WCS Teacher Selected for Visit to Turkey

Published August 27, 2009

Sunset Middle School teacher Timothy Drinkwine was recently among two dozen U.S. educators who were chosen to be part of the 2009 Turkish Cultural Program Summer Study Tour. Drinkwine was one of only six teachers from the state who were selected for the honor.

On June 29, the educators began their journey to the former Ottoman Empire where they would spend the next 10 days touring the nation. The purpose of the study tour is to introduce American teachers to Turkish history and culture.

While there, Drinkwine was able to visit a number of ancient cities and landmarks. The trip began in Istanbul but the group also traveled to the cities of Iznik (formerly Nicea), Bursa and Ephesus.

"While in Ephesus I walked the old Roman roads, saw the ancient Roman bath houses and visited the stadium where the Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians," said Drinkwine. "I still can't believe I've actually been there. I'm trying to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming."

But for Drinkwine the most memorable experiences took place when the group made a visit to two very special schools in Istanbul. The first is actually a school for orphans. It serves grades four through 12 and while as many as 3,000 students from all over Turkey apply for the school each year they only accept 180.

The second school is called Bahceshir Science and Technology High School. It ranges from grades four through 12 and only accepts the best and brightest students in Turkey, many of whom go on to study at MIT and Harvard.

"We were given a tour of the school which included state of the art laboratories for math, physics, chemistry, software, hardware and much more," said Drinkwine. "The school even included a planetarium and a museum created by its own students."

After ten exhausting days of sightseeing, Drinwkine and his group returned to the United States on July 10. The Sunset Middle School history teacher says he can't wait to share his experiences in Turkey with his students. "The geography is stunning; the people are beautiful; and the food is rich," said Drinkwine. "It is truly an adventurer's paradise."