why did you leave Ecuador?
I first left Ecuador in 1993. I joined a group of people who were travelling throughout Europe playing music and selling items on the street. Together we went to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. We eventually returned to Ecuador after six months.
We had this opportunity because many of the tourists who visited Ecuador invited us to work in their countries. Recently, a man from Turkey came to Ecuador and asked us to play music in front of his restaurant in Istanbul. That's how we ended up here. In some ways it's easier for us to work in Turkey than in the European Union. The EU doesn't want us anymore.
In 1993 I left Ecuador because there was no work. Worse, in 1995 there was a war between Ecuador and Peru. The government tried to recruit us for the war but we didn't go. We were forced to stay in Ecuador, however, because all of our borders were closed. Once the war ended and the frontiers opened we began travelling again. We've now been travelling for almost seventeen years.
Right now there are three of us, all from Ecuador. In Istanbul we live at the end of "Tunel".
5. Did you make the right choice to leave Ecuador?
Yes, this is how we feed our families. We send money back home. It is impossible for us to provide for our families if we stay in Ecuador. You know it's really hard for our people to find work and food. There is much hunger.
In Istanbul we receive money for our work. Here they give us real contracts. For example, our band earns about one hundred lira per hour when we play music in front of the restaurants.
When I talk to my family about Istanbul, I tell them that we are doing well. I tell them that we've made many friends and met a lot of good people who have treated us with kindness. Our families are proud of us. They congratulate us for our work.
B. ISTANBUL
6. What is a typical day like for you in Istanbul?
We are very happy that the sun is shining these days. In the winter the rain made it hard for us to attract customers. Usually, we travel around the city looking for sites where they let us do our music. We walk around Galata, Ortakoy, Sultanahment and Besiktas. Our performances are forbidden in some places, such as Istiklal Street.
When we play in the streets we have to get permits from the police. They allow us to play for two or three hours. However, we prefer to play in the restaurants because then we don't need permits. The restaurants are much safer than the streets because we don't have to expose ourselves to the police.
7.What kind of music do you play?
We play traditional folklore music, Incan music and even some Cuban salsa. Right now we have two albums which we sell on the street.
When we play indigenous music we wear traditional Incan clothing: ponchos, feathers and leather. My instrument is the Quena, which is a wind flute. In the past we've also performed with amplifiers, but in Istanbul the police don't let use the amps anymore. It's really hard to play without them.
8.Have the Turkish police given you a lot of trouble?
We fear the police. Sometimes they behave very badly. They get angry with us because we don't understand the language, or because we have European passports. In other countries, such as Germany, the police don't give you any problems if you are legal. But in Turkey they are different. The police scare us the most.
9.Why do you think the Turkish police are different from the police in other countries?
I don't know. Maybe they think we are bad people or terrorists. But we are not like that.
Last year the police attacked a friend of mine. They told him to stop playing his music but he didn't understand what they were saying. They beat him. After that incident he decided to leave the country. He became scared of Turkey.
We can stay in Istanbul for three months. Then we are going to try to get a visa to go to Georgia. I've heard that after we leave Istanbul another group of Ecuadorians will arrive here.
10.How do the Turkish people treat you in general?
Good. They treat us very well. But it's hard to communicate because we don't know the language. We're trying to learn a few words. For example, when we hear "kapali" or "finish musika" we know it's time to end the show.
The tourists are also very kind. They stop to listen to our music. They enjoy our performances and our crafts. They purchase our albums.
The men in Turkey are more open to us than the women. Here the women are shy. Turkish women don't like talking to us. In Ecuador you have indigenous people like me and the "mestizos", who behave more like Europeans. I'm not sure if the Turks are like us or like the mestizos…
C.PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
11. What have you learned while travelling around the world and how have you changed?
We've learned a lot because every country is different. In Ecuador, we lived off of the land. When we began travelling we didn't know if we'd be comfortable in big cities.
Once we started travelling we first noticed all the varieties of food. It became important for us to learn different languages in order to know what we were eating. Now we speak a little Italian, German and Spanish, although Quechua is our native language.
