KDRose.com - Wanderlust, Grounded
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Links

You Can't Go Back to Constantinople, 'Cause it's Istanbul

7/12/2011

5 Comments

 
Do you remember your middle school history class?  You know, social studies?  As a kid who grew up watching history videos for fun (The Century series by Peter Jennings still is one of my favorites) you better believe that I do.  I had a teacher named Susie (yes, Susie, I went to that kind of school) who, as my homeroom teacher, taught English and history.  She might possibly have loved both subjects as much as I do and as a result became one of the handful of truly influential teachers in my life.  I’m secretly

an encyclopedia of Civil War history and a lover of the Shakespearian tragedy “Othello” because of her.  She even showed us “the Miracle Worker” and “Into the Woods” in drama class.  If a little Helen Keller and Bernadette Peters as a witch don’t inspire you in life, I don’t know what will. 

It was in my middle school social studies class where I first recall learning about the ancient city of Constantinople.  I was enamored with the concept.  Named after the Roman Emperor Constantine, the city was the gateway between the Eastern and Western worlds, a crossroads, if you will. 

The thing I love about history is that it is - to use a cliché - the story of us.  Every event, every choice, every battle or invention is directly related to the world as it is today.  And all those foolish history teachers who make kids memorize lists without understanding their importance are doing a disservice.  It certainly matters where and when, to an extent, but history without the “why” is simply a waste of time.

Constantinople was a place where history was made and one of the very epicenters of human civilization for thousands of years.  But here’s the kicker.  It didn’t actually occur to me until several years after Susie’s class that Constantinople still exists.  Wait, it’s called Istanbul now? You mean, I can still GO THERE? Ah, yes, youth and ignorance.  So here we go, off to Constantinople.  Or Istanbul.  Whatever.
5 Comments
Marsha Carvalho
7/12/2011 11:14:40 am

Hi KatieRose! Susie would be touched beyond words if she read your tribute to her! And you're right, she was (still is!)a one-of-a-kind teacher. Glad I have the chance to read about your adventures in Constantinople and beyond!

Reply
emiglia link
7/12/2011 10:55:51 pm

I really, really want to go to Istanbul... but while I knew they were one and the same, I didn't actually put two and two together and realize I'd love to see what used to be Constantinople too! Sounds like you're having an amazing time on your travels... I can't wait to hear all about it (in person) soon!

Reply
inna
7/13/2011 10:10:05 am

boring. has anything funny happened yet??

Reply
Katie link
7/14/2011 04:44:29 pm

Thanks for reading, Marsha!

Ems, Istanbul is cool, you should visit. I can't wait to tell you about it in person, too. Woo!!(excessive exclamation points!!)

Reply
Katie
7/14/2011 04:45:49 pm

I actually had to remove exclamation points in order for it to be posted. Apparently there's a limit. Lol!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Katie

    Baker. Traveler. Writer.

    Archives

    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    March 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.