Photo album and impressions from Turkey

To see the album click here

I had a great time in Turkey! Such an amazing experience. Meeting new people, different culture,...So many things happened, so I will briefly write our adventures over the week.

  After we all gathered at The Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, we enjoyed the two hour flight to Istanbul. I was really happy and excited because it was my first time travelling by airplane. The flight was fun, but the theme song got stuck in my head, I kept singing '' We are Turkish airlines,we are Globaly yours!'' :D

Then we went with the metro train that took us to our lodging - Nobel hostel. On our way we met the teacher and students from Poland. They showed us around a little bit. Than we finally arrived to the hostel that was really close to all historical sights. Jaka, Daniel, Tadej and I got a room on the 3rd (highest) floor. Our room was very clean and cosy. After we put our luggage in the room we went to the terrace that had an amazing view of the Blue Mosque, the Marmara sea and with all the lights on the city was very bright and colorful. 

We hung out on the terrace with Polish students till late at night. They were really nice and friendly and it was really funny cause some Slovenian words are similar or the same in Polish language. I didn't really get much sleep because we were laughing all night and when we finally fell asleep the prayer call woke us up at 5 o'clock, not very pleasant at the moment but now it's just a funny memory. The next day we took a walk around Istanbul, it is such a beautiful and big city (of course it's the largest city in Turkey xD). I think everyone should visit it, to see how unique and stunning it is. First we visited Hagia Sophia museum. I absolutely loved the interior view: Islamic elements, stone columns, mosaics, the Emperor door,...It's unbelievable what man was capable of making. 

 After the visit of Hagia Sophia we had the opportunity to shop in the Grand Bazaar. I think I haven't seen that much colors in my whole life. There were lots of souvenirs, carpets, jewelry, clothing. One of the things I bought were - so called ''Evil eye'' bracelets in Turkish language they call them ''Nazar Boncugu''  believed to "reflect evil" and thereby "protect the wearer" against misfortune and from bad things happening in one’s life. Well I think they're just beautiful bracelets :D. After three hours of  shopping we went on a bus that drove us to the Asian side of Istanbul. While driving we could see the beautiful Bosphorus Bridge that changes colors in the night. 

 Than a bit tired we boarded the ferry that took us to Yalova. Again we took the bus to the Yalova Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek High School where all Turkish families were waiting for us. When they called my name to meet the family that I was going to stay with I was a bit nervous but the family was immediately so nice to me.They took my luggage and than we drove to their house. It was a simple, nice house. The student's name that I stayed at is Nurgul, she is 17 and she also has a 14 year old brother and 3 year old twin sisters Eda and Sude, they are so cute and playful. I think they are a quite traditional Turkish family, they eat on their knees or cross legged around a round tray known as a sini. Whatever there is to eat, is brought on this tray. I have to say I was very content with the food and Turkish tea - it's the best. I really had a lot of fun with the family they were all trying so hard to make me feel comfortable and although none of them knew how to speak English we still had fun. Nurgul's mother taught me two Turkish dances, I couldn't believe how much energy she had and an incredible rhythm. One of the many memories that I will never forget. I also got some very soft and comfortable slippers that Nurgul's grandmother Hova knitted for me. And thanks to the language translators on the phone Nurgul and I could communicate and got along really well. I always called her ''little Nurgul'' cause she was so short ;D My experience with the host family was great, I hope I'll have a chance to visit them again someday.

Yalova Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi (Yalova Technical and Vocational High School)

It took me about 30 minutes to get to the school with the mini bus.

I love the school's appearance, so abstract and beautiful. I especially like the conference hall, here's where all the students from different countries had their presentations. It was interesting to see how everyone had their own style of presenting their country.

Atatürk Museum

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. The last day we visited his museum that was located by the seaside. I liked the original furniture and the whole vintage look of the house. He's a hero for the Turks so you can see his monuments and his portraits everywhere.

Water in Turkey

They have many dams and lakes so the water comes from these sources. There are many problems in some areas so they use drilling to get water .

The last night

Our last night together was one of the greatest. We went to the restaurant and ate some traditional Turkish foods like: Baklava, Turkish maze, Pilaf (ordinary rice, which can accompany almost all dishes). While eating we listened to a Turkish musician that sang some beautiful songs. And than ''the party started'' - we danced to Turkish music, Golica, Macarena and of course worldwide famous Gangnam style!

 Well sadly all good things eventually come to an end, saying goodbye to everyone was the hardest. I already miss Turkey so much and my new Turkish, Polish and Finnish friends.

I can't wait to see you all again in April when our country is the host.

By Dona Rama 

 

Experience from Turkey

After an amazing trip to Turkey, I want to share our experience with you. First I will describe trip and then the water condition of water in Turkey.

   
The first day we gathered at the airport and went on the plane. After the two-hour trip to Istanbul we took a metro train to get to our hostel. On the way there we met the students from Poland. They had been in Istanbul for three days, so they showed us the way to the hotel and took us on a short walk around Istanbul and stopped for a tea. After that we went in our hotel. We were on the terrace talking with the students from Poland. The terrace had a grat view of the sea and the Blue mosque. The next day we went to Haiga Sophia which was amazing. After that we went on the Bazaar, which is the biggest market I have ever seen. After buying souvenirs on the market we went on a bus, where we also met students from Finland.

We went on the Asian side of Istanbul and then on the ferry, which took us to Yalova. Then the bus drove us to the school, where we met the families, that we were staying with. I stayed at a regular Turkish family in an apartment.

   The next day we went to the school, where we did our presentations of the condition of the water in our country. After every country presented their presentations we went in a nice coffee shop on a beach with our Turkish, Polish and Finnish friends where we got to know each other. After that we went around Yalova.

   The last day we went on a tour with two minibuses. We visited many sites that showed how Turkish people get their water. After that we went to the pool. We swam in a pool and in a "Turkish bath" which has 40°C, some of us went in the sauna which has around 80°C.

After that we went to a restaurant were we got some traditional Turkish food. After we ate the food we had a party with music and dancing. The next morning we woke up at 6 in the morning and went to the harbour, where we said goodbye to our new friends and went back to Istanbul. We took a taxi to the airport where we boarded our plane and went home.

   
      The condition of water in Turkey is worse than in Slovenia, but it is not critical. The city of Yalova gets all its water from a lake, which goes through similar purification processes that we have in Slovenia. They clean sewer water by leaving it for the particles to lay on the bottom and the releasing it back to the lake.

by Jaka Čelhar