I am living history! I am actively taking part in the history I’ve taken so many courses in at college. What I’ve seen in so many textbooks, I am seeing with my own eyes! Truly life changing, not just on personal level but I think of how different and dynamic my teaching will be in the coming years. For this reason I am, I am truly thankful for this experience. Thank you for all of the efforts that have been made to immerse a teacher from rural Illinois into Turkish Culture. You have changed the lives for 1,000’s of students to come over the next 30 years. My time in Turkey can be best summed up with two words said right after one another. It has become my slogan while here- this journey has been crazy amazing.

Although I consider myself a fairly well traveled person, and someone who has a natural curious about history and cultures that are different from my own, I have to say that my trip to Turkey has been one that will be among the most memorable. It is a place where I can say that I truly did not want to leave! I have had several moments in Turkey where I began to fantasize about a certain street, a certain house or a certain location where I could settle and live out the rest of my life. Believe me I am not unhappy with my current situation but the seemingly limitless, intoxicating things to experience are truly overwhelming. The people of Turkey have a wonderful deserved reputation for hospitality and it is simply not a cliché. Perhaps they realize how richly endowed their homeland is and like proud parents, they want to share their previous land, life, and people with the whole world. What better way to express the beauty and depth of such an enchanting place. I have been seduced; I am in love with Turkey.

Turkey is so beautiful, the Turkish people too hospitable, and the history of Anatolia too important to be hidden from the world; I am forever thankful that Turkey is no longer hidden from me. Turkey is a hidden treasure buried deep in the curriculum taught to American students, where if discovered would enrich their lived. After the study tour to Turkey, I am dedicated to helping my students and community find the treasure called Turkey.

As we were pulled deeper and deeper under Turkey’s spell, I after thought “how have I not heard of/seen this site/art form/food/etc before?” It seems, at least in America, that Turkey is a well kept secret. When I return home, this is the rumor I will spread: Turkey is a vibrant and complex nation, layered with past and present treasures that are cares for with pride by the most open-hearted people on any continent. Tell your friends.

I have been welcomed into The Cradle of Civilization and feel an astounding connection here. I have felt, seen, smelled, heard, and tasted Turkey which have all left indelible impressions on my heart, mind, and soul. My students will now experience vicariously the pulsating rhythm of the music and the swirl of the dervishes’ garments, they will learn about the ice cream vendors pulling and stretching their sweetly flavored desserts, the locals greeting you so sincerely welcoming conversations, kissing the cheeks. They will learn about the ancient Ottoman ruins juxtaposed to high rises… ancient methods of paper marbling and pottery making that is still alive and well today… about the riches of the caliphates as seen in the Palace… of the religious relics- all of which conjure up bygone days… spice smells wafting towards you as you approach the buffets… music played lovingly on the banks of the Bosphorus during dinner… the colors that bombard you as you approach the stalls in the market… flesh being pounded by strong fists as bathers are serenaded in the baths… muted shades as the sunsets on the Aegean Sea… the patterns on headscarves embellished with embroidery… gasping for breath at the beauty of Hagias Sofia upon entering the airy domed center, the cool air of th4e underground refuge… and on and on. The daily narrative that made me feel like an insider gave me a sense of privilege. I have been to 42 countries in my life. To Turkey I now feel a special connection. I promise to impart my impressions to all I encounter. Thank you for this life-changing experience. I could write on and one about the Turkey I have come to know. God bless you.

It's hard to come up with the right words to express how I felt about the Turkish Study Tour.  I could use common words like awesome, amazing, incredible, enlightening, but these words don't seem to do it justice.  I absolutely loved everything about the trip: the historical and geographical significance and beauty of the places we visited;  hospitality, and caring; the many hours on the bus where lasting friendships had the opportunity to evolve; the delicious fresh Turkish food; the cultural experiences we had on our evenings out; hotels that in and of themselves were lovely destinations; having access to places that other tourists did not have; and lastly, getting to spend time and share ideas with other teachers.

The tour was extremely well organized and I appreciate all the time and effort that went into planning such a long and extensive tour.  Everything went super smooth.  It is very clear to me and all the teachers involved that the Turkish Cultural Foundation is devoted to this program.  They value teachers and recognize their tremendous influence, making teachers the perfect mechanism for promoting positive attitudes about Turkey.  Personally, as a result of this incredibility enlightening experience I will be talking about Turkey for a long time!

Now that I am home I am still processing the trip.  When I look at the pictures I am in awe of the fact that I was actually there - that I actually visited all the incredible sites.  My enthusiasm for the country of Turkey is vibrant and alive and I expect that I will visit Turkey again, hopefully soon.   Thank you for providing me with such an enriching experience - an experience that I would not have had otherwise.  I hope that all of us on the trip will "do the Turkish Cultural Foundation proud.

This experience has exceeded my expectations in every way everyday I think to myself. “This is the most incredible thing I have seen or done yet.” And then we see or do something even more wonderful. I can’t wait to bring back all I have learned to my classroom and my community.

I feel so blessed and fortunate to have had this opportunity. Being able to actually experience tough, feel and taste what is Turkey is beyond my wildest dreams. Travel transforms, indeed. I am a different person after seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting Turkey. The trip extended my realm of experience. It enhanced my knowledge of Turkish history and culture, of Islamic thought and traditions, of the Ataturk’s profound reforms and his revered place in the history of the republic, and of Turkey’s highly refined diplomacy in order to wade successfully through the complications of the region’s geopolitics.

