DIARY OF OUR

MEETING IN USAK-

Part 1Narrated by: Mireia and Sergi Galiana

Once upon a time a group of Spanish students and their teachers started their journey to enjoy a bilateral meeting in Usak (Turkey) from 20th March to 1st April 2015.

Friday 20th of MarchOur flight to Istambul departed from Valencia’s airport at 13:00 pm. We were all very nervous and our parents too. For many of us it was the first time we travelled by plane and we all wanted to sit by the window. I love watching the clouds so close, it seems that can touch them with my hands. Our flight to Istambul departed from Valencia’s airport at 13:00 pm. We were all very nervous and our parents too. For many of us it was the first time we travelled by plane and we all wanted to sit by the window. I love watching the clouds so close, it seems that can touch them with my hands. However the mountains, rivers and cities look so small from the sky...

We couldn’t stop taking pictures and videos of everything. Four hours later the plane landed in Atatürk Airport, just on time to have dinner and go for a night walk.

The Blue Mosque

Saturday 21st of March.

A quick visit to Istanbul. Today it was very special day. We got up in Europe and we'll go to sleep in Asia.

Luckily, we could try the so-called delicious "Turkish delights".

In the afternoon, we took a flight to Usak and then we arrived, a welcoming reception was waiting for

us. Theorganization around the host families worked really

well.Andrea with Sena’s family

Some of the students already knew each other, so they were very glad to see each other again – it was a warm welcome.

Hanife, Melania, Tugce, Mireia and Tugce’s mother

The host parents took their guest students with them right away (it was very late at night).

Sunday 22nd of March.We didn’t wake up very early (it was Sunday).

In the afternoon, we went to Melik’s house to celebrate his birthday.

We ate some delicious home-made food. Many neighbors and relatives came to the party. 

We really felt like being at home.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYHAPPY BIRTHDAY MELIKMELIK

Monday 23rd of MarchThe next day, we went to school and spent the day

with the students, who gave us a warm greeting..

At school we saw many images of Ataturk. For them he is a great hero because he was the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey.

At school they study subjects such as: hotel management and business. Therefore, we had the opportunity to visit the kitchens

In fact, two students of the school won a golden medal in a national cooking contest, similar to the Michellin Stars

We continued exploring the school and I was very surprised by the technological resources they had inside the classrooms: A huge monitor with Internet connection which enables interactive lessons (as you can touch and work directly on the screen).

After a tour along the school we visited some historical monuments of Usak. This picture shows us at the main street with our tourist guides

In this picture we can see Okan reading the explanation about these wooden houses belonging to the Ottoman period.

After a tour along the school we visited some historical monuments of Usak. This picture shows us at the main street with our tourist guides

In this picture we can see Okan reading the explanation about these wooden houses belonging to the Ottoman period

Ataturk was also a soldier, and the museum is to remember the martyrs and war veterans.

Here we're visiting Bedesten is like a shopping centre but very old. Nowadays it is specialized in selling a lot

of golden jewelry.

As my classmate Eugenio studied at the music conservatory, when we visited the Pasha inn, which is a very nice hotel in the downtown, he played us some songs in the piano.

In the afternoon, the Mayor greeted us and invited us to chocolates.

Then we took a picture in the hall which later appeared in many local newspapers of Usak. Now we are famous

Tuesday 24th of March.In the kitchen, we prepared a traditional meal. It was really exciting to cook! All of us, Andrea, Mireia, Melania and our teacher, made a good cooking team. Here is Selda, our patient cooking teacher

Of course, later we enjoyed this delicios meal all together, although the soup was a little bit spicy.

If you want to try it at home, here is the recipe for the bread:

• 3 water glass of warm milk

• 1 water glass of oil

• 1 tea glass of sugar

• 1 packet of baking powder

• 1 sugar spoon of salt

Mix all the ingredients.

Add 1 kilogram of flour and wait for 30 minutes.

Give shape at the dough and add one egg. Mix again.Cook in the oven for 20 minutes at 170º C.Also you can decorated it with sesame seeds.

