Gallipoli Youth Award 2011

Goodbye

2011-05-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

So I have been back in New Zealand for a couple of weeks and I've been very busy so I've only just got the chance to write about my last couple of days in Turkey. The day before I left some boys from AFS took me around Istanbul to see the sites. We went to Topkapı Palace, the palace where the Sultan of Turkey used to live. It is a huge and it took us a couple of hours to walk around the whole palace. We also went around İstiklal Avenue/ İstiklâl Caddesi which is a big, famous street in Taksim Square. I also tried Turkish ice cream which is really nice.

Topkapı Palace

The boys and I around Istanbul
&
İstiklâl Caddesi

It was sad leaving Mira, Selim and Ebru. I had a wonderful time staying with them. I am definitely going back to Turkey one day to see them again and I hope that they will come to New Zealand so I can show them our beautiful country .

The other weekend Anday came down to stay with us. This was my first time meeting her. She was fun to hang out with. We went op-shopping, both hoping to find a ball dress and we also went to the Zoo and to Mount Vic lookout. It was nice being able to show someone around my city for a change.

Anday, my mum and I at Mount Vic lookout

Gallipoli

2011-04-28T00:37:00.001-07:00

After saying goodbye to my friends I went on a tour of Gallipoli that my host family organised for me. It was fantastic, I was able to see everything that I didn't get to see on ANZAC Day. The tour guide knew a lot about the Gallipoli campaign and taught us all some new things. We went to ANZAC Cove which was really cool. We also visited some cemeteries including Beach Cemetery and Ari Brunu. We also got to see the grave of the Australian, John Simpson Kirkpatrick- the man with a donkey. We also went and saw the memorial sites again, it was very different without thousands of people around. We saw the trenches and communication tunnels which was really cool. I think that was my favourite part. I could have been standing in the exact same place that Herbert stood on 96years ago. I am glad I got to see Gallipoli again, it is a very special place and everyone should try and get there one day.

ANZAC Cove

Communication Tunnels left- ANZAC and right- Turkish

Me at North Beach- Where the Dawn Service is held.

In front of the New Zealand Memorial

ANZAC Trenches

Turkish Trenches at Chunuk Bair

Goodbye Çanakkale

2011-04-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

We are going to Istanbul tonight so today I had my last day at school. It was very sad saying goodbye to everyone I didn't realise how upset I would be. We all cried and hugged and said that we hoped to meet each other again one day. I really hope that I will meet them again. I left part way through the morning and the physics teacher was kind and let the girls walk me down to the car. I am very sad to leave Çanakkale but I will come back one day. I am excited to spend the next few days in Istanbul before my flight on Saturday.

The English Department
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My two English teachers

The girls in my class

ANZAC Day in New Zealand

2011-04-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Anday Yalin, an AFS student from Istanbul, Turkey participated in the ANZAC Day ceremonies in Wellington. Anday read a poem at the National Service and laid a wreath on behalf of the youth of Turkey at the Ataturk Memorial on Wellington's south coast.

The National Service

The Official Party at the Ataturk Memorial

Anday with the Turkish Ambassador and his wife

ANZAC Day 2011

2011-04-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

By 3am I was at the Kolin Hotel with everyone else who was going to ANZAC Day services at Gallipoli. We went on the VIP buses across to Gallipoli. We arrived at North Beach in time for the Spirit of Place ceremony where names were read of some of the New Zealand and Australian soliders that died. Then the Dawn Service began. I cannot describe the feeling of being at Gallipoli for the Dawn Service. It was unreal and extremely moving, I feel so privileged that I was able to be there. The wind was icy and I couldn't feel the tips of my fingers but I didn't care. After the Dawn Service we went and had some breakfast at a hotel. Then went to Lone Pine for the Australian Service. Afterwards was the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial Service. Then we made our way to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand Service, this was the best part of my day. It is an odd but great feeling standing on the land that my ancestors once stood on. It was very peaceful and it made me feel so much closer to my relatives that fought at Gallipoli. I cannot thank RNZRSA and AFS enough for this amazing experience, I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.This has been one of the most amazing days of my life and I will never forget it.

New Zealand, Australian and Turkish flags at the Dawn Service

The Australian Service at Lone Pine

Turkish Service

New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair

A Day in Çanakkale

2011-04-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I only have one week left before I go home. I don't want to leave so soon, I'm having too much fun. This morning my friends called me and we arranged to meet up so we can spend my last weekend in Turkey together. We went to a really nice cafe where there was the most delicious food- all sweet things. I got a raspberry and chocolate cake which was really nice but I couldn't finish it, it was too rich for me. Then we just hung out for awhile, looking around the shops and just relaxing. They took me to some cute little boutiques and they bought me a really nice necklace. I am going to miss them when I go back to New Zealand but I hope one day we will meet again.

