Istanbul Pride: The People You Meet on the Street

Sometimes it's fascinating the people you meet on the street...  

The day of Istanbul Pride I wasn't feeling great, so was being slow and taking it easy.  And was trying to keep the sun off of me.  So, I had wrapped a shawl (aka sun shield) around me and was wearing a cap (with a large “H” on it that is associated with a university in Cambridge).  I was standing back and watching the crowd with their signs and flags before the march began.  A woman near me was doing the same thing.  And she seemed weirdly familiar.  I glanced over on a few occasions, trying to figure out what was so familiar, and found her doing the same to me.  And realized “Holy cow.  She’s wearing a (well loved, well worn) Red Sox cap.  She looks so Boston.” 

So I asked “Are you from Boston?  I see your hat.” 

She responded “I noticed your hat, too.  Yes, I am.” 

“Where?  I’m from Boston.” 

“Somerville.  Near Union Square.”
”Really!?!  Me, too.  Inman.” 

Then she explained that she’s really from Australia, but went to Boston for grad school and stayed.  So I asked what she studied.  Geology.  After which I ask “Was that at MIT?”  It was.  I said that I know someone else who did that program and while she doesn’t know my friend, the name sounded familiar. 

The march began and we parted ways. 

I walk down the street, following the marchers.  And I saw a man also watching from the side.  And realized that it was a professor who I once worked for.  So I stopped, took off my sunglasses, and we chatted about what brought us to Istanbul, then wished each other well and I continue down the street. 

I have to admit that I was hoping for a third run-in.  But I knew I might be jinxing it when I crossed to the other side of the marchers.  Regardless, it was sort of fascinating to see who you can run into when you’re in a crowd. 

Then again, a week later, I was climbing around on rock formations in Cappadocia, in the same cap, and someone called out “Go Crimson”.  We introduced ourselves, and that afternoon C (who studied Comparative Religion – appropriate for a tour of Cappadocia) and A and I spent the afternoon together, wandering through Goreme’s Rose Valley.