salvationliesinthegreenappl-blog

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Dearest Batum,

I made this blog for you because sometimes life can be unfair and cruel and confusing. Sometimes we forget how blessed we are, and sometimes we forget how much we’ve impacted and influenced other people’s lives. When I told you about my first experience being a teacher’s assistant a few months ago at a primary school in London, you told me:

Today is an important day Try to capture how you felt Commit it to memory Fall back on it when things get tough and you question why you are doing things that you are doing This is why Such luck to find something to push us forward

I wanted to make something for you to look at whenever you have a tough day (because things get tough no matter who you are, let’s be realistic about these things). Something to remind you that there are people who love you, people who are happy to know that you are in their lives. You’ve made an impact on all of us, and I’m happy to say that one thing we all have in common is the fact that we have been honored with the privilege of getting to know you.

While you can be (a little) cynical sometimes, don’t worry — your friends have recognized positive traits in you, from your kind soul to your wonderfully strange sense of humor. I’ve read every message on this blog, and I was amazed by all the wonderful things your friends had to say about you.

I don’t doubt that you’ll continue to make an impact on other people’s lives in the future, whether that be by sword fighting and slicing an apple in the air or by being a friend who listens/becomes a shoulder to cry on/argues about the complexity of an anime character.

I hope you had an amazing day — words can’t express how happy I am to have been able to see you and spend time with you on this special day.

Lots of love, Isam

p.s. I’m hoping this blog will be given an honorary place in your Bookmarks Bar… we shall see *coughs*

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As you know, Batucum, in our relationship celebration with poem is a tradition or "adettendir". Hollandayi da gezdik el ele Ankarada da yürüdük dip dibe Pis lise günlerinde bi soz vermistik Pisman olmadan ilerledik Yapıcaz demistik, yaptık. Bir temmuz aksaminda İzmir gecesinde yollarda Renkli isiklar altinda Top oynayarak gezmistik Hep demistik bu sekilde Dolasalim, dertleşelim, laflayalım Ablanın evinin orda da olsa Yapıcaz demiştik, yaptık Malum bi şey var yapmadığımız, yaktığımız Yapıcaz dedik, inş yapıcaz Lanet Ankarada olmasan da Oyunlar krali olup zengin olsan da Vur kadehleri fasilda Ellerinden öpüyorum kanka

- Doruk

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İyi ki doğdun suflecim. 22 yas Batu superliginde geçsin 💃 - Ezgi

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Batu my friend! Happy, happy birthday! After four years, I am so glad to have finally gotten close with you this past semester. While I’m sad that it took us this long, I am immensely grateful for every second we spent together… there’s never been a dull moment! From your knife-wielding skills, and the legendary Global Leader, to insightful conversations, countless games, and losing Laddis to you every time, I am full to the sugared brim with wonderful memories. You are an amazing person, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to call you my friend… not just friendly! I hope you have a magnificent birthday! I’m very much looking forward to making more memories with you in the future. Go Banana Slugs! Love, Aly

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Hey Batu, You probably know Im not really a big fan of joint thiiings and all that, because youre very special to me and I want you to feel that. Regardless i want to wish you an extremely happy birthday. You are one of the highlights of my nyuad experience and if im glad for anything, its that you invaded my central park picnic. Thank you for being what the word "best friend" really means. I will miss you endlessly. 

Mona

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Hello beautiful friend-- I have a feeling you are going to get many notes today from many different people who know you a great deal more than I do.   But sometimes, perhaps, MAYBE it's the people who know you less well that can best see your character.  And from me, a person who definitely sees myself as one of your many friends, though not the closest of all-- you are truly an incredible and giving person.  Your game nights were a refuge for everyone who walked in the door, including me.  You let everyone feel a bit more free in a campus that sorely needs it. You have a big big heart, Batu.  It shines through in how you interact with everyone.  At least, everyone I've seen you with.  And I can't admire you enough for it.  You truly deserve the best the world has to offer.  Because, well, I truly believe if you HAD the best, whether that's the glory that is Attack on Titan or the Beatles or that beautiful scene from the Turkish movie we watched together, you'd like to share it with others.   Happy Birthday, epic human.  Keep going.  I'm always a message away, should you need another human as we all leave our bird's nest of Abu Dhabi and fly into the WORLD! And thank you for our friendship.  It has made me better.  Truly truly. Big big hugs from a very soggy Krakow, Poland-- Arianna Stucki

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Percy Shelley's "Ozymandias"

I met a traveller from an antique land

Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:

 And on the pedestal these words appear:

'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.

