seek out the darkness

Yesterday, a friend sent me some French songs. I was listening ‘ je cherche l'ombre ‘ from Celine Dion when she asked me if I like French music. I love French songs like in any other languages. One is not able to understand all languages, so the lyrics are important to a certain extent when a song is being listened.
Personally, I prefer to listen the songs which I am able to understand the lyrics and that is why you can not find many songs on my playlist in the languages that I cant understand. Most of them are English and Turkish. And there are some Chinese and Kurdish as well. But as I said before, I listen any kind of music as long as I like. So, of course I have a lot of songs in Spanish Arabic Japanese French and in many other languages as well. I have never thought to learn French, but I really would like to live in France for a while. I want to live there and go to cinema, watch theatres and concerts in order to observe their sense of art.
But everything aside, I of course prefer to lost in the fascinating voice of oriental and Islamic music. Nothing can take their place in my book. Listening Ney and Kanun is flying your soul to so far away. Just close your eyes and give your ear to the amazing voice. You will feel relieved and you will feel the peace.
I don’t know have you ever listen him but here I want to give his name as an example as a great virtuoso. He is Omer Faruk Tekbilek, one of the noteworthy musician of Kanun and Ney. If you visit his official website, you gonna see that he is honored as a peacemaker and virtuoso. He has many funs from various countries. Yes he is a world-famous musician.
Unfortunately, it is a shame to say but there is a point can not be avoided that he is not known in Turkey thoroughly though his works getting known and popular in recent years.
Lastly, I would like to say that my wish is the value of the real musicians artists and actors should be known by media and society. And we can make a major contribution to this.
Respects!

Beduk and Eurovision

I have been remarked my music addiction many times if you read my previous entries. Yes, it is like an addiction for me. I wish I could be a musician or telling the truth, I wish I could be at least able to play a musical instrument. I want to play only for my love – and maybe for friends- and compose something for her. Today I entered an instrument shop to ask how much the guitar classes were given. No, it is not for me, I don’t have time to learn, at least for these several months. My friend wants to learn playing guitar. I know it is not easy and need to show patience like anything in this life. I know because I had a guitar last year and I learned how playing a guitar is hard. I could play many simple songs. After separating from my friend and also my guitar teacher, I quit to playing anymore. Right now, I am not good at playing. I gave my guitar to my sister as a gift. I think she has more time to get around to learning.
Anyway, I won’t be a musician, and I have never had a goal like this. I won’t participate in Eurovision contest. Haha.
Like every year, these days people start to discuss as well on who should represent Turkey in the Eurovision contest. If you check the comments on the net, you can see clearly that for everyone to be talking all at once. If you asked me who could fly our flag properly, I would say Ismail yk can represent us with his the best and the most famous song ‘facebook’. LOL :)
The other day, I saw someone said Feridun Duzagac should represent us in the Eurovision contest and she said Duzagac is the exact person who can fly our flag properly. No doubt, Duzagac can do it better than previous singers but there is a point that person missed. It is better to sing in English if you want to be placed. -Btw, I don’t know how well FEDE knows English.-
I saw Feridun’s replied to that woman on the twitter.com and mentioned this language reality. He said it should be given chance to young talents and TRT – Turkish radio and television- does it right. As for himself, he doesn’t agree to participant and represent Turkey but he has a piece of advice on who can get a place if the song would be English. He suggests Beduk.
I don’t know have you ever heard Beduk before but I know him for several months. I saw his last video clip on the net by chance and at first I thought he is not Turkish. His English was really good, just like an English native speaker. Later on, I read his interview on the ONE magazine and learned how he has such a good English accent.  He had lived in USA till his five years old, that is why he has such a well-accent English.
So Duzagac, as it should be, recommend him to represent us in the contest. I guess, as much as I know Beduk, he is perfectly the person who can show the Turkish flag and can get the first place.
Let me give you a link where you can listen and watch some pieces from Beduk. Here is the link. Listen and see how Duzagac is right to recommend him. I think you will agree with us.
There is a saying in Chinese goes ‘jiayou’ and refer to stimulate someone in a contest or race. Well, in behalf of all Turks in China, I also wanna say Beduk should go in the Eurovision in the name of Turkey and we support Beduk by saying Jiayou.. JIAYOU BEDUK.. :)))

