TeacherBeacon

2011-08-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

The last day before I go home. Woke up to meet Dr. B at 8 15 am. I cannot believe this is it. I am writing from seat 15 A from Dallas to LaGuardia airport in NY. Lots of beautiful awe inspiring puffy white clouds outside my window seat. I am looking forward so much to see my family and to get back home. It has been an incredible 55 days of my life. Oklahoma, Greece and Turkey these places are all part of me now. I can say that this experience has changed in me in some ways. The dozens of people I have met on this journey have all taught me something. I feel priveldged to have had this opportunity. Thanks to Drs. Hranitz, Barthell, Wells and Abramson for letting me tag along and to be involved in such an exciting experience. Thanks to Marisol, Carman, Aaron, Josh, Amanda and Maria for working so hard and making the trip so much fun.

One last goodbye to University of Central Oklahoma's campus

My plane itinerary and the book about Turkey that made it all so much more clear

Dr. Barthell and I in the morning before leaving

Flying out of Will Rogers airport in Ok City

My Bags

Arrived in Dallas in 35 min.

Verrenzano Narrows Bridge NYC

Home AGAIN

Day 54, July 30, 2011 (Goodbye again, Catching up on Work)

2011-07-30T04:26:00.000-07:00

This morning we met up to say goodbye to Maria and Aaron.
John and I drove them to the airport to say goodbye.
Aaron packs one last time

John showed me a road marker for the original Route 66, his home is on that road

Next door cattle to John's family home

Old Route 66

Day 53, July 29 (Saying Goodbye)

2011-07-30T04:25:00.000-07:00

In the morning we met with John in the science building and wrote some reflection and
talked about our experience. I think we felt a bit uneasy with the underlining fact that we
were all leaving very soon
We met at a Mexican restaurant, kind of our last get together.
We were swapping stories with John and each other, we laughed a lot and
sort of did not want to leave as our journey was now over. All of us wanted to go
home but we were also leaving behind an experience that we shared together for 52 days in the summer of 2011.

Amanda had to have ice cream

Aaron and Josh at the dorm

Day 52, July 28, 2011 (Oklahoma Bound)

2011-07-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

We met in the lobby at 615 am, packed up the bus and took the drive to the Ataturk Airport. We drove along the coast of the Sea of Marmara noting the large number of ships (one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world). We went through various security checks (many of those today in 3 countries). My passport was questioned as it was issued yesterday and therefore did not have an entry sticker, but I was cleared to go on. I am writing this in the plane now as we go to Heathrow in England for our first change over. We had to take a bus to another terminal, driver on the right side of the vehicle was weird to see. We left late from England and therefore when we got to Chicago, which was very busy and a long 1 hour line through customs, we missed our conecting flight. We were lucky that we got a flight 4 hours later to Oklahoma city. It took us 28 hours to go from the dorm at Uludag University to the Dorm at Oklahoma Centeral University, arriving at 1 am. We were so happy to see Dr. Barthells again. We began comparing US to Turkey world. We noted how different things were, people, food etc. The transition back to US life style will take a bit of time.

Looking out of Van window at the sea

My ticket stubs

Airport

England

Hello native country airplanes

REU's all cozy

Yes this is Chicago

This Chicago fast food sign was ironic to us on many different levels

In Oklahoma

Dazed and tired

1 am on campus

Day 51, July 27 (US Consulate, Dolmabahce Palace)

