If you ask what is this photo, why this photo? First answer is this is one of the photos that NASA took from space. Second answer well I just really liked it, there is no more reason to using it.

So let’s see what happened in 2016?

I have never been that person who would say “oh I had a full year” but this is mostly because I believe there will be things to do even I am doing a lot already. I am just hungry all the time, I know I can do more with my time. But then I also know it is not possible to do everything, that is why we prioritize. Nevertheless, this year has been lovely, full of experience full of happiness. 

I have started the year with bad news, I had my final exams starting on the second day of the year, so it wasn’t hard to guess that I would have failed.

After the finals is the for celebration, so we bought out tickets in advance to go to the Netherlands and Belgium with few friends of mine. Amsterdam was amazing as always, going back to Utrecht after few months felt really great. Visiting the places I have been before, it was cute. Belgium is a bit too stable for my taste, I haven’t grew a taste for it yet. But I am still young, maybe I will get to appreciate it later.

I am living alone in Istanbul and my parents are in Kazakhstan. So, we took an exotic Asia trip together on May. It was also nice to spend some quality time with my family. We went to Phuket and Bangkok for a while. I wouldn’t recommend visiting Thailand on May tho, it was a bit too hot.

This was the first year I have done some interpretation and personal assisting. I worked in the World Humanitarion Summit in UN’s DSG Jan Eliasson office. During this summit I had the chance to attend the meetings as well, listening to Merkel, Erdogan, Ban Ki-mon. I was so lucky that I have ran into Daniel Craig who came for the event with his wife. And Forest Whitaker who gave the opening notes on the summit. It was such an impressive summit and a really precious experience to me. 

I had one of the best summers of my life. I have rested, I have enjoyed the summer fully with my friends and family. I drink a lot I read a lot. I have always find it really hard to balance the summer between fun and relaxation. But, I believe this year I managed to balance it, and I feel proud. I am also leaving this link here for a small video clip from this summer. I was fully charged after this summer for the final part of 2016, I knew it was going to be fun.

Steve Aoki, Firebeatz,Rhodes, Hozier, The Ringo Jets, Scorpions, Sebnem Ferah,Sattas, Adamlar, Pinhani , Kadebostany, Oh Land…. This year has been full of concerts. I have attended almost anything I could attend. I was leaving work and going for events. All these events make Istanbul more livable to me. There are so many cultural events around Istanbul it is hard to keep up with them all. 

It seems like I had a really nice 2016. I went to Kazakhstan to celebrate the new year with my parents. Another good news from 2016 is that I am going to London for 6 months to do my Erasmus exchange. In the beginning I didn’t really want it but I know with time I will fall in love with this city.

I hope all of you had a wonderful year as well. And I wish you an even better year. Full of happiness, full of love, full of travel!

Happy New Year from Almaty, Kazakhstan!