We've learned that there are many cultural varieties in the world. In Turkey there are many Muslims, but in Italy there are many Catholic people. Catholics are much different than Muslims. Catholics are much more open to us. Muslims are kind of closed. It is hard for us to make friends here or in Islamic places, especially with women. In Italy girls come and talk to us all the time. They want to know our names and where we are from. They want to be friends with us. It is different in Turkey.
The dress code is also different here. Some women here dress more conservatively, which is more common in Arab countries. We had seen women dressed like that before on television when we watched shows about Asia. Once we got to Turkey we felt like this country was part of Asia.
We like Turkey because it’s actually a blend of different cultures. They also have a lot of great handicrafts here. We are going to bring many souvenirs and "blue eyes" back to our families.
12. What are your plans for the future?
When we finish here we will try to go to Georgia and Japan. But in n the end I would like to stay in Ecuador. I'd like to send the new generations of Ecuadorian musicians abroad. I have a small farm and I'd like to cultivate tomate de arbol fruits and then export them to other countries.
13. What do you believe in, and what makes you happy or sad in life?
We were born into Catholicism. We learned to read the Bible. We’ve met people from all religions. We believe in God, but we haven't decided which God or which religion is the correct one. We are leftists, but we only follow the people in power. We have to live according to what the powerful people tell us.
We get sad when we can't work…when the police tell us that we can't play our music or sell our artwork. Travelling makes us very happy…moving from city to city. Visiting new places and learning about them makes us happy.
Our lives have been hard. You have to learn to work a lot. You have to try to push forward. To help your family you have to fight. At first, our travels were difficult because we didn't know anybody. It's better now that we've made friends and know more people. Friendly people make life easier.
1. Please introduce yourself.
My name is Segundo Bartolo Cordoba Aquilas Chavin. I come from a place called San Roque in Ecuador. It's in the countryside.
I came to Istanbul with my friends. We've just arrived and are still learning about the city. We're here playing music and selling handicrafts. Sometimes the police let us do these things, sometimes they don't.
In the past we've also worked in Germany and Italy. We've travelled to many places. What else do you guys want to know?
2.Can you tell me more about your family and your life in Ecuador?
I am married to a woman named Maria Estela. She lives in the countryside and is taking care of our land, where she is planting "tomate de arbol". There will be a harvest in five months.
My wife is also taking care of our three children. My children are named Christina, William and Ulysses. They are fifteen, twelve and seven years old respectively. Now they are going to school in order to prosper in the future. We want to send them to college but it is very expensive…I miss my family very much.
3.What was your life like in Ecuador?
I was twenty-three when I first left. Now I am thirty-eight. Before, I worked in Ecuador selling arts and crafts. I wove carpets, ponchos and bags. At one point everybody was producing the same things, so nobody was buying. I had to leave the country to sell my products and make a living for myself.
I was born in a place called Imbabura. This is a site which attracts many tourists from all over the world. People come to see the beautiful lakes: Aguacocha, Guicocha and San Pablo. In particular, Lake Aguacocha is very popular.
Imbabura is also famous for its fish dishes. Fish salad is a very traditional dish from my region. Also, we often serve "chuchos", which are small, white, delicious fruits.
My people descend from the ancient Incas. However, in Ecuador we suffer from poverty and discrimination. We suffer from hunger. We work very hard and get paid very little. When we work on a farm or "hacienda", we only get paid around five U.S. dollars per day. Now the food prices are going through the roof. Today, a kilo of papa is around thirty-give U.S. dollars when last year the same amount was five or six dollars. We are almost in a crisis. There is much suffering from hunger.
We are also discriminated against by the military. For example, recently three indigenous people were killed by the military in southern Ecuador. There was a confrontation over the excavation of some gold mines. When a gold mine is excavated, waste often enters the groundwater, the rivers and the streams. The indigenous people were protesting this because they use this water for drinking and cooking. They were protesting exploitation.
Now we have a new president in Ecuador. My people like him, but we are still concerned about his treatment of the indigenous tribes. Generally, I don't have personal opinions about politics. The leader of our community decides whether we vote for a politician or not.
4.Why did you leave Ecuador?
I first left Ecuador in 1993. I joined a group of people who were travelling throughout Europe playing music and selling items on the street. Together we went to Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. We eventually returned to Ecuador after six months.