2011-07-30T04:21:00.000-07:00

Up early, check with person at the hotel (remember not a traditional hotel), which was more like a Pasha's house converted into a hotel, with old style Ottomon furnishings. The person at the hotel called us a taxi. We had a long ride ahead of us. We crossed over the Bosphorus on a bridge that links Europe to Asia. So we were now on the Asian side of Istanbul. We went past the Dolmabache Palace, which we went to visit later in the day. We (me and Amanda) headed to the towards the US Consulate which was in Istinye, a suburb of Istanbul. The Consulate is fortress like to protect against attacks, it is built up on a hill. We talked to some Turkish security people on the outside and they asked me if I had an appointment, which I thought I had based on my conversations with consolate person last night. I was not on the list. I gave the guard Mark Buggy's phone number and he called him and it was worked out. I did have an appointment but since I called later last night it did not get printed on the master list. We lined up on a short line to get inside. They took and stored all our electronic devices, checked our bags and we went through a scanner. We cleared. We proceeded down a hallway, went up an elevator got a number and went to an area reserved for American Citizens. There were a large number of Turkish people getting visas to visit the US. They took me quickly I had to get some forms to fill out. I had to leave the building to go across the street to get some passport pictures and a photocopy of my drivers liscence. After I went back into the building going through security again. I payed $135 US. Then they said it all looks fine but they could not process the application quickly and that I should come back at 3 pm. Amanda and I decided that we would visit the Dolmabace palace so we took a cab to the palace in about 1/2 hour. This was a great idea as it was a fantastic site to see. This was the administrative seat of the Ottomon Empire between 1856 to 1922. It took 10 years to build and because of its high expense was considered one of the reasons that the empire got so weak. It drained the treasury. There was a large Harem present in a separate building in the area and hugh and elegant harem rooms in the maing building. It contains some of the biggest crystal Chandaliers in the world. At the time royality from all over Europe would stay at the palace. They probably brought gifts as the place is strewned with european furniture and paintings. There were many historical paintings of various leaders, sultans, Ottomon battles and European scenes. The entire edifice was very European style. Each room was over ornately decorated, quite gaudy in a really beautiful way. It is really difficult to explain the grandeur and large size of everything, even the Sultan's person Hamam (bathing area). We walked around the Gardens had some chi. At the entrance to the palace gate there was a soldier dressed in 1920' s fatigues who stood all day in one attention stance. A gun proped on the ground and a knife behind his back. It was so hot, another soldier would come up to the erect soldier and wipe off his face every 10 minutes or so. We walked around a bit, hailed a cab and went to pick up my passport which worked out fine. We decided that we had enough of nefarious cab drivers (I am sure we were getting overcharged) and took the rather fantastic public transportation back to the hotel. We walked to catch the public van, on our way we decided to stop at a music store. The store ownerwas magnificent, he played and sang for us and orded chi for us to drink (see videos). The owner's son took us to where the bus picked us up. He made sure we got on the right bus which would take us to the large mall. We walked from the mall for about 10 minutes to the subway (metro). We had to take 3 different trains to cross over to European side, but we did make it and got off near the Red Mosque. We went to the hotel walking past the famous sites for the last time in Istanbul. Amanda wanted to check out some stores on more time. I rested at the hotel for an hour or so and then we went to a restaurant close by that had veggy dishes which made me quite happy. I tried to skype some people to let them I was okay and got my passport. I did reach my brother. I did a final packing and a quadruple check that I had my wallet and passport/police report and other assorted documents. I will need these for the long journey back to Oklahoma and UCO.
Crossing the Bosphorus

Area around palace

Guard cleaning off the soldier at attention

Mosque next to palace

Palace grounds

Plastic on your shoes, not dirt in palace please

Ice cream of course

Man at the music store

Gate into palace

Mall sign

Tile mural in the subway

Going back to the European side over a bridge

The science of packing luggage

Subway Mural

The Tulips a symbol of Turkey at the Subway

Day 50, July 26, 2011 (Leave Bursa, Grand Bazaar, Being robbed)

2011-07-30T04:18:00.000-07:00

vids to add 370/371/372/373/374

So we got up and met downstairs of the dorm and met Dr. Wells and Abramson at their dorm. I am the only one here right now. It is going to be a very hot day and we will be running around all day. We are taking a ferry from Mudanya which is part of Bursa which is on the south of the Marmara directly north to Istanbul. It will be a high speed ferry. I am reflecting a lot about the trip, the science and the people I have met here. We are all excited about a visit to Istanbul and a bit sad at the prospect of leaving. But I am excited to see my family finally. The day actually turned out to not be very good. But as I have tried to do as much as possible is not to panic and remember things happen for a reason.

