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22TurkeyrstheardoftheIstanbulArtEssayContest.gavemeallthespecicsandcriteriatofollowasofhardworkandafewweekstimeInallynishedrichavor.SomeofthefoodswerecompletelydifferaphyllopastrylledwithchoppednutsandsoakedtheHagiaSophiatherstchurchbuiltinIstanbulkaraImetwithconsulateofcialsattheMinistriesofIntriguingStunned.EditorsNoteAudreyBriggsisarising8thgraderatRiverwatchMiddleSchool.PhotocourtesyofPeterBriggsCountyLineAugust2011www.CountyLineMagazine.netAWorldofItsOwnisthewordthatcametomindwhenIMylanguageartsteacherKimberlyGeraldshadgivenourclassavarietyofconteststochoosefromrequiringusalltoparticipateinatleastone.IwassoldontheIstanbulContestnotonlybecauseofitsintriguebutbecauseIhadthechancetoputmyartisticabilitiesintoapieceofartforthecompeti-tion.ItoldMs.GeraldswhatIhadchosenandshewellasthethemewhichwasEmpathyWalkinginAnothersShoes.Afteragreatdealofthoughtalotmypieceandturneditintomyteacher.HonestlyIwasnotexpectingtoplaceatallthinkingthattherewereprobablyhundredsofotherkidsallenteringthesameexactcontest.NeverthelessIwasstillhang-ingontoathreadofhopethatmaybejustmaybemyartworkwouldriseabove.AndthenonedayMs.Geraldsannouncedtothewholeclassthebignews.Iplaced3rdinbothGeorgiaandtheSoutheastfortheArtcontestthroughtheIstanbulCenterwona10-daytripformyteacherandmetoIstanbulTur-keyandwasawarded400inchecks.ThatprettymuchsumsuphowIfelt.MytendaysinTurkeywereabsolutelybreathtakingEverythingIsawanddidonlymademewanttostaylonger.Itwassoamazingtoimmersemyselfinacompletelydifferentculturewhereeveryonetreateduswithsomuchkindnessandhospitality.OnemanwasevengenerousenoughtoinviteusintohishomefordinnerwherehepreparedanamazingmealwithfoodshegrewinhisowngardenFromthepeoplewemettothefoodweatetothesightswesawTurkeyneverfailedtoimpress.WithoutadoubtTurkishfoodhasgottobethebestIhaveevertasted.Everydishwasfantasticevenifitwassomethingassimpleasabowlofwhiterice.Evenyourbasicfruitsandvegetableshadauniquely-entthananythingIdhadbackhomelikeBaklavainhoney.OtherinterestingdishesincludedAyranayogurt-likedrinkavarietyofkebabsandtheappleayteasippedaftermeals.WhenIwasntmunchingonTurkishcuisineorcon-versingwiththelocalpeopleIwastakinginalloftheastoundingsightsandnotjustinIstanbulbutinTurkeyscapitalofAnkaraandthecityofKapad-okyaaswell.InIstanbulIgapedatplacessuchastheBlueMosquebuiltinthe1600s.Imarveledatinthe5thcenturyAD.AlsoinIstanbulIexploredtheundergroundbeautyoftheBasilicaCisternbrowsedaroundthethousandsofshopsintheGrandBazaarandeventraveledthroughoutthegorgeousgroundsofTopkapiPalace.InKapadokyaIvisitedtheas-toundingfairychimneysanundergroundcityandwatchedasapottercraftedbeautifulpottery.InAn-EducationandCulturetouredTurkishRadioTelevi-byAudreyBriggsphotographytakeninTurkeyCourtesyofKimberlyGeralds