My name is Arden Alexander. I was born in Concord, Massachusetts. I am a librarian at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. and live in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 2004 and 2005, I attended the Turkish cooking classes given by Asli Akkaya.

Here is the questions:

1- What was the reason behind learning Turkish for you? How did it start?

My grandfather lived in Ortakoy, Istanbul. He was from a Sephardic Jewish family and immigrated to the United States in 1908. I wanted to learn Turkish so I could travel to Turkey and learn about the culture and history of my family.

2- What was your thoughts about Turkey and Turkish people before visiting Turkey?

I expected to find a lot of historical sites and scenic beauty, but I only knew about it through books. Unfortunately I never knew my grandfather, as he died before I was born.

3- How did such thoughts change (if so) after your visit to Turkey?

I did find a lot of interesting and rich historical sites, but I also was impressed with the warmth and hospitality of the Turkish people, the architecture, and the liveliness of the streets and markets.

4- Could you tell us the place you liked the best in Turkey?

There are too many, but I especially like Istanbul for its architecture, mosques, and the Bosporus. On a recent trip to eastern Turkey I was struck by the beauty of the regions around Agri Dagi, Lake Van, and Erzurum. Visiting the Balikli Gol in Sanliurfa was also memorable.

5- Could you tell us one of the memories that you'll never forget in Turkey?

A special memory is visiting some of the synagogues of Istanbul and the neighborhood of Ortakoy with my father. A memory from a more recent trip is listening to musicians playing the saz and singing on a train from Kayseri to Erzurum and later seeing them at a music festival (asikler bayrami) in Kars.

6- What do you think about Turkish Classes at MARTI? How do they contribute to your Turkish level?

I did not take any language classes at MARTI, but I did take the cooking classes. I learned alot from Asli about how to prepare Turkish food. I have enjoyed making some of the Turkish dishes for my friends.

7- Do you have any message for our members?

The MARTI classes and events have been one of the highlights of this past year for me. It is wonderful to have a place to learn about Turkish culture in the Washington/Baltimore area. I appreciate the warm welcome I have received at MARTI.