Turkish & Ottoman Studies Program | Near Eastern Languages & Civilization | University of Washington
Turkey in Seattle : an Oral History Project
Akin Uslu, born in Kayseri, Turkey in 1968, faced early tragedy with his father Mehmet's death in an aviation accident. His mother Fahriye moved them to Istanbul for better educational opportunities, but Akin initially struggled academically at a French-based private school. Despite this, he excelled by graduation and earned a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1992. His move to the U.S. brought identity challenges with Akin working to find his place in the US. Yet after 31 years, considering family and opportunities, Akin and his wife chose to stay in the U.S., valuing personal happiness over prescribed paths.