TAKING BACK TURKEY DANIELLE NÚÑEZ LATIN TEACHER
The Frederick Douglass Academy continued its tradition of world travel in February 2009 with an eleven-day trip to Turkey. Following the path of the Roman Empire, 17 members of the Frederick Douglass Academy traveled more then 2,000 miles across the Anatolian landscape from the Bosphorous River, to the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean coast, to the mountains of Cappadocia. Along this path, we were immersed in over five thousand years of Anatolian history, from the underground cities of the Hittites to the site of the famous Trojan War, to the gleaming capitals of the Ionic and then Roman Empires. I began teaching at Frederick Douglass Academy in 2004. I still recall how Dr. Hodge, shaking my hand as he congratulated me on my new position, declared that I was not only about to teach Latin, but also to lead trips around the world, beginning with Rome in April 2005. At that time, the prospect of transporting my classroom thousands of miles away seemed an intangible fantasy, and my dumbly nodding head seemed like a polite indulgence to a new and demanding boss. But come April, I found myself leading my band of FDA students, faculty, and parents around the busy streets of Rome, blocking the paths of speeding Vespas so my travelers could safely cross into the Roman Forum. The fantasy was now reality, and maps of the world suddenly looked like lesson plans-in-waiting. I had first begun to travel when I was a little girl, spending summer vacations in Peru with my family. As I grew older, I traveled independently, planning my own trips to Latin America, Europe, and Asia, sometimes staying with friends or family, but often backpacking on my own. I was a very selfish traveler in those days! I experienced the wonders of the world only for my own edification. But something revelatory happened on that FDA trip to Italy: I witnessed the wonders of Rome – the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum - through the eyes of my students, and the experience was suddenly more profound, more meaningful, and sweeter. I was hooked. Our trip to Turkey was my third international expedition with the school and definitely the most rewarding, given the breadth of the country in which we traveled. I had previously made this trip in February 2007, and, like a scouting agent at a basketball game, I had mentally checked off all the qualities the tour had to offer my community back home. The tour agent, Fez Travel, which traditionally caters to Australians and New Zealanders visiting Gallipoli, was staffed with bright and knowledgeable guides. The quality of hotels was very high. The tour bus was cozy. Turkish food was savory and delicious. The ancient ruins - huge sprawling sites without any urban neighbors to spoil their serenity - were unparalleled in either Italy or Greece. Thus I informed my guide that I would return with my students as soon possible! Thank you to all the travelers who made this trip so unforgettable. Your love of learning, your patience, and your wonderful energy made this one of the best vacations I have ever had.