We all hauled our luggage down the steps of our dorm at Uludag University. Each one of us trying to pack all of our Turkish treasures into suitcases made for much less stuff. Our packing skills had to be at there peak. We drove to Mudanya and left on a high speed ferry across part of the Sea of Marmara.
The boat looked like a big airplane inside with aligned seats everywhere. You could not go outside. I moved and sat on a ledge infront of the windows facing the bow. It was a foggy day on the water so you could not see much. But as we approached Istanbul the city burst into view. The color of the city and the mosques towering over the city, the boat traffic was startling. All of us took a lot of pictures of this unexpected special view. We needed 5 crammed taxis to get our luggage and the people of our entourage to the hotel. The luggage was crammed into trunks that remaind unlocked. As the taxis sped out of the area the trunks were bouncing up and I was amazed that no luggage was thrown onto the street. The lead driver got lost and we missed our street so all five taxis made 3 point turns at the same time to reverse directions with cars all over us honking and people yelling. The taxis drivers let us out at the hotel with the obligatory argument about the payment. I digress here about taxis which if you go to Istanbul you should be weary of. First the public transportation system is safe and great. I went from Asia back to Europe with little issues. Best thing to do is ask people as many times as possible different people how to get where, which bus or train to take. If people are saying the same thing you are going to be okay. If you use a taxi, suggestion is to ask the driver how much will this ride be do you think. Even before you go in a taxi you should ask someone who is Turkish where you are staying to help you get this information. Have knowledge as some of the drivers may take you for a ride (literally and figuratively), we had some great and fair cab drivers and some not so good. Anyway soon after we got to the hotel we left for the Grand bazaar. I wanted to try to get a lot of shopping done there. This place is so overwhelming it is like a mall on steroids with much more narrow routes to walk and venders that will insist that you look at their wares if you even slightly make eye contact with them. The Bazaar is unique in its color, sound, smell. Rugs, clothes, jewelry, gold, silver, food, trinkets and anything else combine to really make this a sensory shopping experience like no other. This place is older than Macy's, Sears and Walmart combined. It was started 533 years ago mostly as a place where animals were sold in the food and agriculture business. The carpets there were most spectacular, some were selling for $30,000 and up. We met a lot of young people selling things as workers. They were interesting to talk to. This was the busy season for them. In the winter they play soccer in the aisles and news spreads around the Bazaar when a sale is made and congratulations are sent out. But now it is total wall to stall people. I was simply amazed as I searched for things to bring back to the states. The real story begins on the way home, the incident really has been a big thing with the people here and at home. Me and 2 students were returning to the hotel after the shopping at the Grand Bazaar. As I was crossing a side street about 2 blocks from the hotel a young man crossed my path and for a second stopped and ripped my pouch that was around my neck that had money and my passport. I yelled out and the kid ran into some alley really fast. A lot of people started yelling at the young boy as he ran out of site. One man who saw this came up to me and he told me lets go see if we can find them (in broken english). We searched where the probably went but not luck. This person took me to the police station. All was so confusing as I tried to communicate what happened. I told my story to about 6 police officers, officers left and came. They asked me to go back to the street to show them what happened. They talked to people on the street to ask them what they saw. The police showed me and others around pictures of criminals to see if we could ID any of them, it was very hard. I was with the police for 3 hours. They had to do a report and to help them they found a waiter that could speak english, that seemed to have helped. The people there were very supportive and angry about this. They kept saying do not worry no problem. That was easy for them to say I did not have a passport was leaving the country in a day and a half. I asked an officer to help me call the US consulate so that I could find out how I could get a new passport in one day. He contacted someone gave me the phone and a Mark Buggy was helping me. This is 7 pm and I was in contact with an emergency number. I was able to secure an 8 am appointment for tomorrow to get a temporary passport. The police brought me to the computer and I was able to witness the entire crime on video, from when my pouch was snatched to the teens running away even in the alley ways, one of the 3 holding my flailing passport and money in a pouch. It is embarassing to see yourself getting ripped off. DO NOT USE A POUCH. They finished the report and an officer walked me back to the hotel. I was fairly upset but not bad. The people were really helpful and concerned. Now it was time to sleep I had to get up early to take a taxi to the consulate over on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Luggage in the van

Me in front of the dorm (notice the not to be long lasting pouch, what a target in retrospect)

