US writer shows her love for Turkey with new book

Katharine Branning, a US researcher and writer, has been traveling to Turkey for 30 years and has published her experience in a new book: ‘Yes, I Would Love Another Cup of Tea,’ which has already been translated into Turkish. ‘I want people in the US to understand Turkey better. I want to show how peaceful, right-minded and modern Turkey is,’ she says

U.S. researcher-writer Katharine Branning has published a book about her 30 years of experience traveling to Turkey, titled “Yes, I Would Love Another Cup of Tea,” saying she wanted to show people in the U.S. how peaceful, right-minded and modern Turkey is.

Becoming Turkey’s volunteer ambassador with her book, which has been translated into Turkish under the title “Bir Çay Daha Lütfen,” Branning spoke about her observations of Turkey.

She said she had previously written many articles on Turkey, but the idea to write a book came up thanks to her poet friend Muhsin İlyas Subaşı. “One day when I went to visit him, he said Turks would be interested in my observations of their country. I said no at first, doubting that people would be interested in my travels. But later on I thought he was right because I have spent 30 years in Turkey and they were not travels with a tourist purpose only. I have been interested in Turkey for a long time. And then I started writing.”

She said the main reason she decided to write the book was to thank the Turkish people for their warm attitude and also to educate people in the U.S. about Turkey. “I want people in the U.S. to understand Turkey better. I want to show how Turkey is a peaceful, right-minded and modern country,” she said.

Turkey 20 years later

Branning said Turkey had a political role to provide dialogue among the Middle Eastern countries. “I am looking forward to the next 20 years, because Turkey will play a huge role in providing dialogue between countries that have conflict today.”

Mentioning the economic and social problems that Turkey had 30 years ago, Branning said Turkey was a magnificent success story. “It is wonderful that it is such a modern and developed country right now. I can’t even imagine what will happen 20 years later and can’t wait to see it.”

Branning said Turkey would never turn its back on the West. “Perhaps the U.S. people think Turkey turned its back on the West because it wants to carry out trade with Iran or develop gas lines with Russia. But no, Turkey is looking for new enterprises. This is why it will never turn its back on the U.S. or the West. Because this is what makes Turkey strong. It knows what democracy means. This is what also makes Turkey different from other countries in the Middle East.”

Positive reactions from Turks

Branning said the reactions of Turks to her book were very positive. “Turks liked that I wrote about my observations of their simple behaviors and their courtesy to each other in daily life. Such things seem normal to you, but in my opinion, these are wonderful behaviors. What I write in my books causes Turks to realize their richness and it makes me proud,” she said.

She also said U.S. people should read more about Turkey and learn about its cultural development. “I am very impressed by Turkey’s efforts to establish dialogue with its partners in the Middle East. Such things show that the Middle East has a peaceful country like Turkey. This is the most important point that should be highlighted in the U.S.”

Branning said she was currently preparing to write a second book about Turkey, adding that it would feature a love story from the 13th century in the time of the Seljuks. “Turks always ask me if my new book would be a love story. They are very romantic people. My new book will be a love story, but it is not only between men and women but also the love between the sultan and his country,” she said.

via US writer shows her love for Turkey with new book – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.