Happy November, dear Bilkenters!
A climactic approach to the time of doom and despair, I know. However, I have decided to keep my hopes up for the remainder of the semester. After all, aren’t we all just aliens who consider themselves the conquerors of the galaxy?
I mean, at this rate of daily automation, we’ll probably be traveling through space in a Galaxy-Tesla 2030, considering that flying cars are already making their way into the market. I think this news made me realize how little I am and that my problems and anxieties are actually not that big of a deal. Right?
Somewhere in the universe, there might be an alien civilization discovering the secrets of time travel, and here I am, wondering whether missing another lecture will permanently alter the course of my academic career. Quite embarrassing, if you think about it.
But perhaps there’s something comforting about being so insignificant. If the universe is expanding and technology is advancing faster than I, personally, can comprehend, surely I can afford to spend a Friday evening doing something other than worrying about Monday. And fortunately for us, November seems to have a few distractions in store.
For those looking for a musical escape, Ankara has some interesting performances coming up. American indie folk-rock band Midlake will be performing in Ankara on November 4, while Altın Gün will perform their psychedelic interpretations of Anatolian music in Tunalı on November 15. And for those who would rather experience their existential crises with an orchestral soundtrack, Hollywood to Cinecittà, a concert featuring film music, will take place at CSO Ada Ankara on November 20. Personally, I think there’s something quite appealing about pretending you’re the protagonist of a film for an evening, especially when the actual plot of your life currently revolves around deadlines.
For those who prefer a quieter weekend, I would suggest taking a walk around Tunalı, exploring the little shops, browsing for secondhand treasures, or simply sitting in a café with a book you have absolutely no intention of finishing. You could also catch a film at Büyülü Fener or see what’s happening at Kült Kavaklıdere, but I suggest you do that toward the end of the month, as Swann Arlaud and Javier Bardem’s movies will be hitting the screens.
November might be cold, and the semester might feel like it’s moving both incredibly fast and painfully slowly. Still, there’s music to listen to, films to watch, places to discover, and people to spend time with — or, for those pessimists out there, there is always something to cry about. And if none of that convinces you, remember that the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old, and you are spending a considerable portion of your very brief existence worrying about a Moodle notification.