Ferry port

\

Carmen's suit cases of stuff

REU's relaxing

Approaching Istanbul

Off loading from the Ferry

I wish I was Jack now

Taxis convoy

I got the same room as I had when we first came

On the way to the Grand Bazaar
Stopped for lunch on a roof top Restaurant (the view)

The obelisk in the hippodrom area

Grand Bazaar entrance (one of many)

The color and vibrancy of the Grand Bazaar

Day 49, July 25, 2011 (The Box and the Ney, Goodbye Bursa)

2011-07-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

Vids to add (54-64)

Amanda wanted to ship out here 30 lbs (11 kg) of honey so we took it to the post office, they would not ship it. They said go downtown to the larger post office (at least that is what we thought they said). They said not, cannot take glass. They said go to another private shipping place, they said no glass. They said go to UPS. We have to take a taxi to UPS they said no you need a special food permit. So we carried our burden around Bursa. Amanda had met a women named Tucge on campus and she spoke fairly good english. Well she is a Ney player and invited Amanda to a center (same place we saw the Whirling Dervishes), we went with our box up a hill. It was worth it. We listen to the women practice (men and women separate, there are women days and men days), Amanda got a lesson and proudly got some sound out of the Ney. We went bought a couple of my things (silk scarves). We went to Albert's jewlery store, he was not there, Amanda bought a necklace. Sat down for a final meal in a secluded Hahn. Took bus 48 back to campus for a final time. Packed up and now this morning we are headed to the big city Istanbul.

The famous box filled with honey jars that Amanda and I lugged around Bursa
)
Amanda and I listen to women at Ney practice

Amanda and Tucge

Heals replacement store

Mezuzzah at Albert's jewlery store

Sitting for my parting Bursa Meal

Day 48, July 24, 2011 (Day in Bursa again)

2011-07-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

The students and Dr. Wells went to the beach today, I stayed behind though. Dr. Abramson and I cleaned up and packed up the bee lab. We took a bus into Bursa and went to a very nice park which I wanted to go to for awhile. We pass it on the bus when we go into the city.
We got off a bit early, the Ataturk sports stadium is next door. We had a very tasty lunch of salad, cheeses, a sort of rolled up pastry and a artichoke with potatoes and greens. We walked up and I showed Dr. Abramson the synagogue and we went to look at the large underground mall. You seen on mall you seen them all. Of course this one was air conditioned and we needed that today.
A short break from the heat. When I got home I started packing, what the heck I am I going to do with all my stuff. I still want to buy some things in Istanbul. Maybe I will leave some clothes behind.

Security gate where the synagogue is.

Old picture of the same area

The Mall foodcourt (no chinese food though)

Off the very busy city street

Looking up at the park where the Osmans are buried. We were up there a few times before

Someone on street clowning (taken from our bus)

Day 47, July 23, 2011 (data entry, magic in Bursa)

2011-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Spent about 5 hours at the bee lab this morning, entering data again with Dr. Abramson. It was tedious but had to get done. Then I took another trip to Bursa, going to the city center area first. I went to the silk bazaar first walked around. We have made some friends of owners and sales people there. One place in particular very nice, he had his family there at the shop with him and he can speak english well, he is from croatia and fled the wars there I think in the 1980's. They know us all, he asked where Maria was?? I just loved today I wondered wherever my interest took me. I walked a lot. It was a very busy Saturday night, as I think can be seen by the pictures.

One of the entrances to the silk bazaar

Turkish ice cream been cut up. Usually taken out and served from the

container with a sword

Inside a covered bazaar

Large mosque in city center with blue domes

Area around the mosque

Man is carrying cay around to various merchants. He delivers and

pics up. He works for a nearby cafe

Pryamid object that sits on top of a huge underground with 3 or 4 stories below ground

Dress shops

View from the hill out towards the city

Yes I had some and it taste AMAZING

Day 46, July 22, 2011 (Data Entry)

2011-07-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Spotted this deer in the morning walking to the Bee Center

Spent the day with Maria in the Bee Center Entering data until 730 pm. A bit more to do

Day 45, July 21, 2011 (Hamam, Turkish Bath)

2011-07-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Vid of experiment to be put in
Hamam (Turkish Bath)

Experiment variations for some experience and exploring research. Using a micropipette to give a bee either sugar or a salt water. You put a small drop of liquid on the stainless steel needle via the syringe (not in picture). The larger syringe has the odor you are presenting to the bee.
Again as explained in previous blogs the odor in this experiment is the condition stimulus.
If learning took place the bee will stick out its proboscis in reaction to the smell of the odor.

