Sometimes people find it interesting that I call this walk “my job.” I cut conversations short by saying, “Sorry, gotta get back to work.” I turn down invitations by saying, “Sorry, tomorrow’s a work day.” Sometimes people are...
There’s a lot of temporary housing for earthquake victims in Van. Mile after mile of these things. Entire cities, with police stations and grocery stores, also housed in temporary housing. For weeks I’ve been passed by hundreds of trucks carrying empty...
Yesterday’s lunch was a plate of ızgara köfte (grilled meatballs) and homemade ayran at Kadenbas Köftecisi, between the lake and a cement factory in Edremit, about 15 kilometers south of Van. This was some of the best köfte I’ve ever had, and this region...
Someone told me months ago that I thought about the end result too much, and that there are some things in life that are just too uncontrollable and too unpredictable to make decisions based on how you think they will end up. He said sometimes you should make...
Kate is my cousin. She lives in eastern Washington State and is studying to be a nurse. The day’s walk was 37 kilometers (23 miles) around the southeast corner of Lake Van, from the town of Gevaş to the city of Van.
