{"id":57741,"date":"2025-04-02T07:01:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T04:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gurkangenc.com\/?p=57741"},"modified":"2025-04-02T07:03:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T04:03:13","slug":"an-article-i-wrote-in-the-usa-about-the-things-that-came-to-my-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gurkangenc.com\/en\/2025\/04\/an-article-i-wrote-in-the-usa-about-the-things-that-came-to-my-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"An article I wrote in the USA about the things that came to my mind."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Since I was already heading toward Washington, D.C., I figured I\u2019d include New York in this piece as well.<\/p>\n<p>For someone cycling around the world, New York City is truly a bustling and crowded place. One undeniable fact is that, given its size and density, the city is remarkably organized and systematic. That\u2019s why New York, especially the Manhattan area, fascinates city lovers. The only downside is that it\u2019s an incredibly expensive city. Residents pay separate taxes for New York State and New York City, and if you live in Manhattan, you pay even more.<\/p>\n<p>During my three-month stay in this city, I walked nearly 20,000 steps every day. The numbered streets make exploring more enjoyable, in my opinion. I stayed at Sine and Burak\u2019s house in Brooklyn, at Zeynep and \u00d6zg\u00fcr\u2019s place in New Jersey, just across from Manhattan, and at the Turkish Consulate, also known as the Turkish House, on Manhattan Island.<\/p>\n<p>Trying to implement New York\u2019s urban system in Turkey would be impossible. Even if you demolished all the buildings and started from scratch, it wouldn\u2019t work because of the irregularly drawn land parcels. Cities like Istanbul, Ankara, or any other large Turkish city could never achieve this level of organization. If I were in charge of Turkey, I would build a livable, model city from the ground up in the middle of Anatolia, in an area with minimal earthquake risk. I would definitely do this. It would be a major investment, but I\u2019d make it happen. Honestly, it would be a far more effective investment than the Canal Istanbul project. However, since the Canal Istanbul project is more about channeling Qatari resources into Turkey and promises a quicker return on investment than my proposed project, it would still be prioritized. Hehe. But I\u2019m certain that a future leader of Turkey will undertake something similar to what I\u2019m suggesting.<\/p>\n<p>During my time in New York, I visited four different healthcare facilities, all private. Thanks to my Anadolu Sigorta travel health insurance, all payments I made with my credit card were reimbursed within two days. I had no wait time for a blood test, waited exactly five hours for an MRI and EKG but managed to get both done on the same day, and had no wait time for an eye pressure test and examination. The results were ready within 24 hours. Since I wasn\u2019t registered in the U.S. system, I wasn\u2019t part of any local insurance network, meaning I had to apply to hospitals as an uninsured patient. In such cases, the hospital charges two units for services, whereas if you have insurance, you might pay a nominal fee or nothing at all, but the hospital bills the insurance company seven or more units. This system causes massive financial losses for insurance companies and, indirectly, the government. They can\u2019t abandon this model, nor can they change it.<\/p>\n<p>Another oddity: Even for a simple blood test, they require a doctor to send an order to the testing center. The paperwork and bureaucracy are absurdly excessive. And they still use fax machines! The primary reason they rely on fax machines and paper checks for money transfers is fraud. Both methods leave loopholes for corruption, making them indispensable. For example, if you\u2019re in the U.S. on a student visa, no company can legally transfer money to your U.S. bank account. However, if you work illegally, you can cash your paycheck outside and continue working without a permit.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of health, here\u2019s another interesting experience. I requested a DNA analysis from Ancestry. For a $100 fee, they sent me a small tube that allows saliva to mix with a special liquid. I mailed it back, and a month later, I got my results.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what they revealed:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 On my father\u2019s side, an ancestor from the Mongolian region embarked on a journey. He might have been a warrior, nomad, or slave. He arrived in the Abazha region of Georgia, left a child with a woman there, and continued toward Finland. The child and his family lived in the South Caucasus Abazha region for thousands of years before eventually migrating to Artvin, Arhavi.