We had this opportunity because many of the tourists who visited Ecuador invited us to work in their countries. Recently, a man from Turkey came to Ecuador and asked us to play music in front of his restaurant in Istanbul. That's how we ended up here. In some ways it's easier for us to work in Turkey than in the European Union. The EU doesn't want us anymore.
In 1993 I left Ecuador because there was no work. Worse, in 1995 there was a war between Ecuador and Peru. The government tried to recruit us for the war but we didn't go. We were forced to stay in Ecuador, however, because all of our borders were closed. Once the war ended and the frontiers opened we began travelling again. We've now been travelling for almost seventeen years.
Right now there are three of us, all from Ecuador. In Istanbul we live at the end of "Tunel".
5. Did you make the right choice to leave Ecuador?
Yes, this is how we feed our families. We send money back home. It is impossible for us to provide for our families if we stay in Ecuador. You know it's really hard for our people to find work and food. There is much hunger.
In Istanbul we receive money for our work. Here they give us real contracts. For example, our band earns about one hundred lira per hour when we play music in front of the restaurants.
When I talk to my family about Istanbul, I tell them that we are doing well. I tell them that we've made many friends and met a lot of good people who have treated us with kindness. Our families are proud of us. They congratulate us for our work.
B. ISTANBUL
6. What is a typical day like for you in Istanbul?
We are very happy that the sun is shining these days. In the winter the rain made it hard for us to attract customers. Usually, we travel around the city looking for sites where they let us do our music. We walk around Galata, Ortakoy, Sultanahment and Besiktas. Our performances are forbidden in some places, such as Istiklal Street.
When we play in the streets we have to get permits from the police. They allow us to play for two or three hours. However, we prefer to play in the restaurants because then we don't need permits. The restaurants are much safer than the streets because we don't have to expose ourselves to the police.
7.What kind of music do you play?
We play traditional folklore music, Incan music and even some Cuban salsa. Right now we have two albums which we sell on the street.
When we play indigenous music we wear traditional Incan clothing: ponchos, feathers and leather. My instrument is the Quena, which is a wind flute. In the past we've also performed with amplifiers, but in Istanbul the police don't let use the amps anymore. It's really hard to play without them.
8.Have the Turkish police given you a lot of trouble?
We fear the police. Sometimes they behave very badly. They get angry with us because we don't understand the language, or because we have European passports. In other countries, such as Germany, the police don't give you any problems if you are legal. But in Turkey they are different. The police scare us the most.
9.Why do you think the Turkish police are different from the police in other countries?
I don't know. Maybe they think we are bad people or terrorists. But we are not like that.
Last year the police attacked a friend of mine. They told him to stop playing his music but he didn't understand what they were saying. They beat him. After that incident he decided to leave the country. He became scared of Turkey.
We can stay in Istanbul for three months. Then we are going to try to get a visa to go to Georgia. I've heard that after we leave Istanbul another group of Ecuadorians will arrive here.
10.How do the Turkish people treat you in general?
Good. They treat us very well. But it's hard to communicate because we don't know the language. We're trying to learn a few words. For example, when we hear "kapali" or "finish musika" we know it's time to end the show.
The tourists are also very kind. They stop to listen to our music. They enjoy our performances and our crafts. They purchase our albums.
The men in Turkey are more open to us than the women. Here the women are shy. Turkish women don't like talking to us. In Ecuador you have indigenous people like me and the "mestizos", who behave more like Europeans. I'm not sure if the Turks are like us or like the mestizos…
C.PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
11. What have you learned while travelling around the world and how have you changed?
We've learned a lot because every country is different. In Ecuador, we lived off of the land. When we began travelling we didn't know if we'd be comfortable in big cities.
Once we started travelling we first noticed all the varieties of food. It became important for us to learn different languages in order to know what we were eating. Now we speak a little Italian, German and Spanish, although Quechua is our native language.
We've learned that there are many cultural varieties in the world. In Turkey there are many Muslims, but in Italy there are many Catholic people. Catholics are much different than Muslims. Catholics are much more open to us. Muslims are kind of closed. It is hard for us to make friends here or in Islamic places, especially with women. In Italy girls come and talk to us all the time. They want to know our names and where we are from. They want to be friends with us. It is different in Turkey.
The dress code is also different here. Some women here dress more conservatively, which is more common in Arab countries. We had seen women dressed like that before on television when we watched shows about Asia. Once we got to Turkey we felt like this country was part of Asia.
