A Rewarding Trip to Explore Turkish Culture and History

In May 2024, Ms Bibi Tayyaba, a lecturer at the Department of English Language Education, collaborated with the Department of Education Policy and Leadership to organise a cultural exchange tour in Turkey. The tour presented students with a distinctive and captivating chance to delve into Turkish culture, explore historical landmarks, engage in educational activities, and cultivate cross-cultural understanding and global perspectives.

The students visited Bogazici University in Istanbul and the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the Hacı Bektaş Veli University in Nevşehir where they attended workshops on Turkish culture and language and interacted with the faculty and students. They also exchanged ideas on educational approaches adopted in Turkey and Hong Kong. In addition to educational institutions, the team also visited The Scientific and Technological Research Center of Türkiye and the Maarif Foundation, where they learned about the developments and innovations in the fields of science, technology, and humanities.

Besides educational activities, the students also gained once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences during the tour. They delved into the rich history of Byzantine and Ottoman empires as they toured the Hagia Sophia and observed congregational prayers in the Blue Mosque. Engaging in a playful battle with a Turkish ice-cream vendor, navigating the local transportation in the vibrant city of Istanbul, detoxing at a traditional Turkish Hammam, admiring centuries-old dervish performance after paying tribute to the renowned poet Rumi, and exploring the caves in Cappadocia were among the memorable highlights of their journey.

These experiences fostered students’ intercultural competence and global perspectives. Moreover, they deepened their understanding of different historical periods and artistic expressions, which helped them gain confidence in navigating unfamiliar situations and become more self-reliant.

 

 

 

 

 

The team witnesses the spiritual Dervish performance in the city of Rumi

 

 

 

 

 

The team captures memories in front of the iconic Hagia Sophia

 

 

 

 

 

The team explores the mountainous terrain and caves of Cappadocia on horseback

 

 

 

 

 

The team is hosted by Bogazici University for several activities

 

 

 

 

 

The team interacts with the faculty and students from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the Hacı Bektaş Veli University

 

 

 

 

 

The team kickstarts the tour with a crash course on everyday Turkish expressions at Bogazici University