It has been 25 years. On January 15, 2000, I arrived in New York City and settled in Dumbo. Coming from Ankara, NYC was intoxicating—a place alive with artists, intellectuals, and even outlaws. Once I mastered the subway system, I felt like I belonged here.
The US was more open, welcoming, and less paranoid back then. Institutions embraced everyone. We were hungry for knowledge. I audited classes at The New School, CUNY, for free, attended countless lectures and seminars, and even traveled to DC for the World Bank protests. The opportunities for intellectual and cultural encounters seemed endless.
At first, arriving on a tourist visa with limited English, I often felt like an outsider—like a spectator in a fish tank, watching life unfold around me. Over time, I even began to dream in English—albeit a broken version, life welcomed and fully embraced me.
I feel incredibly fortunate. Over the years, I formed deep friendships that opened countless doors. In 2001, I got a job at the New Museum, where I worked for eight incredible years. They sponsored my H1B visa—twice. The projects I realized there were profoundly educational, yet being a museum specialist was not my calling. In 2004, I returned to academia and began studying at The New School for Social Research, pursuing a Ph.D. Progress was slow—much like my journey to secure an EB1 Green Card and, eventually, citizenship—a long, at times painful road.
Having crossed the threshold into midlife, I find myself increasingly reflective. If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that personal relationships are what truly matter. I feel privileged to be surrounded by many remarkable people—good friends.
Looking back, these 25 years have been a trip of discovery, strength, and growth. New York has shaped me, challenged me, and given me a beautiful life I couldn’t have imagined when I first stepped off the plane on that cold, snowy January day. ❤