On Thursday night 1st of April, a group of Uniting Church teachers along with a professor at a Sydney University, a Deputy Principal at an Anglican college, a Telecommunications Technical Manager and a Registered Nurse headed off to the Sydney International Airport to begin their journey on a Study Tour of Turkey, organised by Affinity.
Mr Mehmet Saral, President of Affinity, was the tour host and had planned the trip for the entire group. For all of them, this was the first time that they were going to Turkey, so clearly there were no expectations, just excitement.
The group consisted of the following individuals:
- Prof Rosemary Johnston – Head of Education Faculty at the University of Technology, Sydney
- Mr Brian Lyle – Deputy Principal, Trinity Grammar School
- Mr Philip Worrad – Chaplain at Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange
- Mr Christopher Howes – Music Teacher Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange
- Mrs Jennifer Lyle – Studies of Religion Teacher at Pymble Ladies College
- Mr Mark Leal – Manager of Services Lab. Asia Pacific for Nokia Siemens Networks
- Mrs Catherine Leal – Religious Education Coordinator at Ravenswood School for Girls
- Ms Helen Clarke – Head of Studies of Religion & Social Justice at Knox Grammar School
- Mrs Punam Bent – Chaplain at MLC School Burwood
- Mr Peter Goldfinch – RN for Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service
- Ms Rosemary King – Studies of Religion Teacher at MLC School Burwood
- Ms Sarah Johnston – Research Assistant
- Mrs Rahile Ansari - Secretary of Affinity Intercultural Foundation
- Mr Mehmet Saral – President of Affinity Intercultural Foundation
Altogether there were 14 people on the Study tour of Turkey.
The tour stretched along the west coast of Turkey, where we visited cities such as Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, Canakkale and towns s
uch as Assos, Gallipoli, Iznik and Kusadasi. There is so much history remnants in Turkey that have been very well preserved by the Ottoman Turks and now Turkish Republic, that Turkey is often referred to as an open air museum to many historians and tourists who visit it.
The highlight for many of the group members was Gallipoli, where Australians and Turks share a legacy. Many of the members were moved by the land, and could not believe the generosity of the Turkish people for keeping the land so clean, and preserving it for fellow Australians. Brian Lyle stated, ‘nice to breathe in the sense of history and appreciate that it’s been looked after so well’. For many it was as enlightening to see the other side of the war, and to see what the Turkish soldiers went through. Catherine Leal remarked, ‘it was fascinating to hear about the Turkish side during WW1, it was amazing to hear’.
In Istanbul the group got lost and amazed by the history that was surrounding the city. For many Hagia Sophia was a standout, with Christian-Muslim history merging so well together, it was a great testament to interfaith dialogue.
Catherine Leal said, ‘Hagia Sophia was inspiring, its beauty, the concept of tolerance, embarrassed cause if that was a mosque being turned to a church it would have been destroyed’. Visiting the numerous mosques like the Sultan Ahmet mosque (aka Blue mosque) was another highlight, with many stating it was not only historically intriguing, but also spiritually, ‘the spirituality in the mosques has been tangible’, stated Brain Lyle.
In the city of Izmir the group got to feel more like a tourist, staying at a hotel by the seaside, they enjoyed their time shopping in the bazaar, drinking coffee and having late night walks, and offcourse late night shopping! Afterwards, the group headed off to Ephesus, where they experienced a lost civilisation, as they walked through the marble street of Ephesus, it was truly an amazing and once in a lifetime experience for many.
Visiting the city of Bursa, which was the capital of the Seljuk Turks and then of the first 6 Ottoman Sultan’s, was also a very worthwhile experience. Bursa for many members of the group had it all: spirituality, history, shopping, McDonalds and off course traditional Turkish baths! In Bursa the group learnt about the 20th Century history of Turkey and how it was shaped after WWI. However, for many what would be the highlight of Bursa, were the Whirling Dervishes. A number of the members of the touring party were treated to a nice, unplanned surprise of watching the Dervishes do their traditional sema (whirl) to some scintillating Sufi music. They were invited to a traditional Sufi order and experienced what was for many a very moving ritual. For the lucky ones who saw the event it was inspiring and moving at the same time. It was a memory of Turkey that many will cherish.
On our trip back to Istanbul, in the final couple of days of the tour, the group was taken to Iznik, also known as Nicaea. Upon entering the town, which looked like a very simple Turkish town
from the outside, mesmerised many as this simple town of Iznik was the place where the 1st and 7th Council’s of Nicaea were held, when the Creed of Christianity, the Trinity, was first established. For all it was a very worthwhile trip as they all enjoyed going back to the roots of their faith.
The tour was a study tour of Turkey after all and thus the group of teachers were shown the largest and most successful NGO in Turkey, the Gulen movement. Throughout the 12 days, the group were taken to Gulen inspired private Colleges, Universities, Newspapers, Writers & Journalist foundation, Private Hospitals and individual homes of businessmen who support the Gulen movement, to allow them to get the full experience and witness what the Gulen movement has done for Turkey and for the world at large. A number of the teachers were impressed by what they saw with Catherine Leal stating, ‘we will impact on others the importance of this movement’, with Peter Goldfinch stating, ‘I was struck by the Gulen movement, the staff and people who work in it’ and with Brian Lyle stating, ‘The Gulen movement is the key for the future of Turkey, especially with its emphasis on education, something we don’t see in Australia’. For many it was a great eye opener to see Turkey from this light.
The experience of Turkey for the teachers, also allowed them to indirectly experience Islam, a practical version. With time spent in Mosques, watching people worship, pray or in local Muslim businessmen homes for dinner, where the great Turkish hospitality was shown. For many of the members this was a highlight with Brian Lyle stating, ‘...felt honoured to be looked after by the locals, it was honouring’ and with Philip Worrad stating, ‘... hospitality does not define it; it’s the unconditional acceptance of the other as a creation of God’.
The Study Tour of Turkey was indeed an overwhelming experience that had it all; food, spirituality, leisure, tradition, history, politics, hope and a look into the future. I believe the individuals that went on this tour got a life experience, something that not everyone is lucky enough to have. The group during the tour also really bonded with one another, some becoming very close friends.
Below are some other reflections that were shared by the group:
‘I now have no fear of bringing my student s, young Australians to Turkey’- Philip Worrad
‘I have found a place where I have found God’- Puman Bent
‘Never felt safe
in another country before, it’s because of their faith’- Helen Clarke
‘Mehmet you and I are from different backgrounds, yet i feel like we are one’- Rosemary Johnston
‘I can now take this experience to my students and help them to better understand Islam’- Rosemary King
‘Turkey is incredible’- Catherine Leal
‘Looking forward to seeing Turkey move towards the future’- Brian Lyle
‘Enjoyed every minute of it’- Jennifer Lyle
‘Would not hesitate now going back to Australia walking in the streets of Auburn and walking into the Mosque without feeling any issues’- Christopher Howes
