It was nearly 10 p.m. I had gone to call on my multimedia teacher and his wife, at their apartment in Galata, seeking advice regarding the status my assignment. I was feeling completely overwhelmed and I knew my teacher could put my mind at ease. After a bus, tram and a bit of a walk, I arrived at their apartment. My instructor’s wife made tea and put out some snacks, all of which we carried up to the rooftop terrace…. Read more

I have lived in Los Angeles my entire life, but it has never felt like my home. I’ve never really felt like I belonged here or like I was meant to be here. I have always felt a little lost or out of place. In fact, the only times that I have ever really felt at home were when I was traveling. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I have always been more comfortable in a city I… Read more

It was 5:32am, on my first morning in Istanbul, when I was awakened by the loud crackle of a speaker. My hotel room was still shrouded in nighttime darkness. I rolled over, assuming what I had heard must have been the rickety air-conditioner, and invited sleep to return. Moments later the speaker crackled again, this time followed by a voice. It started as a low wail, which escaped through the speaker in a short burst. Almost immediately it started again,… Read more

Bank of America has abandoned a monthly $5 debit card fee, which was scheduled to begin in early 2012. The announcement came after competitors, namely Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, announced they were no longer going to exact similar fees. The bank cited customer feedback and a changing competitive marketplace as the reason for the bank’s “change of heart,” according to a Nov. 1  statement. “We have listened to our customers very closely over the last few weeks and recognize… Read more

Before I arrived in Istanbul, I had never done any sort of multimedia work. I am a photographer plain and simple. The idea of shooting video has never appealed to me. But as a journalist, being able to write, photograph, and produce multimedia pieces could make me more marketable, so I knew I wanted to try to learn. The second assignment in my study abroad program was to shoot and produce a multimedia piece. The idea of putting together a… Read more