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 On my mother\u2019s side, an ancestor\u2014possibly a Roman or Greek warrior, nomad, or slave\u2014traveled to Anatolia, fathered a child, and moved on. The descendants of that child lived in the same region for thousands of years before eventually moving north to Artvin, Arhavi.<\/p>\n<p>At some point, the northern Caucasian family and the southern Roman-Greek family merged and lived for centuries in the mountains and along the shores. That\u2019s why my DNA profile is 100% Anatolian and Caucasian. When you dig deeper, you see a mix of Eastern Roman and Central Asian Turkic ancestry.<\/p>\n<p>Being 100% Anatolian feels like a special privilege to me.<\/p>\n<p>I took this DNA test because, at 46 years old and having traveled to 70 countries, I no longer care about potential genetic research on my sample. The test also provided insights into genetic predispositions for diseases, my immune system, and more. It was a productive experience. Knowing that my ancestors lived in this land for thousands of years without significant genetic mixing is an incredible feeling.<\/p>\n<p>One of my most unique experiences in New York was thanks to Serkan Abi, the chief of security at the United Nations building. Walking through the halls we\u2019ve seen on TV for years and imagining the discussions that take place there was fascinating.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Me: \u201cSerkan Abi, why is the UN such an ineffective institution?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Serkan Abi: \u201cG\u00fcrkan, this is just a concrete building with no real power. The people sitting in these chairs are representatives of the nations that allow this institution to exist. If nothing is being accomplished, it\u2019s because of those same leaders and diplomats. The UN has no real enforcement power.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hearing this from an insider confirmed what I had suspected all along. If I had the chance to speak from the UN podium, I wouldn\u2019t give a generic speech about world peace, justice, and equality. I\u2019d call out which countries exploit others and shamelessly benefit from their imperialist legacies. Let me say it again:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is not a single country in the world where justice and law function in a truly fair and equal manner. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>By the way, the replica of G\u00f6bekli Tepe stones in the UN garden was a nice touch.<\/p>\n<p>The most interesting thing I saw inside the building was a replica of the world\u2019s first passport\u2014the Gerege.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 In Mongolian, \u201cGerege\u201d means permission or authorization document.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 It was issued in the Mongol Empire for official travel and trade, granting safe passage within imperial borders.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Research suggests it was used between 1200-1250 and is considered the world\u2019s first passport.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Made of gold and silver.<\/p>\n<p>If we still used this passport today, I could fund my world tour by selling off small pieces of it!<\/p>\n<p>A fun linguistic note: The Turkish word \u201cgereken\u201d (meaning \u201cnecessary\u201d or \u201crequired\u201d) might have Mongolian roots. Given our shared history, customs, and language influences, this seems like a plausible connection.<\/p>\n<p>Now, my favorite topic\u2014bike lanes.<\/p>\n<p>I cycled the entire loop around Manhattan. Although some sections, especially along the waterfront, are unfinished, you can complete about 80% of the circuit on bike paths. There are dedicated bike lanes on all four bridges connected to the island, and you can take your bike on ferries for free.<\/p>\n<p>For intercity travel, some bus companies have special luggage compartments for bikes at no extra cost. For example, a Washington, D.C. \u2013 New York bus ticket is $29, and bikes are allowed for free. However, Amtrak charges $120 for a train ticket plus $20 for the bike.<\/p>\n<p>Now, I\u2019m returning to my tour. I\u2019ll take a train from New York to Chicago and bring my bike with me. I\u2019ll spend a night on the train, and this ticket costs $79. The distance is 1,200 kilometers. There is a real inconsistency in train ticket prices in this country. From Chicago to Sacramento, I\u2019ll take a sleeper train, and that ticket costs $1,100. A train from Portugal to Singapore is also around $1,200. At this point, you can really see how expensive train tickets are.<\/p>\n<p>If I had flown from New York, I would have had to box my bike, check in two separate pieces of luggage, and pay an extra fee because one of them is considered oversized special equipment. In total, the flight would have cost around $800\u2013900. I would have arrived in 6\u20137 hours, unpacked my bike, reassembled it, and continued my journey.