My delicious cake and a Turkish sweet my friends bought me- it's a little like toffee

My friends and also the necklace they bought for me (it's the top necklace)

Some Pictures from my last few weeks in Turkey

2011-04-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

One day we all went to the hair salon and got our hair done

Mira's hair and mine

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We also all got glitter tattoos at the hair salon

My host mother getting hers done and Mira's one

And mine

Trojan horse at a cafe

The painting I did at Mira's academy. The kids were painting element faeries so I did as well.

I couldn't get a picture of the other kids paintings because they all finished theirs before me and they got put away- the academy is having a show to display all the artwork done by the kids.

The sunset one night. I thought it looked quite pretty.

Friends

2011-04-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

I have really settled into school now and I have made some really lovely friends. We are managing to have pretty good conversations, they know more English than I realised. They are a couple of years younger than me but to be honest there is no difference between us. They are really great people and I know that I have made some friends for life. It makes me sad to think that I have to go in a couple of weeks when I'm just really starting to making fantastic friends. The other day I took my camera to school and the girls in my class loved it. They took turns taking photos of each other and we had a great time. Although not all of them liked having their photo taken and some were sick and at home.

My Weekend

2011-04-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

I just had a very long but a great weekend. On Saturday I went to my little sister's academy like I do most Saturdays. This is where she does painting, piano and ballet. I've joined her painting class, the other kids are about 7. I left the academy early to meet up with two very nice boys, one is an AFS volunteer who is from Çanakkale. We walked over to a park where he had organised a pillow fight. I played for the first round but then I decided to sit out and watch. We also looked at the big wooden horse that they have in Çanakkale. It is in the Morabbin Park on the waterfront, the horse was made for the 2004 movie 'Troy'.

Me in front of the wooden horse

The Pillow Fight

Then we went to the Çanakkale Naval Museum. We got there a bit late so we had to look around everything quite quickly. It was really cool, there is little museum with things from WW1, like bullets and flags. There was a section for the Gallipoli Campaign. There were Australian badges found in the ground at Gallipoli. There was also a boat you go on that has a presentation about 18th March. It was in Turkish so I didn't understand what they were saying but there was a video showing the ships and the mines so I got the general gist of what happened. There is also a fortress. It was built my Sultan Mehmet in the 15th century. Around the grounds are mines and cannons on display from WW1.

Some bullets found at Gallipoli and a British flag that was taken by the Turkish

The Fortress

Afterwards we met up with my host family whose Harley Davidson friends had ridden Çanakkale from Istanbul for the weekend. We all went out for dinner, they are really lovely people and very funny. On Sunday we went to say goodbye to them but we ended up going for a ride with them, halfway to Istanbul. It was a lot of fun, I quite like being on the back of a motorbike. By the end of the weekend I was very tired but I had had a lot of fun.

More Istanbul

2011-04-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Spent 3 days shopping in Istanbul, Very exhausted by the end of it and also a bit short of money. I bought lots of clothes. On Sunday we went to the bazaar near where we stayed in Istanbul. Everything was really cheap so I bought even more clothes.

The bazaar

It was raining for most of the weekend, so I didn't really get the chance to take many photos. It stopped raining on Sunday but it was really foggy. I took a few photos they're a bit hard to see because of the fog, sorry. The buildings are really tall, everything in Istanbul is massive.

Istanbul

2011-04-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

I am in Istanbul for a few days over the weekend. We arrived late last night, it is about a 3-4 hour drive from Canakkale. On our way to Istanbul we stopped in a town called Tekirdağ. It is really famous in Turkey for its amazing meatballs. So we stopped and had some for dinner, they were really nice.

Today we went to Istinye Park which is a HUGE shopping mall. It has nearly 300 stores and is very easy to get lost in. We were there for about 8 hours and now I am very tired. I did a lot of shopping, I bought a few things from H&M and few other stores that we don't have in New Zealand. The prices were quite cheap so I didn't actually spend that much money.

The Shopping Mall

My days shopping

Turkey

2011-04-01T15:09:00.001-07:00

Life in Turkey has been great, I have been settling into life here and trying some new things. Last weekend I went for a ride on the back of my host fathers Harley, it was very cool. I might have to save up and buy myself a motorbike.

School is good, I sometimes go to different English classes so they can practice speaking English, they are really good. I've been to most of the classes at the school and the kids are really funny. At school there is a canteen with lots of different lollies and things. The woman who works at the canteen knows I don't speak Turkish so she tells me how much things are by holding up her fingers. My friend Elifcan bought me this chocolate treat the other day. It comes in a small tube (like a toothpaste tube) and is filled with chocolate- like Nutella. You suck it out of the tube, it tastes really nice!

