I have a habit of wandering, of stepping into places I hadn’t initially planned on visiting, and this time, Eyupsultan in Istanbul became my latest happy accident. I didn’t know much about the district, but as soon as I found myself there, I knew I had stumbled upon […]
The rain slicked the streets, the windshield wipers rhythmically slapping the glass. We had signed up for a tour—nothing fancy, just a simple way to see the city, or so we thought. But what started as a tour morphed into something straight out of a Jim Jarmusch fever […]
What was the last thing you did for play or fun? It’s Christmas season again, but this time I’m not navigating the biting cold of Berlin like I dud a decade ago. Instead, I’m in Istanbul, where the weather’s not as frigid, but the rain and overcast skies […]
What skills or lessons have you learned recently? Have you ever been gut-punched? I used to think it was just a cliché, something people said to describe minor disappointments. Then, several years ago, it happened to me. A phone call shattered my world, blindsiding me with a betrayal […]
Ah, Christmas Eve—normally a time of cozy warmth, festive cheer, and the smell of pine needles. But here I am, traveling the day before Christmas. Why, you ask? Because that’s what my airline points allowed for! Genius? Maybe not. It all started with American Airlines facing a ground […]
It’s that special time of year—one filled with twinkling lights, family traditions, and way too many sugar cookies. But in our home, we’re not just decked out for Christmas. Nope, we’re doubling the festive spirit because it’s Chrismukkah! This year is extra magical, too, because Hanukkah actually falls […]
Ah, Christmas Eve—a time when the world seems to pause, covered in the glow of twinkling lights and the anticipation of what tomorrow brings. It’s a night of stockings hung with care, last-minute wrapping, and that one nagging question: Have I been naughty or nice? The truth is, […]
Every year, linguists and dictionaries propose a “word of the year” that supposedly sums up the collective consciousness. This year, we’ve had some interesting contenders: “brain rot,” “polarization,” and even “demure.” But as I sit here and reflect on the world around me, I can’t help but think […]
List your top 5 grocery store items. Every week, like clockwork, I sit down to order groceries. Because honestly, the thought of actually going to the store after a long week of work, school runs, and commuting is…well, let’s just say it’s a hard pass. So, I click […]
Today marks the shortest day of the year, and as if Mother Nature herself was in on the cosmic joke, it snowed last night. Not just a light dusting either, but enough to blanket the world in that hushed, pristine silence that almost forces you to stop and […]