N16Life_SUMMER2017

STORIES
we put out a solo 7” by Yuki Tsujii from
the Hackney based band, Bo Ningen,
Yuki’s solo record had a leaf taken
from Clissold Park and inserted into
each package along with the record
itself, these records were then
shipped all over the world.
Müge Çetinkaya
I was born in Karabük, Turkey, where I spent
the most magnificent years of my childhood
until about 12 years old.
My parents were both civil servants. I used
to visit my mother at work and loved playing
games behind the counter, imitating her and
her colleagues working with typewriters and
doing fast calculations with Facit calculators.
One of the first pieces of advice I was given
was “if you have an apple, halve it, and then
give the bigger piece to your friend”. I always
do.
After my parents’ divorce in 1986, I moved
to Izmit with my mother and little sister. Such
events teach you to take responsibility, like
taking care of my sister while our mother
was at work. I was interested in everything
to protect the environment and nature. I was
very good at literature and that’s why I still am
very fond of writing. I have a blog but I admit
that I am a bit lazy focusing on it.
At 17, I joined a local theatre group. I had
made great friends there with still ongoing
strong connections. Unfortunately, I could not
carry on acting much longer as the same year
because I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus,
an illness where person’s immune system
goes to overdrive and attacks its own organs
and tissues. It manifests itself differently and
it can have a big impact in their life. Let's just
say I learned well how to manage it.
I am a graduate of Ankara University,
Department of Sociology. After a few
filmmaking short courses in London, I studied
Broadcast Post-Production and worked for
several media and broadcast companies and
organisations such as BBC London and MTV
Europe.
I now mostly work independently on project
based roles; co-ordinating international
media for some film festivals, PR for theatre
plays, voluntary works for NGOs; the British
Lung Foundation and Greenpeace UK.
Home is the most important place in the
world. I can easily say that a lot of my friends
also feel a little lost in London even after long
years living and working here. Everybody
loves to go to their home eventually.
I hit a low when I lost my mother in 2008
but the 2013 Gezi Park upheavals fanned the
flame. I genuinely want everything to be a lot
better in Turkey and one day plan to go back
for good. For now, I miss Turkey when I am
here and when I am there, I miss London. But
in London nothing managed to fill the gap
in my life which once was loaded with full of
unconditional love given me by my Turkish
family and friends.
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