Dear sensitive souls of ArtTmodernmiami…
As we enter the summer season, I am here with a brand new series of articles to appeal to the emotions a little more. Without further ado, I would like to make an introduction.
What did the legendary pop group Boney M say in their song? One-way ticket!
Think about it like this, friends. You are going on a road trip. To distant lands and this is not a vacation. Your ticket is only one way. What do you think fits in a suitcase?
A few clothes, a little longing, a lot of hope…
In this article, you will meet the owners of those quiet moments of transformation who were able to fit an immigration story into their lives by going from Turkey to America and stepping into not only a new country but also a brand new life. For some, their departure was an escape, for others a new beginning. Some still brew Turkey in their kitchen every morning; others add Turkish subtitles to their American dream. However, what are those people doing and thinking now? What did they leave behind, what did they find there? Moreover, how close are we to these stories?
I asked my Turkish friends who went to America some unusual questions. The answers made me laugh and think. I am very excited to introduce you to my friends with whom I have somehow kept in touch from the past until today.
So much so that; “One of them had closed his suitcase quietly and looked at the Bosphorus for the last time, another had paid the taxi driver for the last time in Turkish money with trembling hands. The moment someone lost his suitcase at the airport; he thought that he was already 1-0 down. One built a zero kilometer life for himself and continued on his way. Someone still starts the day with Turkish coffee every morning. Nevertheless, how much have the real stories of these people who moved from Turkey to America been heard? How did they build their new lives? Which habits did they carry with them and which ones did they have to leave at customs?
In this article, we go beyond the classical immigration stories and explore the identities, confusion, humor and poignant details of the people moving between two continents through their eyes with my questions.
However, no ordinary questions this time. Get ready, because you will soon read real sincere and sympathetic answers from the one who reduced the rent in America with the bargaining skills he learned in Turkey to the one who almost astral traveled to Istanbul with the smell of roasted sesame seeds while traveling in America.”
I would like to thank my friends who accepted to be a participant in this article and colored my article. I hope you will find something of yourself in this article. In addition, these colorful, extraordinary, successful and dreamer nomads will be both an occasion and an inspiration for you to make the decisions you need to make faster. Who knows?
Get ready for candid answers from those who have built a new life in America. It is hard not to respect those who start their lives not with where they go but with where they arrive. What do you think; let us meet in the comments!
Here we go… enjoyable reading:
OĞUZ CAN ÖZCANLI / Composer – Film and Television Music
Kamil Çakır: “If you could describe your life in America with a Turkish dish and your life in Turkey with an American dish, which would you choose? Why?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: If I had to describe my life in America with a Turkish dish, I think I would choose “döner dürüm”. Since it is a meal that can be eaten quickly and left the table, it seemed suitable for the fast-paced life in America. If I had to describe my life in Turkey with an American dish, I would choose steak. A meal can be eaten with various side dishes and by taking a long time. Anyway, since I usually come to Turkey for vacation, especially in summer, I preferred a more relaxed meal.
Kamil Çakır: “Do you have a skill or habit that you learned in Turkey but that turned you into a ‘survival expert’ in the US?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I would say it is making sincere friends and communication. Networking is very important to get somewhere in America, but this is actually through real friendship. Relationships without sincerity are very superficial. I think friendship is the most powerful way to struggle happily in life. Most of the time, it is not our job or career that heals us in difficult times. On the contrary, our friends stand by us. However, both in Turkey and in the US, we are used to prioritizing work. For example, we can easily postpone a meeting with friends by saying “I have a business meeting”. Nevertheless, do we ever postpone a business meeting by saying, “I’m meeting a friend”? After all, I think the biggest thing that keeps us alive is true friendships.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the ‘invisible rule’ that challenged you the most when you first moved to the US? Looking back now, what invisible rules in Turkey make you laugh?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I think the invisible rule that challenged me the most was “if you compare yourself to others, you will be unhappy”. Actually, no one told me this rule, I made it for myself over time, because this was one of the most important ways to stay successful and happy in America, especially in the field of art. I think as human beings, we are instinctively prone to compare ourselves to others, and it takes a great effort to break this habit.
