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Learning About The World

Portrait of an American Family

Chase's due date is Thanksgiving Day, an American holiday, but his birth paints a portrait of an American family. Chase's great-grandfather George was born in Romania in 1900. He sailed to America at 13 and married a French-Canadian girl. Her lovely daughter, Penny married a man named Taishik, a POW survivor serving U.S. troops after capture in the Korea War. Chase's maternal grandfather, Huseyin was from Konya-Eregli, Turkey. He married the beautiful Mesude and gave birth to Guzin in the capital of Ankara. After studying economics along the Silk Road in Bursa, Guzin accepted an accounting job in New York where she met writer, Thomas Chi.

Chapters are in English and Turkish with page numbers in Korean, Romania, Turkish, German, French and Spanish.

History includes stories of sailing from Romania to Ellis Island, New York in 1913; surviving the Korean War as a POW, trading feta cheese throughout cities in Turkey, importing supplies from Asia to Chicago with Tokyo Rose, business on the Great Lakes in Michigan, and marriage.

Chapters include topics on imports, trading partners, worldwide travel, education, and leadership.

In 1991, Chi traveled to Egypt and Greece as a journalist during the Persian Gulf War. He studied in cities throughout China; Nice, France and lived in Prague while still Czechoslovakia. Chi chronicled Cold War events in Germany and Rome, before heading to Holy Land conflicts in Palestine, Israel and Bosnia. Before Chase, the family drove across America seven times by car to write about e-commerce, online trade in Las Vegas and LA toy exports. Together he will join his family's import adventures in Istanbul, China and Sivas.

See website: TrumpWigs.com, MarilynMansonMurders.com, and ThomasChi.com

More book by Thomas Chi include: E-Business Adventures: Trading Donald Trump Toys in Turkey, Marrying a Muslim, Investigating Real Estate, Silk Roads and Grand Rivers Researching Marilyn Manson, Impersonating a Pastor, Studying Strippers from Baghdad, Iraq Selling Sushi, Turkish Spice and Silk Roads Noah's Ark Rosewater Rice, Haci's Feta Cheese and European Comfort Food Studying Marilyn Manson: Groupies, School Violence and Bullying Marketing Revelations, Christianity, Antichrists and Psychiatrist Marketing Marilyn Manson, Creating an Antichrist Marilyn Manson Trilogy

Colorado, California, and Nevada

Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizde Batuhan bir bucuk yasindaydi. Bilmiyorum o zaman etrafinda olan bitenlerin farkindamiydi? Tek gozlemledigim gordugu ilgi ve sevgiden cok mutluydu. Ikinci ziyaretimizde, ucakla Istanbul'a indigimizde farkli bir yerde oldugunu , insanlarin baska bir dil konustugunu duyunca anladi. Gozlerini kocaman acip insanlari dinlemeye basladi. Annem ve kardeslerimi de ayni ilgi ile dinlemeye basladi. Batuhan ismine ilk iki ziyarette pek tepki vermedi. Ikinci ziyaretmizin sonuna dogru ismi soylenince kafa cevirmeye basladi. Bu seneki ucuncu ziyaretimizde herseyin farkindaydi. Annem "Batuhan" dedigi zaman "No Batuhan" " Chase" diye israr etti bir sure. Hatta annemin arkadaslarinin yaninda "Ismin ne?" diye soruldugunda kafasi yerde" Chase" diye cevap verdi. Annem tekrar sorunca " Ba du han" dedi. Turkiye'de uc ay kalmamizin faydasi cok oldu. Chase, Amerika'da babasi ve annesi ile bir hayati oldugunu, isminin Chase, annesinin Gigi ve Mom oldugunu; Turkiyede ise Anneannesi ,teyzeleri , kuzenleri oldugunu ve isminin Batuhan, annesinin de Anne ve Guzin oldugunu ogrendi. Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizden sonra Batuhan, havaalaninda babasini gorunce tanimayip kafasini cevirdi. Bir bucuk yasindaki bir cocugun iki aylik Turkiye ziyareti sonrasi babsini hatirlamamasi normal olsa gerek. Ankara'da her gununu teyzeleri ve anneanesi ile dolu dolu gecirdi. Parklar, gezmeler, alisverisler, arkadaslarla dolu oyle bir ortama girdi ki gordugu ilgi ve sevgi o'na cok seyler katti. Benim icin onemli olan ve burada fazla goremiyecegi aile sevgisini gormesi idi. Batuhan yemek konusunda cok secici. Onune konan yemeklerin goruntusune gore yiyip yemiyecegine karar veriryor. Ankara'ya ilk ziyaretimizde yemekten cok annemin muzlu,unlu, tereyagli, sekerli mamasina agirlik verdik ki biraz kilo alsin diye. Ikinci ziyaretimizde annemin pisirdigi butun yemekleri yedi. En cok hosuna giden babasinin da favorisi olan manti ve yogurtlu corba idi. Son ziyaretimizde ise ilgimi ceken teyzesinin yaptigi enginar dolmasini buyuk bir istahla yemesiydi. Turk yemeklerinin Amerika yemeklerinden farki taze sebzelerden ve etlerden yapilmis olmasi. Amerika'da ise taze yemeklerin yanisira dondurulmus yemek seceneklerinin cok olmasi ve calisan nufusun fazlaligi nedeni ile dondurulmus gida ve konserve tarzi yemeklere ragbet gosterilmesi. Batu'yu mumkun oldugunce konserve yemeklerden uzak tutmaya calisiyorum. Dondurulmus gidalari vermekte pek sakinca oldugunu sanmiyorum. Bana gore lezzetli oldugu surece Batuhan , Turk ya da Amerikan yemeklerini ayirt etmiyor.

