> Amber Priebe
The Lesson is in the Details
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My experience in Turkey has taught me a lot. Not only did I learn more about myself and my fellow classmates, I have also learned a lot about a country I barely paid any interest in before this journey. While in Turkey, I viewed many historical sites and was asked to present information to the class about one particular topic. I magically drew the straw for one of the first destinations we visited: the Hippodrome in Istanbul.
In my research, I learned that a Hippodrome was a place for horse and chariot races. The ancient Hippodromes were truly the center of social life and entertainment. There was not always a "happy ending" to each race. Many race endings caused huge riots to occur by the fans of the losing team. I also found that the Hippodrome we visited was huge; at one point it was able to hold 100,000 spectators! The clearest way to explain these events is to picture a modern day Nascar race where the two biggest rivalries race each other with no rules at the starting line. With this picture stamped in my mind, I arrived at the site of the ancient Hippodrome only to find three massive structures standing in a line: a fountain and two obelisks. These items used to sit in the center of a dirt race track and today without any historic background of the Hippodrome you would almost mistakenly think it was a park!
I was truly amazed that the objects were still standing. However, now seeing other structures of that same time in history, I am shocked and disappointed that there is nothing but three fragments still standing from such a massive structure! In reality, this summarizes my entire journey! I expected a large Hippodrome, yet only small elements remain, forcing me to focus on the elements given. My habit at C-SC was to see the large indistinct amount of people. However, now experiencing such a trip as this, I got to know a group of individuals among the large structure. Therefore, I benefit from this experience because I better understand each individual person or thing, and the unique stories each entails. I know I never would have developed this understanding without this experience.
Also, I will never forget my 21st birthday (today) that's for sure! A group of strangers came together and created the most creative birthday party ever, and I thank them all for that!
Therefore, I believe this is the best benefit I will take away from this experience as I complete my journey to becoming an elementary teacher. As I face a classroom as a large structure, I will focus on each individual and the unique stories they reveal so that I can improve my teaching -- all because of my experiences studying abroad in Turkey. Click here to learn more about EXP@CSC Funding the Student Experience.
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