We like Turkey because it’s actually a blend of different cultures. They also have a lot of great handicrafts here. We are going to bring many souvenirs and "blue eyes" back to our families.
12. What are your plans for the future?
When we finish here we will try to go to Georgia and Japan. But in n the end I would like to stay in Ecuador. I'd like to send the new generations of Ecuadorian musicians abroad. I have a small farm and I'd like to cultivate tomate de arbol fruits and then export them to other countries.
13. What do you believe in, and what makes you happy or sad in life?
We were born into Catholicism. We learned to read the Bible. We’ve met people from all religions. We believe in God, but we haven't decided which God or which religion is the correct one. We are leftists, but we only follow the people in power. We have to live according to what the powerful people tell us.
We get sad when we can't work…when the police tell us that we can't play our music or sell our artwork. Travelling makes us very happy…moving from city to city. Visiting new places and learning about them makes us happy.
Our lives have been hard. You have to learn to work a lot. You have to try to push forward. To help your family you have to fight. At first, our travels were difficult because we didn't know anybody. It's better now that we've made friends and know more people. Friendly people make life easier.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
New Video
Dear Rotarians,
I've created a three minute video on Istanbul to provide you with a better visual understanding of the city and its people. The video is divided into two parts. The first part includes a number of photos I've taken while exploring the city, while the second section focuses on the wonderful Rotarians I've encountered during my time here.
When watching the video please enable your audio / speakers.
TO VIEW THE VIDEO PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/3096d2b01913e2cbbe
Thank you for watching!
Regards,
Joe
I've created a three minute video on Istanbul to provide you with a better visual understanding of the city and its people. The video is divided into two parts. The first part includes a number of photos I've taken while exploring the city, while the second section focuses on the wonderful Rotarians I've encountered during my time here.
When watching the video please enable your audio / speakers.
TO VIEW THE VIDEO PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
http://www.motionbox.com/videos/3096d2b01913e2cbbe
Thank you for watching!
Regards,
Joe
Friday, April 3, 2009
Photojournalism Project
Dear Rotarians,
Spring has finally arrived in Istanbul. In the warm weather, the city transforms from a somewhat gray concrete jungle into a vibrant Mediterranean metropolis. Although I love Istanbul at all times and in all seasons, I can't hide my excitement at this new development. Lately I've been taking advantage of the warm weather by wandering around the city taking photographs. The joy of photography is how it immerses me in my surroundings. Instead of trying to get from point A to point B, I simply walk through and observe the world - without an agenda. At times, it is essential to live without a plan.
However, I do have a "method". I try to differentiate myself from every other camera-wielding tourist by photographing hidden places. Instead of going to the famous sites to capture historical buildings, I go to the modest and "authentic" parts of the city where "real" Turks actually live. Photography is artistic when offering a new interpretation of the world. Ironically, I try to present a novel vision of the city by focusing on the ordinary.
I'm also excited by a new photojournalism project that I've just begun on the people of Turkey. For this project, I will interview dozens of people in Istanbul about the city and about their lives. Essentially, I will be collecting life stories and reflections.
My interviewees will come from all walks of life. Some will be ordinary, others will be extraordinary. Some will be rich, some will be poor. Others will simply have a story to tell.
My first goal in working on this project is to communicate the culture and atmosphere of Istanbul to Rotarians in the United States. My second goal is personal: to make the most of my time here by integrating myself into Turkish society.
In fact, not all of my interviewees will be Turkish. In many cases, cities are defined as much by foreigners as by the native residents. This is especially true in an era of globalization. Over the last fifty years worldwide immigration has doubled. More often than not, instead of "taking jobs" or diluting local culture, immigrants boost our economies and broaden our horizons.
With this in mind, yesterday I interviewed an Ecuadorian immigrant in Istanbul named Segundo (photograph below). Segundo lives in a poor part of the city with two Ecuadorian friends. Together, they play indigenous music and sell small items on the street to survive. Life is not easy for them here, however, it is much improved from Ecuador.