Istanbul, Turkey: Author of Returning to Istanbul

Batuhan and Jasmine Soylu are the authors of the novel and screenplay, Returning to Istanbul, Turkey. The novel and screenplay teach the importance of Islam and the understanding of international trade between Muslim countries with the rest of the world markets around the globe. Jasmine Soylu travels on a cruise ship from Miami to Istanbul with her mother. The journey helps her recall romantic memories of her mother and father. Jasmine Soylu writes a love story about Islam and the relationship religion has with international trade from Mecca to New York. Jasmine's father, Captain Daskin, takes his family to the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The captain sails to bazaars in Egypt, Baghdad, and the famous souqs of Damascus. Trek from the Golden Horn of Anatolia to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France as Jasmine Soylu learns how to negotiate with her father, Captain Daskin, as he imports rare books made of Ancient Egyptian papyrus. Fight pirates at the sea ports in Alexandria, learn languages along the Mediterranean Sea, and study the relationship between Islam and international trade around the planet. Jasmine Soylu travels to (and writes about) these cities: Mecca, Medina, Ankara, Istanbul, Van, Bursa, Nicea, Ephesus, Nigde, Taksim, Paris, and Marseilles.

Ankara, Turkey: Author of Returning to Istanbul

Ankara is a magical city in the center of the world. Important leaders have always studied in the city that lies in the middle of the West and East. From China to the United States, ambassadors send their children to Ankara to learn commerce. Modern historians attest to the fact that Jesus was taught in Ankara as a child. His mother Mary sent him to Ankara and later retired in the city of Ephesus. The best teachers in the world lived in Ankara. The oldest settlements in Ankara began during the Bronze Age with the Hatti civilization. Later leaders came to the crossroads of East and West to trade; The Lydians, Persians, Greeks, Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Turks, Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm, and the Ottoman Empire. The Greeks of Pontos came to Ankara in 300 BC to develop the city as a trading centre for the commerce of goods between the Black Sea ports and Crimea. To the north merchants entering the Black Sea did business with Assyria, Cyprus, and Lebanon to the south as well as Georgia, Armenia and Persia to the east. After Constantinople became the Emperor of Rome the East Roman capital emperors in the 4th and 5th centuries would retire in Ankara. The leader of the Turkish nationalist movement, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, established the headquarters of his resistance movement in Ankara in 1920. Ankara officially replaced Istanbul as the new Turkish capital city on October 13, 1923. Home to the kingdoms populated by the Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Mongol, and Ottoman Empires. Join Batuhan and Jasmine Soylu as they take the reader on an adventure to important trading posts, archaeological sites, and sail out the Bosphorus Strait along the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn to trade treasures in port cities across the Mediterranean Sea. Learn how Muslim merchants use their education in Turkey to trade books, various languages, and the wisdom of commerce along the continents of Africa, Europe, and the United States of America.

