Paul's journal entry

Ok, so to tell the truth, my first impressions of Turkey were nothing near what I first thought of the country before we left New York. Actually they have been blown out of the water.... I thought that we where going to have so many restrictions when coming here. I will admit I was quite naive, but everyone here has been so welcoming to who we are and the practice that we believe in, which is dance.

Of course when coming to a foreign land you think of what reactions others will have to you, and there are the strange stares and inquisitive looks. The thing is, these are all coming from a good place: the people here are just so curious to find out who we are and where we're from and what we're doing. I feel this country is going through a big change; they want to be accepted just like anyone else does, and I think this is partly why we are here...

Our lesson/improv with Ahmet and the Dervishes was very special...! We where taught some of their traditions and philosophies and afterwards, the points of turning. I mean I was only turning for maybe 5-10min and I felt like I could understand why they turn...after you let go of the world around you it feels like you're not turning anymore and you are one with yourself.

But after the class I was so unbelievably drained that I literally passed out for a few hours!!!

Besides that, I think that the work we could make together is something of great significance for both realms -- not just the fact of two countries, but that of two different beliefs. Even though we are not that different.

Paul Blackman,
Konya 2008.