my friend huseyin

this is my friend huseyin. we've shared an office this past year, and we've also taken some classes together. it's been a pretty fun year, and i'm surprised i haven't talked his ear off yet. sometimes i just get going and it's hard to stop me. anyway, huseyin is transferring to the university of texas in austin, so i'll have to break in a new office mate next year. but seriously, huseyin's been an awesome friend and i'll miss him a lot. these are just a few of the reasons:

• he has the greatest deadpan sense of humor that comes out every once in a while that ALWAYS makes me laugh.
• he's as dedicated to his religion as i am to mine. and we respect that
• the way he apologized right and left when he suggested we go to a coffee shop when i go visit him in texas. ("oh, um, no, i mean, you don't drink coffee. i'm very sorry. um we can go somewhere else.") like i said, we respect each other's beliefs.
• the way we both get very uncomfortable when our friend hyobin (from korea) starts talking about sex. again.
• he always offered me a cup of tea when he was making some for himself in our office. (ah the joys of electric tea kettles). and when i refused, he'd make sure to point out that it's just herbal tea.
• knowing how frustrated i would get when the wifi in the office was on the fritz yet again, he would always remind me where the logon id and password were for the computer in our office.
• completely being able to understand each other when talking about how anxious our parents are for us to get married. (sorry mom, you know it's true. it goes without saying. love ya ;)

and the list goes on and on. he and i were meant to be friends. our birth days are only 5 days apart. really. he was born 21 jan 1981 and i was born 26 jan 1981. you don't have to say it. it's crazy. i know. what are the chances. anyway, last week we had a little going away party for him. i made a cake and decorated it like the texas flag. sorry i didn't take a picture of it before we cut it up. it's was pretty amazing, though, i have to say. here's a picture of our little party.

(l-r, ilham (from azerbaijan), ilham's wife and daughter (also from azerbaijan), stithorn's wife (from thailand), stithorn (also from thailand), huseyin (from turkey), akiko (from japan), hyobin (from korea), me (from idaho), and doug (from pittsburgh))

i don't know if you noticed (that's why i'm pointing it out), but me and doug (irish lookin' guy on the far right) are the only americans in attendance. and i love it! it's like yellowstone all over again. i was only friends with the foreign folk (and a few other extra special folk, like you jenni). i like it better that way. please read the previous post again if you don't believe me.