10 - 17 August 2006 Tokat and Amasya, TURKEY

From 10 August 2006 to 17 August 2006 in Turkey took place a successful international exchange with the partnership of the “Open Youth” association. The participants were from five different countries: Turkey, Poland, Rumania, Spain and Bulgaria. The topic of the exchange was “Agriculture” and it took place in Tokat and Amasya- two very beautiful towns in Turkey. The main aim of the project was the development of the agriculture and we had the chance to visit agricultural fields and villages in this region and to see if they work properly for the environment. In these villages we had the chance to taste delicious Turkish meals and to see the real life of the Turkish peasant.

During the first three days we were staying in the dormitory of the local university, which has a faculty for agriculture. On the second day we had a meeting with the rector of the university and after that with the media, so that we had the opportunity to promote the main aim of our project.

On the forth day we arrived in Amasya which is a historical center because four great sultans were born there. So, from that day we started to visit more historical places and to get to know with the Turkish past. We visited the local museum and we saw real MUMIES from 14th century. In fact, in terms of their mummifying technique, they are different from other examples of mummies else where around the world. The main difference is that these bodies were mummified without taking the inner part of the bodies out. We also saw the rock tombs of the kings which can catch people’s eyes in the moment they enter the area of the city. There are 21 rock tombs along the valley. That’s why the region is also known as “The Kings’ Valley”.

Another part of the project which was very interesting and unforgettable was the visiting of a Mosque. It was a great challenge and the girls had to cover themselves with scarves.

The national evenings, of course, were very interesting and this was the way that we could get closer not only with the people, but also with the habits of those people, with their meals, their national dances and their history.