Nutella in a tube

My First Week in Turkey

2011-03-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

Time has gone so quickly, I have already been here a week and it has been one of the greatest weeks of my life. I can't believe I only have 5 weeks left. Here are a few photos from my first week in Çanakkale, Turkey.

A few pictures from 18th March fireworks display and torchlight march

Sorry they're not very good, I couldn't keep the camera still.

The 18th March is an extremely important day, it is like the Turkish version of ANZAC Day. Everyone is out celebrating Turkey and WW1 and remembering the lives that were tragically lost.

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My host sister, Mira and I at the beach near our house

My host family's dog, Cadi

The beach near our house

School

2011-03-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have settled into living in Turkey and I have started school and have been there for few days. It is very different form my school in NZ. I go to Çanakkale Koleji, it's a nice school, it is really big but there aren't that many students. The school is for all ages (years 1-13). I'm in a class with about 20-25 other students, I am a couple of years older than them. They do a lot more subjects than what I am used to, and the classes are a lot harder. So far I have done biology, physics, English, English speaking, Turkish, history, geography, maths and this afternoon I had German. The classes can get a bit boring because I don't understand what is happening, I try and guess what the teacher is talking about but I rarely guess right. I have made some friends at school, they are really nice and they know quite a bit of English which is good, but we still find it a little difficult to communicate.

At school they have a zoo. It's a little area where there are goats, roosters, hens, ducks and peacocks. I find it a little odd having a zoo at school but it is actually quite cool.

Some pictures of my school and the zoo.

School is longer in Turkey, in NZ I would normally finish at about 3.20pm but here we finish about an hour later. They also have more periods a day than I'm used to, they have about 8 periods a day with breaks in between each period. At school we get lunch given to us, we get a tray and it is dished up for us, in NZ I bring my own lunch to school each day. I catch the school bus to school and home. It's not what I would call a bus, it is more like a mini-van with automatic doors. I catch it with my host sister Mira and the other kids that live near us. The other kids are a lot younger but they are very entertaining and cute. They try and teach me Turkish words and they all get very excited and yell "EVET" (yes) when I get the words right. So far I have learnt the Turkish words for couch, tea and light, I can also say "my name is Heather". Getting the bus is the best part of the day.

Arriving

2011-03-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

After a very long trip I have finally made it to Çanakkale. I flew from Wellington to Auckland to Singapore (where my flight was delayed) then to Istanbul a total of 34hours travelling. Then I meet with a couple of very nice ladies from AFS who drove me the rest of way to Canakkale (5hours and then a ferry ride). I arrived in Çanakkale this afternoon where I finally met my host family who I will be living with for the next 6 weeks. They are a lovely family and I am very excited to be here. I am extremely tired, I slept a little on my flight to Istanbul but not enough. We are going out for dinner tonight and I think I am starting school tomorrow. I am a bit nervous about school considering I don't know any Turkish but hopefully it'll be fine. After a shower and some food I am feeling a lot better but still very tired. It is really cold here, I'm glad I bought lots of warm clothes.

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A few pictures I took on my way to Çanakkale from Istanbul

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A war memorial

The women who brought me to Çanakkale, I think, told me there is a Turkish side and an Anzac side and, there is a figure of woman in the middle- a mother. I think it is in Eceabat but I'm not too sure, I was quite tired and don't remember the names of the places

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View from the ferry

Gallipoli Youth Award 2011 recipient announced

2011-02-20T14:30:00.000-08:00

AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand has awarded the 2011 Gallipoli Youth Award to a young Wellington student with close connections to ANZAC soldiers who served at Gallipoli.

AFS is the largest organisation in the world to facilitate non-fee-paying cultural exchanges.

The award, which is run by AFS in partnership with the Royal New Zealand RSA, runs from March to May 2011. It involves a six-week exchange, attending a local Turkish school and participation in ANZAC and Turkish commemorative services.

The student will document her exchange experiences via an online blog, where she will also post photos and their winning presentations.

The award is only eligible to students who have a blood relative who was involved in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War.

The recipient is 16-year-old Heather Mackay of Wellington, a Year 12 student at Wellington Girls College. Her great-great uncle, Private Herbert Stanley Sing served as a signaller during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Herbert joined the army in 1914. During his years in the war he fought in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. Sadly Herbert was killed in action in 1916 and is now buried in France.

Like most other boys, Herbert joined the army thinking it would be a new and exciting adventure. Herbert landed at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. According to an extract from a letter home he put his foot on Turkish soil at about 10.00am.