I am still trying to internalize this way of thinking, I think its human nature to compare ourselves to others, and it is going to take a serious effort to break that habit. However, my belief is that everyone is very special and unique in himself or herself.
In 2009, when I moved to Berklee College of Music to study music, the first thing I encountered were incredibly talented musicians from different countries. At that moment, I realized that if I constantly compared myself to these musicians, I would become unhappy. Moreover, this situation continued not only at school but also in professional music life.
As far as I have observed in Turkey, conforming to social norms is very important for people. Nevertheless, the negative side of this can result in not being open to different ideas.
One of my favorite things about Los Angeles is meeting people with very different mindsets. This pushes me forward in terms of thinking. I think this is the main reason why I love Los Angeles, even more than music.
Different lifestyles, different perspectives feed me. Each person is like a character in an interesting novel, but this time the story is real.
Kamil Çakır: “One day in America you suddenly smelled a familiar smell from Turkey. What were your feelings at that moment? What did you remember?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: One day I was walking in Los Angeles and I smelled the smell of barbecue. Suddenly I imagined myself in Çeşme, having a barbecue on the beach with my family. I had just come out of the sea, I was salty, the fish I was catching… At that moment, I remembered not just a smell, but also a sense of belonging.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the moment when you said to yourself ‘I think I belong here now’? And is there still a part of you that you say ‘But this part of me is still in Turkey’?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I think the feeling of “I belong here” may not be a feeling of being rooted, but a feeling of closeness in terms of mindset.
When approaching a subject or a person, listening with an open mind, without judgment… Trying to stay away from immediately stereotyping people… This approach feels familiar and peaceful to me. In addition, another thing that makes me feel like I belong here is that very successful people here are ego-free. This humility inspires me.
However, if I say, “this part of me stayed in Turkey”, the first thing that comes to my mind is my big family and long conversations with friends. Moreover, of course the Aegean Sea! I think the Aegean is the most beautiful sea in the world. I miss it. Windsurfing, fishing, going out on the boat and having long conversations…
We are lucky. It is a great feeling to grow up in such a place and to be able to go back to one of the most beautiful corners of the world and clear our heads whenever we want. The Aegean Sea and the Greek Islands are a dream for many people. Especially for Americans, it is like a dream to go there.
Kamil Çakır: “If you were to compare you in America to you in Turkey, what advice would you give him?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: “Calm down. You are a smart and successful person everything will be fine. Just focus on what you love.” Actually, sometimes I still give myself the same advice, because in the end, life is just one day. In addition, how did that day go? Did you have fun, did you enjoy it, and did you feel happy. For example, I love playing tennis nowadays; it is one of the best things for me in my daily life. I like to make space for things that make me happy.
Kamil Çakır: “Do you remember a moment that was ordinary in Turkey but felt like a ‘revolution’ in America?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I think the real revolution comes with cultural differences. In Los Angeles, as you participate in different activities, it is possible to meet very successful or famous people and it can be easy to establish a sincere friendship with them. For example, in a tennis class you might meet the music director of American Idol. In a yoga class, you can meet and be friends with an Oscar-winning director. FKA Twigs might even ask you for a piano lesson. All of these things have happened to me. In addition, the most impressive part is that these people communicate with you as people, not through their careers. It is very impressive and instructive. In fact, for me, it is a revolution.
Kamil Çakır: “If you lived in Turkey today, which aspect of your life would be more difficult? Which aspect would be sweeter?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I am a person who feeds on people, especially people who think differently from me. I think I would find it a bit difficult in Turkey in that respect. However, being close to the Aegean Sea… that would definitely be the sweetest part of life.
