For Katrina Moyer, it was two weeks so spectacular it almost didn't seem real.

The Muhlenberg Middle School world cultures teacher joined 23 other educators, including two from Berks County, on a whirlwind tour of Turkey this summer.

"Every day was packed with so many things," Moyer said. "It's a once in a lifetime experience."

The trip was part of the Turkish Cultural Foundation's Teacher Study Tour program, which annually invites American teachers to visit the eastern European nation. It is run in collaboration with the World Affairs Council of America.

Moyer saw the trip as an opportunity to get a more personal feel for topics she teaches in class.

"I thought it would be neat to go to the country and experience some of those things firsthand," she said.

Stephanie Stamm, an art teacher at Boyertown Junior High School West, said the application process was extensive, but the program was worth the effort.

"The whole trip was just one really interesting and amazing thing after another," she said.

Stamm and Moyer, who were joined by Boyertown Junior High West teacher Stephanie Jablonski, said the journey took them through several Turkish cities including Istanbul, Troy and Bursa.

They also met with Turkish teachers and students to learn about Turkey's education system.

Stamm said one of her favorite parts of the trek was getting a chance to see some authentic Turkish art, such as a demonstration of paper marbling and performances by whirling dervishes.

Hoping to bring that experience into her classroom, she's already planning a weaving lesson based on demonstrations by carpet weavers.

Moyer said she'll be sharing her experiences with students as well, although she admitted she's not quite sure how.

"I took over 1,100 pictures, so I really want to incorporate them somehow," she said. "You just want to do as much as you possibly can do to recreate the experiences in the classroom."

Contact David Mekeel: 610-371-5014 or dmekeel@readingeagle.com.