Jasmine's Vacation: Colorado, California, and Nevada

Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizde Batuhan bir bucuk yasindaydi. Bilmiyorum o zaman etrafinda olan bitenlerin farkindamiydi? Tek gozlemledigim gordugu ilgi ve sevgiden cok mutluydu. Ikinci ziyaretimizde, ucakla Istanbul'a indigimizde farkli bir yerde oldugunu , insanlarin baska bir dil konustugunu duyunca anladi. Gozlerini kocaman acip insanlari dinlemeye basladi. Annem ve kardeslerimi de ayni ilgi ile dinlemeye basladi. Batuhan ismine ilk iki ziyarette pek tepki vermedi. Ikinci ziyaretmizin sonuna dogru ismi soylenince kafa cevirmeye basladi. Bu seneki ucuncu ziyaretimizde herseyin farkindaydi. Annem "Batuhan" dedigi zaman "No Batuhan" " Chase" diye israr etti bir sure. Hatta annemin arkadaslarinin yaninda "Ismin ne?" diye soruldugunda kafasi yerde" Chase" diye cevap verdi. Annem tekrar sorunca " Ba du han" dedi. Turkiye'de uc ay kalmamizin faydasi cok oldu. Chase, Amerika'da babasi ve annesi ile bir hayati oldugunu, isminin Chase, annesinin Gigi ve Mom oldugunu; Turkiyede ise Anneannesi ,teyzeleri , kuzenleri oldugunu ve isminin Batuhan, annesinin de Anne ve Guzin oldugunu ogrendi. Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizden sonra Batuhan, havaalaninda babasini gorunce tanimayip kafasini cevirdi. Bir bucuk yasindaki bir cocugun iki aylik Turkiye ziyareti sonrasi babsini hatirlamamasi normal olsa gerek. Ankara'da her gununu teyzeleri ve anneanesi ile dolu dolu gecirdi. Parklar, gezmeler, alisverisler, arkadaslarla dolu oyle bir ortama girdi ki gordugu ilgi ve sevgi o'na cok seyler katti. Benim icin onemli olan ve burada fazla goremiyecegi aile sevgisini gormesi idi. Batuhan yemek konusunda cok secici. Onune konan yemeklerin goruntusune gore yiyip yemiyecegine karar veriryor. Ankara'ya ilk ziyaretimizde yemekten cok annemin muzlu,unlu, tereyagli, sekerli mamasina agirlik verdik ki biraz kilo alsin diye. Ikinci ziyaretimizde annemin pisirdigi butun yemekleri yedi. En cok hosuna giden babasinin da favorisi olan manti ve yogurtlu corba idi. Son ziyaretimizde ise ilgimi ceken teyzesinin yaptigi enginar dolmasini buyuk bir istahla yemesiydi. Turk yemeklerinin Amerika yemeklerinden farki taze sebzelerden ve etlerden yapilmis olmasi. Amerika'da ise taze yemeklerin yanisira dondurulmus yemek seceneklerinin cok olmasi ve calisan nufusun fazlaligi nedeni ile dondurulmus gida ve konserve tarzi yemeklere ragbet gosterilmesi. Batu'yu mumkun oldugunce konserve yemeklerden uzak tutmaya calisiyorum. Dondurulmus gidalari vermekte pek sakinca oldugunu sanmiyorum. Bana gore lezzetli oldugu surece Batuhan , Turk ya da Amerikan yemeklerini ayirt etmiyor. Vacation Colorado University of Colorado at Boulder Denver Museum Aspen Ski Resort California Hollywood Venice Beach Santa Monica San Francisco Pebble Beach Carmel Santa Barbara Solvang Redwood Trees Armstrong Grove Santa Rosa Sonoma County Napa Valley Nevada Casinos Flights to Los Angeles Searchlight Red Rock Neon Sign Museum Restaurants Shopping Hoover Dam History Museum Area 51 Hollywood Boulevard

CUT Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Cut is the experience made famous in Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck. Is your inner carnivore calling? The beef at CUT, Wolfgang Puck's contemporary steakhouse in The Palazzo is dry-aged for weeks, soaking up flavor and character. But CUT's starters, salads, sides, seafood, and desserts are crave-worthy, too.

The problem with CUT, notes Eating Las Vegas critic Al Mancini, is that "after one meal here, you'll never visit your local steakhouse again without feeling a little disappointed." Echoes John Curtas, "CUT is "the perfect Las Vegas Restaurant."

