YES, I WOULD
Yes, I Would… comprises a series of imaginary letters written to Lady Mary Montagu, whose famous “Embassy Letters were written in 1716-1718 during her stay in Turkey as the wife of the English ambassador. Those letters from Turkey, written to friends in England, served to describe the many fascinating aspects of the daily life she encountered while in Turkey. In the same vein, Katharine Branning’s letters use themes dear to Lady Mary, such as culture, art, religion, women and daily life, as seen and appreciated by a modern Western traveler, much as Lady Mary did almost 300 years ago. Although addressed to Lady Mary, Branning’s “letters to Turkey” are destined to be read by our contemporary society, as an insight on how many noteworthy characteristics of the “Orient,” which have been blurred for various in the Western eyes, have inspired a deep admiration for an outside observer.
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Dear Katharine/Kadriye Branning,
Once after I have finished reading the book, I came to realize “how little I have known about my own country, culture, people, history and traditions. A clear and loving look from the outside but also providing insider look! I appreciated everything penned by your (Katharine Branning’s) point of view and thanked her many times for reminding me that “Dialogue is needed first in ourselves, then, it should/can outreach to the others”.
It made me to look closer to evrything around me, to appreciate what I possess, to maintain its well-being and to respect once again the things I have already been doing. Thanks a million times!
Your Sincerely
Ramazan
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About KATHARINE BRANNING
Katharine Branning has degrees from the University of Paris, Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre, where she majored in Islamic arts, with a specialty in Islamic glass. A graduate of the Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science, she has been a librarian at the French Institute of Architecture in Paris, France, at the French Embassy Cultural Services and the Alliance Française in New York City. For her work promoting the French language and culture through the creation of numerous libraries in both France and the United States, she has been awarded the Ordre national du Mérite from the President of France, one of the nation’s highest honors. She has studied the Turkish language and literature at the Institute of Langues Orientales in Paris and with Prof. Talat S. Halman at New York University. As an independent researcher and glass artist, she has conducted annual field work relative to architecture and decorative arts in Turkey every year since 1978. She currently lives in New York, where she is the Vice President of Education at the French Institute Alliance Française.
Ramazan Dicle 
This is a personal message for Ramazan Dicle:
Dear Ramazan Dicle,
I am very delighted that you wrote about my book, “Yes I would love another glass of tea” on your most interesting blog. It is remarks like yours that have made this experience so enriching for me, for I have seen that many people across many borders have found enriching elements in the intent of my book.
Lady Mary Montagu impressed me very much when I read her many years ago, and I have strived since to maintain her open and non-judgemental view in all that I do. She in her outstaning letters confirm to me that we all share a common humanity: there are some good people, there are some bad people, but in the end we are all alike. As a linguist, you know the importance of the signified and the signifiers, and the difficulties of a true dialog. I hope that my book has helped to begin a dialog between Turkey and those who are uniformed – or misinformed about it.
with best wishes for your continued success, I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Katharine “Kadriye” Branning
Dear Katharine/Kadriye Branning,
Thanks a million for your letter and response. I am very glad to read your wonderful remarks. Since reading your book, I have read a lot about Lady Montagu and I figured out why she resembled and attracted you.
I hope this examples of yours to bring along many bridges of dialogues where people took the initiative to know one another and could destroy the prejudices against each other.
I am really happy and proud to see through another pair of eyes thanks to you and your book. I wish to do so more.
Best regards
Ramazan
So, whom to read first? Lady Montagu or Katharine Branning? 🙂
You can start with either of them since Katherine Branning already gives an overlook of Lady Montagu and makes a comparison between the two. You will love it as soon as you get to reading it. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Dear Katherine,
I am working tea plants in Turkey on scientific base (cultural heritage, genetic resources, composition, human health effects etc.) so a long time and tea plant is an important part of my life..I am also teaching tea class in my university. I have read and reread your book over and over and l now have a better understanding how tea is important in the country’s life. Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this information and kept in mind to make it easy to understand. Most books that l have brought on tea are ok but do not give you the understanding of the effects of tea in human community life that is easy to understand as your information does. You have restored my faith in link between humanity and tea. l will be very happy to discuss with you on cultural heritage of tea plants in Turkey. Prof. Dr. Sezai Ercisli
Good evening Prof. Dr. Sezai Ercisli,
What a beautiful letter you have written, and I am very touched by your remarks. You Turks are very lucky that you have this little glass of tea that can unite every one of you on some level. The warmth of tea and its symbolism is a little simple sip towards the path of peace and mutual understanding, which often gets lost in our daily lives. What university do you teach at? Thank you for your comments on my book and I am glad that it could bring you some inspriation. Your letter did the same for me. Best regards, Katharine Branning.
Hi Madan Katharine Branning
It is really honer to know you, to read your book. Now i am reading your book. I am far from Turkey. while i am reading your book, you are bringing me Turkey. Actually there is no any word to describe how it is beautiful your work.And how it is important peace and dialog in this century. Now you handled that job.If somebody asks me to describe Turkey, I assure you I could not do the way you did.
thank you very much.
With my best Wishes
God bless You
Hello Hakan Bey,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write about my book, and express your thoughts about it.
This book has been a big adventure for me. One journey is sometimes an opening step to many journeys. My journey to see the Gok Medrese in Sivas when I was a young woman opened lifelong journeys to Turkey and is now continuing to add journeys of goodwill to people in other parts of the world. The biggest joy in all of this has been to receive letters from people like you, who understand that I wished to convey to others the many positive, life-affirming and peaceful qualities of the Turkish people that have enlightened me and informed my view of the world. Perhaps we can try to make that road to peace happen by just remembering to respect and love the other.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your thoughts. God bless you. Katharine Branning
Madam thank you so much for your reply even tough you are very busy. ı hope ı can see you personaly.
This is exactly the fourth article, of your website I really browsed.
However , I like this one, “Yes I would Love
another Glass of Tea | Ramazan Dicle” the best.
Cya -Hung
Thank you for your nice comments and stopping by 🙂
Bests
Ramazan
This unique posting, “Yes I would Love another Glass of Tea | Ramazan Dicle” zuisg ended up being amazing.
I am impressing out a replicate to demonstrate to my personal colleagues.
Thanks for your effort-Katharina