Sena's TED talk is now available

You can watch it here:

https://youtu.be/S30pevZI7BU

And you can also check out her Instagram post about it if you want, as shown below:

Still

It's still hard that Sena's gone to DC. She came back last weekend for Aiyana's birthday, and when she left it was so hard all over again.

Aiyana is getting her university applications in. Who knows where she'll be next year?

Some nights I can't sleep for worry about them. Other times, I'm so excited for both of them, and all they have accomplished and all they have ahead of them.

As for myself, otherwise, things are intense but good. School can get pretty stressful, like any job I guess, but it's also rewarding. My aerospace class is going very well, and my general science class is a lot easier this year than last, when it was my first time teaching it. The wind tunnel is still in the machine shop but coming along. There's a lot of excitement around it. I plan to use it for my aerodynamics unit în the new year.

My mom is currently in Tunisia, having a great time. She's making me jealous with all the great food and the historical places she's seeing.

I was listening to U2, and thinking how some days, I still want to "reach out and touch the flame". That's never changed. I'm grateful that it's still there despite the many stresses and worries of this life stage.

I hope that you're finding something to hold on to as well, finding some peace and perspective, wherever you're at right now.

Peace 

Incredible Turkish food

I really miss it...

It was so good!

Street food: roasted chestnuts and corn on the cob 

The pastries!!!

All Baklava 

Tea and an empty baklava plate

Coffee cart

Turkish coffee 

Street food morning and night 

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. It dates from the 1400s, and has more than 4000 shops in it covering an area of 9 acres! Another must see location in Istanbul.

The ever present Istanbul cats. So happy and well taken care of! You can see 4 of them hanging out at the book shop below.

An assortment of amazing teas.

The Galata Tower

These pictures are from our last full day in Istanbul. What an amazing place this is! It makes me feel that the world is so big, history is so deep, and we are so small...but all in a good way.

The beauty of trips such as this is that they give you a larger view, a wider perspective. You realize that truly, everything comes and goes. The most powerful people and states come and go. Problems come and go. Good times come and go.

The amazing thing is being able to step aside for a moment and appreciate it all, the flow of everything. To appreciate this amazing chance we have,  that is our life, to be part of it all.

To be a participant to this ever changing flow of things is wonderful, and to have others to share it with, including you my friends, is something I am grateful for.

This is Galata Tower, where the Genoese settled, across the Golden Horn from the old part of Istanbul. From it, you can see 360 degrees, all of Istanbul.

Galata Tower is in the background. The surrounding streets are lined with many cafés, restaurants and shops.

Up in the Galata Tower, with the Golden Horn, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque in the background.

Istiklal Caddesi, one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul. Pedestrians only except for the cute red tram.

This is the famous Pera Palace Hotel, where Agatha Christie stayed and wrote Murder on the Orient Express.

And a random picture of Turkish street food, which is everywhere, and which I love!!!

Topkapi Palace

This is Topkapi palace, where many sultans and their families lived, and where the Ottoman empire was ruled from. The Holy Relics of Islam are also housed here. Another incredible place.

And a few random pictures of Istanbul:

The girls at a little breakfast place on the side of the street.

I love Turkish tea!

Dinner one night