CUT is all about variety in a lineup of carnivorous delights. For a price, it will put before you three cuts of the best steaks in the world: A-5 true Kobe (Wagyu) beef from the Kagashima Prefecture in Japan; prime, hormone-free, corn-fed sirloin from Nebraska; and 35-day dry-aged beef from Illinois. Those steaks are presented in raw form first, perfectly trimmed, and ready to tempt you off that low-cholesterol diet you've been struggling with.

If those aren't enticing enough, chef Matthew Hurley whips up a bone-marrow flan, warm veal-tongue salad and oxtail bullion that is nose-to-tail eating at its finest. At the Palazzo Las Vegas, 3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 607-6300.

Sinatra at Encore hosted by Steve Wynn

Sinatra is the fine Italian restaurant inside Encore, Steve Wynn has created a tribute to the man who was equal parts colleague, legend and friend. Chef Theo Schoenegger, formerly of Patina in Los Angeles, crafts a culinary homage to Ol" Blue Eyes that showcases the signature flavors of Italy.

SW Steakhouse at Wynn

David Walzog, whose chophouse fare continues to make SW Steakhouse at Wynn one of the hottest addresses in town, turns from turf to surf at Lakeside. From this glamorous perch at the water’s edge, the star chef crafts modern cuisine that showcases a deft touch with seafood cooking. Iced Florida stone crab claws and shellfish platters, wood-oven roasted lobsters and ocean-fresh fish anchor the menu here, while prime aged steaks, chops and a succulent prime rib of beef round out the bill of fare. For dessert lovers, pastry chef Kimberly Valdez offers her roving ‘Sweet Cart Named Desire’ – dispensing irresistible desserts, perfect for lingering over while catching the mesmerizing show on Wynn’s Lake of Dreams. Dine indoors or outside on the expansive lakeside terrace. An Oyster Bar Happy Hour is also offered nightly in the bar and lounge. 

Country Club Las Vegas

Country Club is perched over the 18th hole of Wynn’s fairways, delivers on style as well as substance. With expansive windows framing sweeping views of the greens and waterfalls, this intimate spot makes an ideal hideaway from the throngs on the Strip. Chef Carlos Guía, a seasoned veteran of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, crafts ingredient-driven chophouse fare that walks the line between cosmopolitan and comfy: shrimp and grits; gumbo with house-smoked Andouille sausage, shrimp and crawfish; brown sugar brined pork chop with black mission fig-bourbon BBQ sauce, char-broiled Maine lobster and Wisconsin veal t-bone. In addition to the a la carte menu, a six-course chef’s ‘Taste of New Orleans’ menu is also available at dinner. The Sunday Jazz Brunch, replete with live Dixieland band, interactive buffet stations and a full menu of ‘Big Easy’ inspired brunch dishes, has become a local favorite.

Taste Tour across the United States

For our latest Taste Tour across the United States, we're taking you to three restaurants with some of the country's best fried chicken. There's a Philly joint that will hook you up with some golden brown bird and some fresh-from-the-oil donuts, an Austin venue with a recipe from grandma that you can enjoy on a cool outdoor patio and a Brooklyn-based restaurant that gives the hip-hood a taste of the South with a crave-worthy chicken biscuit.

Andrea's Las Vegas

Andrea's is the evolution of Las Vegas nightlife takes an exciting culinary turn in Vegas. Andrea's is a unique new dining concept in Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. The restaurant debuts an alluring style of “vibe dining”, combining a restaurant & nightlife experience into one environment. The addition of Andrea’s completes the expansive Encore & Surrender Nightclub entertainment complex, becoming the first Wynn restaurant to be fully integrated into a nightclub. Whether dining before, after, or in lieu of a nightlife experience at Surrender, XS or Tryst nightclubs at Wynn Las Vegas, diners can expect a sensory immersion of exotic Asian-inspired flavors, imaginative cocktails, high-end service & mood enhancing sounds set in a sexy atmosphere.

