Some student reflections on the trip to Turkey
Cultural Exchange:
Youth & Democracy
By Sara Lowes, ESL Teacher/Magnet Coordinator

The American Forum for Global Education is a non-profit organization committed to developing youth awareness of global issues and international cooperation through cultural exchanges. The American Forum invited Marble Hill to become one of three New York City public and private high secondary to participate in this exchange with Turkish high secondary schools. Students in tenth or eleventh grade without experience traveling in the region were given priority in the recruitment and selection process. The theme of the exchange was Youth & Democracy, and the program’s major projects demonstrated understanding of youth journalism, debate, student government and community service.


Eight eleventh graders from Marble Hill completed an extensive application to their school and to American Forum, and were selected to participate in a reciprocal exchange with _ZM_R ÖZEL TÜRK KOLEJ_, a private college-preparatory school in Izmir, Turkiye. Six students were selected to participate.


The exchange commenced in November 2004 and included pre-departure communication via an online discussion board and email, three-week travel in the host country during February-April 2005, and school-based post-travel meetings to reflect and plan ways to apply new understandings. Two teachers from Marble Hill, Kirsten Larson, Community Service Coordinator, and Sara Lowes, Magnet Coordinator, were selected to chaperone the Marble Hill students.


The Marble Hill School for International Studies sincerely thanks The American Forum for Global Education, the U.S. Department of State and _zm_r Özel Türk Kolej_ for making this exchange program possible and memorable.

 

 

Group Shot in Izmir

Student mediated Forum on Youth and Democracy in Izmir

View more photos further down web page....

Reflection in Turkiye
by George Vargas


This experience coming to Turkiye has been a wonderful experience. I have learned more about democracy. I have experienced many good things with Turkish people. I have noticed some changes in me. I also have suggestions about how to improve the school system in Marble Hill School for International Studies.


Coming to Turkiye has made me more intelligent. I have learned many things, but one of the most important things I have learned is the importance of democracy. Democracy is the opinion of the people. Youth today play a huge roll in democracy. For example, youth are learning how to express their ideas and hear other people’s ideas. Before, I would never have stepped on a stage and expressed myself. I think that expressing yourself is one of the most important ways in which youth could be involved in democracy.


Coming to Turkiye has also made me realize who Turkish people are. I think that Turkish people are one of the nicest and hospitable people in the world. I think that the relationship between Americans and Turkish people is good. For example, in Izmir Ozel Turk Koleji, when we arrived from Istanbul to the school all the Turkish students were very excited and they welcomed us with greetings and happiness. Another example is my host family. My host sister, Sezin, is very nice to me. My host brother was very nice too, although I only saw him for three days. And of course my host parents treated me like their real son. These are my reasons why I think that the relationship between Americans and Turkish people is very good.


Being in Turkiye has also changed me. It has changed me in a good way. Before I came here I was very shy, I barely talked. Now, I learned how to communicate better. Now I am more talkative. I think that been here has changed me in to a better person because now I am more mature and more independent.


Things that I would like to change in my school are the breaks between the classes and lunch time. In between classes in the school of Izmir the students get a ten minute break, while in New York we get a one minute break. Another thing I’ll like to change is the length of classes. The classes in Marble Hill are too long, and the students lose focus during class. I think that in my school every period should be shorter and the breaks should be longer.


Being in Izmir has been the greatest thing I have ever experienced. I have learned who the Turks are. I also have changed, changed into a better person. I will love to come back and experience everything I have experienced again.


Being involved in the Turkish And American Youth Leadership Program is the best thing that could of happened to me. I had a great experience with Turkish people and I made new friendship with them. One of the best experience was been hosted. I also learned many things from this program, for example the importance of democracy in a youth’s life.


At first going to Turkiye was really sad for me because I never been apart from my mother. After arriving to Istanbul Turkiye, everything changed, it all changed because I met my new Turkish friends. They were all excited and nice when we met. Then after going to Izmir, the friendship developed even more. In Izmir we all became best friends with each other. We went out to each other’s houses and we had a great time together in Turkiye. Coming here to New York, we were all anxious to see each other again. In New York, our friendship developed even further. We became like brothers and sisters. Going to downtown Manhattan and passing a great time the Turkish participants became more close to me than any other friends I had in my life. I think that no matter how apart they are from me they I will always remember.


Another great experience that I had, while been involve in this program, was been hosted by my host family. My host family were very nice since the first day they met me. I feel that now I have two sets of parents, one here in New York and one in Turkiye. Been hosted was a great experience because I enjoyed been with my host parents and my host sister. My host parents were very nice, they treated me like another son for them, like my host father Ali, used to call me “My American son”. Also my host sister was very nice with me, I never felt alone in her house because she always made me feel like if I was at home.


