Report in Türkiye

During our visit to Türkiye we could enjoy and have several and diverse activities during our stay there in Kayseri.

First Day: Gevher Nesibe Medicine Museum

Visit to the museum of medicine where the students received a workshop on the preparation of traditional Turkish tea. A specialist in the subject had on the table different ingredients with scales. The students were going to learn how to make the typical Turkish tea, by mixing the different herbs that would form the drink. This  museum, called Gevher Nesibe Medicine Museum,  has worked the theme of tea making for medicinal purposes since the very beginning, becoming the first museum in Kayseri with those characteristics, so in the PowerPoint we could be able to see medicinal plants, their properties and different ways to use them.

The speaker was a student of pharmacy and explained the technique of making traditional Turkish tea. She gave us a short introduction to the history of medicinal plants: from ancient times to the present, including the ancient Egyptians. In the presentation we found plant characteristics such as anesthetic properties.

Why are plants important in Pharmacy?

Because they have been used to cure diseases such as Covid, Malaria, etc. 

After the presentation, the pharmacist explained to the students how to make the different mixtures, taking into account three remedies for sore throat, cough and cold. First of all, the group of Italian students with their Turkish classmates were with the pharmacist, making the corresponding mixture, they had to weigh the ingredients on a scale, they were organized in a recipe and then got the mixture. With the help of the pharmacist pan we were applying computational thinking, designing the algorithm to achieve the necessary steps in the task of creating the corresponding mixture according to the chosen recipe. 

In this regard, students applied the knowledge of computational thinking such as decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithm design as a consequence of algorithm development. The students wrote the recipe and the necessary steps to be followed to get the recipe according to the purpose of the recipe, whether it is for sore throat for cold or for cough, 

In terms of computational thinking, the students also developed the ability to organize the work according to steps in the decomposition section, the students could see the need to know what elements they need to carry out the activity such as a scale, some teaspoons to add the herbs and a scale, where to weigh the ingredients.

In this case, the Italian team has chosen to prepare the recipe for a sore throat. The students have learned vocabulary such as boil, water, merge, mix, wait, etc.

 

Compost recycling activity.

We were hosted by the recycling center ” Kayseri Çetin Şen Bilim Ve Sanat Merkezi “.

First of all the students received a talk about how the composting process is done following some different steps. The engineer told us that it had to be done in the following way:  first collect the garbage then place it in the composting garbage can and after some chemical processes involved and having spent three months, the compost is ready to be used.

They taught the local farmers about how to work. They have to take an exam when they have finished their training, and they are ready to start farming.

After 3 years the farmers finish their task at the local farm and new ones start training. The products grown here are sold in markets.

To start the composting process, it is necessary that the garbage is cut in small pieces, because the process of generating compost will be faster. Tthe bigger the pieces are, the longer the process will be. 

Once all the organic elements are mixed, fertilizer is added and everything is mixed again.

When the mixture is finished, it is placed in cork boxes to isolate it from the rest of the elements and soil is also added.

After 15 days the box is opened and water is added and stirred until the compost is achieved, which would be about three months.

50 % vegetables + plants + wood + fruit without essential oil (such as lemons, oranges)

30 carbon (leaves, small branches)

20 soil (compost)

The percentage is by volume 

If we include earthworms we will get a faster process and healthier soil. We can have compost by using one of the following methods: 

Aerobic: 1 a week water it and during 2 weeks and a half, the mixture should be moved and watered.

Anaerobic: 15 days (without air) just add water. 

 

Healthy Sandwich 

Today’s activity consists in the elaboration of a healthy menu, taking into account a budget.  The students have been given the amount of 75 Turkish Liras per person, to elaborate a healthy menu. We went with them to the supermarket and once there they followed the following steps first: they agreed on what ingredients the menu should have.

The students bought different foods such as salads, vegetables, fruits, as well as cheese and bread among others, the ingredients had to be as healthy as possible 

The ingredients had to be as healthy as possible, and once the shopping was done, the students had to make their own sandwiches. 

Many of them have chosen to include fruits in their menu, which has been recorded on a paper that after the elaboration of the same the teachers have collected from them the realization of the menu, as well as the presentation of the same has been carried out among the students by groups. The students have carried out the activity in a collaborative way and have enjoyed it very much because it has been a work to be done among all of them.

 

Organizing a trip to Cappadocia

In today’s assignment the students have to organize a trip to the region of Cappadocia. In this organization the students had to calculate the costs of the trip, taking into account the following elements: transportation, accommodation, lunch or dinner, souvenir shopping, etc. 

The kids received from the Turkish teachers some sheets with the information regarding what expenses should be included in the budget for the trip to the Cappadocia region. The students had 20 minutes to make this budget with the help of cell phones and through the Internet, they were able to search the different aspects that should include their budget such as shopping, souvenir, stay, accommodation, food, etc. The students organized themselves as follows. First of all they read the instructions and on the sheet they received they underlined the most important things to look for and then with the help of their cell phones and the Internet they searched for the necessary information. It was a team effort, since while some were looking for one piece of information the others were looking for the rest. One of the students acted as secretary and took note of the information searched by his classmates in order to fill in the necessary information in the training that was requested.  When the students have not found the information, they have asked their partner. Besides, iif they have had information from two of them,  they have reached a consensus to choose the best proposal either by need, adequacy to what was requested or according to the budget to which they have to adapt.

Last Day in Turkey.-

After such an intense and productive week in Kayseri, our project “Skills to Catch Future” comes to an end. From attending workshops to visiting the region of Capadocia, our students have experienced the importance of taking part in such projects. So, getting their certificates has been the right way to state their participation and involvement in activities along the week. Thanks to Turkish families for offering us such a wonderful dinner together, and specially to Turkish team for sharing a delightful Turkish night with all of us. Although it is always sad to say goodbye to friends, doing it in such an atmosphere of happiness, caring and friendship makes farewell a little bit easier.