Festival of Sacrifices

There are many kind of festivals celebrated in Turkey. But the most important ones are religious festivals such as Ramadan festival and the festival of sacrifice. Muslims celebrate them only because God commands to do the ritual worships during the festivals such as sacrifice an animal and give away to the people in need, remember the importance of giving a helping hand to the people and visit the relatives and friends one more time.
There is not any noteworthy difference between old times and today in the celebrating ways of festival, because people celebrate it how God command to celebrate. Today people take the festivals as an opportunity to have a vacation and don’t celebrate it as before. That is the only noteworthy difference from the old days.
I think traditional festivals are very important for all countries as it is important for us.. So, celebrating them is so significant for every society.
Seeing people to visit each other and visit their relatives and families (for whom live far away from them) make me so happy. People give gift to each other, and being more tolerant and happy. So, seeing people happy make me happy as well.
As for Kurban festival in particular, people sacrifice an animal and give its meat away, so rich Muslims gratify people in need. And, would you plz tell me what could make you happy more than that?
When Kurban Festival is mentioned, people who can not afford to buy meat and eat it often, and riches who trying to sacrifice animals for relieving them appear first in my mind.
Visits are the most significant activity during festival and this strengthen the relation between friends, families and relatives.
I sometimes choose the way to pay a visit or send a text-message to show my best wishes. Yes, sometimes I do so if I am far away from the person who I send messages or emails. But I prefer to visit if the time and distance is appropriate.
There is an obvious influence on our religious festivals from western world. In the old days, festivals such as Ramadan or Kurban were known as a time to visit relatives and friends to strengthen the link between each other. But now, when one ask what festival is, many people may answer that it is a chance to leave from the crowded city and unbrace themselves, a chance for a short vacation. That is totally the result of the influence of western culture on our society. If we – as the conscious people- make people conscious of the importance of the festivals, and bring society off the mentality that festivals are command by God to conciliate our relatives and friends, everything would better and we would celebrate it as it should be celebrated. Because of the stressful density of the works, people neglect to gather with relatives and friends and festivals are the exact time to do this. So, it may be taught – or may be reminded- to people to do so.
In my opinion, it is because of the influences of other cultures, especially western world, people neglect to celebrate the festivals as it should be done.
As I said above, the only and proper way to protect our culture is education. It must be taught to people how their culture is important and unique. Making people conscious on the values is the best way to protect traditions and festivals.

mosques need a new vision!

I actually thought to write this article several months ago but I didn’t feel to write anything at that time because of the classes and the thesis matters. But last week, when I was in HongKong, my friend took me the Kowloon masjid and Islamic center. It was located in the center of the Kowloon and Kowloon is regarded as one of the main centers of HongKong. It was really a nice place. The mosque is a good example of today’s modern Islamic architecture and unlike Masjids in mainland China, it was so clean and neat as well. It has really given me an impression that I am in a mosque in Istanbul. I have never felt like this before.
I would write this article to say how a modern mosque should be designed and constructed in this modern age. Yes, I would say a mosque should not only be a prayer place. It should function more than it. Like what? Like being an education place for all Muslims. Islam commands its followers to read and research anything on the earth, and never withhold you from researching and asking. So Muslims should pull themselves out from the ignorance and should get rid of being ignorant. Many years ago, I have seen a sentence in a book that written ‘God is big, His religion as well, so believers shouldn’t be small’. That is right, but nowadays, I am afraid, believers don’t understand their religion correctly and many of them think that Islam cannot meet this modern age’s expectation.
But we forgot that there are two kind of invoking. One is actual invoke and the other one is oral invoke. I mean, we should roll up our sleeves and doing something not only for ourselves but also for the people who don’t find chance to understand the Islamic realities. And we can start with redesigning new mosques. Every year, it is built almost 600 new mosques in Turkey. So, at least, they can be redesigned which are being built today.
As mentioned above, I think they are not only pray places, and vice versa, a mosque should include many activities too. Such as;
Internet: As all we know, internet became a part of human life. Henceforth, you won’t see people anymore to use encyclopaedias, because it is easier and better way to reach any kind of knowledge online. So, internet must be offered to Muslims to follow the developments in the world. Taking some measures will prevent people to misuse it.
Library: Internet started to spread everywhere after 90’s, so, the generation grow up before 90’s is not so familiar with using internet, vice versa, the generation grow up after 90’s can use the internet and other technological tools fairly well. There is an obvious gap between generations. So a library is also necessary. Beside this, some people don’t prefer to read online. Why do people still buy newspapers even though papers are as far from one as a click? Because, no doubt, original texts add zest to reading. That is why people prefer to read original texts and libraries still maintain their importance.
Meeting room: There must be a conference saloon as well. And imam should organize lectures and invite some experts to preach. Sometimes he should enlighten too.
Exhibit hall: This one is also very important. There must be an exhibit hall too and at least once a month an exposition should be exhibited. And beside the leading experts, mosque community also can contribute. Photographs, handiworks, drawings, calligraphy and marbling art works exhibitions will educate mosque community and give a chance to nonprofessional youths to show their works and also will encourage them. By means of such activities, the number of the community can increase.
Cinema: As a matter of fact, I would not write this item. You cannot found a movie house for every mosque. Because, there are many small mosques and sometimes you can find more than one mosque in the same place. I think this item can be thought for the big mosques. If there will be a cinema, worshippers can watch the Islamic-oriented or useful movies. Besides those, short movies also can be released to encourage new film makers.
Finally, I want to finish with an important topic. I am sorry to say, nowadays, mosques are regarded as pray places for only men. And as if men, especially senior citizens have a share in the mosques, coz let alone women, they don’t even let children and youths to enter masjids. Why? As they say, masjids are only for the prayer places, nor for talking inside and doing any other activities. God dammed ignorance!
There must be a section for women in every mosque, and the belief which mosques are not for women should be abandoned as soon as possible by men and women. That should be taught to masjid community too.
All I want to say is that prayer places must be function more activities as the religion command. They should be attractive and adorable places for children, women, men, youths and olds. I hope to see such mosques in the near future as I saw in Kowloon. Let s pray and work for this aim. God bless you all!

visit a middle-school in China

The other day, I went to a middle-school to teach for my internship. It was actually only for seeing a Chinese middle-school, not for the purpose of teaching. Four girls in my class teach there and they asked me to see how they teach and also to introduce me to the class. The first reason was not so reasonable, because I knew that they have a better English knowledge than me. So I went only to meet the class and see a middle-school circumstance.
It was a rainy day and the school was out of the city. It was a suburban school. It took almost half an hour to reach there by taxi. When we arrived the school, headmaster received us at the door. She escorted us from door to class. I entered the class and saluted students by saying ‘hello!’ 
The classroom was a bit different than ours. There were approximately 30 students in the class and it attracted my attention that their all textbooks were on the desk. It was so, I think because the school was a boarding school and they didn’t have to carry many books every day. And they may use the classroom as the study room as well. So why they should carry many book? Don’t need to do it!
I was not there for teaching, so I was asked if I want to speak English or Chinese? I preferred to have a chat in English with them. That would be better for them to shake off the shyness. It is obvious that Chinese students have a fairly well English education, I mean they study hard and have a good English knowledge, and only deficiency is oral practice for them.
Once I read a column on chinadaily.cn and couldn’t get a word though I looked it up. It occurred to me to ask an American friend. I asked him but he said that he didn’t know as well. He said Chinese people sometimes use English even better than native speakers. I too think it is true to some extent. Anyway..
At first, they asked my name and my country. When I said that my Chinese name is Anlifu, they laughed a lot. It is normal because it was a weird name for them. Foreigner names are generally funny. Chinese call Nicolas as Nicolasi, for Thomas, it is Thomasi. There was a girl from German and her name was Balina. I know it is not funny for her and for a Chinese. What about me? It was so funny for me, because balina refers ‘whale’ in Turkish. Haha. Anyway. I think my name is not funny, so, I didn’t care their laughing. Hehe
Well, I am sorry to say that they didn’t know Turkey like any other Chinese citizens. We should advertise our beautiful country to Chinese, because there is a huge tourist potential in China. Their economy is getting bigger and they are getting richer every passing day. We should attract them to our fascinating country.
They asked me many things about Turkey and I tried to introduce as far as in me lies. Some of them were shy to ask question, I tried to encourage them. Boys were shier than girls. Girls were brave and social. I think they will speak English better than the boys in that class. hehe
Before leaving, they asked my qq (qq is an instant messaging-IM- system that Chinese use in place of msn and yahoo), because they wanted to contact with me and have an English practice.
We talked almost about one hour, they asked, I answered. Towards the end of the class, they asked me to sing a Chinese song. Honestly, I don’t know any Chinese songs but their chorus. There is a great song named ‘who can tell you for me that I love you’ ‘有没有人告诉你’.. I sang the chorus for them and they liked it. 
It was a good hour. I liked to talk with them. I thanked to my friend to take me to the class. I don’t know if I am able to teach, but teaching is a good manner. Seeing people learning something gives you great feelings. Teaching is not easy too. I bow respectfully before all teachers. Their job is precious and holy. Educate people is the hardest thing ever. I wish good luck to my prospective teacher friends.

