.131 Batuhan Çevik

Here’s a fun story: in college, a bunch of Turkish students who were in DC for a few months attended the TEDx event I had been planning. One of those students was Batuhan and he reached out to me for some thoughts on developing his own TEDx event back in Turkey. About a year later, he held his event, and about a year after that, I found myself traveling through Istanbul on my backpacking trip, so guess who I contacted? Batuhan didn’t just give me helpful recommendations; he opened his doors and let me stay with him, all while showing me around the local spots over the course of my week there.

This generosity from Batuhan seems to be his natural way of treating people. It’s as though it was never even a question of if I could stay with him. I remember arriving and he had already made me a bed and had some adventures planned for us through the week. He is so kind in his demeanor and genuinely cared about if I had a great time during my stay. He went out of his way to introduce me to some of his family, point me in the direction of some amazing cultural experiences, and even got me to eat fresh oysters on the spot from a vendor on the street. That, to those who know me, is a true feat. Batuhan really made my time in Istanbul absolutely wonderful and it’s because of his attention to detail, his innate care for those in his life, and his compassionate heart.

Batuhan, thank you for reaching out to me all those years ago and for getting our friendship started! Thank you for being so honest and open and for making me laugh every time we talk. Thank you for your help with my passport trouble and for taking the time to make my experience in Turkey a memorable one. Thank you, Batuhan, for being you!

-BD