In a letter home he described the fighting as “living hell”. The Turks were chasing them back, “We had to run I can tell you, I don't think I ran so fast in all my life”. Herbert was wounded on the first day of fighting and was admitted to hospital in Mena, he rejoined his unit on 22nd June 1915.

“My great grandmother, Bertha (Birdie) Frances Mackay-Campbell (Grandma) died last year at the age 105. There was someone extremely special in her life, her brother, Herbert Sing. I have been hearing stories about Herbert for as long as I can remember. Herbert was always the brother Grandma loved to talk about” says Heather.

His mother and his sister (Grandma) always wanted to visit Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery and see the final resting place of Herbert. Unfortunately they never had the opportunity to go. “One day I hope to travel to France and fulfil the dreams of my great great grandmother and my grandma”.

“Although I never met Herbert I feel as if I know him. This (Gallipoli Youth Award entry) essay has made me feel closer to Herbert than I ever felt before. It also makes me feel closer to my grandma; because I now see she loved him so much”.

AFS has organised over 10,000 cultural exchanges throughout 52 countries worldwide. The exchanges have a family focus and are based on the AFS mission of peace through friendship and cultural understanding.

The Gallipoli Youth Award is particularly special, says Tony Calvert, AFS New Zealand Communications Manager.

“Our origins lie in the American Field Service, a volunteer ambulance corps formed in World War I and active through World War II,” says Tony Calvert.

“AFS ambulance drivers believed that personal interaction and friendships between people built international peace and understanding.

“The sharing of cultures that the 2011 award recipient will experience, and their own strong family connection with brave First World War Gallipoli veterans, makes the Gallipoli Youth Award exchange a significant and poignant event.

“The award is a true celebration of the spirit of ANZAC and New Zealand’s bond of brotherhood with Turkey.”

2010-06-06T18:46:00.000-07:00

The New Zealand Ceremony

The Turkish Ceremony

The Australian Ceremony

Anzac Day

2010-06-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

With an early start of 2am, I left my house with my host mother and together we met with the official New Zealand party at the Kolen Hotel. From there we took a boat ride to the Gallipoli Peninsular and then because we were with the Prime Minister's party, we were treated to a bus ride right to the entrance of the ceremony.

I can't start to explain the overwhelming emotions I felt, being at the site where so many of my ancestors fought. I have visited this wonderful place 3 other times since I arrived and each time my feelings have been different. Nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt today, the 25th April. The first service was at ANZAC Cove for the opening ceremony where leaders from the different countries spoke. John Keys message was both emotional and filled me with pride, I cried tears for all the lives lost and the ones who came back home different men.

Next we went to have breakfast in a cafe on the beachfront and then on to the Australian ceremony at Lone Pine. Another wonderful emotional speeches people who are no doubt ancestors of men who fought in battle on this site. The Turkish ceremony was next. Even though it was speeches delivered in Turkish and English, the emotions were the same and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the ones for NZ and Australia. Finally in the afternoon we went to Chunuk Bair for the New Zealand ceremony.

Never have I felt such a strong pride in both my country and family for their sacrifice at what is now a beautiful place but was a site of such death and sorrow. I can't explain in words my feelings, but just to say that I don't think I will ever feel this again and I take home with me a different respect for the men who fought at Gallipoli. Their courage and ability to forsake their families is something that became more real for me. My reason for wanting this award was to pay my respects to my Great Great Grandfather Edmund Bowler who fought there and I now can honestly say I think he would have been proud of me for learning and understanding a bit of what he went through.

A long day but one I will never forget and will always be grateful for.

2010-04-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

The castle

Me and my friends in the flower fields

In the flowers at the castle

At the beach on the island

At our henna party, me having henna put on my hands

The manti we made

The manti before it was cooked

2010-04-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic time on Saturday afternoon learning how to make manti, it tasted delicious. Afterwards we were shown what the Turkish women do at a henna party before a women gets married. There is a lot of singing and dancing in a circle while the bride to be sits in the middle, when the singing is finished they put a circle on the palm of your hand in henna and a small dot on your little finger. It was a lot of fun and we learnt more about the turkish culture.

On Sunday we set off early for an hours drive before catching a ferry boat to the small island Bozcaada. The scenery of the coast was stunning as we left the mainland. On our arrival we made it to a cafe for a late breakfast before going to the seaside and a wind farm. We then toured around an old castle, it had fields of daisies and poppies which we all lay in and took loads of photos. The wine factory was in the middle of the small village on the island, there were lots of big machines that turned the grapes into wine, after the factory we went the shop where we got to taste some of the wine.

