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Hello
friends,
Yesterday there was no report because we were
travelling all day from Izmir to Antalya, arriving at 19:00 hours at our hotel.
There was a problem with the internet connection, so we couldn’t update the
blog.
Anyways, we went that very same day to the
Alevi Center to see if we could meet somebody. We had to take a taxi since the
center was pretty far away from the hotel. Eduardo, Alvaro, Judit, Ismael,
Salva, Carmen and Peter went. The taxi driver spoke English well and went with
us inside the building. There was a man guarding and after introducing
ourselves with the help of the taxi driver, he went to look for another person
who introduced himself as the vice president of the place, named Ayhan. He gave
us the impression he didn’t know who we were and he called Tufan, the president
of the Alevi association who confirmed they were waiting for our arrival and
that there would be a meeting on the next day. So everything went well and they
offered us chai and water and we talked about the book and showed them the
book, the Comments and the press kit. He invited us to visit the building and
showed us various places and the hall where they do their Semas, their
ceremonies. He told us that they were still moving into a new and bigger building
they had just finished building.
After beautiful conversations translated by the
taxi driver, Ayhan offered to take us with his car to the hotel and we set a
date for tomorrow at 11:00. He also told us that Tufan would be there and an
English-speaking person.
In the
meantime, Yüksel called Eduardo announcing he would be arriving at 6:00 a.m. from
Ankara bringing books. So we reserved a room in the hotel so we could sleep a
little bit until the date with Tufan.
We finished
the day with a beautiful seaside walk, talking among ourselves and before going
to sleep we did a service and a well being ceremony for our loved ones.
Today, June
13th, we went to the Alevi Center at 11:30 with Eduardo, Judit, Aurora, Yüksel
and Peter. We were received by Ayhan in his office were there was also his
secretary Sultan and another woman behind a table. They offered chai and sweets
and a very animated conversation started, books in hand and also looking at the
book on the Parks. While they read passages of texts they continued repeating
that it was very similar to what Alevi’s say and v alue. So quickly a friendly
atmosphere was created. We didn’t have a translator, so dictionary in hand we
did what we could, but all went well. They gave us 2 objects with the small
statue of Haci Bectas Veli and we gave them the book. Ayhan told us he had read
the booklet of the Commentaries the night before and liked it very much. They
told us that there are 300.000 Alevis living in Antalya, one third of the total
population.
In the
meantime we were waiting for Tufan who was late but arriving. At a certain
moment, around 13:30 they arrived and we went to another office, Tufan’s. There
we met the vice president of the Haci Bectas association, his wife and 2 kids,
one of them spoke some English. We sat down and the son translated the
conversation. A while later, another woman arrived, also called Sultan, who
spoke German perfectly. So we continued with her and the wife and two kids said
good-bye. Sultan tells us about the present situation of Alevis in Turkey,
which is not so good due to the obstacles put upon them by the government. In
this report there is no room for going into detail but the conversation was
very long, we were listening and once in a while introducing something from our
side. It was clear that they were worried and that they want to divulge the existence
of approximately 20 million Alevis in Turkey, 25% of the population, of whom
the Europeans are not even aware of. Sultan also affirmed that there is
affinity in thoughts between the Alevis and Silo’s Message and that she wants
to collaborate with our message.
Finally Tufan arrived, a very amiable and calm
man, always in a good mood. Until that moment we hadn’t talked about a possible
presentation of the Book in his center. It was clear to us they needed a lot of
time to explain their situation and their worries. They were very happy because
we already have good relations with other Alevi centers in Ankara and Istanbul
and were delighted we would attend the Alevi festival in Tuncelli at the end of
July.
We also gave Tufan a book and a press kit and
showed them to book of the Parks. He arrived with another person who spoke
English well. So we continued with English translation which was easier for
everyone.
Again, lots of tea and sweets, we were very
well treated once more and are very thankful. Other men also arrived, all of
them had duties in the association.
They also finance their things by themselves
and buy their buildings with voluntary donations of their members, who are more
than 2.000.
Finally, it seems that for them it was very
difficult to organize a book presentation in 2 days, because they want all
their members to be informed and invited and they want to receive us according
to the good customs of hospitality, with social dinners and more. So we agreed
to do a presentation at the end of September or in October, staying in touch
for more details.
At 16:15 we said good-bye and Tufan and another
person took us to our hotel in two cars. Yüksel had a date with Tufan tomorrow
at 10h to go to the bookstore in the center which appears to belong to a friend
to see if he is willing to display the books in his library. If this goes well,
tomorrow and Friday we can do an invitation action in front of the bookstore.
We hope it will work out. A big box of books from the Alevi center also arrived
for this bookstore. We think that Tufan and Yüksel talked a lot about this
issue.
As you see, everything goes as expected, but
many things happen and it was a real pleasure to see so many people interested
in the book of the Message.
There is another possibility for this Saturday offered
by Sultan who speaks German. She has a meeting with a group of women at the
center each Saturday and wants us to go to interchange about the book and
ceremonies with them. So Ariane and Zoë will stay in Antalya for two other
days. So tomorrow we will call Sultan to confirm Ariane and Zoë will be
attending the meeting.
At night, after eating together in the hotel
restaurant we went for a walk on the beach and spent some beautiful moments of
happy companionship. Back to the hotel we did another service and well being. In
the service, we asked that Silo’s Message expand from city to city in our tour,
awakening the hearts of people. In the well being we asked again for dear
friends who need it.
We are all well, with a luminous spirit and
lots of friendship. It is a great pleasure living together this adventure with
all the unforeseen events and surprises. It seems that obstacles are unable to
influence our mood negatively.
From the beautiful and sweet Antalya we send
you a strong and happy hugs,
Yüksel, Aurora, Isabel, Carmen, Salva, Nacho, Ismael, Judit,
Eduardo, Ariane, Zoë, Alavro and Peter
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