Meanwhile, our teachers attended a meeting with the governor of the city that gave us permission to visit very famous places in Turkey. Well done teachers! !!!

In the afternoon we visited more historical places.

The Ataturk Ethnographical Museum was used as a headquarters during the Independence war. Melic, who speaks very good English, read us the guide.

The rooms were decorated with ancient and original furniture of the time. In panels you could read many famous quotes from Atatürk who was a very cultured and intelligent person.

“Teachers, the new generation will be your creation” (Ataturk)

In the Carpet and Rug Museum, we discovered that, for many years, Usak had been famous for its production of high-quality carpets. In fact Usak carpets were bought by European royal members such as Henry VIII of England, in order to decorate their palaces.

Today we finished visiting a small house dedicated to the crafting of carpets. It's really impressive the work of these women, this requires a lot of patience and they may take over six months to finish a carpet. They are masterpieces!

Sena read us the explanation of the place in English

A very laborious work that made these women.Hakan looking attentively the work of these women.

We took a group photo on the terrace of the house.

Wednesday 25th of March

It's time to work. Today our teachers have prepared several group activities in English for us to practice.

The truth is that I feel much more confident with my oral English and I'm not so shy when I have to communicate with other people in this language. We were also able to practice the pronunciation with Nurcan, the teacher, of the Turkish vocabulary that we had previously elaborated.

Then, time to play before lunch. Jaime was playing basketball with some students.

All meals were delicious… I absolutely love kebab and doner kebab!

After having plenty of tasty food, is time to stroll through the city. Our first stop was the Archaeological Museum.

Hanife looked like a travel guide reading the information they had prepared. It was amazing to see such a vast amount of archaeological remains! There are so many remains that they have to leave outside the museum some of them, completely unprotected.Incredible!!!

However, Hatice told us that in a few months the government would open a new museum that will be able to keep all these wonders safe and in good condition. I hope to visit this new museum when I come back to visit my friends.

Our second stop was the Usak Municipality Historic museum, where we learnt much more about the history of the city and its traditions, such as the famous spicy soup and the exhibition with horses.

We were also invited to tea at the museum. Tea, together with the famous Turkish coffee, are one of the most consumed beverages.

Thursday 26th of MarchThe day began with a meeting in the dining room of the school with a large number of Turkish students. Teachers explained the students about the Comenius project.

The students asked the Spanish teachers many things about their country, and what they knew best were the famous football players like Ronaldo, Messi etc.

After the meeting, they prepared a traditional dance class and a recital of traditional music performed by a student of the school with a special type of guitar.

Everyone danced but the especially the boys.

Furthermore a student played traditional Turkish music

That afternoon, we visited a small village outside Usak called Kirka.Hakan's father had a house and a small farm. In this picture, Sergi is milking a cow!!!

They had prepared a spectacular welcome to show us their culture and traditions!

All the town officials, the Governor of the province and the Usak Governor came to the reception with the rest of authorities. We have to thank them for their big support and collaboration!

I met very friendly people, and it is very curious to discover but women aren’t forced to wear a veil when they enter the mosque. The decision is up to you!  Gradually, my stereotypes about Muslims are changing. We visited the mosque and it had blue tiles, very typical of the region. It was amazing!

Here we are in beautiful mosque Kirka decorated with

typical blue tiles.

Here are the people of the village, accompanying us through the streets. dressed with their traditional dresses.

In this picture you can see the children of the village, dressed with their traditional clothes.

Moreover, they had prepared a spectacular meal in the field for us and for all the villagers. The women prepared traditional food and we also helped them.

Here we can see Andrea and Sergi kneading.

Franklin helping in the kitchen.

A fantastic traditional food in the countryside with all the inhabitants of Kirka.

After lunch, the students of the local college performed some dances and played the recorder

Finally group photo to remember this wonderful day. I will never forget is the unpayable generosity of these people that gives you everything they have and that makes you feel at home.

I thank the village of KirKa and its inhabitants with all my heart for their hospitality

End of Part One