The Official Blog of TALES FROM THE EXPAT HAREM: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Expat Harem Editor Gives MSNBC Commentary on Obama Election
Following the election of Barack Obama, on November 5th, Jennifer Eaton Gökmenwas invited to NTV/MSNBC’s Sade Vatandas program to give her reaction to and assessment of the historical event. Broadcast live (in Turkish), the evening talk show is hosted by Turkey’s most popular late night personality, Okan Bayulgen.
Other panelists that evening included Galip Sukaya, head of the American Business Forum in Turkey;Istem Erdener, translator of Obama’s book Dreams from my Father; and Istanbul-based African-American photographer Frank Payne, with discussion ranging from the emotional impact of the election to America’s economic recovery and the world’s expectations of the 44th president to be.
JENNIFER EATON GÖKMEN, 15-year resident of Istanbul, Turkey, is the co-editor of the #1 international bestselling anthology Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey. She is currently penning Bellydancing 101, a coming of age novel set in Istanbul. A native of Michigan, she holds a degree in Creative Writing and American and British Literature from Western Michigan University. She has served as an expert on Turkish culture on NBC's TODAY SHOW and has written about Turkey for National Geographic Traveler, TimeOut Istanbul, Perceptive Travel, and Vive, among others. Gökmen is former co-host of a Turkish television series focusing on expatriation issues of foreigners married to Turks, Bir Yar Gelir Bizlere. She was awarded The Daughters of Ataturk Woman of Distinction Award in 2006 for her contribution to Turkish Culture.