Mira Pantic

When Alan Kurdi, a two year old Syrian boy, was found on a beach in Turkey in 2015, the image shocked the world. I recall how someone wrote that he drowned in the coldness of human indifference.

A few days ago, I had an accident. It has been a life changing experience. I wrote about it, or rather, I could not really write, so I recorded the entire story using my voice and then used AI to create a transcript.

If you want to, you can read the full story on my Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-196841074

At this moment, I just want to thank all my friends, my students, and the nurses and hospital staff who have reached out, helped me, and been gentle and kind to me. It’s hard to reply to everyone right now as I’m still trying to regain my mental and physical strength.

I also must say that, looking at this both as a human and a journalist, I was appalled by the coldness and emptiness I encountered around this accident. My faith in humanity feels more shaken now than it did in 2015, when Alan Kurdi died while trying to escape the atrocities of war and reach a better future with his family.

Still, I am grateful for the humanity I encountered in the hospital and in the city. I am still in shock, but I will recover.

Our very first Bar Lecture at Burgerology in Manhattan was officially sold out and I’m honestly so touched. What started as an idea turned into a memorable night with such meaningful conversation and so many supportive, familiar and new faces 😊

It meant a lot to share thoughts on cultural differences, intercultural adjustment, and how these shape our lives and relationships. But what made the evening truly special was all of you. What moved me most was seeing people come not just to listen but to truly engage and be part of bringing real conversations into social spaces. I think we need more of that in New York 🗽

Thank you for showing up, for your curiosity, your energy, and your kindness. This is just the beginning 🤍

Your professor 👩🏻‍🏫😉

I am excited to invite you to my upcoming lecture: "Dating Across Cultures: Why We Misread Each Other."

We are trading the classroom for the bar at Burgerology Midtown on Thursday, April 30th 😊 I will talk about cultural differences, the challenges of intercultural adjustment, and why we often misunderstand each other, especially in communication and relationships. In a relaxing atmosphere, we will have a conversation about expectations in dating and how to better connect across different backgrounds.

Come hang out, meet new people, and enjoy an evening of great conversation and drinks. See you there 😊🥂

📍 Location: Burgerology Midtown, Manhattan
🕖Date: April 30, 2026, at 7 p.m.
🎟️Tickets: $15 (see the link below)

Bar Lecture on Dating Across Cultures: Why We Misread Each Other Join us for drinks and conversation on dating across cultures, communication differences, and why we misread each other.