Pieter Verstraete is an independent theater scholar who, for the past 6 years, had been working and researching in Turkey. The political development of the last years has had many effects, e.g. on the daily lives, on the arts and culture, on journalism. Verstraete is not only one of those who had to leave the country but also an expert on contemporary Turkish theater. In this very personal and moving text, he shares his impressions of the last two years and gives a brief insight into a few of the artistic consequences.