local socities and their beneficial activities

Last summer when I was in Turkey, I stayed with my brother’s family for several days. They live a bit far from us, though we live in the same city: Istanbul. There is a big and famous square in the place they live, named ‘republic square’. After my brother got back from the work one day, he asked me to go out for several hours. He wanted to help me to be more familiar to the district. When we arrived to the republic square, we saw an abnormality there. There was a big crowd. It was like a small concert. When we got closer, we understood that it has taken place a festival there. A big stage was put on the square and many local singers entertained people. Honestly, I didn’t like the organization so much, but there was a great activity of the festival. Let me be clear.
In Turkey, people from the same cities, same hometowns or same villages, come together and found a society to develop their place. So you can see such societies in every neighborhood, especially in the big cities like Istanbul and Ankara. Well, the organization had been taken place by such societies. And every society set up a pavilion to exhibit and to sell their well-known foods and all artistic works. Concerts were done by turns but pavilions were there every evening for a month till the end of the festival. It was possible to visit them and eat or drink all tastes belong to different places.
Go to eat Erzurum’s Sac kebab, Bitlis’ buryan kebab, Urfa’s kebab, Adana’s kebab or Bursa’s iskender kebab or go eat Maras’s ice-cream, Corum’s roasted chickpeas, Ordu’s hazelnut. It is on your preference. Ah, by the way, you also can taste the Rize’s tea and Turkish coffee.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not a greedy person, pavilions were great, because sharing cultural values is great. As I read on their ad, it is an annual organization. I hope it will be better this year and getting better every passing year.
Pavilions were not established only to offer foods and drinks. As I said above, you can learn many things about other regions’ culture as well. Cities had tried to introduce their fascinating places and invite to visit each other’s home. Well, is there any better thing than sharing values and help each other? I don’t think so! I wish a better tomorrow for human being.

Korean Tastes

Have you ever tried Korean citron tea? It is so easy to prepare and delicious as well. I have not tasted it before until two years ago when a friend offered me a cup of citron tea. I asked him if it is a kind of Chinese tea. He said it was Korean tea and he found it in the Korean aisle[1] when he bought something in the supermarket.
He offered me a cup and I liked it. And I still drink it. When it is run out, I go to buy a new jar. A jar could enough for almost a month. Coz I don't drink everyday. If I do, I probably would be disgusted with it. But if you don't overdrink, it is a good alternative to coffee and black tea. It never can take the place of coffee of course. But it is worth to drink at times.
Well, let me tell you how will you prepare it if you mind to drink oneday. Firstly, have a cup and some boiling water. Take the jar of the citron tea and add some of it into the cup with a tea spoon. Then pour the boiling water and add some sugar according on your preference. And our citron tea is ready to drink. If you think that the peels of the citron can not be drunk, you are right! Coz peels can not be drunk but it can be eaten!. hehe Anyway, i would say don't throw the peels if you have asked me, eat them instead. That is my choice. Eating or throwing,that is also done according on one preference. Well, have a nice drink.
You are lucky,coz I m touching on this topic for you. Nobody told me about this delicious tea for a long time. Even though I have many friends from Korea. I remember when it was my first year in China, a middle-aged korean lady in my Chinese class, always talked about the fame of the Korean alcohols though I stated many times that I don't drink alcohol. She could tell me about the other things of Korea such as kimbab,kimchi or that citron tea instead of the things I didn't care. But she didn't do it at all. I don't know why but I always remind that alcoholic lady when I drink citron tea. :)
I love Korea and Koreans, so, I go out to eat at Korean restaurants at times. I like kimbap and kimchi. My Korean friends prepared kimbab and brought in my room last year. That was not the first time to taste it. Once, a Turkish friend who study in south Korea, came to China for a journey. We put him up for days and he cooked kimbab for us. It was not so delicious but was fairly well. :) Here is the link to explain how one can make kimbap. It is a bit difficult to find ingredients but you can look at least if you wonder how it is prepared.

The other day, after talking about the Korean cuisine, I am invited to eat at a Korean restaurant by a good close Korean friend. I am recently dealing with my graduation matters but we will eat at the earliest opportunity I have. I promised him to eat together. It is happiness for me to taste Korean foods. :)
Korean dramas, movies, people are very good and I have not been yet but I think Korea itself also a good place to visit. I hope to go to Korea at the first possible opportunity. :)

[1]For such Korean section in the supermarkets, only Korean imported products are put on such aisle and every big market has one to provide their own products to Korean population in China. But of course those sections have not been made for only Korean people, coz a lot of Chinese people like to use Korean products and such aisles are the result of a such demand.