Another fun resource

I forgot one! I really love Barrie Kerper's Istanbul: The Collected Traveler: An Inspired Companion Guide. It's a very different kind of "guide" book--full of primary sources and great articles. For example, there's an article by John K. McDonald on How to Explore Istanbul's Great Mosques, or Istanbul doyen John Freely on "The Passage of Flowers," a beautiful piece. There's poetry, there's a contemporary account of the population exchanges, an article on Eating in Istanbul (with cookbook recommendations--you know you'll want that when you get home!), and a bit on how to bargain. It's a real treasure trove.
It's only $13 on Amazon.  Even better, Kerper puts a lot of the content online, so you can get a taste.  There's even a pdf of recommended readings and resources.
My copy is full of post-its for things I want to read or eat or do or look at again "on location!"
Barbara P

Tulips of Central Asia, Turkey, Europe

Lesson plans on Turkey which include tulips: http://mesc.osu.edu/documents/onTurkey/A_BRIEF_LOOK_AT_TURKEY-presentation.pdf

http://mesc.osu.edu/documents/onTurkey/A_Brief_Look_at_Turkey-Guide.pdf

http://mesc.osu.edu/documents/onTurkey/A_Brief_Look_at_Turkey-Handouts.pdf

Interesting project in the Columbus, OH area:

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/02/27/social-studies.html

New York Ciy Trip

Alam and I are getting there the night before.  I am looking for a hotel near JFK where we can perhaps also do the pre-departure orientation.  Will keep everyone posted!

Gaining access

I notice today nearly half of our group has signed on to this blog.  I hope that is a sign that the whole group will join - being a collectivist at heart, I hate the thought of exclusion!

After much discussion, more discussion!

We have decided to use blogger and the web site as alternative sites for conversation.  I would like to suggest we use this blog for more stream-of-consicousness type talk, and the departure web site for posting resources, and sharing knowledge and information.

Pre-trip preparation, use blogger for discussion?

I set up this blog because our group would like to get to know each other through online discussion.  So far, we've been using email.  In my experience, email is the path of least resistance - nearly everyone is comfortable using it.  However, using an online forum has an appeal for discussing certain topics in a sort of "closed off area" online - that is, you go to a specific URL to participate the conversation, rather than searching through your inbox amongst many, many conversations. It makes it possible to post an article or image that some individuals want to discuss in depth, but others may not have as much to say on.  It also allows everyone to go back to it at a later time if they want the information.

Also, there is something to be said for not clogging up inboxes.