After a long but spectacular day we set of back to Canakkale to get ready for my last week in Turkey, I can't believe I have been here for five weeks.

2010-04-17T02:37:00.000-07:00

Amber, Me, Shelby, Dani and the poor horse that had to take us to school

The carriage

Me in the traditional dress

All of us in the carriage on our way to school

Another amazing week has passed so quickly. On Thursday I had a fantastic day with Amber, Shelby and Dani at Troy, Assos and a few other villages along the way. Amber and I were fortunate enough to try on a traditional dress the women wear for henna nights and traditional dancing, it was made up of four different layers which made it very hot to wear. We also got to meet some of the villagers and have photos with them they were very sweet.

Yesterday we went to the market again to do some more shopping, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit everything in my bag to come home it's already half full with presents. Amber then took us out for lunch where we had a type of pizza but you roll it up to eat it, it's very delicious. We then took a very amusing horse and carriage ride to school which I think the whole school was waiting for the four foreigners to pull up at the school gates looking quite ridiculous. After school we were invited to a Turkish girls house for afternoon tea as she is going on an exchange to Shelby and Dani's school in Australia later on this year.

Today my friends are all coming over for a small party where our housekeeper is going to teach us how to make a Turkish dish called manti, it's a bit like tiny ravioli you eat it with garlic yoghurt and tomato puree sauce.

Tomorrow there is a big group of my friends and there host families going to a small Island called Bozada. We are visiting an old church, wine factory, a stunning beach some houses and eating at a restaurant for lunch. I can't wait so will be adding photos of it over the next few days.

Bay of Islands

2010-04-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

Toby - Imogen Francis and me

Me and Imogen Francis

Toby (back) - Imogen Francis and me

A dolphin

Me and a Whaka

Imogen Francis and me at Frank's

My first weekend here, we drove up north to Paihia. We stayed in a hotel beside the sea which had a pool. For dinner, we went to a place called Frank's where we had pizza.

In the morning we went up to Waitangi which is where the treaty was signed. Then we came back to the hotel for lunch and in the afternoon we went on a boat out to an island called Urupukapuka. On the way, we saw people swimming with dolphins and i took some photos of them. We landed on the island and Imogen and I kayaked on the beautiful and clear water. We spent the afternoon just relaxing on the beach and reading magazines. We had a barbeque dinner beside the water and then got the boat back to the hotel.

The next morning we went to Russell which has New Zealand's oldest church. We had an ice-cream and then got the boat back over to Paihia. We drove back to Auckland and quickly called into the mall to get something for school.

2010-04-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

Back row: Amber (American), Me (NZ)

Front Rrow: Danni and Shelby (Australian), Munevver (Turkish)

Me making baklava

2010-04-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been so much fun. On Thursday a teacher from school took the four of us foreign girls and one of the Australians host sisters to the Gallipoli Peninsular where we had a guide take us round and show us some stunning sights. At lunch time we all tried Turkish coffee for the first time, I couldn't finish mine it was a bit bitter for my liking. After returning back to Canakkale we all decided to do a bit of shopping so we went to the local mall, we tried some new and interesting Turkish food which was just as delicious as everything else I have tried. Beside the mall they have six trampolines set up probably meant for little kids but we really wanted to have a go so after waiting our turn we finally got a go, who new that five foreign girls and one Turkish girl could draw so much attention to themselves.

Yesterday after school we went to the market which is held every Friday, it has everything from clothes and shoes to vegetables, fish and cheese. We all bought some traditional Turkish scarfs, bracelets and some funny little hand made slippers.

This morning my mother took me out for breakfast with her friends it was all very posh as one of her friends is the president of Canakkale's wife. There also happened to be a reporter and photographer there reporting another event going on next to us. One of my mothers friends decided to introduce me to them and tell them why I was in Canakkale they then decided to leave the interview they were doing to come interview me it was all very amusing. They said I would be in the local newspaper tomorrow. This afternoon my friends and I did some more shopping, eating and couldn't resist another go on the trampolines we then relaxed by the seaside to watch the amazing sunset behind Gallipoli.

Another fantastic week has almost come to an end, only two weeks to go now and I rally want to stay longer I am having such an amazing experience and have made so many great new friends leaving them is going to be hard.

Arriving

2010-04-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

Lauren Tilson's leg, Courtenay Wagg, Hannah Lancaster, Ashley Herbert, Jo-hannah Jackson, Georgia James, Alex Franklin

I arrived on Sunday 21st March and Devon's family met me at the airport. It was midnight so we went straight home to my new house.