Wing Lei on the Las Vegas Strip

Wing Lei has become famous along the Las Vegas Strip by the blessed dining experience provided by rising star chef Ming Yu. Ming Yu masterfully blends the flavors of China with Western technique to create a singularly delicious cuisine. Its just one delectable reason this is the only Chinese restaurant in the U.S. to have earned a coveted Michelin star. The seduction begins as you enter this exotic space, dressed in glimmering glass, tiger onyx, mother-of-pearl and gold accents. The décor, with its curved lines and rich gold accents, is meant to evoke the idea of 1930’s Shanghai. Every inch of this restaurant has been meticulously planned and lovingly crafted, from the ultra-plush, deep tapestry chairs and to the gold-tipped black chopsticks that grace the table settings. Large picture windows look onto a charming outdoor garden, replete with two 100-year old pomegranate trees. Despite all of the grandeur, the haute Chinese menu remains the focus, with its luxurious mix of Cantonese, Shanghai and Sichuan specialties.

Lady

Katherine Anne Confections in Chicago

Katherine Anne Confections in Chicago invites us in to show us a quick and easy way to make hot chocolate from scratch. You'll never go back to the powdered stuff after this!

Taste Tour: 3 U.S. Restaurants With Awesome Fried Chicken

For our latest Taste Tour across the United States, we're taking you to three restaurants with some of the country's best fried chicken. There's a Philly joint that will hook you up with some golden brown bird and some fresh-from-the-oil donuts, an Austin venue with a recipe from grandma that you can enjoy on a cool outdoor patio and a Brooklyn-based restaurant that gives the hip-hood a taste of the South with a crave-worthy chicken biscuit.

MadHouse Coffee

MadHouse Coffee fills human fuel tanks with a hearty lineup of caffeinated brews, made-to-order sandwiches, and pastries baked fresh on the premises. Connoisseurs of hot bean juice can sample several coffee drinks, savor a mad cow––which imbues an everyday latte with hazelnut flavor––or coolly quaff one of 14 cold-brewed iced coffees, such as the iced blended mocha.

MadHouse Coffee serves fresh chocolate croissants and toasted bagels with butter, egg, and cheddar ease breakfasters into their days, and ladies and lads who lunch can wrap toothy sandwich traps around the Gobbler (roasted turkey, cranberry cream sauce, and swiss cheese) or the Wannabe (grilled chicken breast, basil pesto, melted provolone, and lettuce), inspired by Scary Spice's insatiable ciabatta cravings or the Island of Capri fresh creamy mozzarella, sliced tomatoes put together in a fresh baked focaccia bread.

MadHouse Coffee's drive-thrus at both locations shuttle sustenance hunters back onto the roads, and diners looking to put down roots can surf the free WiFi amid waves of brightly colored walls and vibrant artwork. For alfresco fans and espresso-loving insomniacs, The Desert Inn Road location fills its patio area with patrons during warmer months and remains open 24 hours a day to alleviate any chocolate-related emergencies.

Mizumi at the Wynn

Mizumi is dramatic to the eye, a sweeping space framed by panoramic views of a tranquil lagoon and Zen-like gardens.  Star chef of Mizumi, Devin Hashimoto, whose talent for marrying Japanese flavors with French technique earned critical raves as chef de cuisine at Alex Stratta’s five-star temple of haute French dining, now brings his deft modern touch to the Mizumi experience. Sliding glass panels open onto two majestic waterfalls, each cascading into a shimmering koi-filled pond. A diverse range of imaginative and authentic dining experiences are available here - from Hashimoto’s a la carte menu of creations both classic and trendy to the authentic robata grill cooking, the more theatrical teppan yaki room where chefs prepare multi-course dinners tableside, or the superb sushi and sashimi bar offerings. With its iconic waterfalls, stunning décor creative Japanese fare, this oasis of tranquility offers world-class dining in the heart of Wynn.

San Francisco Bay Area : Photoshoot for the Four Book Covers

San Francisco Bay Area
Photoshoot for the Four Book Covers
Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California

Sivas and the Turkish War of Independence

Sivas and the Turkish War of Independence
Author of Turkish American Wedding
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish

Sivas ili, Turkiye'nin uc bolgesi arasinda yer alir ve buyuklugu bakimindan Turkiye'nin ikinci buyuk ilidir. Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak ve Firat'in onemli kollarindan biri olan Karasu nehri Sivas ili sinirlari icinde dogar. Sivasin tarihi cok eskiye dayanir. Ilk yerlesim donemi M.O.1600 ile Hititler ile baslayip, Frigler, Lidyalilar, Persler,Makedonyalilar, Romalilar, Bizanslilar ile Selcuklular kadar uzanir. Eskiden Mezopotomya ve arasinda kervanlarin gectigi bolgede oldugu icin, Selcuklular zamaninda tuccarlarin ziyaret ettigi bir merkez haline gelmistir. Sehrin ismi Sebastia iken Turkcelesmesiyle bugunku haline almistir. Sebastia , Yunancada saygideger, yuce anlamindadir. Bu ismi ,Pontuslar kurduklari sehre, Roma Imparatoru Augustus onuruna onun ismini vermislerdir. Bir baska rivayette de Sivs kurulmadan once ulu agaclar altinda kaynayan uc pinar varmis. Bu pinar Allaha sukur, anne ve babaya minnet ve kucuklere sefkat duygularini ifade edermis.Bu uc pinara Sipas suyu denirmis.Zamanla bu uc pinarin etrafinda kurulan yerlesim merkezine Sipas denmis. Sivas tarihi acidan cok zengin bir ilimizdir.Milli Mucadelede Sivas'in onemli bir yeri olmus; Sivas Kongresinde , ulkenin birinci dunya savasindan sonraki icinde bulundugu durum yuzunden bagimisizlik ve butunlugu icin onemli kararlar alinmistir. Tarihi eserler,mimari anitlar,kaplicalar, icmeler bakimindan zengindir. Abideler sehri diye de anilirki Selcuklu eserlerinin buyuk bir kismi burdadir.Ulu Cami, Meydan Cami, Kale Cami, Aliaga Cami, Imaret Cami,Merkez Cami,Gok Mederese, Cifte Minareli Medrese ve Buruciye Medresesi, Sifahiye Medresesi gorulmeye degecek yerlerdir. Turbeleri ve hanlari da unludur. Semseddin Sivsi turbesi, Guduk Minare, Behrampasa Hani, tashan bunlarin arsindadir. Sivas'in turbe ve camileri kardar kalesi ; Selcuklu ve Osmanli donemine ait eserlerin bulundugu Eski Eserler Muzesi ve Mesire yerleri de gorulmeye degerdir. Hafik ve Todurge Golleri baliklari ile unlu olup guzel dinlenme yerleridir. Halkin cermik diye adlandirdigi sicak su kaynaklari vardir. Bunlardan Balikli Cermik; dolasim sistemi hastaliklarina , kalp yetmezliklerine, yuksek tansiyona, damar sertliklerine, solunum sistemi hastaliklarina, romatizma hastaliklarina ,kadin hastaliklarina iyi gelmesiyle unludur. Havuzda bulunan baliklar, vucudun hastalikli bolgesine salgilari ile iyi geliyor ve cesitli cilt hastaliklarinin iyilesmesini sagliyorlar. Sicak cermik ise hercesit romatizma, nefrit, nevralji ve kadin hastaliklarina; Soguk cermik de romatizma, asabi hastaliklar ve deri hastaliklarina iyi geliyor. Bu uc yerde de konaklama tesisleri mevcuttur. Sivasin Mutfagindan da bahsetmeden gecmek olmaz. Sivas Kebabi ile unlu olup ; Sivas Kebabi, Sac Kebabi ve Patlicanli Kebap cok lezzetlidir.Divrigi Pilavi, Hurma tatlisi, Madimak yemegi, Firin katmeri, peksimeti, Icli koftesi ve ekmek asi ve daha bir cok yemegi ile unludur. Tarihi guzelligi ve mutfagi kadar el sanatlari da Sivasta cok meshurdur. Sivas halilari, Selcuklu devrinden gelen bir gelenek olup dunyaca unludur. Gumusculuk, Sivas bicagi, Sivas Kilimi, Sivas Corabi, Sivas Kemik Taragi ve Sivas Carigi hala sanat geleneklerini gecmisten bugune surdurmektedir. Amerikalilar dugunlerde el sikisirlar, Italyanlar, Ruslar ve Fransizlar ise opusmeyi yeglerler. Koreliler abartilmis kostumler giyerler. Bazen damat da gelinde kaslarini catarlar ki bu ailelerini terkettikleri icin uzuntulerinin simgesidir. Bati dugunlerinde ise daha cok nese, eglence ve gelecege bakis acisi onemlidir. Turk dugununde, davetliler gelin ve damati kutlmak icin siraya girerler ve yanaklarindan operler. Altin takmak onemli bir gelenektir. Bilezik, kolye takilir ya da gelinin kirmizi kuagina kucuk altin takilir. Damada da kucuk altin ya da yabanci , yerli paralar takimina ignelenir. Turk evliligi , dogu ile batinin birlestigi yerdedir. Tarihe askim beni alip uzaklara goturuyor annenle dugun gunumuzu yazarken.