<\/p>\n<p>If you have the time and the means, train travel is always more enjoyable. Moreover, this train has a panoramic car that is entirely covered with glass, allowing you to enjoy the scenery.<\/p>\n<p>I want to thank NapierPark, a financial firm on Wall Street, for helping me purchase the train ticket (I gave a presentation to their employees), and also Bergen Marble + Granite, a leading marble company based in New Jersey (I\u2019ll give a presentation to their employees after I return from Alaska).<\/p>\n<p>If you noticed, I mentioned Sacramento. My starting point on the West Coast can be anywhere I\u2019ve previously cycled through. Since my U.S. visa is running out soon and I won\u2019t have time to visit San Francisco, Sacramento makes the most sense as a starting point. From there, I\u2019ll be cycling through a vast flatland for at least three days, covering more than 100 kilometers per day. By the time I start pedaling, I\u2019ll have only 15 days left on my visa, and I\u2019ll have 1,500 kilometers to cover with 13,000 meters of climbing ahead of me. Since Sacramento is already a part of my world tour route, it makes sense to restart from there and continue.<\/p>\n<p>Cycling in New York City<\/p>\n<p>New York City hasn\u2019t been dealing with bike lanes for very long. The development process has been around 15 years. In 2012, Casey Neistat made a video about NYC\u2019s bike lanes, which has been watched by 30 million people. If you search for \u201cBike Lanes by Casey Neistat,\u201d you\u2019ll find it. A couple of cyclists in Turkey have made similar videos about major cities there.<\/p>\n<p>The result? In the 13 years since that video, New York\u2019s bike infrastructure has improved significantly.<\/p>\n<p>Most drivers are careful here. If you hit a cyclist, your insurance company will have to pay a huge sum. If they refuse to pay, you could lose all your savings\u2014this is no joke. When there are strict rules and penalties, people start to pay attention.<\/p>\n<p>What about Turkey in the same period? A few cities have built some bike paths, but they\u2019re nowhere near the level of these other countries. People always mention Konya, but living in a city with bikes and having a real cycling culture are two different things. I\u2019ve talked about this in my live streams.<\/p>\n<p>In my travels, I\u2019ve cycled in 70 countries and observed the cycling lifestyle in 31 of them. Soon, with Canada, that number will be 32. Out of those 31 countries, only 13 have a true cycling culture.<\/p>\n<p>When we talk about cycling culture, we mean:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 At least 15 cycling-related laws<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Strict penalties and enforcement<\/p>\n<p>In 70 countries, only 13 have this.<\/p>\n<p>And in the last 15 years, only one country has successfully built this culture from scratch. The rest have been developing it for 70\u201380 years.<\/p>\n<p>Bike Infrastructure in Turkey<\/p>\n<p>Let me be clear: 80% of the bike paths built in Turkey are poorly designed. Engineers, architects, municipalities, the Ministry of Transport, cyclists, and public works departments don\u2019t know how to build proper cycling infrastructure or how to encourage cycling. I\u2019ve spoken with officials, and believe me, they genuinely don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n<p>I told the Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yava\u015f:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cGive me 4 days. I\u2019ll start construction and make Ankara visibly more bike-friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cGive me 1 month. Without taking money from the public, the municipality and government will start making money from bike lanes in Ankara.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cGive me 1 year, and I\u2019ll change the quality of life in Ankara.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I promise.<\/p>\n<p>I told this to the Ministry of Environment and the Mayor. What happened?<\/p>\n<p>They smiled.<\/p>\n<p>(Let\u2019s be clear: This would be consulting work, with a proper fee and invoices. I won\u2019t just share my 15 years of experience for free in live streams or blog posts.)<\/p>\n<p>As I wrote in my children\u2019s book:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who achieve their dreams change the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I haven\u2019t given up. One day, I will make Ankara a cycling city. I will ride those roads myself before I\u2019m gone. People can laugh and say it\u2019s impossible, but I will make it happen.<\/p>\n<p>Cycling Infrastructure in Other Countries<\/p>\n<p>Both the East Coast and West Coast of the U.S. have continuous bike routes. On the East Coast, it\u2019s called the Green Way, stretching from Canada to Miami.<\/p>\n<p>Some might think this is a separate bike path away from traffic, but most of it is shared with cars. I followed this Green Way when cycling from New York to Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>On that route, I saw two bridges salted for ice\u2014despite it being -5\u00b0C and despite no one but me using those paths all day.