Kamil Çakır: “When did you first realize you were Turkish in America and what kind of reaction did you get? If there was a sitcom at that moment, what would the episode title be?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I was in a production class at Berklee, and when I said the word “Strings” with a super Turkish accent, it was immediately recognized,
If it were a sitcom episode at that moment, it would definitely have been Seinfeld. Moreover, the episode would probably be called: The Turkish Guy.
Kamil Çakır: “Was there a moment when you felt like you didn’t belong anywhere in either country? How did you fill that void?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: There are times when I feel different in both countries.
Being born and grown up in the Mediterranean really shapes the way you look at life. I think countries like Turkey, Italy and Spain are very similar culturally. I would even say that Turkey is more adapted to American culture in some aspects. When I feel like “I don’t belong”, it helps me to accept myself as I am and remember that I come from a different culture.
One day an Italian friend of mine, Christina Aguilera’s music director, said to me; “We are actually the same. Whether you are Italian or Turkish… You come from a special place and you should appreciate that.
Kamil Çakır: “If you woke up one morning and forgot all your past, would America or Turkey remind you who you are again?”
Oğuz Can Özcanlı: I think Turkey would. The days of fishing in Çeşme when I was little, those moments when I was one with the sea and the air… The days when I played on the street with my childhood friends… Even if I forget all my past, those smells, sounds and feelings would remind me of who I am.
oguzozcanli.com
IMDb Profile
Showreel 2025
KORAY KASAP / Photography Artist
Kamil Çakır: “If you could describe your life in America with a Turkish dish and your life in Turkey with an American dish, which one would you choose? Why?”
Koray Kasap: Of course, it would be lahmacun, simple but traditional, American food would be burger. Because I find it exciting.
Kamil Çakır: “Do you have a skill or habit that you learned in Turkey but that turned you into a ‘survival expert’ in America?”
Koray Kasap: Patience. It worked very well for me.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the ‘invisible rule’ that challenged you the most when you first moved to America? Looking back now, what invisible rules in Turkey make you laugh?”
Koray Kasap: There were so many visible rules in America that I was so bored. I feel like there are no rules in Turkey either.
Kamil Çakır: “One day in America you suddenly smelled a familiar scent from Turkey. What were your feelings at that moment? What did you remember?”
Koray Kasap: I just laughed. So many things flashed before my eyes.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the moment when you said to yourself ‘I think I belong here now’? Do you still have a part of you that you say, ‘But this part of me is still in Turkey? ”
Koray Kasap: I have a short and clear answer to this; I never had a sense of belonging in America, so I can say that all of me is still in Turkey. Anatolia is my homeland.
Kamil Çakır: “If you were to compare you in America to you in Turkey, what advice would you give him?”
Koray Kasap: Give yourself to art, spend more time in nature, and have more time for yourself.
Kamil Çakır: “Do you remember a moment that was ordinary in Turkey but felt like a ‘revolution’ in America?”
Koray Kasap: No, I do not. At least that is how I perceive it.
Kamil Çakır: “If you lived in Turkey today, which aspect of your life would be more difficult? Which aspect would be sweeter?”
Koray Kasap: I do not know. I would have to try to see. I do not want to give a rote answer. It has been 8, 9 years since I’ve been in Turkey.
Kamil Çakır: “When did you first realize you were Turkish in America and what kind of reaction did you get? If there was a sitcom at that moment, what would the episode name be?”
Koray Kasap: Actually, I was not noticed in general. They looked at me and said what are you doing? If there were a sitcom at that moment, it would definitely be Nomad.
Kamil Çakır: “Was there a moment when you felt like you didn’t belong anywhere in either country? How did you fill that void?”
Koray Kasap: Yes, of course there was. My family is my fortress. They complete me. I cannot think of anything better to fill that void.
Kamil Çakır: “If you woke up one morning and forgot all your past, would America or Turkey remind you who you are again?”
Koray Kasap: I can answer without thinking: Turkey!
www.koraykasap.com.tr
@koraykasapofficial
AYCAN LEWIS / Artist
Kamil Çakır: “If you could describe your life in America with a Turkish dish and your life in Turkey with an American dish, which one would you choose? Why?”
