For the second year in a row I had the pleasure of attending the annual Washington D.C. Turkish festival in Freedom Plaza just down the road from the White House. For the second year in a row, it was an amazing experience. Last year they said that more than 10,000 people visited Turkey in Washington D.C. and I think more people attended this year.
My wife was volunteering to set up and work the festival so she got up at 5:30 in the morning to go to the location and get to work. She said that it felt like she was actually going to Turkey because most long flights begin so early in the morning. I suppose I am not as dedicated to the cause, because I did not arrive until 10:30. The festival didn't officially begin until 11, but already the place was humming with activity. The entire community comes out to advertise, socialize and eat. We saw Turkish immigration lawyers, phone card vendors, jewelry designers, artists and one artist even came all the way from Turkey to sell his hand crafted china.
Walking around the plaza is like a journey to visit my wife's family in Ankara. We enjoyed Simit first thing which is a type of bread or pastry with sesame seeds. I was told that every city in Turkey makes their own variation of Simit and it is a competition to determine who makes the best. I have had simit before from the Turkish market, but that had been frozen. This was the first time I could appreciate the fresh from the oven kind. I didn't have turkish tea, but that was my own fault.
The show on stage began and the only way to describe the show was diverse. From 11 am until 6 pm there was constantly new and interesting performances for the thousands of people who showed. They got things started off with a bang with a belly dancer first thing. There were several traditional as well as more modern bands and dances. For a long time hundreds of people gathered together to do a dance. I am not sure what it is called but everyone takes hands and dances in a rotating circle. I am not really sure what is going on there, but it is interesting. Maybe in the comments someone can say more about that.
My favorite part of the day was the raffle. Turkish Airlines had donated two round trip tickets for the upcoming direct flights from Washington D.C. to Istanbul. It was not so much that I expected to win, but the idea that I could win a trip to Turkey made the whole day exciting and full of possibility.
I suppose the most important thing for any Turkish community gathering is the people. It is always so nice to see friends and to see the hard work of so many people paid off. I saw one friend who I had not seen in two months and she was carrying a baby! After the paramedics revived me, she explained that she was taking care of a nephew. Whew! it is good to know that time doesn't move that fast! Or perhaps it does, as she told me that she and her husband are thinking about babies. In addition to friends in the Turkish community, many many American friends came out to sample the delicious food from the vendors. (personally, I recommend to everyone to try the doner)
By the end of the day it became a little bit cold and people began to get tired. It began to rain and we had to cut things to a close a little bit early. By that time, many people were starting to clear out anyway and the rain was not too terrible. All and all, it was a really great day full of fun, friends, food and happiness. Any one who was not there missed out on great food and a great day.. But there is always next year.