<\/p>\n<p>On the 450-kilometer bike route from New York to Washington, D.C., I saw something in a small village that I hadn\u2019t seen in 31 other cycling countries. I immediately took a photo and archived it.<\/p>\n<p>Why? Because they adapted the bike lane to local needs.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, T\u00fcrkiye just copies European bike lanes.<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia also has excellent cycling infrastructure. While riding there, I noticed a group following me but not passing. So I pulled over to let them pass.<\/p>\n<p>One of them, Tom, stopped and said:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cYou look like you\u2019ve come from far away.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cYes, I have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to pass you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It felt like a moment of respect. Tom was on an electric bike, and he was surprised at how fast I was riding with all my gear.<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving the city, he told me about a bike expo and said:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone will love the setup on your bike. This is the best touring bike setup I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Well, I\u2019ve spent 15 years perfecting it. Right now, there is no better touring bike setup in my opinion.<\/p>\n<p>Bike Path Lengths in Major Cities (2025 Data)<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a comparison of cycling networks in cities I\u2019ve personally ridden in:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Washington, D.C. \u2013 Population: 700,000, Bike lanes: 260 km<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 New York City \u2013 Population: 8.5 million, Bike lanes: 650 km<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Denver \u2013 Population: 750,000, Bike lanes: 600 km (my favorite U.S. city)<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Bogot\u00e1 \u2013 Population: 8.5 million, Bike lanes: 850 km (largest in the world &amp; well-used)<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Amsterdam \u2013 Population: 1 million, Bike lanes: 500 km<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Beijing \u2013 Population: 19 million, Bike lanes: 750 km<\/p>\n<p>Now, Ankara (Turkey):<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Population: 6 million, Bike lanes: 3.7 km<\/p>\n<p>To all past and present Ankara officials: Shame on you.<\/p>\n<p>Istanbul\u2019s population is 16,000,000, and according to the municipality\u2019s website, the city\u2019s bicycle network is 227 kilometers. Friends who cycle in Istanbul, could you write what percentage of these roads actually connect to metro stations, workplaces, homes, and schools? Paths inside parks and bike lanes built along the coasts are not for transportation purposes. I\u2019d appreciate it if you exclude them from your evaluation. I am not from Istanbul and have only cycled there a few times.<\/p>\n<p>Konya\u2019s population is 2,300,000, and according to the municipality\u2019s website, the bicycle network is 447 kilometers. The same applies to Konya as well. I haven\u2019t lived or cycled there either, so I\u2019d appreciate insights from those who have.<\/p>\n<p>However, I was born and raised in Ankara, actively cycled there, and even cycled when I came to get my U.S. visa in 2023. I personally measured and recorded 3.7 kilometers at two different points. The data for Istanbul and Konya are taken from the internet. You can see the gap between real-life observations and online data. This is another example of the difference between information gathered from the field and what\u2019s available on the internet.<\/p>\n<p>On my way to Washington, D.C., I got sick\u2014really sick. After leaving Zeynep and \u00d6zg\u00fcr\u2019s place, I stayed at Mert\u2019s house, who has been following my journey for years. I\u2019m so glad I did. The moment I got off my bike and stepped into his house, I was done. You don\u2019t feel it while riding, but the next day, I couldn\u2019t even move\u2014I was that sick. Even though Mert told me to stay and rest, I decided to keep going. I\u2019m so grateful that you were there at that moment, Mert. I tried my best to chat, but unfortunately, you hosted me at my worst. Thank you so much.<\/p>\n<p>I set off again, thinking I could push through, but I barely managed 40 kilometers before stopping. That stop was Princeton. A New Zealander named Noah was going to host me, but I had to kill time in town until 5:00 PM. Princeton is famous for its university, of course, but I was in no state to explore. However, the next day, when I felt better, I visited the campus.