Aycan Lewis: I would describe my life in America like a dumpling, because even though it looks small and simple from the outside, when you look inside, it contains labor, patience and an intense flavor. My life here is the same; there is a lot of effort and inner depth behind everything.
I used to think of my life in Turkey as a mac & cheese, a familiar, familiar and warm taste on the outside – but it was as if something that was always on my plate even though it did not actually nourish me, did not fill me up internally. So I set out for a more unknown but real taste.
Kamil Çakır: “Do you have a skill or habit that you learned in Turkey that has turned you into a ‘survival expert’ in the US?”
Aycan Lewis: I definitely do the skill of observation. Growing up in a crowded, fast-paced and sometimes complex environment in Turkey, sensing people, situations and energies became a natural reflex for me. When I came to the US, this skill became a survival tool. As I was building everything from scratch in a new country, reading my surroundings carefully became my strongest foundation for understanding where and how to act. Over time, I realized how sharp and reliable my internal radar was, and my trust in it propelled me forward in both my professional decisions and my personal journey.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the ‘invisible rule’ that challenged you the most when you first moved to America? Looking back now, which invisible rules in Turkey make you laugh?”
Aycan Lewis: When I first moved to the US, the invisible rule that challenged me the most was the almost untouchable space everyone gives to his or her own lives. Even wanting to help is sometimes misunderstood. Saying something sincere to someone, even a look, can be considered too “personal”. This distance made me feel very lonely at first. In Turkey, human relations are more intertwined; sometimes too much, sometimes exhausting, but somehow warm. Here, borders are sacred and emotions are more controlled. It took time to establish this new balance, but now being able to manage that distance feels like a kind of freedom.
Back in Turkey, the invisible rule that makes me laugh the most is that everyone acts as if they have the right to know everything. Questions like when are you getting married, have you gained weight, how much do you earn are asked as casually as if they were discussing the weather. On the other hand, someone on the street can easily give you a life lesson – without even knowing you. These things used to make me sad, but now I can look at them with a smile because I realize that the invisible rules of both countries actually bring you closer to yourself when they become visible.
Kamil Çakır: “One day in America you suddenly smelled a familiar smell from Turkey. What were your feelings at that moment? What did you remember?”
Aycan Lewis: One day I was walking in New York and a familiar smell from Turkey came to my nose from a street corner, something like fresh bagels and lightly roasted sesame seeds. It was so sudden and strong that I stopped in my tracks, as if time had warped and I found myself walking in Galata or Besiktas. The smell touched a mood, not just a taste.
Suddenly the familiar chaos in the crowd, the quick steps, the sound of the streets, the melody of the language came back to me. In a fleeting moment, the shadow of the past seeped into the present. I felt a sense of familiarity mixed with longing – not quite happy, not quite sad. Just something deep, intense and very human.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the moment when you said to yourself, ‘I think I belong here now’? And do you still have a part of you that you say, ‘but this part of me stayed in Turkey’?”
Aycan Lewis: The moment I said, “I think I belong here now,” was when I was walking down the street one day, looked up at the sky and thought, “If I paint this, it will look like New York.” The city was no longer an inspiration; it was part of my canvas. I was not a stranger. I was a partner. Moreover, it is strange but true-New York both protected and loved me. It was harsh but honest; it made room for me.
However, there is still something to say, “This part of me stayed in Turkey”: The way I share. Everything is individual here. Nevertheless, there is still a desire in me immediately extend a beauty to someone else. Maybe this part of me stayed there, but it seeps subtly into my production here.
Kamil Çakır: “If you were compare to you in America to you in Turkey what advice would you give her?”
Aycan Lewis: If I in America met me in Turkey, I would order a Turkish coffee, sit across from him and say:
Aycan Lewis: “You don’t have to control everything. Sometimes let go, do not know. The unknown is not scary. It is creative. Moreover, please – be kinder to yourself. Give yourself the same understanding that you give to everyone else. Because you have not played your biggest role yet. Don’t live like a rehearsal, this stage is yours.”
