Neal DePaul is both pseudonym and anagram, my nom de plume for an American expatriate who first set foot in İstanbul in 1979, ten days after getting married. For nearly thirty years, Neal and Libby ventured around the world. The journeys and escapades described in Anatolian Adventure are largely factual, though I exaggerated the truth when it suited me—stretching the fictional fabric to fit my oversized ego and imagination.

American expatriate teachers, Neal and Libby lived those first two years in Western Turkey in wide-eyed wonder. Another 15 years followed in the deserts of Arabia, followed by more years in the tall peaks of Central Asia. Eventually, Neal and family moved to coastal French Morocco, and yet another enchanted stay in the rainforests of Northern Sumatra.

Neal and Libby took something from each adventure. When asked, “What was your favorite country?” it gives us pause, since there was far more good than bad in those 30 years. Two children were born and raised abroad, lifelong friendships were forged, and adventures enough to form the fabric of this book, and maybe more.

That said, however, our usual answer is “Turkey” because we loved the country, we loved our Turkish students and friends, and we loved our Anatolian Adventure.


Dedication

To Libby, our children, and our students