Turkish Marriage : Weddings, Customs and Traditions in Turkey

Turkish Marriage
Weddings, Customs and Traditions in Turkey
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish

Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey
Turkish

Turk dugununde, davetliler gelin ve damati kutlmak icin siraya girerler ve yanaklarindan operler. Altin takmak onemli bir gelenektir. Bilezik, kolye takilir ya da gelinin kirmizi kuagina kucuk altin takilir. Damada da kucuk altin ya da yabanci , yerli paralar takimina ignelenir. Turk evliligi , dogu ile batinin birlestigi yerdedir.Tarihe askim beni alip uzaklara goturuyor annenle dugun gunumuzu yazarken... Annen, o gun demir cagindan daha da eski bir toren sergiledi. Kina gecesi ile dugunu birlestirdi. Davetlilere icecek ve yas pasta ikram edildi. Kinalar yakildi ve mumlar esliginde sarkilar soylendi. Kina, annenin ellerinde kurumaya birakildi.

San Francisco, California
English

In the traditional Turkish setting, marriage ceremonies generally start on Tuesday and end on Thursday. Some marriages start on Friday and end on Sunday. Wedding expenses are met by the bridegroom’s family. Regional variances aside, traditional weddings are marked by the following passages: Planting of a wedding flag. There is the entertainment at the gathering for the women of the couple’s families on the night before the wedding day. These Turkish rituals are characterized by the coloring of parts of the hands and feet with Henna. The henna tradition is known as Kına Gecesi. Fetching the bride is as important as the bride’s veil ceremony.

http://www.amazon.com/Turkish-Marriage-Weddings-Customs-Traditions/dp/1463735901

Jasmine Soylu Vacation

Jasmine Soylu Vacation
Colorado, California, and Nevada
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish

http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Soylu-Vacation-Colorado-California/dp/1463784600

Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizde Batuhan bir bucuk yasindaydi. Bilmiyorum o zaman etrafinda olan bitenlerin farkindamiydi? Tek gozlemledigim gordugu ilgi ve sevgiden cok mutluydu. Ikinci ziyaretimizde, ucakla Istanbul'a indigimizde farkli bir yerde oldugunu , insanlarin baska bir dil konustugunu duyunca anladi. Gozlerini kocaman acip insanlari dinlemeye basladi. Annem ve kardeslerimi de ayni ilgi ile dinlemeye basladi. Batuhan ismine ilk iki ziyarette pek tepki vermedi. Ikinci ziyaretmizin sonuna dogru ismi soylenince kafa cevirmeye basladi. Bu seneki ucuncu ziyaretimizde herseyin farkindaydi. Annem "Batuhan" dedigi zaman "No Batuhan" " Chase" diye israr etti bir sure. Hatta annemin arkadaslarinin yaninda "Ismin ne?" diye soruldugunda kafasi yerde" Chase" diye cevap verdi. Annem tekrar sorunca " Ba du han" dedi. Turkiye'de uc ay kalmamizin faydasi cok oldu. Chase, Amerika'da babasi ve annesi ile bir hayati oldugunu, isminin Chase, annesinin Gigi ve Mom oldugunu; Turkiyede ise Anneannesi ,teyzeleri , kuzenleri oldugunu ve isminin Batuhan, annesinin de Anne ve Guzin oldugunu ogrendi. Turkiye'ye ilk ziyaretimizden sonra Batuhan, havaalaninda babasini gorunce tanimayip kafasini cevirdi. Bir bucuk yasindaki bir cocugun iki aylik Turkiye ziyareti sonrasi babsini hatirlamamasi normal olsa gerek. Ankara'da her gununu teyzeleri ve anneanesi ile dolu dolu gecirdi. Parklar, gezmeler, alisverisler, arkadaslarla dolu oyle bir ortama girdi ki gordugu ilgi ve sevgi o'na cok seyler katti. Benim icin onemli olan ve burada fazla goremiyecegi aile sevgisini gormesi idi. Batuhan yemek konusunda cok secici. Onune konan yemeklerin goruntusune gore yiyip yemiyecegine karar veriryor. Ankara'ya ilk ziyaretimizde yemekten cok annemin muzlu,unlu, tereyagli, sekerli mamasina agirlik verdik ki biraz kilo alsin diye. Ikinci ziyaretimizde annemin pisirdigi butun yemekleri yedi. En cok hosuna giden babasinin da favorisi olan manti ve yogurtlu corba idi. Son ziyaretimizde ise ilgimi ceken teyzesinin yaptigi enginar dolmasini buyuk bir istahla yemesiydi. Turk yemeklerinin Amerika yemeklerinden farki taze sebzelerden ve etlerden yapilmis olmasi. Amerika'da ise taze yemeklerin yanisira dondurulmus yemek seceneklerinin cok olmasi ve calisan nufusun fazlaligi nedeni ile dondurulmus gida ve konserve tarzi yemeklere ragbet gosterilmesi. Batu'yu mumkun oldugunce konserve yemeklerden uzak tutmaya calisiyorum. Dondurulmus gidalari vermekte pek sakinca oldugunu sanmiyorum. Bana gore lezzetli oldugu surece Batuhan , Turk ya da Amerikan yemeklerini ayirt etmiyor.