I had no idea what to expect for this trip. Now that I am about to leave to go home, I don’t want to go. This was the most amazing and unique travel experience. I have been lucky to have travelled quite a bit, but this trip was something totally new and different. Traveling to a foreign land with fellow educators is an amazing opportunity. I was impressed with the amount of places we travelled to and daily activities we participated in. The tour guides and TCF staff are all wonderful and more knowledgeable than you could ever ask for. If you are an educator looking to come on this trip in the future, make sure you are ready to learn a ton of information everyday, walk a lot, and experience new, different, and amazing sights, sounds, smells, and tastes around every corner.

This adventure was one of the most intensive, rewarding, and useful experiences of my teaching life. Turkey is a country of which so little is known by Americans but has so much that needs to be known.

My study tour of Turkey was a fascinating and eye opening experience. Before this trip, Turkey flew very low on my radar. I knew the basics of the country but never understood the rich dynamics of this modern state. What struck me most powerfully after having the opportunity to spend some time traveling and learning first hand about Turkey was the remarkable parallels with the United States. Both countries have to deal with the challenges and tensions of maintaining a secular republic with diverse populations and divergent ethnic groups. In comparing how both of these countries have in the past, and in the future will continue to respond to these challenges, I believe much can be gained. I plan to work with others to do just this thing. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to learn! Sincerely.

The Turkish Teacher Study Tour was an amazing experience for me. This was my first trip outside of the United States and it was the one of the most positive travel experiences I have had. The country of Turkey is rich in history, architecture, and culture. It is truly East meets West; with both European and Asian influences seen everywhere one looks. The food was fantastic and the people wonderful to talk to. I was surprised at the ease in which I could communicate with locals and learn about Turkey’s history at each site due to the extensive use of the English language. I find myself making a conscious effort to stay up to date on the politics and current events in Turkey and am greatly looking forward to teaching about the country of Turkey in our geography classes this school year. Thank you to the Turkish Cultural Foundation for providing this unique opportunity to study Turkey!

This Turkish cultural experience has by far exceeded all of my expectations of what a journey/lesson should be. The informative content, along with the food, sights, and people/culture has made this an experience that will never be forgotten. Because of this experience, I will be able to teach my students a rich history as seen through my own eyes. If any more cultural experiences are to follow, they will all be compared to “my Turkish experience”.

I dreamed a dream of Istanbul.  The grandeur of Hagias Sophia, the glorious church of the Byzantines.  The Blue Mosque with row after row of blue tiles.  The sidewalk cafes and rooftops overlooking the Bosporus.  Two fingers stretching out to touch each other – Asia and Europe.  That was my dream.  To see Istanbul where East meets West.  But now I see my dream was shallow and naive, because there is so much more in Turkey,  the birthplace of history.

To stand at the stadium in Aphrodisias, high above the stadium floor and imagine the crowds cheering and the entertainment so desired by the spectators, and yes, even the blood spilled by the gladiators.  To imagine the busy agora with people walking along the paths.  What an amazing surprise.  To walk into the darkness of the caravanserai and imagine animals snorting, travelers trading their goods from two continents and story tellers entertaining the crowd while travelers rested in safety.  To go to the underground cities in the maze of tunnels where people fled to safety.  To listen to our guide as he told the history of people going all the way back in time many thousands of years and making his way to present times.  Such a rich history all found in one place – Turkey.  To meet hard working craftsmen, darling and friendly children, everyone so open and honest.  To stand in Çatalhöyük and see how people lived in one of the first cities on Earth.  So much to see and learn, I will surely have to return!

I love the people of Turkey! Their sense of humor, friendliness, their love of color and their dynamism.  As a history lover, I know Turkey has a wealth of archeological sites from all periods, but seeing the works and specifically the works in progress, I was overwhelmed.  I could see for the first time that everyday life on top of the ruins would be amazing!

I really enjoyed the lecture and interaction of ASAM.  I would like to check on-line for more information.  I am hoping to contact TCF for contacts in the next school year to connect my students with students in Turkey to discuss Turkey’s candidacy in the European Union, school life, and opinion sharing on pop culture.  I need to iron out the details and then contact TCF for contacts.

This has been the most enriching experience of my professional life. The depth of knowledge gained is beyond comparison to any similar opportunity. Through this experience, I have gained a deeper understanding of Turkish history prior to and after the founding of the Republic; geography, both human and physical; and current issues. Also, participants were also given privy to local tradition and color that is often ignored in a study tour such as this. I look forward to sharing this experience and the knowledge attained to teachers, students and other groups upon my return home.

The trip to Turkey was one of the best personal and professional experiences I have ever had. It was obvious that great thought had gone into making the most of every minute, and this allowed us to see a great deal of the cultural and physical beauty of this diverse country. Our wonderful guide made the most of our time in the bus by providing extensive discussions of everything from the history to the shopping. On past travel study tours I have attended, we often spent several days in lecture settings. This provided us with a great deal of information, but we lost time actually seeing more of the place we were there to explore. I was dazzled by Turkey's amazing architecture, beautiful water and welcoming people, and I cannot wait to share my experiences with my students and fellow teachers.

Thank you so very much for this wonderful opportunity.