Being involved in this program has also been so much fun because of the many things that I learned through out the program. One of the most important thing is that if I am involved in democracy that will help me communicate better with others. Before been involve with this program I was really shy and I didn’t talk to people or made my idea be heard. Since in a democracy everybody’s idea is heard I let me ideas be heard too. Now I could express my self to others without been scared that they wont listen to me. I also learned that being part of a democracy is not only to agree with my own ideas but also to listen to others about what they have to say.


I also learned different ways in which as a youth I could be involved in democracy. One-way is by been involved in the student government at your school. Being involved in the student government lets you express your ideas to make your school a better and more comfortable place for you. Another way in which you could be part of a democracy in your school is by being involved in journalism. Been in journalism helps you express your ideas in an organized ways and to read other peoples’ ideas. Also being on a debate team or debate club, by having your opinion and hearing another different opinion, and at the end, making your final decision. And finally, by being involved in community service. I think that been involve in community service is part of being in a democracy because you get to help your community and you try to make your community a better place for you and for others.


Both in Turkiye and here in New York I had a great time thanks to the Turkish and American Youth Leadership Program. I think that being involved in this program is the best thing that could ever have happened to me. I made new and unforgettable friendships. I also made new families including my host friends and their family. I learned many new things. I learned the importance and the different ways of being involved in a democracy. Finally, I think that the Turkish and American Youth Leadership Program is one of the most unforgettable experience that I had and I will never forget. I will keep you in my mind forever.

Turkish participant Buse Sinlak moderated a debate

American Teacher Kirsten Larson observing a lesson during community service activities

Julio getting feedbabck from teacher Ebru Demirkazik

Presentation by Turkish students on their history

How is Turkish coffee made?

Daniel having his future told from coffee grounds

Reflection March 2005
by Suhayl Santana:


To be able to participate in this exchange program has truly been a wonderful experience for me. I have enjoyed every second of Turkiye and I will never for get it.


I have learned many things while in Turkiye . I have learned that the world doesn’t just begin in the Bronx and end at the tip of Manhattan. I have learned a lot about different cultures through books, TV, friends and schools but to actually be in a different country and experience such a beautiful culture has given me a point view that no book could ever give me.


My whole life it has felt as if only the Bronx and New York were my life, like only New York existed. That was my world and though I knew that other cultures existed, I and I have always wanted to learn more, New York was still my world. I have to say that my view on the world has completely changed; I now have a better understanding of what it is like to live in a different country where the culture is unified. To me it was interesting to go to different homes and see everyone have the same exact culture, language, music and for the most part religion. It felt weird to be the different one. I have never in my life felt like I was different. I can now understand how an immigrant feels when they come to America, lost… a bit confused but wanting to learn more. Through this experience my view on the world has completely changed. I always knew that the rest of the world was out there but now that I have experienced just a small part of it, I have definitely gained a greater understanding of it. I plan to share this understanding with everyone I know in New York especially my friends. They need to know, “Hey guys, the world goes beyond the Bronx!”


Though I have learned much about Turkiye ’s culture I have also learned about its political relationship with America. I think for the most part Turks do not have any types of issues against America. From what I learned most Turks just disagree with the war in Iraq and they are not in favor of President Bush. Many Turks believe that all Americans are in favor of this war in my opinion it is the opposite and I have tried to let my Turkish friends understand this. Turks do not seem to dislike Americans and from what I know Americans do not have anything the Turkish.


One of the most important things I have learned through this exchange is the importance of youth and democracy. I have learned that the youth has a very important role in democracy. The youth is tomorrows future and programs like this are what crate leaders , being a leader is the most important part of democracy, programs like this help us share our ideas about democracy together and this contribute to a better future.

 

Through this program I have learned a lot about Turkish culture while I was in Turkiye and a lot about myself while I was in New York.


I learned that life in Turkiye is very different from life in New York but the two have many things in common as well. I learned that the level of respect in Turkiye between teachers and students is much higher, which in some ways made me feel embarrassed of the way that we treat our teachers in New York. I realized how stressed most new Yorkers seem when compared to Turkish people,e who are very relaxed. In Turkiye every day I had the opportunity to sit down with my host family and eat dinner, but in New York I only had that opportunity once or twice during the Turks’ visit. Everyday we did something new and everyday we ate outside any time we did eat in my house we usually ate in my room, often while doing something else. During this exchange program, I realized that I am not relaxed at all in the mornings. In contrast, my host sister would take her time every morning, while everyday I get up and rush to do everything.


I learned a lot about myself. I learned that sometimes when you’re mad or upset for whatever reason you have to control yourself. I learned how to just take a deep breath and let it go instead of letting things get to me and get me mad. I learned how to work in a situation in which there were many personalities that were different from my own. I learned how to be more patient, and I learned how to sometimes say no to certain things even when I felt bad about it.

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