<\/p>\n<p>Shoutout to the owner and staff of EFES restaurant in town. When they found out where I was coming from and what I was doing, they didn\u2019t charge me for my soup. They also gave me some dessert for the road, which I gave to Noah as a gift\u2014he was so happy. We had great conversations about Trump\u2019s administration and New Zealand. Thank you, Noah.<\/p>\n<p>The next day, Royer and Suzanne hosted me at their home, which is right at the entrance of Philadelphia. That day, I covered 85 kilometers, but my cough had worsened. They were kind enough to give me a room to rest. Before entering their home, I stopped a block away, turned off my GPS tracker and bike computer, and logged the stop. I didn\u2019t want to deal with anything else\u2014I just needed to rest.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve both lived in the city for years and used to be chefs at a restaurant before retiring. Suzanne was really worried about my coughing throughout the night. The next morning, she said, \u201cG\u00fcrkan, you probably didn\u2019t sleep at all last night. If you want, stay here and rest. Don\u2019t leave until you\u2019re fully recovered.\u201d She made me a great breakfast and a warm drink to soothe my throat. They were incredibly kind.<\/p>\n<p>I got to hear Royer\u2019s story about his bike trip to Alaska firsthand\u2014what an adventure! He did it in his 60s, back when there were no smartphones or digital cameras. I laughed and told him I had biked from Turkey to Japan at 30 years old. We all had a good laugh about it.<\/p>\n<p>Then, I got a message on my phone:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cG\u00fcrkan, hello! This is Tolga \u00c7etinkaya. Last night, I went to the last location your GPS signal showed. I was calling out for you in the street at 2:00 AM, but I couldn\u2019t find you. I hope you found a safe place to sleep. You\u2019re really close to our home\u2014please, come stay with us. Here\u2019s my number.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tolga really did what he said\u2014he went out looking for me in the middle of the night. I initially wanted to just continue my journey, but when he told me he had been following my travels since Africa and had messaged me as soon as I entered the country, I decided to go. I met his wife, Zeynep, and their son, Alp. I ended up staying at their home for ten days.<\/p>\n<p>For the first three days, I barely left my room. Since I had malaria in Africa, I had been avoiding antibiotics, but my doctor, Sine, saw that my cough wasn\u2019t improving and insisted we start treatment. Honestly, I\u2019m not exaggerating\u2014I coughed for almost a month.<\/p>\n<p>Tolga and Zeynep are incredible people. They kept telling me, \u201cG\u00fcrkan, come whenever you want. This is your home. We\u2019d be so happy to have you.\u201d Zeynep even wrote a beautiful piece about my stay, which you can read at [insert link]. Tolga also introduced me to Turkish businesspeople one evening, and we had some great conversations. He also showed me around the city, took me to try local food, and we even visited the famous stairs from the Rocky movie and saw the statue. I\u2019m so grateful to both of them for being there during such a rough time.<\/p>\n<p>The next day, I stayed at the home of Brad, a 65-year-old who had just started bicycle touring. I helped him with his new touring bike setup. The following day, I stayed with Bill and Linda, who started hosting cyclists after their daughter, Lea, completed a U.S. bike tour.<\/p>\n<p>Bill, a retired Lockheed Martin engineer, was restoring a 1970 Mustang from scratch in his garage. His grandson was fascinated by my world \u00a0tour so many questions!<\/p>\n<p>The next evening, I arrived in Washington, D.C. I stayed at the home of G\u00fcliz abla and O\u011fuz abi, who have been following my journey for years. I had promised them years ago that I would visit, and I kept my word. That evening, while enjoying the delicious food prepared by G\u00fcliz abla, Ata abi and Feriha abla joined our conversation. We talked about everything. It was a wonderful night. The next day, Ata abi and I spent an entire day touring museums in Washington, D.C. This meant that during my world bicycle tour, I visited 70 countries and explored the history and art galleries of 67 of them. The three countries where I didn\u2019t visit museums were Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland. However, in these countries, I visited wildlife rehabilitation centers, which housed animals that didn\u2019t exist in the other countries.<\/p>\n<p>By the way, museums in Washington, D.C. are free, and at least three or four days are needed to explore them properly. In fact, dedicating even more time would be even better. We spent from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and could only visit two museums.