Find us on
- March 2nd, 2011
Games Legacy: Turkey & Perth Grammar School
- mconlon
- Comments: 1 CommentTags: Games Legacy Perth, Mehmet Emin, Perth Grammar, Perth Grammar School, Perth Turkey
Let’s talk about our observations about our cultural differences AND similarities.
First off, driving is like playing Crazy Taxi or watching the Indy 500 – hundreds of cars trying to get to where they want with scant observation for any rules – cut ups, horn toots, weaving about, no attention paid to “lines on the road” – hilarious! Our driver – Assistant Head Nazif Sahin – is a genius at keeping us alive. Drivers really need to know the width of their car as gaps either side on roads are usually in centimetres and you need eyes in the back of your head. Strangely though, you do not see many cars with big scrapes down the sides or busted headlights and bumpers. You won’t see me driving when I visit again!
Culturally there is great history and tradition as there is in Scotland, along with a passion and pride in it’s heroes and it’s past. The pupils often mentioned Braveheart and we have learned of their love for Mustafa Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic – a wise man in many regards.
Our Turkish colleagues and pupils have all that you want in new friends – an excellent sense of humour, smiles, consideration, appetite for life and that good old fashioned sense of decency that can take you anywhere in the world.
Our friends here love a bowl of soup at every meal and they drink tea by the gallon – at first I didn’t enjoy it (“Any milk?”!!) but now I want at least 5 cups in a day please! We have tried LOTS of different foods, some we have really enjoyed, others…..but that’s just food for you.
We’ve visited castles and museums today, went bowling with the kids (I got gubbed) and the back to school for more planning which is what I’ll also be telling you about….
Categories Commonwealth Games, International, International Inspirations, olympics, turkey, Uncategorized
All sounds brilliant. You sound as though you’re having a wonderful time. What’s pinging?