  Levan Asatiani’s “Batu”

I met a traveler from an antique Land

Who said: Two vast and timeless states of mind

Occur in the brain. Near them in the cosmos,

Half sunk, a 3 pieces of apple lies, whose pieces,

And oxidized sides, and seeds of poisonous bliss,

Tell that the ninja well his knife sharpened

Whose cuts yet survive, carved in the lifeless things,

The hand that respected them and the heart that fed.

 And on the pedestal these words appear:

“My name is Batu, friend of friends:

Look upon my apple, ye Friendly and rejoice!”

Nothing beside remains. Round with fermentation

Of that greenest fruit, shining with violet light

The lone and level cosmos stretches far away.

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Batu, reflecting on your birthday I came to the realization that 22 is a palindrome. So is "murder for a jar of red rum." I guess what I am trying to say is just stick to gin. Oh, and happy birthday. I miss you over here in California. (I'd rub in the fact that I'm here and you're not but I don't know that I can take 6 years of payback). In any case, happy 22nd! Hope you can eat green apples and cake to your hearts content. - Casey

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Dear Batu, CHILLI CON CARNE! FAJITAAAAAASSS! SWEET JESUS JELLIES! Not bad for a turkish lad and an old ham. Feliz Cumpleaños! Atti

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С днем рождения тебя, дорогой друг!!! I hope this finds you well. I wish you many more blessed and happy years to come! Stay the wonderful person you are; and, please, stay positive and bright as you are (and nice, and helpful as I know you)! Thank you sooooo much for all the great talks, discussions, debates, awesome jokes, and cool moments that I have been lucky to share with you. Dear Batu, please, be happy (and healthy)   have a great summer-class-TA-ing time, and the rest of the summer break. Hopefully, see you many more times after the end of June 2017 (I got pretty upset right now typing this sentence in, but I truly hope our life paths will intersect many more times in future than we can imagine). You are a wonderful friend, an awesome emerging game-designer, and an amazingly decent human being with great moral code and (what I think to be stable) set of core values. I can assure you that I have enjoyed every moment spent in your company – and I am typing this not to just fill the space on the page, but because I truly mean this, and I want you to know that I am very grateful to the Universe for the fact that I have met you (and, moreover, dare to call you my FRIEND). P.S. I am sorry for such a short note; wishing you all the best with your new stage in life, and good luck with becoming a PhD-overachiever, who will - for sure - enjoy the “greenest” of the potentially new home very soon. - Anastasia

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Dear Batu, Hi! I heard your birthday was coming up so happy birthday! You are now one year wiser. And have graduated. Wow. I still remember when we met like three years ago. Ah, the good ol Mnemosyne days... time flies... but oh well, it was time well spent. I probably won't get to see you anytime soon (#GlobalLeaderProblems), so I hope things go great for you in the future. Especially if games are involved (I heard you were doing a PhD in game stuffs????). Who knows, maybe one day we'll stumble into one another. And make an awesome game together, of course. Stay in touch!

All the best, Mateo

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Happy Birthday Batu! I’m so happy that I got to know you during your junior year through the board game nights/coding sessions/hackathon/KFC in the dunes/Turkish breakfasts. Not only are you brilliant at what you do, but you’re one of the most kind and considerate people I know, and it was wonderful getting to know you better. I’m so excited about what your life after Abu Dhabi will look like, please keep us all updated on your new amazing journey.

- Paula P.S. I think I told you this once before, but whenever I watch Silicon Valley I’m reminded of you through Gilfoyle’s character.

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Happy birthday Batu!! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you but in lieu of that I wish you have a fine and glorious day where everything you do will bring you joy (or green apples, swordfights or cake). I know I won't be the first to tell you this but the campus won't be the same without you, you bring out the best in people and give your own unique energy to all things you do. Anyways, have a lovely day aye? - Grace

*note: This message was written before Grace found out you would be in AD this summer

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My dear Batutu, I have been thinking about how to start this message without you rolling your eyes at my cheesiness and I think I finally found a way.

