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Alumni
Ms. Kristi Morris, Oklahoma State University,
undergraduate
This past summer I had the opportunity to spend one month in western Turkey
doing geology research. It was my first time out of the country so of course I
was nervous, but also excited. We were able to see many historical sites like
castles, archaeological museums, and ancient stadiums. I loved being able to
call home to my grandma and tell her that I was standing in some of the exact
locations that are referenced in the bible. We also saw several geological
features that we have never seen before like ophiolites, cinder cone volcanoes,
and large garnets.
The food was definitely a change from small town Oklahoma cuisine, but it helped
open my eyes to become more adventurous with my food choices. I ate at very nice
restaurants. In Turkey there are several courses, so by the time dinner was over
everyone was full.
We saw volcanoes, large basins, several faults, and many different rock types
while out in the field. Since we had some trouble with our equipment, we had to
learn how to use new equipment that we borrowed from a local university. This
was very helpful because it helped us understand not only new equipment, but
also how to properly react to situations that you may encounter out in the
field. We spent equal time exploring the region and conducting research, it was
a great cultural experience. We also spent time with professors and students
from a Turkish university, it was neat to talk with them and improve my Turkish.
We ended up learning a lot from each other.
I spent some time in a Turkish Intro to Geology course where I was able to use
some of the skills that I had learned at Oklahoma State University. They learn
the same things in the same ways as we do, even though we could not speak the
same language we could draw a complete cross-section together with no problems.
Toward the end of the trip we even got to go to the beach and see the Aegean
Sea. I was happy to return home to tell all of my friends and family about all
of the adventures I experienced. The best thing about the trip to Turkey is that
the experience doesnt stop once you return home. You get to keep reliving all
of your experiences each time you work on the samples and data that you
collected while in the field. Each time you look at a cinder that has a large
olivine crystal in it, you are taken back to the beautiful landscapes of Turkey.
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