On Monday we went to Albany Senior High School to meet my new friends and get my school uniform for school on Tuesday. School was quite different from mine in Turkey, there was no classrooms and it was new and modern unlike mine!! The school uniform is also different from ours, you can choose one of a red, white or green T-shirt and a grey skirt. You can wear any shoes you want and have accessories. I chose my classes, I chose 5 subjects, they are: Travel and Tourism, Photography, English, Accounting and Business Studies, I like Photography best!!

My new friends met me on my first day and they were very welcoming. They took me to meet my new teachers, whom I like very much.

Troy, Assos, Kucukkuyu and Yesilyurt

2010-04-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

Half way there already- time has gone so fast, I am in my fourth week of school which has been going really well I think I got excellence in English class not so to sure about the others though. Today was the first day of school for the Australian girls Danni and Shelby, the presedent of Canakkale also came for a celebration of all the foreign students attending our school at the moment. We were each presented with two badges, one of the Turkish flag and the other was a school one. Over the next few weeks I will be touring around Canakkale and other towns with Danni, Shelby and Amber (the American Girl) we will be visiting places like Gallipoli, Troy and Assos as the others haven't been there yet.

Yesterday my family took me to Troy, Assos, Kucukkuyu and Yesilyurt they are all stunning places I loved them all. Troy was so amazing the ruins of the old cities that used to be there are beautiful, Assos also has some old ruins of an ancient temple as well as a stunning seaside with restaurants and hotels along it. When we got to Kucukkuyu it was time for lunch so we sat at a seafood restaurant on the waterfront and had the most divine fish, squid and prawns. Yesilyurt is a small village not far from Kucukkuyu there are no apartments only pretty little stone houses and few shops and craft stalls. On our way home we saw the most stunning sunset behind Gallipoli, the sky was bright orange and pink colors the photo just doesn't do it justice.

Don't think I have told you about my drive to school each morning. Road rules in Turkey pretty much don't seem exist so it makes travel very interesting. To get to school I have to go from one side of a seven road intersection to the other, dodging people and cars - you honestly see your life flash before your eyes!!!

I'm looking forward to the next few weeks traveling around Turkey seeing more of the spectacular sights.

The sunset on our drive home

Me in Yesilyurt

Yesilyurt Village

A lighthouse in Kucukkuyu

The walkway along the waterfont in Kucukkuyu

The waterfront in Assos

The temple remains in Assos

Me in Assos

The remains of Troy

An ancient theater in Troy

The different levels of the city Troy

Me and my brother in the horse of Troy

Recent news articles from Turkish papers featuring Aytuna and Devon

2010-03-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

18.03.10 / Hürriyet / Ataları savaştı onlar buluştu / Syf 6

18.03.10 / Hürriyet Ege / Onlar birer barış çiçeği / Syf 1-2 *Haber, gazetenin ana sayfasından duyurulmuştur.

18.03.10 / Vatan / ‘Dedem cehenneme gelmiş, ben cennet bir yerdeyim’ / Syf 7

18.03.10 / Posta / Destanın yıl dönümü / Syf 18

18.03.10 / Sözcü / Düşman dedelerin torunları dost oldu / Syf 9

Other online articles:

dha.com.tr / Atalarının savaştığı topraklarda buluştular

Hurriyet.com.tr / Ataları savaştı onlar buluştu

Hurriyet.com.tr / Dedeleri savaşan barış çiçekleri

Gazetevatan.com / ‘Dedem cehenneme gelmiş, ben cennet bir yerdeyim’

Haberler.com / Ataları savaştı onlar buluştu

Haberler.com / Atalarının savaştığı topraklarda buluştular

Anahaber.com / Ataları savaştı onlar buluştu

Tumhaberler.com / Atalarının savaştığı topraklarda buluştular

Guncel-haber.com / Ataları savaştı onlar buluştu

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2010-03-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

Walking by the seaside with my friends on Saturday.

And again.

Making dolmas with my mother.

The last two days have been freezing cold again, it's been raining and really windy but I still had a fun weekend. On Saturday I went to my friends house, we watched movies and went for a walk by the seaside it was stunning. On Sunday the weather was really horrible so we decided to stay at home and do some cooking.

I am looking forward to this week as there are two Australians who will be coming to my school. They are on five week exchange to Canakkale for Anzac Day, hopefully we will be doing some touring around the city together.

I have been learning how to cook some traditional Turkish dishes, my mother has taught me how to make dolmas and a variety of turkish pastas all of which are absolutely divine. Tomorrow she is taking me to a place where you can watch and learn how to make baklava, I can't wait baklava is my favorite Turkish desert although it is hard to decide they are all so delicious.

This weekend, if the weather is fine my family will be taking me to a place called Assos. It is a small fishing village about an hour out of Canakkale. It is also known as an ancient teaching centre, Assos was home to Aristotle who founded a school of philosophy. The pictures my mother has shown me of Assos are stunning I can't wait to see it for myself.

