A study abroad program beginning this summer will take students to the crossroads of the world.
Undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity to travel around Turkey for three weeks to study the history, culture and religion of the country that connects Europe and the Middle East.
“Turkey has served as the crossroads of the world for a millennia,” said Gary Grossman, director of the Global Technology and Development program. “It has linked East and West for as long as there is recorded history. This includes the exchange between great religions in the world.”
Grossman, a former resident of Turkey, is organizing the trip along with senior lecturer Mirna Lattouf, who holds a doctoral degree in modern Middle East history and culture. Both Grossman and Lattouf are from ASU’s School of Letters and Sciences.
The first and last week of the program will be conducted online, while three weeks will be spent traveling around Turkey, starting in Istanbul.
Throughout the trip, students will be exposed to the history, culture and religion of Turkey. Students will travel city to city in a luxury bus along with a guide.
“What is really important in terms of a learning experience is we [normally] get such a negative image of the Middle East and Muslims,” Lattouf said. “In Turkey it is very modern, democratic and economically thriving.”
Although some might be concerned about safety with turmoil spreading in other Middle Eastern countries, she said students will be safe.
The people of Turkey prefer their battles in the ballot box because they are very democratic, Grossman said.
“Out of all the chaos in the Middle East, Turkey is very safe,” Lattouf said. “Not only is their political system safe, but also economically they are doing better than Europe, and even us. Globally they are doing better with the recession than most of us.”
During the trip, stops will include architectural wonders such as mosques, cathedrals and an ancient Roman city.
“This is a multi-leveled experience,” Grossman said. “One of the things you’ll get out of this is the power of narrative in creating culture.”
Grossman also said they will be visiting a Christian group in the city of Mardin that claims to be the site of the original Christian church.
“I want students to appreciate where Western civilization came from,” Grossman said. “I want them to see the origins of the things that we take for granted, like how the American religious scene came to be as it is.”
Students will also be meeting with scholars and government officials to talk about the transformation of Turkey, Lattouf said. Students from every discipline are invited to apply for the trip.
Lattouf said students will gain a wide knowledge of topics covering Judaism; Christianity; Islam; animism, which is how the government and religion are intertwined; mythologies; archeological findings and traditions.
Lattouf said she hopes this program becomes annual, but it all depends on the student interest.
Business senior Kimberly Hoff has never studied abroad before but is considering the Turkey program.
“Being able to study abroad will give me the opportunity to visit different sites in Turkey and see how religion plays a prominent role in society,” Hoff said.
Hoff said she has no concerns about safety. She believes this trip will deepen her understanding of religion’s foundation.
More informational sessions will be held in the future. The application deadline for this trip is March 31, Lattouf said.
Reach the reporter at tchavez3@asu.edu
