Turkish Cusine

View from the hotel in Istanbul

Day three

I don't even know what day it is..
We are so busy from mosque to musume to lunch to diner...
Truly seems like endless eating, fabulous food!
The people here are so wonderful, friendly, and welcoming!
Although I have learned just to avoid looking at the street vendors, as just like in N.Y. They can spot an easy target!

I want to share all the beautiful sights I have visited but I am having trouble uploading them here. So I will post some to Facebook but for the full story... I will be posting them here with great details about their history.

Very Soon I Hope!

DayTwo

Ok.. Internet was out when we first arrived, so yesterday's recap...
Delayed at Kennedy, ten hour flight with screaming babies. Arrival went smooth until passport security, neverl experienced anything like it. Met up with our fist traveler from N.C. Who lost her luggage.....

Finally got to the hotel around 2:00 napped showeredthen 15 other travelers arrived. By 8 p.m. We were at orientation, then off to a fabulous rooftop diner. I do have some great pictures and as soon as the Internet allows!

Packing

So I am Packing and reading the "What to bring to Turkey" list form previous travelers... 

"Universal" drain stopper?

Laundry soap and laundry line

Umbrella, Sun screen

Kleenex to use in the bathrooms of the hinterlands, where also wearing a skirt will make it easier to manage the "one hole" bathrooms!!!

OH yes and we can't forget 

Anti-diarrhea meds :(

 I'm off to buy a pair of good walking shoes,  and I'd better make sure I have plenty of skirts!!

First stop Istanbul

More about the tour

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American Teachers Embark on Journey through Turkey

77 middle and high school teachers will be visiting Turkey on three Teacher Study Tours, organized and sponsored by the Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF). Selected competitively by 24 local chapters of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) and TCF, the teachers will begin arriving in Istanbul on June 25. Joining the tours from 67 cities and towns across across the United States, the teachers will begin their journey in Istanbul and visit Gelibolu (Gallipoli) and Troy, Canakkale, Bursa, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Konya and Catalhoyuk, Cappadocia and Ankara. Throughout the tour, the teachers will have the chance to visit and learn about world-famous cultural, archeological, architectural and natural sites of Turkey and meet with experts, educators and representatives of Turkish civil society. This year, the American teachers will be accompanied by volunteer Turkish teachers on their tours with a view to facilitate educational exchanges between Turkish and American educators.  The study tours are the second tier of Spotlight on Turkey,  a nationwide educational program organized by TCF, WACA and its local chapters and funded by a major TCF grant. The program includes a Teacher Workshop on Turkey, the Teacher Study Tours and various cultural programs for students and the general public. Through this program, teachers enhance international learning for their students by integrating their gained knowledge in the workshops and study tours into their curricula. Many teachers who first explored Turkey on the study tours later visited again with their students.

Getting Close

Counting down to the day we leave! Now meeting my fellow travelers via e-mail. Sounds like a great group from all parts of the U.S. The NY contingent will arrive first in Istanbul so we will have time to check in and check things out, before the rest of the crew arrives. There is at least one traveler that has been to Turkey before, and he is very excited about going back. So it sounds like we are all in for very exciting and educational experience!

link to video
Great video made by previous travelers
It is their tour, if our is like this it will be great!!

This marks the fifth year that the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson is participating in the Spotlight on Turkey program that will expose participants to the history, architecture, art, music, and cuisine of Turkey. They have been fortunate enough to send seventeen teachers to Turkey so far.  I am thrilled to be a part of it this year, To prepare for the trip I attended a workshop at Marist College. the day included a variety of guest speakers with an Introductory Film: Broad Horizons, 2010 click here to view  

Crossings West to East via Turkey , Prof. Andrew Davison, Vassar College  Crossings East to West from Turkey, Assoc. Prof. Ş.İlgü Özler, SUNY New Paltz, and   Turkey and its Neighbors Today, Martin Charwat and Joe Lombardi.  We were treated to a Turkish style lunch which was delicious.

I also got to meat the other teachers from the Hudson valley that I will be traveling with LAUREN COLLET (Arlington HS, Lagrangeville, NY) and ANDREA TEJEDOR (Fort Montgomery CSD, Highland Falls, NY)


Lauren was actually my student teacher five years ago and the one who told me about this wonderful opportunity!  

 

World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley [WACMHV] has the  opportunity to send educators (in a 6-12 school year) on a summer study tour to Turkey. Made possible through a generous grant from the Turkish Cultural Foundation, the fellowship will allow three teachers to participate in a study tour to Turkey this July, for two weeks.  The tour will include visits to historical sites, seminars, and meetings with Turkish educators. Preference was given to teachers who demonstrated their commitment to education about Turkey and who specified how they will use the study tour experience to enhance understanding about Turkey in their classrooms and school districts.
To find out how you might apply next year click here.