Pictures

2010-03-25T07:53:00.001-07:00

The sunset from my balcony.

New Zealand Memorial, the inscription reads "In honour of the soldiers of the New Zealand expeditionary force 8th August 1915" and under that reads another "From the uttermost ends of the earth".

My school in Canakkale.

The spices in one of the markets in Istanbul

School in Canakkale

2010-03-22T04:02:00.000-07:00

These are the remains of one of the ships that bought New Zealand Soldiers ashore Gallipoli.
Anzac Cove
Canakkale City from my balcony.

Today was my first proper day at school without Aytuna there to help thankfully most of the day we did english so I was helping my class with pronunciation, I wasn't so good at religion or mathematics. I am looking forward to next week as some students from Australia are coming for a five week exchange. There are also two students from America on a one year program that go to my school, they are helping me communicate with others and are teaching me some turkish words, I can now count to five and say yes, thank you, enter, hello and I'm full.

Yesterday my mother and brother took me to the movies to see Veda it was a new experience as it was in turkish with no subtitles although it was a very good movie about the Turkish war and Ataturk.

My family have been taking me all around Canakkale introducing me to turkish cuisine it is divine I am especially enjoying the baklava and yesterday I had turkish pizza which was very different to home but tasted just as good. They eat a lot of wild rice here it looks like white and brown rice mixed together it's really yummy. I have also started drinking tea which I have never done in my life but it is so cold here that it's the only way I can stay warm.

Enjoy the pics I will be adding more soon of my travels.

Arriving in Turkey

2010-03-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

Flying for ten and a half hours with a short three hour stop in Singapore for shopping before flying another thirteen and a half hours, I finally landed safely at Istanbul airport. It was 7:30 on Sunday morning, I was extremely excited to meet Aytuna and her family but also very, very tired from the long trip.

After having some breakfast at Aytuna's aunts apartment Aytuna and her father showed me the amazing sites of Istanbul. We visited places like the Galata Kulesi which from the top had an amazing view of the city and Bosporus, Yeni Cami an incredible Mosque in the middle of town and markets that sold the most amazing, delicious Turkish foods like breads, spices and turkish delight.

In the afternoon we travelled on a boat up the Bosporus where there were stunning buildings on the waters edge and some dolphins that played in the water beside us. After an hour and half on the water we returned to Aytuna's aunts for dinner and a quick sleep before catching a bus at one o'clock on the Monday morning to Canakkale where I will be living for the next six weeks.

We arrived at 7 in the morning and after a shower, breakfast and a look at my new home, we set off for school. I meet Aytuna's friends who thankfully can all speak english and are going to help me learn some turkish during my stay here. After school Aytuna, her friends and I went for a walk to the shops and cafe's where we had something to eat and drink and got to know each other a bit better.

At the moment it is freezing in Canakkale, about four degrees over night and not much warmer during the day so I am hoping that over the next few weeks it will get a bit warmer. Looking forward to school tomorrow as there are celebrations for 18 Mart.

Award Presentation

2010-03-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

05 March 2010

A poster for the award at school was all I needed, two essays, family trees, photos and a bulky presentation later I found out I had won.

I was presented the award at my school, Albany Senior High, in front of teachers, students, the Consul-General of Turkey, Nejat Kavvas, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Judith Collins, National vice President of the RNZRSA, Barry Clark and the Marketing and Communications Director of AFS, New Zealand, Tony Calvert.

Judith Collins started the assembly by presenting me my award I then thanked her with a very nervously delivered speech. After the assembly 3 News interviewed me and took some photos while Albany Senior High School put on an afternoon tea for the guests.

My first official meeting with my sponsors, AFS and RNZRSA, a fabulous day and an opportunity for me to personally thank them for their generosity. It will be a trip of a life time!!!!

Click the links below to photos and TV3 interviews of the day:

http://davidstgeorge.blogspot.com/2010/03/gallipoli-youth-award-2010.html

http://www.3news.co.nz/Top-essay-sees-school-girl-on-her-way-to-Gallipoli-/tabid/423/articleID/144913/Default.aspx

Posted by Tony Calvert on behalf of Devon Francis

Photos from 5 March award presentation

2010-03-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hon Judith Collins, Minister for Veterans' Affairs

Barbara Cavanagh, Principal, Albany Senior High School

From left: Hon Judith Collins, BJ Clark (RNZ RSA), Devon Francis, Elizabeth Francis

Tony Calvert, AFS New Zealand

From left: Hon Nejat Kavvas (Turkish Consul-General), Elizabeth Francis, Hon Judith Collins

Hon Judith Collins, Devon Francis

Hon Nejat Kavvas, Hon Judith Collins

Devon Francis

Interview with Kim Choe, TV3 News

Group photograph of ANZAC Corps

Hon Judith Collins presents Gallipoli Youth Award 2010

2010-03-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

On Friday 5 March, Hon Judith Collins, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, presented Devon Francis with the 2010 Gallipoli Youth Award. The presentation took place at Albany Senior High School in Auckland and was organised by school principal, Barbara Cavanagh.