Kamil Çakır: “Do you remember a moment that was ordinary in Turkey but felt like a ‘revolution’ in America?”
Aycan Lewis: One day I was in the checkout line at the supermarket, I only had a yogurt. The man behind me said, “Go ahead, it will only take you a moment.” I was shocked. I was shocked. In Turkey, I would offer to go to the front, the person would say, “No, no, go ahead, go ahead,” and then there would be two minutes of indecisive stares. Here, everyone is short and to the point. At that moment, I said; “Hmm… this is too logical, but it’s not bad.”
Kamil Çakır: “If you lived in Turkey today, which aspect of your life would be more difficult? Which aspect would be sweeter?”
Aycan Lewis: The hardest thing would be to feel free. It is as if everything has an interpretation, every choice has a label. The space for expression that I am used to here would be narrower there, especially in art. The constant need to explain would be exhausting.
However, the sweetest part would be the appreciation of details. The attention paid to a plate of food, the faith in a sentence, the subtext of a look… The rhythm of life in Turkey is sometimes harsh, but those little subtleties make life live like poetry.
Kamil Çakır: “When did you first realize you were Turkish in America and what kind of reaction did you get? If there was a sitcom at that moment, what would the episode title be?”
Aycan Lewis: The first time it happened was in a rehearsal, when I sang the line a little melodic. The director stopped, tilted his head and said, “That’s a unique rhythm… where are you from?” I smiled, “Turkey.” An actor opened his eyes and said, “Aaa! Is that why you are so dramatic?” I laughed: “No, that’s totally personal.”
If that moment were a sitcom, the episode would definitely be called “It’s Not the Culture, It’s me”. Moreover, the opening scene would have started with a slow dramatic look and cut to laughter.
Kamil Çakır: “Was there a time when you felt like you didn’t belong in either country? How did you fill that void?”
Aycan Lewis: Yes, it happened. Sometimes in Turkey, I felt “too different,” In America, I was stuck with the feeling of “not indigenous enough.” I was standing between two languages, on the edge of two cultures – not quite there, not quite here. That space scared me at first. Then I realized that it was actually a space that belonged to me. In that in-between, in that seemingly anonymous space, I started to produce. I painted. I wrote. I acted. I turned that void into a stage. In addition, perhaps most of all, I became myself there.
Kamil Çakır: “If you woke up one morning and forgot all your past, would America or Turkey remind you who you are again?”
If I forgot everything one morning, New York would probably remind me who I am. The traffic noise, a picture on the wall, a stranger randomly saying, “I like your vibe”… This city has always made me feel myself without looking in the mirror. Maybe Turkey would tell me about my past, but New York… it would reopen my inner voice. “Look, you created something here. You found yourself in this chaos.” Moreover, in that moment I would remember: My identity was not where I was born, but where I made myself.
@thesoulofthemoon
www.thesoulofthemoon.com
YUSUF KAYI / Fashion Designer
Kamil Çakır: “If you could describe your life in America with a Turkish dish and your life in Turkey with an American dish, which would you choose? Why?”
Yusuf Kayı: My life in America was like raw meatballs, I got stronger as I kneaded. My life in Turkey was like a hot dog, fast, fun, on the street.
Kamil Çakır: “Is there a skill or habit you learned in Turkey that turned you into a ‘survival expert’ in the US?”
Yusuf Kayı: In Turkey, I learned how to negotiate, in the US this skill turned me into a survival expert. I learned to talk about value, not price, and to find the back door when turned away. Someone who grew up on the street finds his or her way everywhere.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the ‘invisible rule’ that challenged you the most when you first moved to the US? Looking back now, which invisible rules in Turkey make you laugh?”
Yusuf Kayı: When I first moved to the US, the ”personal space” rule was the most challenging – even making eye contact with someone was sometimes considered a threat. Even saying hello was distance. Nevertheless, in Turkey, the invisible rule is the opposite: if you talk to someone for 5 minutes, he/she learns your life story. It is normal to commiserate with a supermarket cashier or discuss politics with a taxi driver.
