PERSONAL
So what is going on these days?
2016: Globally, a dark year with wars, terror attacks and natural disasters; personally, fantastic: We spend the summer in Tel Aviv & Berlin - and then get married in sunny (!) Vancouver. Rachel & I have a beautiful celebration at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island. Oh, and we move into a house in my all-time favourite street in Toronto...
2017: After joining Rachel in Ann Arbor for a semester and a spell in Tel Aviv, we return to Toronto in June - just in time for the early birth of our son Rafi. Meanwhile our house is still under renovation. In late October, one year after receiving the keys, we finally move into our gorgeous new place. Later that year, we introduce Rafi to his families in Germany & Israel.
2018: We spend the first part of the year in NYC (where Rachel teaches at Columbia U), then visit Tel Aviv in May and Berlin in August and go to Vermont to celebrate Rachel's dad's 80th, before enjoying the rest of summer at our Toronto home. From October to December, Ruben joins us, which gives the two brothers some quality time with each other.
2019: In January, our little family is joined by Chai, an adorable golden doodle puppy. In May we embark on a fantastic Japan-trip, and the summer sees me teaching in Berlin again. Rachel spends the fall commuting to Boston (where she now teaches at Harvard - never a dull moment). In December, we go to visit dear old friends in San Francisco and Rachel's parents in Vancouver.
2020: I am able to squeeze in a brief family visit to Germany just before Corona grinds everything to a halt. For ten weeks, Rachel's parents 'camp' with us, which gives them the chance to witness the birth of son-number-two, Leo. (A home birth; I turn out to be a prime midwife - and I had to, since the real midwife got stuck in traffic and arrived 20 minutes after the birth!) I am on parental leave during the fall and, whenever there is time, continue working on my fantasy novel.
2021: I complete my manuscript in March, but it still needs revising. A sabbatical semester helps a bit. We sit tight hoping that the vaccination campaign will speed up, but our summer plans fall flat. While Leo joins daycare and Rafi moves on to kindergarten, I struggle with health issues. And the pandemic just drags on and on...
2022: After having made it through another pandemic winter, we truly feel like survivors. And we're even planning travels again. There is a summer trip to Germany and a December trip to Israel. Good to feel alive! ... But what am I saying? Our two munchkins have been keeping us afloat and more than busy! With "The Struwwel" (my stage adaptation of "Der Stuwwel-peter"), I teach my last ever student theatre production course. Oh, and the end of the year witnesses my long over-due publi-cation of "Die Geschichte des türkisch-deutschen Theaters und Kabaretts - Vier Jahrzehnte Migrantenbühne in der Bundes-republik (1961-2004)" with transcript Verlag.
2023: The pandemic had put a stop to it, but now I decide to teach a UofT summer course in Berlin for one last time. It's a lot of fun, but that too is part of my past now, and life will take me to new places during the coming summers! :) Why not start this year already? I take a trip to Turkey with my father, my eldest son Ruben, and my brother Atilla. (Even his wife Belgin joins us for the last bit in Kappadokia.) And as if that weren't enough Turks for a year already, we also go on a family trip to Turks and Caicos in December
2024: January sees me taking care of a rotator cuff that I had torn 2 years ago while working out in our garage at -10 degrees Celsius. Presently recovering and looking forward to a summer trip to Germany (of course) and Ireland (first time ever!).