Pictured above are, from left: Tony Calvert, AFS New Zealand; Nejat Kavvas, Consul-General of Turkey; Devon Francis, award recipient; Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Veterans' Affairs; BJ (Barry) Clark, National Vice President, RNZRSA.

TV3 News also covered the event that evening - you can view the clip here.

Descendant of first New Zealander on Gallipoli beach receives Youth Award

2010-02-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand media release
19 February 2010

AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand has awarded the 2010 Gallipoli Youth Award to two young students from New Zealand and Turkey with close connections to ANZAC soldiers who served at Gallipoli.

AFS is the largest organisation in the world to facilitate non-fee-paying cultural exchanges.

The award, which is run by AFS in partnership with the Royal New Zealand RSA, runs from March to May 2010. It involves a six-week exchange including homestays with each other’s families, attendance at local schools and participation in ANZAC and Turkish commemorative services.

The students will document their exchange experiences via an online blog, where they will also post photos and their winning presentations.

The award is only eligible to students who have a blood relative who was involved in the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War.

The New Zealand recipient is 16-year-old Devon Francis of Auckland, a Year 12 student at Albany Senior High School. Her great-great grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Bowler began a long military career in 1894 and was serving in the Southland Mounted Rifles when he volunteered for overseas service in 1914.

One of four Military Beach Landing Officers, Lt Col Bowler was the first New Zealander to land on the beach at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, and the only landing officer to survive. He served for four months in Gallipoli as Commandant of Anzac Cove and was invalided to England in September 1915.

In letters home, Lt Col Bowler described the conditions he experienced during his time on Gallipoli as “hell on earth” and strongly condemned the Dardanelles leadership. Both in England and on his return to New Zealand he became a fierce advocate, despite poor health, for the men who died or were scarred because of their service.

Devon Francis describes her family’s respect and pride for her great-great-grandfather as immense.

“Family to me is the most important part of my life. My great-great-grandfather’s love for his family is so evident in his letters and the legacy of this love has been handed down each generation. To see the beach where he felt the heartache of death but was able to give support, friendship and love to his fellow soldiers would make me very proud,” says Devon Francis.

The Turkish student awarded the 2010 Gallipoli Youth Award is 16-year-old Aytuna Yalcin, from Çanakkale in the Dardanelles. Her great-grandfather, Halil İbrahim, fought in the Dardanelles for the Ottoman Empire during the Gallipoli Campaign. He was fatally wounded during the war and died shortly afterwards.

AFS has organised over 10,000 cultural exchanges throughout 52 countries worldwide. The exchanges have a family focus and are based on the AFS mission of peace through friendship and cultural understanding.

The Gallipoli Youth Award is particularly special, says Tony Calvert, AFS New Zealand Communications Manager.

“Our origins lie in the American Field Service, a volunteer ambulance corps formed in World War I and active through World War II,” says Tony Calvert.

“AFS ambulance drivers believed that personal interaction and friendships between people built international peace and understanding.

“The sharing of cultures that the 2010 award recipients will experience, and their own strong family connections with brave First World War Gallipoli veterans, makes the Gallipoli Youth Award exchange a significant and poignant event.

“The award is a true celebration of the spirit of ANZAC and New Zealand’s bond of brotherhood with Turkey.”

Devon Francis’ grandmother, Elizabeth Francis, was also an AFS cultural exchange student in 1953-54, and has been a long-standing volunteer for AFS.

"I was enormously privileged to have had the opportunity to take part at such an early stage in the development of programmes involving students in the lives, cultures and languages of other peoples and to have continued since as a volunteer in this inspirational organisation," says Elizabeth Francis.

"As a family, we feel proud and honoured that Devon has won the Gallipoli Youth Award. We hope that her visit to Turkey will give her an appreciation of Turkish history and culture, and a more in-depth understanding of the details of the Gallipoli Campaign about which her great-great-grandfather wrote before his landing on Anzac Cove, and then during his time there as Commandant."

Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Hon Judith Collins, will present Devon Francis with the 2010 Gallipoli Youth Award at a special assembly to be held at Albany Senior High School on Fri 5 March at 1.30pm.