Looking back now, the Turkish rule of “guests come hungry and leave full” makes me laugh. In America, if someone arrives unannounced, you call the police first; in Turkey, you pull them in the door and pack them a meal.
Both cultures are at different extremes – but both are the art of survival.
Kamil Çakır: “One day in America you suddenly smelled a familiar smell from Turkey. What were your feelings at that moment? What did you remember?”
Yusuf Kayı: One day I was walking through the streets of New York and I smelled the bagels from school – hot sesame, stone oven… In an instant, time stopped. I remembered the bakery where my mom and I used to go early in the morning, newspaper in hand, a sleepy smile on her face. More than the smell, the feeling of that moment hit me: belonging. That smell was not just bagels; it was my childhood, my home, Turkey.
Kamil Çakır: “What was the moment when you said to yourself, ‘I think I belong here now’? And do you still have a part of you that you say, ‘but this part of me is still in Turkey’?”
Yusuf Kayı: The moment when I said to myself, ”I think I belong here now,” was the first time I found my way alone in a foreign city and made peace with myself. Nevertheless, a part of my heart still lives in Turkey, next to my loved ones, on the streets of my childhood. It is my roots. it is always my home. Living between two worlds is difficult but also rich.
Kamil Çakır: “If you were to compare you in America to you in Turkey, what advice would you give?”
Yusuf Kayı: I in America would say to myself in Turkey; “Be braver; don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t minimize your dreams, push your limits.” Moreover, my Turkish self would say to my American self; “Be patient, don’t forget your roots. Always remember where you come from, because it makes you strong.”
Kamil Çakır: “Do you remember a moment that was ordinary in Turkey but felt like a ‘revolution’ in America?”
Yusuf Kayı: Yes, I do. Riding a bike, which was ordinary in Turkey, gave me a sense of freedom and discovery in America. Pedaling alone in a park, feeling the wind, being independent from the city was like a revolution. At that moment, I realized that small things sometimes open the door to the biggest changes.
Kamil Çakır: “If you lived in Turkey today, which aspect of your life would be more difficult? Which aspect would be sweeter?”
Yusuf Kayı: If I lived in Turkey today, the material aspect of my life would definitely be more difficult; economic uncertainty and lack of opportunities would be a big obstacle. However, my social life and family ties would be much sweeter; love, support and solidarity would always be there. It would be a life full of difficulties but with a warm heart.
Kamil Çakır: “When did you first realize you were Turkish in America and what kind of reaction did you get? If there was a sitcom at that moment, what would the episode name be?”
Yusuf Kayı: I came to the U.S. speaking very little English. When it was first noticed that I was Turkish, I had a hard time finding the words and my accent came out immediately. Their initial surprise soon turned to curiosity, and suddenly I was telling stories from my culture, food and home.
If there was an episode of a sitcom at that moment, it would be called “Lost in Translation, Found in Connection” – because sometimes speaking little opens the door to the deepest connections.
Kamil Çakır: “Was there a moment when you didn’t feel like you belonged anywhere in either country? How did you fill that void?
Yusuf Kayı: After a wonderful 20-day Ayahuasca experience in Colombia, I had moments of not belonging in both countries. Ayahuasca showed me the depths of my roots and my soul; it taught me that belonging is not just a physical place but also an inner journey.
I filled that void with a connection to nature and myself; belonging is now a strength I carry in my heart.
Kamil Çakır: “If you woke up one morning and forgot all your past, would America or Turkey remind you who you are again?”
Yusuf Kayı: If I woke up one morning and forgot all my past, Turkey would remind me who I am again. Because there are traces of my soul, the love of my family and the streets of my childhood. America shaped my new self, but I would need Turkey to find my roots.
@yusufkayi
Stay tuned for more…!
Kamil Çakir
Artist – Designer
