It is difficult to describe in words how very fortunate I feel to have been invited by Rumi Forum on a trip to Turkey. It is extremely rare to be afforded such a unique travel opportunity and be given the space and comfort to learn, not only for ourselves, but for the enrichment of our families, countries, and the global community. As a recipient of the generosity of this group, it's sponsors, the Turkish people, and their country, I was truly overwhelmed and humbled by all that I saw and experienced. It was an amazingly unique chance to explore, appreciate, respect, and celebrate differences with a group of wonderfully diverse people from different cultural backgrounds and faiths. I was consistently presented with historical and current information and was left to interpret, digest, and grow from it. As a result, I feel it is my personal duty to express my gratitude to the organizers of this trip, and to the people of Turkey.
Upon my arrival in Istanbul I was immediately in awe. Never before in a city had I seen so many beautiful mosques and heard prayers from them echo in the streets. Our visits to such places as the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia), Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, and the Cistern left me craving more time to further explore the rich history in this remarkable city. Other memorable experiences for me in Istanbul included a ferry trip up and down the Bosphorus and a visit to a spice bazaar and the Grand Covered Bazaar. In recounting the trip, I am astounded that our travels did not stop there. Our trip to Urfa enabled us the unique chance to walk in and around Harran Castle and the surrounding area as well as Halil-ur Rahman (Fish Lake).
Our next stop was Izmir, which included a personal highlight of mine: Ephesus. It was breathtaking to be surrounded by history that included such names as Alexander the Great and Julius Cesar. Our visits to the house that is believed to be the last home of the Virgin Mary and to St. John Basilica were also very memorable. Our journeys into Antalya and Konya were also amazing. It was a great joy to walk around the best preserved Roman theatre, Aspendos, and to visit the Tomb of Rumi. By a wonderful coincidence, our visit to Konya coincided with Seb-I Aruz, the celebration of the union of Rumi and the Divine, which included an amazing performance of the Whirling Dervishes.
As a teacher, I am especially thankful to have been given the opportunity to visit a number of private schools, so called "Gulen Schools", and a hospital, associated with the Fethullah Gulen Movement born from the ideas of Fethullah Gulen.
As for the trip as a whole, it was a joy to be inundated with information and experiences on this ten day experience that continues to have a lasting impact on me to this day. Every aspect of this trip went far beyond my hopes and expectations and I continue to be inspired by my experiences in Turkey.
