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What would it be like to attend school in a different culture? A couple of students share their experiences

> It may be elementary, but it’s not easy!

> Cheatin', Fightin' and 'Rithmetic

> Something to Think About

Cheatin’, Fightin’ and ‘Rithmetic

Turkish High School

“Filled.” The Turkish word for a public bus is appropriate; they are filled. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to school in the packed bus. One thousand high schoolers line up in front of the school building each morning to greet the principal and be dismissed to class.

Everyone in the school knows me as the only foreigner. You can tell by the smell it's an all-boys school. Two-thirds of the students live in dormitories on the school grounds. Many come from lower to middle class families from small towns or villages. Most of my class fasted during Ramadan, but they aren’t that religious the rest of the year.

My parents are still naive enough to be surprised by all the fighting that goes on at school. It helps to be bigger than most. Fortunately, the principal likes me and gives me the benefit of the doubt because the guys love to look for new ways to get me in trouble. For example, when I wouldn’t help them cheat they accused me of cheating to retaliate. Turkish students have really perfected the art of cheating. They even carry spare cheat sheets so when their first or second copy is confiscated, they have a back up. The teachers try to limit the cheating, but at times even they can’t restrain themselves from giving answers to their favorite students

Our school has a European-style class schedule, which means that we study a lot of different subjects for just an hour or two a week. This semester I have Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Geography, History, Religion, Technical Drawing, Materials, Engines and Guidance. (I'm still not quite sure what that class is about!) The highlight of school for me is Mondays when I have six hours of shop classes.

Another high point is lunch. I often chill in a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant run by some Kurdish guys. A meal with drinks costs me one dollar. If the food wasn't cheap, the students couldn't eat there. I love sheep's stomach stuffed with oily rice.

We don't get a lot of homework, so I still have time to ride my bike and hang out with friends in the evening. High school here has been a learning experience but my parents are relieved this experiment will end soon!

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of the religion of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. This year Ramadan will fall (approximately) September 1-29. Muslims fast during this holy month from first light until sunset as an act of faith and worship towards Allah, seeking to suppress their desires and increase their spiritual piety. Please pray for the more than one billion Muslims who will participate in the fast this month, and for the believers to stand firm in their faith during this time.

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