I had a morning of professional development and car problems. When I got out of a two-hour assembly, I had a voicemail waiting. It was one of the coordinators from the NEH Summer Institute I had applied for. Out of more than 200 applications, I had been chosen to be one of thirty teachers to spend three weeks exploring the Ottoman Empire in Turkey.
I am afraid that I jumped up and down and squeaked like a cartoon character at that point.
It still hasn't fully registered that it is real. I have been pinning stuff about Turkey on a special board on Pinterest since I first became aware of this program. While I was in Venice, Constantinople (now, of course, Istanbul) was everywhere because of the trade ties and seemingly-regular wars. Now, I have the chance to see the other side of that total equation. It is incredible.
In all my life, I have never imagined that I would be able to see Turkey. I have to pay for my own plane ticket, but the NEH provides a stipend to pay for the other expenses in-country. Even if I have to eat rice for three months, I will find a way to pay for that ticket.
That's great! Congratulations!
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