Many years ago, Segundo left his home country to escape war (between leftists and rightists) and persecution (by the land-owning elite). For him, the implication of war and oppression was "hunger" - a word he used many times in our interview. Living with constant uncertainty at home, he found Istanbul a relief of sorts. The Turkish people welcomed him. The throngs of tourists watching his musical performances gave him a relatively steady income. He was excited by the sense of adventure one gets from being in new surroundings. In the end, only the somewhat heavy-handed Turkish police have given him trouble, even though he is in this country legally.
Segundo also has a family back in Ecuador, whom he misses very much. Fortunately, he is able to return to Ecuador every now and then to see his wife and children. His children in particular love to hear stories about life on the other side of the world.
Though the Turkish people have treated Segundo well, after much time here he still feels like an "outsider". Perhaps by interviewing him I demonstrated that his place in society is not entirely overlooked.
In the coming weeks I will transcribe and edit the complete interview. I will then post this interview on my blog along with a number of new photos. Following that, I will continue to post interviews with other members of Turkish society on this site.
I hope you will enjoy my work.
Regards,
Joe
Spring has finally arrived in Istanbul. In the warm weather, the city transforms from a somewhat gray concrete jungle into a vibrant Mediterranean metropolis. Although I love Istanbul at all times and in all seasons, I can't hide my excitement at this new development. Lately I've been taking advantage of the warm weather by wandering around the city taking photographs. The joy of photography is how it immerses me in my surroundings. Instead of trying to get from point A to point B, I simply walk through and observe the world - without an agenda. At times, it is essential to live without a plan.
However, I do have a "method". I try to differentiate myself from every other camera-wielding tourist by photographing hidden places. Instead of going to the famous sites to capture historical buildings, I go to the modest and "authentic" parts of the city where "real" Turks actually live. Photography is artistic when offering a new interpretation of the world. Ironically, I try to present a novel vision of the city by focusing on the ordinary.
I'm also excited by a new photojournalism project that I've just begun on the people of Turkey. For this project, I will interview dozens of people in Istanbul about the city and about their lives. Essentially, I will be collecting life stories and reflections.
My interviewees will come from all walks of life. Some will be ordinary, others will be extraordinary. Some will be rich, some will be poor. Others will simply have a story to tell.
My first goal in working on this project is to communicate the culture and atmosphere of Istanbul to Rotarians in the United States. My second goal is personal: to make the most of my time here by integrating myself into Turkish society.
In fact, not all of my interviewees will be Turkish. In many cases, cities are defined as much by foreigners as by the native residents. This is especially true in an era of globalization. Over the last fifty years worldwide immigration has doubled. More often than not, instead of "taking jobs" or diluting local culture, immigrants boost our economies and broaden our horizons.
With this in mind, yesterday I interviewed an Ecuadorian immigrant in Istanbul named Segundo (photograph below). Segundo lives in a poor part of the city with two Ecuadorian friends. Together, they play indigenous music and sell small items on the street to survive. Life is not easy for them here, however, it is much improved from Ecuador.
Many years ago, Segundo left his home country to escape war (between leftists and rightists) and persecution (by the land-owning elite). For him, the implication of war and oppression was "hunger" - a word he used many times in our interview. Living with constant uncertainty at home, he found Istanbul a relief of sorts. The Turkish people welcomed him. The throngs of tourists watching his musical performances gave him a relatively steady income. He was excited by the sense of adventure one gets from being in new surroundings. In the end, only the somewhat heavy-handed Turkish police have given him trouble, even though he is in this country legally.
Segundo also has a family back in Ecuador, whom he misses very much. Fortunately, he is able to return to Ecuador every now and then to see his wife and children. His children in particular love to hear stories about life on the other side of the world.
Though the Turkish people have treated Segundo well, after much time here he still feels like an "outsider". Perhaps by interviewing him I demonstrated that his place in society is not entirely overlooked.
In the coming weeks I will transcribe and edit the complete interview. I will then post this interview on my blog along with a number of new photos. Following that, I will continue to post interviews with other members of Turkish society on this site.
I hope you will enjoy my work.
Regards,
Joe
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Travel-Inspired Observations
Hello Rotarians,
Life in Istanbul continues to remind me of some poetic lines by T.S. Eliot:
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
As a traveler throughout Europe and Asia over the last five years, I have not only learned more about new cultures, but also more about the United States and my identity as an American. Sometimes you need to trek thousands of miles to understand yourself and the place you call home.
