STUDY TOUR OF TURKEY - OCTOBER 2008 FEEDBACK

Did the tour live up to your expectations?  

My second Study Tour certainly lived up to my expectations, the trip was a journey of discovery and delight. Our guides and friends in Emre and Ahmet bey were outstanding and Turkey's rich history and culture were revealed to us in many different and spectacular ways. From the food in Adana ( and every of place for that matter) to   the landscape at Pumbukle, it was simply a marvelous experience. Every day was a WOW factor day for both Robyn and myself that we will never forget. the friendly and welcoming  people we met everyday.

Most interesting thing you encountered 

The hustle and bustle of Istanbul's markets and bazaars are a real life window into the past and a must do experience for all that visit one of the great and ancient cities of the world.

Suggestions to future participants  

Overall a well organised trip with great travelling companions, beautiful food, spectacular places to see and friendly and very generous people. loved every minute of it!!! We would like to thank the AIS and Emre in particular for giving me another 'COK COK GUZEL'  experience.

K. Pope

In the Footsteps of St Paul study tour was an amazing experience.  The richness and diversity of the participants from Australia, all brought together for a tour and intercultural exchange in Turkey, was an extremely rewarding and pleasant experience.  On this tour, visits to a different regions of Turkey and to a number of the Churches of Redemption provided a backdrop for the most wonderful intercultural experience where there was a chance to visit some of the greatest architectural and historical sites in the world, learn about the history with the very learned local experts that were always with us as well as interact with local people and organisations.  The experience of learning more about Islam through visits to Mosques and other centers of learning was also unique. On this tour, also, was the chance to visit to Cappadocia which is a simply amazing physiological site with breathtaking landscapes.

Most interesting thing you encountered

For me the most memorable experience of this tour was the visits to the small towns and villages around Isparta where in many ways life has not changed for the old people very much at all.  To see the small lorry's loaded up with produce pulled by a pony was an experience that remains memorable. Again, however, the highlight was the interaction with the host families and organisations we met along the way and their generosity of spirit and overwhelming hospitality on every occasion.  Again we come away with some wonderful new friends and rich experiences.

Suggestions to future participants  

For future participants I would suggest that the opportunity to participate in the AIS study tours is and opportunity of a lifetime and potentially a life changing experience.  The carefully planned, and very full, itinerary, the mixture of visits to historical Turkey and also the chance to meet the every day people is something that should not be missed.  It was for me a truly a life changing experience.

G. Jamieson 

It exceeded them. The tour fulfilled the title "In the Footsteps of St. Paul within a background of the history of an old civilisation and that of the Fetullah Gulen Movement.  The mix worked very well.  Great company, skilled local guides, gracious hosts and beautiful children. 
Emre and Ahmet worked well together to provide a trouble free program. I really enjoyed travelling through their 'local territories".  It helped to know Emre beforehand.

Most interesting thing you encountered

Hard to say. The evening with the  Whirling Dervishes was very moving as was the first time I walked where St. Paul walked.  Interesting - The different Mosques or the Museums maybe.  There is only one train and the trams are long and fast.  Walking through excavations of a pagan temple, a synagogue and a church alongside each other.  Seeing a church, a mosque and a synagogue in the one small area. Probably a chat I had late one night, with a young man who worked on the desk in a hotel.  He talked about growing up as a Muslim in Turkey and his ambitions. I spent some time with Aly, our bus driver.  That is a lasting memory. My decision - the people

Suggestions to future participants  

Mix with the locals, listen to the guides, hosts, waiters, informally if possible.
Have at least one evening meal as a group alone  because each will have picked up on different things.  It helps to read the history of the country beforehand. 

Be open to ...
 
It would help if the hosts gave small presents.  You could ask what they would like to be given from Australia, they must be sick of koalas. With my best wishes for this festive season and for 2009,
 

Gwenda