<\/p>\n<p>Turkey\u2019s ambassador in Washington, D.C., is Sedat abi\u2014Sedat \u00d6nal. For years, some people have found it odd that I refer to ambassadors as \u201cabi\u201d or \u201cabla\u201d (older brother\/sister), but that\u2019s just how I am. I also call diplomats my age by their first names. I don\u2019t enjoy using \u201cBey\u201d or \u201cHan\u0131m\u201d (Mr. or Ms.), and if possible, I prefer that people my age don\u2019t call me \u201cBey\u201d either\u2014just call me G\u00fcrkan. My acquaintance with Sedat abi, his wife Figen abla, and their daughter Defne goes back to my time in Jordan. While I was cycling there, Sedat abi was Turkey\u2019s ambassador to Jordan. Thanks to the diplomatic notes he issued for me, I was able to enter Israel with ease, and even today, he remains the person who wrote the diplomatic note that allowed me to travel through Saudi Arabia\u2014something that is still not permitted for people like me.<\/p>\n<p>At this point, let me share an observation I once mentioned to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior and clarify the visa issue as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the state supported you, you wouldn\u2019t have to struggle with visas, or they would issue you a special passport.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I usually don\u2019t respond to these kinds of comments or just brush them off. The ministry\u2019s logo has been on my website for 13 years\u2014there\u2019s nothing more to say.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what I told the undersecretary:<\/p>\n<p>Our diplomats stay abroad for 3\u20134 years and build a network, but before a new diplomat arrives, the current one is recalled to the headquarters. When the newly appointed diplomat starts working, they lose the entire network and relationships that the previous diplomat built over 3\u20134 years and have to start from scratch. The outgoing diplomat should wait for at least 10 days to introduce their replacement to their network. This includes ambassadors and diplomats from other countries as well.<\/p>\n<p>If the newly appointed diplomat hasn\u2019t built any friendships or connections with anyone at the Canadian embassy, for example, a diplomatic note\u2014a simple A4 paper\u2014will be treated according to standard procedures. If you don\u2019t have a residence or work permit in the country you\u2019re applying from, you can\u2019t get a visa for Canada, Schengen, the U.S., Australia, and many other places. You have to return to your home country to apply\u2014that\u2019s the rule.<\/p>\n<p>A diplomatic letter breaks that rule 99% of the time. But it\u2019s not just an A4 document you can walk into a consulate and get. When the Turkish state issues such a letter, it essentially says, \u201cWe stand by this person; we vouch for them.\u201d I don\u2019t think people fully grasp how valuable that A4 paper is. You can\u2019t just walk into the ministry and say, \u201cBut I pay taxes!\u201d and expect to get one. It took me 4\u20135 months to obtain it, and the process wasn\u2019t easy. I had already written about this before.<\/p>\n<p>Going back to my earlier point\u2014our military attach\u00e9s already follow this transition process. Before leaving their post abroad, the outgoing attach\u00e9 waits for their replacement to arrive, briefs them on the work, and even organizes a farewell dinner with other military attach\u00e9s. This way, the new attach\u00e9 is introduced to the diplomatic network before the previous one departs. Friendship, connections, and networks are important. I hope this detail is addressed in the future.<\/p>\n<p>I also had the opportunity to give a presentation at Turkish Coffee Lady, Gizem \u015ealc\u0131gil\u2019s caf\u00e9. Seeing my high school friend Gizem and catching up with her was wonderful. Even my former colleague P\u0131nar attended the talk. I want to thank everyone who participated.<\/p>\n<p>Elvan from Rize, a special thanks to you. On March 15, 2015, I helped you with your thesis, and thanks to you, I appeared live on Kevin\u2019s program on FOX NEWS. Maybe after I complete the Americas, I\u2019ll join again.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington visit was a fast-paced one. Once my Canadian visa was approved, I had to head back because my U.S. visa expires on April 15. Now, I need to plan my route. Ideally, I\u2019d like to head north along the West Coast, but I also considered other options. I checked whether I could cycle 100 km daily for 15 days. I figured I could do it, so I decided to return.<\/p>\n<p>Train tickets were purchased, farewells were said, and I\u2019m now heading back on the same train I arrived on. But this time, I\u2019m not going to San Francisco\u2014I\u2019m going to Sacramento, where I\u2019ve been before.<\/p>\n<p>April 15, my visa expires\u2014time to leave the country. First stop, Canada. Then, onward to Alaska!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since I was already heading toward Washington, D.C., I figured I\u2019d include New York in this piece as well. For someone cycling around the world, New York City is truly a bustling and crowded place. One undeniable fact is that, given its size and density, the city is remarkably organized and systematic. 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