So what exactly have I learned during my travels?
Well, I've learned new languages (Italian, Turkish & Polish) and styles of self-expression, particularly in Italy where hands do most of the talking! The first photo below ("Conversation") provides an amusing example of this cultural tendency.
Humor aside, I've realized that it's crucial to understand and respect cultural traditions, especially in the international business world where one must studiously avoid giving offense. In many Asian countries (e.g. Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan) presenting your business card to all parties is essential, as is carefully accepting the business card of an associate with both hands. In Turkey, meanwhile, you must always remove your shoes when entering the home of a colleague or friend. One should never underestimate the importance of basic courtesy.
While traveling, I've also gained a more intimate appreciation for world history. Although such knowledge can be had from textbooks, it's always easier to remember what you've experienced directly. I will never forget the story of Lech Walesa and the solidarity movement in Poland, for it was related to me by a Polish woman with tears in her eyes. I will not soon forget the cultural significance of the Renaissance, for I studied this period while living amongst the statues and artworks of Firenze. Nor will I forget the story of Ataturk here in Turkey, for I've attended many stimulating Rotary conferences where Turks have spoken passionately and eloquently about his accomplishments.
As alluded to above, traveling has also given me a new perspective on America. I have seen firsthand how, for better or worse, the United States has spread its influence internationally. The dollar is the world's reserve currency and English its unofficial language. American rock bands often dominate the airwaves of foreign radio stations, just as U.S. sneaker companies pervade the most remote places. In Turkey, it is hard to go to a bar or even walk down the street without detecting these musical and stylistic influences. Unfortunately, our "pop" culture travels farther and more readily than our intellectual culture. For this reason, many regard Americans as shallow consumers.
In reality, we are dynamic, diverse and not easily captured by generalizations. At a recent Rotary conference in Istanbul, I gave a presentation about American demography, noting how less than seventy-percent of U.S. citizens describe themselves as white or Caucasian. I also discussed the crucial role played by foreigners in U.S. businesses. Presently, over 1/3 of our scientists and engineers are foreign-born (the number is nearly fifty-percent for computer technicians). Furthermore, I pointed out how immigration contributes nearly ten billion dollars to the American economy each year, and how students from around the world aspire to matriculate into our prestigious universities. As demonstrated by the presidency of Barack Obama, the U.S. is a more cosmopolitan than it's given credit for.
These observations may not have occurred to me had I not spent so much time traveling through a variety of places - both rich and poor. In all likelihood, if I never left home I would have failed to grasp how lucky we are to be living in the developed world. Although it is hard to acknowledge in the midst of an economic crisis, we simply have more opportunities than those who live in underdeveloped or developing nations. After all, why are nearly five hundred thousand people compelled to immigrate to the U.S. each year? Why do some of these immigrants come to America despite having to uproot their families and even risk their lives? Meanwhile, we might also wonder why thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia come to Turkey each year in the hope of better future...
Of course, even in advanced nations there is always room for improvement. The U.S. is wealthy and powerful, yet it can't provide affordable health-care or education for its citizens. The American democracy is strong, yet powerful lobbyists and special interest groups continue to machinate against the popular interest. Our middle class is slowly being diminished, while our corporate class has proven itself an incapable steward of the free-market economy. Ultimately, the enriching discussions I have had with people from foreign countries have thrown these failures into sharp relief.
Lastly, it was my pleasure to recently attend a conference where the Rotary Governor of District 2420 gave the keynote presentation. At this conference, numerous new Rotarians were also inducted, and a wonderful surprise dance performance became the highlight of the evening. Pictures are included below.
- Joe
Life in Istanbul continues to remind me of some poetic lines by T.S. Eliot:
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
As a traveler throughout Europe and Asia over the last five years, I have not only learned more about new cultures, but also more about the United States and my identity as an American. Sometimes you need to trek thousands of miles to understand yourself and the place you call home.
So what exactly have I learned during my travels?
Well, I've learned new languages (Italian, Turkish & Polish) and styles of self-expression, particularly in Italy where hands do most of the talking! The first photo below ("Conversation") provides an amusing example of this cultural tendency.
