Happy Eid

Today is May 19th, Youth and Sports Day.

Actually, I said I would celebrate today, but I haven't gotten into the mood to celebrate yet.

The landing in Samsun, the beginning of liberation, the events that followed, the congresses...

Most of us know our history. 

Let's go back to my youth about today with you today.

Preparations would start weeks in advance.

They would gather us all on the sports field in the back and show us various choreographed movements. We would also do acrobatics.

The preparations would take quite a long time.

Even if it was cloudy at times, it was usually already May heat.

Sweating blood, but proudly.

I also remember going to the İnönü stadium for the last rehearsal in the last days. We used to go by ferry, and then I think by shuttle to the stadium.

They would give us rations and stuff. 

I remember our white and red clothes like tights.

We were even making a flag in the show, and we used to laugh amongst ourselves that waving the flag required special movements.

One year we would perform, one year the Naval High School would perform.

Yes, I'm talking about Kuleli Military High School's performances on May 19.

I don't know what to blame, the people who handed Kuleli over to a terrorist organization or the thoughtlessness of those who dared to close it down completely.

I think the English preparatory class for the cadet schools has been stationed at Kuleli these days.

The last time I was there, there was the 30th anniversary reunion of our generation at Kuleli. It hadn't closed yet then. We longed for our school, the pearl of the Bosphorus.

I will say that today is May 19th again.

Today is a holiday! It is not like the old holidays anymore, but it still fills me with excitement.

Love and respect to everyone from Moscow