Turkish & Ottoman Studies Program | Near Eastern Languages & Civilization | University of Washington
Turkey in Seattle : an Oral History Project
Tevfik Sinan Ingec, born on June 2, 1974, in Erzurum, Turkey, is a long-term resident of Redmond, Washington. Raised in Erzurum, known for its cold climate and meat-based cuisine, Sinan recounts a close connection to the military at the time due to the political strife. His family, consisting of his parents and siblings, lived modestly with his father working as a university teacher and his mother as a homemaker. Sinan excelled in his studies and secured a place at a reputable university in Ankara. After completing his education, he began a career in software engineering, which led him to an opportunity at Microsoft in the United States in 2000. Sinan's relocation to Redmond was initially for a short period, but it extended as he settled into life in the U.S. He married shortly before moving to the U.S. and has two sons, one attending the University of Washington and the other in high school. Sinan and his family maintained strong connections with their relatives in Turkey, visiting almost annually. In the U.S., Sinan integrated into the local Turkish community, forming strong bonds and creating a sense of belonging. Despite planning to return to Turkey after a few years, he and his family chose to stay in the U.S., drawn by the lifestyle and community they found there.