April 19th:

About a month ago, two teachers from another school came to Evergreen to talk to me about starting a global Studies program. A couple of days after we met, they wrote me about their plan to meet with their principal and staff and asked if I would answer two questions. The first was about logistics, and the second question was, "After 25 years, why are you still so excited about this program?" As I was putting together my thoughts in response, I started reading my students' reflections on assignments from the beginning of the year, through their trip reflections, and to their graduation speeches. I ended up sending them a 12-page document of student thoughts. I apologized for the length of my response, but added, "After you read this, you will see both why I could not edit down the document, and also why this program is still so exciting for me. 

Transformation is amazing to watch. I often feel that I have been blessed with the privilege of being witness to this process. It is a magical alchemy. Sometimes I try to put words to this process in a feeble attempt at explanation. But like all true magic, the words pale.

We went to visit our pen pal school today. It was fascinating watching the transformation, starting with hesitant handshakes and timid hugs, and ending with heartfelt embraces of goodbye and a flurry of energy trying to coordinate when they would meet again.

We intentionally arrange the pen-pal school visit at the beginning of our city stay so as to provide opportunities for those students who made connections to see each other again, either as a visit to their pen pal's home for dinner to time to hang out together in the old city.

 The excitement is contagious. Thinking of it just makes me smile and brings a tear to my eyes. 

 I do have the best teaching job in the world. I am blessed.

April 20th:

 At breakfast this morning I counted 10 different preparations of feta cheese and 7 different types of olives.

 Today we went to the Government agriculture research facilities, where we learned about grafting orange trees.

 Turkey grows 5 different types of avocados.

 Gray with the largest lemon in the world.

 Supposedly the Antalya region has a better environment for growing oranges than Florida or California.

 We picked oranges

 and grapefruit

 and lemons.

 Fresh squeezed orange juice 

Yesterday while the pen pals were playing games together, I hung out with the English teachers. They were very willing to talk about anything. Being not too diplomatic, I  was all too willing to broach sensitive topics. Our conversation covered everything from divorce (One of the English teachers was recently divorced. I asked if this was very common. "It is getting more common as women have more opportunities to be professional and independent," she replied. "Can a woman ask for a divorce here?" I asked. "Of course," she replied. "This is a democracy." Later the topics got more touchy as we talked about the "Kurdish issue, "   which they were all to willing to share their opinions. 

Today, as the students were drinking their orange juice, a conversation rose between myself and the agriculture scientists. this time, without any prompting on my part, they steered the conversation to the "Kurdish issue" once again, and then to the supposed "Armenian massacre" of 1915. Once again they were all too willing to share their perspectives. It was interesting for me how willing Turks are to talk about these  taboo subjects.

 Duden Falls

After our agriculture lesson, we drove to Duden falls for lunch, and the non to the school for the deaf.

 Tansule, our tour organizer, arranged for us to walk in the Children's Day parade with the students from the school for the deaf. She is a very strong supporter of this school, which only recently has been granted government disability status and thus, government funding.

 Tansule feels that for us to come all the way from the USA to walk with these students shows great support for the program. 

 We learned a Turkish song while still in Seattle, which we will sing with the deaf students in the parade. Here, we are practicing together - Evergreen students singing and the deaf students signing.

Alicia learning to sign

Some students brought frisbees to teach our new friends

 This student was so fun to watch, laughing and laughing every time he threw the frisbee, or attempted to catch it. 

Jacob playing soccer with the deaf students.

 We were taught how to make balloon animals by one of the chaperones on last year's trip to Vietnam. Here the students are watching they principal make a speech a bout children's Day. 

The students signing their national anthem at the end of the school day.