Turkey
6.10 - 10.10 (teacher perspective)

Our students have worked with this project in both their English and P.E. classes. In English, they watched the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, the TED Talk “What Makes a Good Life?” by Robert Waldinger, and listened to teenage perspectives on mobile phone use.

In P.E., they mapped out their daily activities for a full week using a template called the 24-hour schedule. They recorded how much time they spent on screens, sleeping, using social media, being with friends and family, exercising, and eating. After the week was completed, each student analysed their own schedule, reflected on their habits, and, most importantly, set a personal goal for positive change. We weren’t looking for anything dramatic; what mattered was that the goal was realistic and possible to maintain. Some students wanted to reduce their screen time by an hour, others aimed to walk more steps each day, and some chose to focus on healthier eating.

All in all, when we summarised the project, we saw that many students had started making more conscious choices about their health and well-being.

In Turkey, our aim was to present the work we had done. But it wasn’t just about sharing our own project, students also learned about the campaigns developed in the other partner countries. In addition, we placed great value on the cultural exchange that took place between the participating countries.”​

​

All teachers and students had their first meeting on Monday, 6 October. It was an exciting moment, especially for our students, who didn’t quite know what to expect. When we arrived, our wonderful host Serap from Turkey welcomed us warmly. The students and teachers also had the chance to mingle and get to know one another😄

In the afternoon, our Turkish hosts had prepared a set of workshops for us, including designing our own prints on sustainable reusable bags and creating pins with symbols of Izmir. These activities were very appreciated by everyone. It’s always lovely to make something you can bring home with you, a memorable little keepsake!

On Tuesday, it was time for our first cultural visit in Izmir. We went to the Izmir Culture and Arts Factory, an archaeology and ethnography museum. Inside, we saw historical Turkish artefacts as well as remnants connected to their ancient belief systems, including Greek mythology. After this fascinating visit, we continued to the Bazaar for an art workshop. And when I say ‘the Bazaar,’ I really mean the BazaarI had never seen anything like it before. The size, the crowds, the shops… absolutely amazing!

The workshop was great as well. We created our own frames using a traditional Turkish colour technique, another wonderful memory to bring home from this trip. 😊

On Wednesday, we had one of the most exciting days of the trip, filled with culture and history. In the morning, we took the bus to one of the places associated with the Holy Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. When we arrived, the air felt noticeably cooler, but after visiting the chapel we felt a sense of warmth, at least I did, because the holiness and the mystical atmosphere of the place were almost tangible. It was a truly incredible experience.

After this first stop, we continued to Efes (Ephesus), an ancient town from the Roman era. Walking there, we followed the very same paths the Romans once did, a strange but powerful feeling. Afterwards, Christina and I talked about how fantastic an Erasmus exchange truly is. Not only do we, as teachers, get to experience this, but our students do as well. And that is truly amazing!

Thursday was presentation day, the day we learned about the sustainability projects from the other countries. It was a full day of learning, and it was fascinating to see how different each country is, with its own unique challenges. You can also find each country’s presentation here on the blog. Just look for the work packages section, for Turkey.

After the presentations, we received our certificates. We are all very proud to have completed this first part of the Erasmus+ exchange.

In the evening, we all came together to celebrate our achievements over dinner. Being part of this experience is truly amazing, an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and exchange culture, which is incredibly enriching.

Friday was our last day together, and we spent it in Çeşme. A historical town, it is now also a popular holiday resort. We explored the Castle of Çeşme and later relaxed on the beach, where the view was absolutely stunning. Since we visited out of season, it was much quieter than usual, but crowds often mean more waste. Protecting the sea and beaches is essential for a sustainable future.

“That’s all from a teacher’s perspective in Izmir. The next posts will come to you from Italy :D