Humor aside, I've realized that it's crucial to understand and respect cultural traditions, especially in the international business world where one must studiously avoid giving offense. In many Asian countries (e.g. Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan) presenting your business card to all parties is essential, as is carefully accepting the business card of an associate with both hands. In Turkey, meanwhile, you must always remove your shoes when entering the home of a colleague or friend. One should never underestimate the importance of basic courtesy.
While traveling, I've also gained a more intimate appreciation for world history. Although such knowledge can be had from textbooks, it's always easier to remember what you've experienced directly. I will never forget the story of Lech Walesa and the solidarity movement in Poland, for it was related to me by a Polish woman with tears in her eyes. I will not soon forget the cultural significance of the Renaissance, for I studied this period while living amongst the statues and artworks of Firenze. Nor will I forget the story of Ataturk here in Turkey, for I've attended many stimulating Rotary conferences where Turks have spoken passionately and eloquently about his accomplishments.
As alluded to above, traveling has also given me a new perspective on America. I have seen firsthand how, for better or worse, the United States has spread its influence internationally. The dollar is the world's reserve currency and English its unofficial language. American rock bands often dominate the airwaves of foreign radio stations, just as U.S. sneaker companies pervade the most remote places. In Turkey, it is hard to go to a bar or even walk down the street without detecting these musical and stylistic influences. Unfortunately, our "pop" culture travels farther and more readily than our intellectual culture. For this reason, many regard Americans as shallow consumers.
In reality, we are dynamic, diverse and not easily captured by generalizations. At a recent Rotary conference in Istanbul, I gave a presentation about American demography, noting how less than seventy-percent of U.S. citizens describe themselves as white or Caucasian. I also discussed the crucial role played by foreigners in U.S. businesses. Presently, over 1/3 of our scientists and engineers are foreign-born (the number is nearly fifty-percent for computer technicians). Furthermore, I pointed out how immigration contributes nearly ten billion dollars to the American economy each year, and how students from around the world aspire to matriculate into our prestigious universities. As demonstrated by the presidency of Barack Obama, the U.S. is a more cosmopolitan than it's given credit for.
These observations may not have occurred to me had I not spent so much time traveling through a variety of places - both rich and poor. In all likelihood, if I never left home I would have failed to grasp how lucky we are to be living in the developed world. Although it is hard to acknowledge in the midst of an economic crisis, we simply have more opportunities than those who live in underdeveloped or developing nations. After all, why are nearly five hundred thousand people compelled to immigrate to the U.S. each year? Why do some of these immigrants come to America despite having to uproot their families and even risk their lives? Meanwhile, we might also wonder why thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia come to Turkey each year in the hope of better future...
Of course, even in advanced nations there is always room for improvement. The U.S. is wealthy and powerful, yet it can't provide affordable health-care or education for its citizens. The American democracy is strong, yet powerful lobbyists and special interest groups continue to machinate against the popular interest. Our middle class is slowly being diminished, while our corporate class has proven itself an incapable steward of the free-market economy. Ultimately, the enriching discussions I have had with people from foreign countries have thrown these failures into sharp relief.
Lastly, it was my pleasure to recently attend a conference where the Rotary Governor of District 2420 gave the keynote presentation. At this conference, numerous new Rotarians were also inducted, and a wonderful surprise dance performance became the highlight of the evening. Pictures are included below.
- Joe
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Dear Rotarians,
Since my last post I've been busy writing essays and taking final exams for my master's degree program. Although the courses at Koc University are demanding, I expect to receive high marks, and thus far I've learned quite a bit about international affairs and Turkish culture.
Interestingly, you might say my first exposure to Turkish culture was two years ago in Boston, where I worked as a volunteer for Boston University's "Multicultural Advancement Partnership Program" (MAPP). As a volunteer for MAPP, I met every week with a Turkish student named Mehmet to help him improve his English fluency and learn more about the United States. Our conversations, which touched upon subjects ranging from Turkish politics to American fast food, were mutually beneficial. As Mehmet improved his English, I was able to learn more about his fascinating country. Ultimately, my friendship with Mehmet inspired my choice to travel to Istanbul.