Jasmine Soylu U.S.A. Vacation

Jasmine Soylu U.S.A. Vacation
Pacific Coast to Atlantic Coast
Book by Jasmine Soylu
Translated into English and Turkish

Jasmine Soylu U.S.A. Vacation "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu "For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." -- Robert Louis Stevenson "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain "Traveling is almost like talking with men of other centuries." -- René Descartes "Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." -- Miriam Beard

http://www.amazon.com/Jasmine-Soylu-U-S-Vacation-Atlantic/dp/146378466X

Learn about Turkey with the Toddler from Turkey

Turkish Toddler's First Visit to Ankara Turkey
Learn about Turkey with the Toddler from Turkey

http://www.amazon.com/Turkish-Toddlers-First-Ankara-Turkey/dp/1463791429

Turkish Toddler's First Visit to Ankara Turkey Ataturk Famous Quotes Happy is he who says, "I am a Turk". As they have come, so they will go. One day my mortal body will turn to dust, but the Turkish Republic will stand forever. There are two Mustafa Kemal's. One is the flesh-and-bone Mustafa Kemal who now stands before you and who will pass away. The other is you, all of you here who will go to the far corners of our land to spread the ideals which must be defended with your lives if necessary. I stand for the nation's dreams, and my life's work is to make them come true. To see me does not necessarily mean to see my face. To understand my thoughts is to have seen me. I have been able to teach many things to this nation, but I haven't been able to teach how to be lackeys. Peace at home, peace in the world. I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die. This nation has not lived without her independence. She will not and cannot live without it. Liberty or death! Turkey's true master is the peasant. Do not be afraid of telling the truth. To see me does not necessarily mean to see my face. To understand my thoughts is to have seen me. The Turkish Republic will be happy, prosperous and victorious. A healthy mind in a healthy body. Armies, your first goal is the Mediterranean. Forward ! Our great ideal is to raise our nation to the highest standard of civilization and prosperity. Culture is the foundation of the Turkish Republic. Following the military triumph we accomplished by bayonets, weapons and blood, we shall strive to win victories in such fields as culture, scholarship, science and economics. You will see my children, in the future everything will be done from the sky. All wars and civilizations will be in the skies above. That's why we must give great importance to the air force. The future is in the sky. Liberty and independence are my character. Victory is for those who can say "Victory is mine". Success is for those who can begin saying "I will succeed" and say "I have succeeded" in the end. Sovereignty is not given, it is taken. Authority, without any condition and reservation, belongs to the nation. Every nation as the right to demand proper treatment and no country should violate the territory of any other country. Teachers are the one and only people who save nations. Teachers: the new generation will be your devotion. The cornerstone of education is an easy system of reading and writing. The key to this is the new Turkish alphabet based on the latin script. Everything we see in the world is the creative work of women. Our true mentor in life is science. The Turkish Nation consists of the valiant descendants of a people that has lived independently and has considered independence the sole condition of existence. This nation has never lived without freedom, cannot and never will. We Turks are a people who, throughout our history, have been the very embodiment of freedom and independence. Our nation has succeeded owing to the unshakable unity it has shown in its actions and endeavors. Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives (at Gallipoli battles).. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.. You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.