So, are you ready?

Happy Birthday!!

(boom! crushed it) How surprising was that? I am pretty sure you did not expect me to say that. During A&E they taught us to always start our essays with the hook. I am sure after my passionate “Happy Birthday!! (not one, but two exclamation points) ” you can’t wait to read this whole message now! Since you are officially “hooked”, I can transition to my main thesis. I have not known you for a long time, but from our conversations and time spent together I am truly amazed by you. Your kindness, sense of humor and the way you approach every situation, starting with that soft voice that wins the argument every time (seriously, it’s too soft to fight with) and rationality that makes even me speechless (you know, it’s a big deal when I am quiet) are all incredible qualities I grew to appreciate and respect you for. People rarely express what they like or value in others and it’s a pity since I believe we should know what makes us special in the eyes of others. This is a great occasion to express why you are so extraordinary. I am very thankful for your friendship, Batu. You are one of the nicest people I know and by that I mean that there is this light in you that is so welcoming it’s always a pleasure to spend time with you. In addition, you carry this quality with such humility, it’s wonderful. Thank you for making me feel accepted despite our differences. I respect you very much for it and I feel blessed to call you a friend. I am also very happy to see you laugh at my peculiar sense of humour. I know the circus our conversations can turn into can be annoying, but you always managed to make it light-hearted and fun. Thank you for using your wit to overwrite my occasional stupidity. On this note, I hope and wish that you always have people in your life who can make you smile and bring as much joy into your life as you brought into ours at NYUAD. At last, I can't wait to see you kick butts in California. Figuratively, of course (but if you want to release anger, I can always look for good boxing places there. Let me know.). I am so happy for you and so proud of your achievements. What a pleasure has it been seeing you study what you love and getting into the university that will only further your potential. I am honored to be a small part of your journey at least for a semester and annoy you more over summer. I wish you all the best in California and can't wait to hear about your adventures. Now, though you are trying to get as old as I am, it will never actually work and I will always stay older. Older = wiser. At least this is what mom says and we should trust moms. So, it's time I share some wisdom here to reestablish and strengthen my authority. After travelling so much and experiencing life in its technicolor, I now realize that it's always about the people. So, for this Birthday and for many years to come, I wish you to have people that bring only joy and love into your life. I hope that you are surrounded by true friends, healthy and happy family members and that one special someone who will love you in the most wonderful and romantic way. You deserve it very much! I will stop the monologue now and continue once I see you in Abu Dhabi! Hopefully, I will steal a couple of minutes from you on your Birthday in order to give you a big emotional hug and tell you what a wonderful person you are! Happy Birthday, Batu! Thank you for contributing to making NYUAD feel like home. I will miss you very much next year!

Hugs, Mia

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Dearest Batu,

Happiest Birthday! I'm so proud to call you my friend. Thank you for opening up your heart and making a little room for me!

What would this semester have been without you? Thank you for everything. I'm going to miss you so much. Thank you for listening, arguing, sword fighting, game nights, free food, the unix lab, words of wisdom, and walks. It's going to be strange not seeing you everyday. You have been my constant this semester; through everything, you have been there.

Most of all, thank you for silences that are comfortable and thank you for everything you are.

Love you always, Ugyen <3

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Batu, happy birthday mate. I wish you a blessed and joyful year. You're an honourable man, you are kind, and you have been a rock, a pillar in my life for the last 4 years. You're one of my best friends. I'm glad we had these 4 years together and I'm also happy with the way we said goodbye. I'm so happy you got to meet my mum. Know that my home is your home always. I love you brother - go celebrate your existence! - James

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Hi Batata, Thank you for being your wonderful self and giving me the pleasure to get to know that side of you. The best kind of friends are the ones that push me to be a better version of myself, and you definitely do that for me. I'm sorry I'm not there on your special day because you know how much I love throwing birthday parties. Have a great day wherever you are. Love you and miss you always! I hope to run into you somewhere soon! Love, Myera