The Holy Book
Remember how I told you about my orientation adventure as a fourth year student? Here are some updates, but first let me insert a flashback about how I checked out my ‘first book’ from the library at the beginning of this semester. Naturally it wasn’t the first, but unless you check ‘The’ Books of Orientation”, the library wouldn’t even acknowledge your existence, even though you might have previously checked out thousands of books.
I received the e-mail of the list of books, and as you've all gone through this, one of them had to be checked out. I headed to the library and chose the nearest book on the list and gave it to the librarian to do the computer work. After she was done, she handed the “Book” to me. The content of the “Book” was of no interest to me actually, so I handed it back to her, with the relief of finishing a sacred duty! However, she wouldn’t take it, because I had to keep it for a certain amount of time, she said. I felt nervous but didn’t mind that too much.
Days passed, and the “Book” kept lying on my desk among other books, where it was ignored and forgotten! When I did remember the orientation duty lies beyond that piece of work, I was terrified. I felt like I was hiding a terrorist or something! But it was too late, anyway. I finally took the “Book” back to the library, -just recently-, and was charged with a late fee! Consequences, you may say, like Merovingian, but don't be so hard on me.
First, I am obliged to get a book. Second, I am not allowed to give it back, but obliged to keep it. Then, when I bring it back some time later,
I am late, and I am obliged to pay for it! Now, I am really convinced that ‘time is money’! I’m cursed by the orientation, I’m telling you. Even the books I check out for it come back as a damnation! Now, I have begun worrying about how ‘Düşünmenin Yolları’ or ‘Bir Elin Nesi Var İki Elin Sesi Var’ activities could come back to haunt me.

Efe Peker (POLS/IV)