Istanbul!

I am in Istanbul! (Not Constantinople.)
The American Middle Eastern Network for Dialogue at Stanford is holding its first Forum in the region. Fellows who attended the week-long collaboration, training, and sharing Summits at Stanford in 2012 and 2013 are coming together to continue building the network, dig into our initiatives, and figure out how we can grow and expand our individual and group work.
And, of course, we also happen to be in Istanbul. The President of Koc University, one of the most significant unis in Turkey, is a Stanford alum who taught there for several years. The AMENDS Koc Forum is building links between the two universities as well as providing a space for our work.
I flew in on New Year's Day and spent a few days with Elliot's family. (Elliot is a good friend and one of the co-founders of AMENDS.) The Forum kicked off on Saturday with opening remarks from the University President. I led a team management workshop today, and we have a formal networking dinner this evening.
I head back to Scotland 9 January...and the new term begins on Monday 13 January!