Try some Turkish Delight at CulturalFest
Did you know that Istanbul is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents?
Trabzon, Turkey
CulturalFest, FIUTS' annual celebration of all things global on the University of Washington campus, is coming up on February 14 and 15. Over the next few weeks, we'll be profiling some of the many student volunteers who make CulturalFest happen, asking them each the same series of questions to learn more about where they're from and what they hope to share about their country or culture.
The CulturalFest Expo will feature booths from 37 different countries and regions around the world.
Today, we're featuring a profile from the leaders of the Turkey booth!
The Eephesus Theater
Who are your booth volunteers and where in Turkey are they from?
Our booth includes Mustafa, from Ankara and Istanbul; and Turan, Derya, and Semra, all from Instanbul.
What will Cultural Fest visitors be able to see and do at your booth to learn about Turkey?
They will have a taste of one of the most popular sweets, Turkish delight and see pictures and videos of the kind of life that takes place in Turkey. They will also listen to Turkish music, and see different kinds of clothing, architecture, and beautiful places to visit. We will also have information about famous Turkish people, Turkish coffee cups and traditional musical instruments, and some small games that people can play.
Istanbul
What’s one important thing you want people to know about your country/culture?
Turkey is a wonderful place to visit and our culture is very unique. An interesting fact about Turkey is that Istanbul is the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents.
If someone was going to travel to Turkey, where would you recommend they visit?
We would recommend visiting Istanbul to see the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus is the strait that connects the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. It is 20 miles long and separates the European and Asian continents.
If someone wants to know more about Turkey, what books, movies, and websites would you recommend?
Sümela Monastery
Movies:
Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul, Fatih Akin, 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CBllQ3Uchk
Books:
Istanbul: Poetry of Place, edited by Ates Orga
Websites:
http://www.goturkey.com/index.php?lng=en
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293969-Turkey-Vacations.html
Istanbul
When you first arrived at the University of Washington, what surprised you the most about Seattle?
I was impressed when I saw all the people with different backgrounds were living together in harmony. Nationality, language, age, etc were not a problem for people to be good friends.
The CulturalFest Expo takes place on February 14 from 11:00-3:30 at the University of Washington HUB. It is a free, family-friendly event at which students from around the world will lead activities and teach visitors about different aspects of their countries and cultures. Over 30 world regions will be represented. Click here for more information about CulturalFest!