ADMS International Night 2019
On November 20th 2019, the Yunus Emre Institute presented an authentic Turkish experience to nearly two thousand students that participated in International Night at Alice Deal Middle School. Alice Deal Middle School was recently awarded the Blue Ribbon for Excellence for their outstanding educational program by the Department of Education. Alice Deal is an International Baccalaureate School that educates its students to become global citizens. International Night is about immersing the students of Alice Deal in an international experience, where they can try different foods from around the world and learn about culturally significant traditions. The cause that International Night is based upon is the Albright Scholarship, which allows students to travel abroad and practice the language skills that they have been developing for three or more years.
Their trip to Turkey had begun once each student received a paper Turkish passport and then got a giriş (enter) stamp upon entry as if they were entering through Turkey’s border customs. There were multiple tables that presented the full experience of Turkish culture from language and science, to art and music, then finally travel and food. The language section presented all of the information about Yunus Emre’s language programs like the introductory language courses offered in person, the online language courses, and the Turkish Summer School program. The science section was dedicated to presenting information about TABIP and the academic exchange program that the Yunus Emre Institute engages in. The music section, which had a speaker playing Turkish music, displayed information about common Turkish instruments and sounds. The art section had various examples of Turkish art like ceramics, calligraphy, and water marbling. A master calligrapher was at the art section writing people’s names so that everyone had a small, but meaningful, piece of Turkish art to take home with them. The travel section had a slideshow that presented dozens of historic Turkish landmarks and UNESCO sites with a bookmark given out at the end. The last section was the food section where different appetizers were handed out for the eager students to try like dolmas, börek, and kısır.
The students were elated at their overall experience of travelling to Turkey on International Night. They each lined up after getting their giriş stamps and began their journey through Turkey, expressing particular interest at the art and music table. They enthusiastically waited to have their names written by the master calligrapher, who intricately crafted their names on special calligraphy paper. There was also an incredibly positive reaction towards the music section, which they enjoyed by both listening to Turkish music on the speaker and learning about it through scanning QR codes with different playlists. The food section was also a tremendous success as each student capped off their trip to Turkey with some new and exciting treats that most had never tasted before.
The Yunus Emre Foundation is a public foundation formed to promote Turkey, Turkish language, its history and culture and art, make such related information and documents available for use in the world, provide services abroad to people who want to have education in the fields of Turkish language, culture and art, to improve the friendship between Turkey and other countries and increase the cultural exchange. If you are interested in receiving more information, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr.