Students participating in the NSLI-Y Bursa Summer Program with ACES arrived ready to experience the local culture. Fortunately for these students, a Turkish summer was not complete without a trip to the beach! On Thursday, July 30th ACES NSLI-Y Bursa students were able to combine summer fun and culture in their trip to the nearby city of Iznik in Northwestern Turkey.
The city of Iznik has a rich local history, and was the location of the Council of Nicaea. Students toured famous sites including Ayasofya Cami, the original church for the Council of Nicaea. The ancient sites in Iznik highlight several gorgeous tile artworks, and the city is still the origin of some of the most world famous tile artwork today. Students got a chance to create their own tile masterpieces at the local tile workshop Cini Ciftligi. Students learned a little more about the history of Iznik, experienced how tiles were made, and later decorated their own tiles and pottery items.
As promised, the day ended with just enough time for a delicious kofte (Turkish meatball dish) dinner, and a beautiful sunset on Lake Iznik. Students returned to Bursa with full bellies and wonderful memories. The next day, the students were surprised to see their group featured in two local newspapers, "Hurriyet" and "Milliyet." Put your Turkish language skills to the test and see how much of the articles you are able to understand!