This is the English translation of the memoir I originally published in Turkish in 2024. One September morning, I set off from Kavala (Καβάλα) in Petros’s car. Petros, a native of Kavala, was my travelling companion on my first visit to Komnina (Κομνηνά), the village where my grandfather was born[1]. Komnina is a village inContinueContinue reading “Stone and Wine: A Memoir of a Descendant of the Population Exchange between Greece and Türkiye”
Category Archives: personal reflection
Capturing journeys of learning – to infinity: An experimental piece of writing
Opening commentary: A practice-based writing workshop run by Laura WattsOn the 3rd of June, 2026, I attended a practice-based writing workshop led by Laura Watts and organised by David Redmalm at Mälardalen University. The only preparation needed was to bring three objects related to my research to write about. The task was to produce experimentalContinueContinue reading “Capturing journeys of learning – to infinity: An experimental piece of writing”
Getting out of the comfort zone, again? On our AI-Write project, Limerick, and the future of higher education (in Europe)
We are living in the times when at least half of the LinkedIn users1, AI-influencers, or people you barely know are telling you to get out of your comfort zone, before you have had enough time to spend in and enjoy your “comfort zone” (i.e. doing what you know best – apparently it is “notContinueContinue reading “Getting out of the comfort zone, again? On our AI-Write project, Limerick, and the future of higher education (in Europe)”
Taş ve Şarap: Bir mübadil torunu anısı
Bir Eylül sabahı Kavala’dan (Καβάλα) çıktım yola Petros’un arabasında. Kavalalı Petros dedemin doğduğu köy olan Komnina’ya (Κομνηνά) ilk ziyaretimde yoldaşım oldu. Komnina İskeçe’de (Xanthi – Ξάνθη) bir köy, eski adıyla Kurular. Komnina yolunda dedemi ve Bursa’nın Gündoğdu (Palladari – Παλλαδάρι, ya da Filedar) köyündeki çocukluğumu düşündüm. Rodop dağlarını yavaşça tırmanırken zeytin ve incir ağaçlarının kokusuContinueContinue reading “Taş ve Şarap: Bir mübadil torunu anısı”
Olcay Sert 