I am 50 years old. I was born and raised in Türkiye and moved to the United States in 2000. Time flies. I am the oldest of seven brothers, with no sister. We stay close.
My Writing Journey
From ages 12 to 18, I lived in a boarding school with no TV, computers, phones, or video games. I spent most of my time reading and finished hundreds of books. Reading shaped my imagination and helped me understand the world better.
I started writing at age 14 for my school newspaper. I wrote about social and environmental issues, justice, equality, and religion. I those years, I dreamed of traveling the world and writing an adventure book like Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname. In college, my writing became more personal and creative. I wrote short stories and poems, but most of them were lost over time.
After moving to the U.S., I stopped reading and writing in Turkish so I could focus on learning English. I began reading English books and slowly writing in English, which was challenging. Today, I keep a short diary. Recently I strating video blogging (vlogging), nothing serious just daily activities. Sometimes I still feel more comfortable expressing myself in Turkish.
How do I spend my life
I enjoy life deeply and believe that every day is a gift. A typical day for me includes a morning walk, a few hours of work, more walking and working, and spending time with my family and cats. I have worked at Dinolingo, a language learning company, for over 15 years, and I enjoy my work a little more each year.
I enjoy cooking, watching sports or movies, and drinking hot coffee—and sometimes tea. I also practice intermittent fasting. I like photography and video recording, and I love going to the spa for body and foot massages. I like listening to people with interesting life stories and meeting new people. It’s hard to make new friends after certain age but i still enjoy meeting people. On many weekends, my family and I leave the city to enjoy nature or visit relatives and friends.
We try to travel abroad every summer. I have visited 35+ countries and hope to see many more.
Married Life
I have been married to my Irish-born wife for 20+ years. We have two children. One goes to college, the other one is still young. Since we got married, we lived in Manhattan, then Florida, then Manhattan again, for the past years we’ve been living in the Bronx. Life is easier in the Bronx.
Despite our different cultures, religions, and backgrounds, me and my wife have a strong relationship. We also work together. We enjoy food, small gatherings, and traveling together. We also respect each other’s need for personal space and sometimes travel separately while supporting each other and our children.
Cancer and How It Changed Me
In late 2018, doctors discovered a large tumor in my stomach by chance. I underwent major surgery in 2019. Three years later, another tumor appeared, and I had a second, minor surgery in 2022. Since then, additional tumors have developed in my mesentery. As of 2026, there are more than 30 tumors in my abdomen.
I have a very rare cancer called low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. Doctors estimate that only 30 to 50 people worldwide may have this type of cancer affecting the abdomen.
This experience changed how I see life. I try to enjoy each day and not get upset over small things. I care less about what others think. I pray sometimes and think more about life after death. I see life as a game where we collect points before moving on.
I don’t know how much time I have left—maybe months, maybe years. I hope to stay healthy and see my children grow. I don’t feel angry or afraid. I believe everything happens for a reason.
Now I focus on short-term goals: writing short stories, practicing intermittent fasting, walking daily, singing more, organizing photos and videos, helping people, animals, and the environment, spending time with loved ones, continuing my work, and traveling when I can.
Countries I Have Visited
USA, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Mexico, Canada
Türkiye, Italy (Vatican), Spain, Portugal, Greece, Ukraine
Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Croatia, Poland
Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, England, Northern Ireland
Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway
Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, India, Nepal, Bahrain, Philippines, Morocco
My Footprints (The places I lived in for 6 months or longer)
— Ages 0-17: Gazcilar. (born), Setbasi, Kemercesme. Gazcilar, Kasapoglu, Zafer, Kaplikaya
— Ages 17-20 Kadirga, Kumkapi, Tarabya,
— Ages 20-22 Kaplikaya, Gazcilar
— Ages 22-25 Tarabya. Davutpasa, Mecidiyekoy,
— Ages 25 – 34 Rochester, Batavia, H, Church. Prospect, Manhattan
— Ages 34 – 41 M. Palm, J. Bay, P. Royal (Eisles), Bram, T. Way
— Ages 41 – ~ present BPC, Pawling, Bronx
Serdar Acar 