In early January, Mehmet finally returned to Istanbul after spending nearly three years at Boston University. It was my pleasure to welcome Mehmet back to his own country, and to surprise him with a little bit of Turkish! Meeting for coffee in Galata Square (site of the famous Galata Tower), Mehmet and I rehashed old times and had more than a few laughs about my adventures and misadventures in Turkey. It was great to see an old friend, especially one who motivated my decision to come to Istanbul in the first place.
Upon his return, Mehmet was given some surprising news by his employer - the Turkish government. They requested that he begin working in Ankara (the capital of Turkey), which is about 220 miles away from Istanbul! His new position, however, represents an exciting opportunity. He will be an ambassador for Turkey to the European Union.
As you may know, Turkey is currently a candidate for membership in the European Union. As a candidate country engaged in EU accession negotiations, Turkey is obligated to meet a variety of criteria (the "Copenhagen Criteria"). These criteria require candidate countries to demonstrate, among other things, a stable democratic government capable of guaranteeing human rights and a competitive market economy.
Unfortunately, Turkey has had difficulty meeting some of the Copenhagen Criteria, which has become the subject of much controversy and debate. While critics of Turkey charge that the government fails to adequately safeguard civil liberties and human rights (particularly the rights of minority groups), supporters of Turkey argue that such claims are unfounded. Instead, the argument goes, the "Christian club" of European countries is simply reluctant to admit a Muslim country. Meanwhile, engaged in a worldwide campaign to promote "moderate Islam" and highlight the compatibility of Muslim societies and democracy, the United States has continually supported Turkey's effort to join the EU.
At this time, Turkey's entrance into the EU is very much in doubt. Nevertheless, it is with great optimism that my old friend Mehmet approaches his new role as an Ambassador to Europe. Like all Rotarians, he recognizes that the world needs not a "clash" but a rapprochement of civilizations.
Since my last post I've been busy writing essays and taking final exams for my master's degree program. Although the courses at Koc University are demanding, I expect to receive high marks, and thus far I've learned quite a bit about international affairs and Turkish culture.
Interestingly, you might say my first exposure to Turkish culture was two years ago in Boston, where I worked as a volunteer for Boston University's "Multicultural Advancement Partnership Program" (MAPP). As a volunteer for MAPP, I met every week with a Turkish student named Mehmet to help him improve his English fluency and learn more about the United States. Our conversations, which touched upon subjects ranging from Turkish politics to American fast food, were mutually beneficial. As Mehmet improved his English, I was able to learn more about his fascinating country. Ultimately, my friendship with Mehmet inspired my choice to travel to Istanbul.
In early January, Mehmet finally returned to Istanbul after spending nearly three years at Boston University. It was my pleasure to welcome Mehmet back to his own country, and to surprise him with a little bit of Turkish! Meeting for coffee in Galata Square (site of the famous Galata Tower), Mehmet and I rehashed old times and had more than a few laughs about my adventures and misadventures in Turkey. It was great to see an old friend, especially one who motivated my decision to come to Istanbul in the first place.
Upon his return, Mehmet was given some surprising news by his employer - the Turkish government. They requested that he begin working in Ankara (the capital of Turkey), which is about 220 miles away from Istanbul! His new position, however, represents an exciting opportunity. He will be an ambassador for Turkey to the European Union.
As you may know, Turkey is currently a candidate for membership in the European Union. As a candidate country engaged in EU accession negotiations, Turkey is obligated to meet a variety of criteria (the "Copenhagen Criteria"). These criteria require candidate countries to demonstrate, among other things, a stable democratic government capable of guaranteeing human rights and a competitive market economy.
Unfortunately, Turkey has had difficulty meeting some of the Copenhagen Criteria, which has become the subject of much controversy and debate. While critics of Turkey charge that the government fails to adequately safeguard civil liberties and human rights (particularly the rights of minority groups), supporters of Turkey argue that such claims are unfounded. Instead, the argument goes, the "Christian club" of European countries is simply reluctant to admit a Muslim country. Meanwhile, engaged in a worldwide campaign to promote "moderate Islam" and highlight the compatibility of Muslim societies and democracy, the United States has continually supported Turkey's effort to join the EU.
At this time, Turkey's entrance into the EU is very much in doubt. Nevertheless, it is with great optimism that my old friend Mehmet approaches his new role as an Ambassador to Europe. Like all Rotarians, he recognizes that the world needs not a "clash" but a rapprochement of civilizations.
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