Mobile wish tree proves popular


A local businesswoman's idea to plant a dried-out strawberry tree into a pot to create a mobile wish tree has taken the city of Çorum, in north Anatolia, by storm. Ayşegül Akta, owner of an organization firm, said she had no idea the wish tree would prove so popular, adding that people were sharing the wishes tied to the tree on social media.She said, "We thought of doing it to celebrate Hıdrellez [The coming of spring festival celebrated in the Turkic world]. The messages left by passersby are sometime funny sometimes serious."Some ask for a brand new car, the affections of a love interest or getting into a university. But some are more specific. Among the wishes are some such as, "Let my mother buy me a car soon and let its license plate be 19 FB 07, let its fuel never finish and let it be legendary," "May all mother-in-laws treat their daughter-in-laws respectfully and may my fiancée's military service end soon," "I want to be a good archaeologist," "I want a rich girl," "What I want from God is to give me a wife who prepares breakfast in the morning, a well-paid job, a perfect child. A million dollars wouldn't be so bad either," "Hopefully we'll find TL 6,000," and "A healthy life, a daughter and a flat on the fourth floor."Akta said her firm was considering using her mobile wish tree in events like openings and weddings.