2027 Familiarization Trip for Educators

Meal Inclusion Key:
B = Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Day 1: January 22 - Travel to Istanbul
Begin your journey with a flight from Washington D.C. to Istanbul!

Day 2: January 23 - Istanbul

Academic Disciplines: History, Geopolitics, Trade, Cultural Studies, Urban Studies

Upon arrival in Istanbul, faculty will be introduced to one of the world’s most historically layered cities, where Europe and Asia meet. The day will begin with a sunset ferry ride across the Bosphorus, traveling from Europe to Asia as a local expert explains the geopolitical significance of this strategic waterway and its enduring role in diplomacy, trade, and cultural exchange.

The experience will continue at the Spice Bazaar, where an interactive tasting session will reveal how global trade routes shaped religious rituals, imperial power, and everyday cuisine. Faculty will explore the sensory language of spices as tools of commerce and cultural identity.

The day will conclude with a visit to a historic Ottoman caravanserai, now repurposed for community use. Here, faculty will examine how historic trade infrastructure has been adapted to meet modern urban and social needs, offering insights into sustainable urban reuse and heritage preservation. (D)

Day 3: January 24 - Istanbul

Academic Disciplines: History, Engineering, Visual Arts, Islamic Art, Commerce, Cultural Studies

This day will explore how imperial legacies continue to shape contemporary society. After breakfast, faculty will take a private walk across the Galata Bridge, highlighting the city’s economic arteries before descending into the Basilica Cistern, where a specialist will explain ancient water management, engineering solutions, and geotechnical innovations that supported imperial expansion.

Faculty will then take part in a decorative arts workshop, such as Turkish Ebru marbling or Islamic tile painting, learning both the technique and the historical symbolism embedded in Islamic visual culture.

In the Grand Bazaar, faculty will meet master artisans, goldsmiths, leatherworkers, and textile merchants, who will share how skills and commercial ethics are passed down through generations. The day will conclude with a traditional Turkish coffee ceremony, where a local expert will explain the ritual’s social significance, historical role in public discourse, and symbolic practice of coffee reading as cultural storytelling. (B, D)

Day 4: January 25 - Canakkale & Troy

Academic Disciplines: History, Archaeology, Literature, Anthropology, Museum Studies

Traveling to the Dardanelles region, the day will begin at Gallipoli, where faculty will take part in a guided visit to the War Museum.

At Troy, a local archaeologist will lead a walk through the ruins, discussing excavation techniques while examining how myth, literature, and historical evidence intersect. The conversation will address how archaeological sites balance academic rigor with public storytelling.

The visit will conclude at the Troy Museum, where immersive exhibit tunnels symbolically reveal history layer by layer, reinforcing anthropological perspectives on time, narrative, and discovery. (B, D)

Day 5: January 26 - Pergamon & Izmir

Academic Disciplines: History of Medicine, Sound Studies, Herbal Studies, Architecture, Urban Studies

At the ancient medical center of Pergamon, faculty will experience a sound bath at the Asklepion amphitheater, demonstrating how sound, vibration, and echo were integral to ancient healing practices. A guided sensory session will follow, featuring medicinal herbs once used in Pergamon’s pharmacopeia, led by a local herbalist who will explain ancient medical theory and holistic treatment.

In Izmir, an architecture-focused walk through Kemeraltı Market will highlight how modern commerce operates within historic urban fabric, offering insights into adaptive reuse and coastal urban development. (B, D)

Day 6: January 27 - Ephesus

Academic Disciplines: Archaeology, Music, Engineering, Material Culture, Religious Studies

At Ephesus, faculty will experience live choral or instrumental music inside the Grand Theater, demonstrating ancient acoustic engineering and the performative power of Roman public spaces. In nearby Selçuk, a visit to a local artisan’s studio will reveal how ancient motifs from Ephesus continue to inspire modern ceramics, jewelry, and textiles.

The day will conclude with a candle-lit visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, facilitated by an interfaith dialogue expert who will provide historical, theological, and cultural context for this sacred site. (B, D)

Day 7: January 28 - Cappadocia

Academic Disciplines: Geology, Architecture, Religious Studies, Craft Traditions, Sustainability

Faculty will depart for the airport for the flight to Cappadocia. A guided hike through Rose Valley will introduce participants to Cappadocia’s unique geological formations and rock-carved churches, illustrating how natural landscapes shaped spiritual and architectural practices.

In Avanos, faculty will take part in a hands-on pottery workshop using local clay while learning about traditional firing methods and regional water conservation practices. The day will end with a visit to a traditional cave home or eco-lodge, showcasing contemporary applications of sustainable living within historic structures. (B, D)

Day 8: January 29 - Cappadocia

Academic Disciplines: Geography, Cultural Studies, Food Studies, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Music

Faculty may opt for a sunrise hot air balloon ride, gaining an aerial perspective of Cappadocia’s landscape as a guide narrates land use, settlement patterns, and cultural symbolism. Later, a small-group cooking class in a family kitchen will introduce traditional Anatolian cuisine, connecting ingredients to regional history, climate, and cultural identity.

The journey will conclude with a Whirling Dervish ceremony in a historic caravanserai, followed by an expert-led discussion on Sufi philosophy, music, and spiritual expression, offering a reflective end to the academic journey. (B, D)

Day 9: January 30 - Return Flight
After breakfast, faculty will be transferred to the airport for the return flight to Washington D.C. (B)