Me and Sefer Summer in Minneapolis 2007

Unfortunately Sefer and I only took one picture of us together during the entire three months he was in Minneapolis with me over the summer. Why? Because I lost two quite expensive cameras over the last few years of traveling (damn Romanian gypsies!) so I have given up on owning a digi. Sefer on the other hand sold both his Ipod and his Sony digi cam to pay for the cost of his plane ticket to come experience life with me at my home in Minneapolis.

We enjoyed many typical Minnesota summer activities such as celebrating the 4th of July watching fireworks, walking around many a lakes within the city, kayaking in Lake Calhoun, hiking around at Minnehaha Falls, happy hour at Figlio and Stella's Fish Cafe, many a backyard BBQ's, a family reunion at the cabin on the lake where we introduced my extended family to Raki and a lil Turkish music and dance, drinking MGD light while tubing down the Namekagon river with again my extended family, a small town rodeo in Spooner with the Kolthoff family and friends, took an evening tour on Lake Minnetonka with good friends and good spirits, visited my alma mater and experienced Madison at its best with a Big Ten American football game, we even took a trip out to San Francisco, stayed with Jenn, an old college roomie, and met up with a few old Istanbul trainees Ash and Adi at Stanford.

Although armed without a camera and promises about internships were never realized, I think the time we spent together in Minneapolis really strengthened our relationship. It was really important for me to have Sefer not only just meet my friends and family but also interact and take part in our daily lives. Living together we were able to gnaw away at a few cultural barriers giving room for our relationship to evolve and stay strong throughout the imminent long distance relationship.

Overall it was a wonderful summer. I just wish we had more pictures to remember it.