The Plights and Pleasures of a "Web Celebrity"

From: The Reverend (reverend@weak.in.geography.usa)
Subject: New Testament Corinth

During a discussion in our Bible class, a question was asked about the status of the churches which the apostle Paul established in Corinth. Could you update us on the status of those churches as they exist today? We would appreciate any insight and data which you could send us. Thank you.

Others do not seem to know that the "edu" in many addresses stands for educational institutions, and they somehow believe I am a travel-agent:

From: Sibel Aptal (aptal@ignorance.edu)
Subject: Ucak Bileti

Merhabalar! Sizin adresinizi Internet'ten buldum ve sizden bir ricam var. Ben Aralik ayinda Turkiye'yi (Ankara'yi) ziyaret etmek istiyorum. Eger benim icin ucak biletinin Turk Hava Yollari ile ne kadar oldugunu ogrenebilirseniz oradaki THY subelerinden cok sevinirim. Buradan telefon etmek korkunc pahalli oldugu icin Turkiye'yi arayamiyorum malesef. Munich'den Ankara'ya ucmak istiyorum (ya da Frankfurt'tan). From December to January "Ogrenci" Biletlerinin ne kadar oldugunu ogrenebilirseniz cok sevinirim. Tum zahmetleriniz ve zamaniniz icin simdiden cok tesekkurler...

I was even asked to help find that male US tourist who disappeared in Turkey in 1995:

From: Worried Friend (help.me@lost.and.found)
Subject: Intercity bus lines

I am trying to find information including fax numbers for Turkish inter-city bus companies. I visited your web site and noted the names of some which were listed there. Can you assist me with any further information about the services / companies which operate in Turkey? I am particularly interested in any service between Antalya - Istanbul which would connect through Bilecik - Eskisehir - Kutahya. I am trying to retrace the route which was taken by a young US man who has disappeared in Turkey as of September 1995. The last news we had was that he intended to travel north from Antalya heading for Istanbul. His primary interest was historic sites and would have visited any in these regions. I would like to contact the various bus lines to request their assistance by placing missing person posters in Turkish on the buses and at their depots. Your assistance is very much appreciated by the family and by myself.

Others need some paternal help:

From: Redneck (redneck@teen.love.uk)
Subject: Your Diary

My daughter, aged 18, has acquired a Turkish boyfriend when holidaying in Turkey recently. She now wants to return to Turkey - to Icmeler - and spend the summer with him, but this would be difficult unless she was able to get a job out there. So my question is - would it be possible for her to get a work visa? Alternatively, if she merely went back out on a normal 3 month tourist visa, and then worked, how serious would it be if she was caught. Any guidance you can give about this - or any reference to someone else who might be able to help - would be much appreciated.

Some ask me to help them find the Holy Grail, or almost:

From: Erich (noah@erich.von.daniken)
Subject: research in Turkey

I have long wanted to visit Turkey, but haven't made it yet. The primary reason that I've wanted to go, was because of the mystery of Noah's Ark and Mt. Ararat etc. I understand that it has been somewhat unsafe to go to the eastern provinces, so I'm waiting for better times...assuming that will happen. In the meantime, I'm trying to do more research about supposed sightings of the Ark. There is one in particular which needs further research. [...] I would like to find someone in Turkey who would be interested in spending the time to try to trace and run down the sources for the English news reports. That's why I'm contacting you, (not that I'm asking you to do so) but perhaps you know of someone or know someone who may know someone who could and would do the research. I expect that a student at one of the universities may find this interesting and challenging. I'm not certain even if records still exist for back in the 1880s. If they do, they are probably in Istanbul, for I believe that that was the seat of government at that time. I'm not at all certain that the English news reports are accurate. They may even be faked. But until some research is done to try to trace the source of the reports, no one could know for sure.

The world is small, and here is a proof:

From: Nice Guy (doctor@health.medicine.edu)
Subject: Dunya kucuk

Merhaba Pierre, I was searching Internet and saw your diary and read it. Your name made me think I had met you before, and when I began reading your being wounded at the Kackar's everything was clear. I am Dr. XYZ, orthopedic surgeon from Bayindir Tip Merkezi. [...]

Often, I am asked to recommend travel routes, or even more:

From: Dolly (lonely.blonde@adventure.net)
Subject: your Turkey diary

I've enjoyed reading your over-the-years account of daily life in Turkey. My interest in the country was sparked by an article I read on traveling there on a shoestring budget, further fueled by attending the Mevlana death-day ceremony recently, and escalated to somewhat of a fever pitch by your tales.
This is more a test message to ensure your email address is current (taken from 1993) and to see if you have some interest in corresponding a bit on this topic.
I am a single American woman, 35, employed in the telecommunications/ software industry (tech writer) with plans to take a very adventurous tour of Turkey in 1996 with two single women friends, both from the U.S., a programmer and a business grad student.

Some ask me to do consular work:

From: See (china.girl@visas.for.all.sg)
Subject: help

I would like to help my friends from china enrol into school in your country. Most of them are gratuated. they want to apply student pass for English course, computer and management. Can you help me to get some information about how to apply student pass and visa for China people. Thank you very much.

Others' requests are flattering:

From: Great Cook (hmmm@cook.thief.wife.lover)
Subject: Eat Smart in Turkey

We are writing a travel guidebook devoted to Turkey's cuisine, which will be sent to the printer in about 3 weeks, and would like you to review it if you are interested. [...]

And, to round it off, here is an uncensored peace message from Greece:

From: Kostas Papandreos (papandreos@flame.thrower.gr)
Subject: The jerkness of Turkeys.

Fuck off!!! Imia is greek. Constantinoupol is is the capital of Greece. Cyprus is greek. Go fuck yourshelf. Turkey is the most developed african country. Population 100% gypsies. Chiller is a rich bitch.

From: chair@peace.gr
Subject: Re: Kostas Papandreos

Dear Dr Flener,
I am sorry that a student of Mechanical Engineering is not abiding with the rules of the scientific community and has sent to you a totally unacceptable--in every aspect--message, able to disturb the peaceful and tolerant climate of the International scientific community. The e/m address of the aforementioned student has immediately been removed and [the dean] will take the disciplinary measures which he deems appropriate for this unbelievable story. Please stay assured that such kind of attitude will not be tolerated by our University. Please stay assured that such nationalistic bubbles have nothing to do with the Greek Scientific community or the Greek society as a whole.

Finally, note that I have made some wonderful contacts through these web pages. For instance, every four months or so, there was a message of the following kind on my answering machine:

Hello. You do not know us, but we know you! We have read, and enjoyed, your stories and advice on traveling in Turkey, and are currently in Ankara, setting base in Kale Otel in Ulus, phone 439-8537. We would like to meet you, and invite you for dinner. If you have time and are interested, please call us.

I hope you liked reading this,

HoscakalIn,
Pierre Flener