We had met someone at an artisan store in Bursa and as what has happened to us so many times here we were invited to visit this young women in engineering student. She was very helpful as she is enrolled in a English emersion course, so she can speak well and was a good interpreter for us. She invited us to her family home in a suburb of Bursa. She also said that she would take us to a Hamam or Turkish which is a place that we wanted to check out. We took about an hour bus ride through narrow streets and interesting areas. She met us at the exact spot that she wrote down for us so that we could give the directions to the bus driver. We went to her house (flat really) which was very welcoming. Right next store to their home is a large mosque, it is quite new compared to the ancient edifices we have seen. It is 18 years old. We went inside and it was overwhelmingly beautiful. You can see the pictures below with the mosaic tiles on the walls and columns. After a snack and some Turkish coffee we took another bus to the Turkish bath or Hamam. We went inside and paid for the basic bath, steam, a scrubbing and massage. It is very organized and systematic, I guess there is an age old tradition in this place built in 1555. You enter a large room that is round with a dome and a circular pool with hot water in the center. On the outside wall area there are small areas with benches and cold running water. You sit around and relax and you can go into the

hot pool. You stay in this room for about 1/2 hour and then you go to a smaller room. This is an area where you get scubbed and/or a massage. A man pours 2 consecutive cold buckets of water on your head, that shocks you and refreshes. Then you go into a individual large marble tube with cold water for about 15 minutes. Then you shower and get wrapped in towels. You will never be cleaner than after this experience. Women and men were in different buildings. Some other Hamans have different times for each gender.

The inside of a modern mosque in Bursa

The inside of the entrance way in the Hamam

Outside of the Hamam

Day 44, July 20, 2011 (Finishing up experiments)

2011-07-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

We have pretty much wrapped up the experiments we wanted to do for Dr. Abramson. We worked a bit on exploring how the bees react to salt solution when paired with another Conditioning stimulus such as lavender and cinnamon. I went out to dinner with Dr. Alic Ozcakir, who I met at the university. She is a family medicine professor. She talked about her life, life in Turkey. What it is like to work as a medical Doctor in Turkey. I suggested that she get involved in making a video to record the history of the 55 or so Jews left in Bursa. They have tales to tell the world I would think

Front cover of a recent Turkish Bee Journal

Day 43, July 219, 2011 (Trip to Iznik)

2011-07-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

Vid 346 (not the Marmara)

Trip to IZNIK writing about the day at the end of the pictures

Clock tower in central Bursa

Walking from Uludag base through the street

Otobus station

Mini bus Iznik

Aaron in the bus

Nuclear power plant

Church then mosque in Iznik

Vendors

Attaturk in a post card

Artists working on plate design

Turkish Olive Oil Wrestling (Grease Wrestling) Yagli Gures

Back to Bursa after a great day

We started out going to Uludag Mountain, taking a bus into the city center of Bursa and then a taxi to the base of the mountain to where the cable car is. But there was a very long line, last time we waited for 2 hours and this line looked longer. It was also getting very hot. Our time is running out here so we wanted to take advantage of the time and do something different. We decided to go to the city of Iznik which some shopkeepers the previous day suggested we go to see. So without exactly knowing where to go we walked from the base of the mountain to the city center (20 minute walk). We saw our taxi driver twice and as is typical in Turkey, when you do not know where you are going someone out of the blue helps you. We took a very long bus ride (38 yellow bus) to the Otogar (centeral bus terminal). Then we took a mini bus to Iznik. The Otobus terminal is like an airport. The bus system is inexpensive to travel by, great views and very accessible. Well we arrived in Iznik and heard that there was a festival going on. Which means for many of the those on the trip more stuff to buy. They had 100's of kiosks lined up on this one street, these were probably surrounding businesses. The jewlery, ceramics and rings etc. where quite impressive. I kept it simple and bought tiles that have 36 on them for my house. Iznik is a historical city (like all places in Turkey). It is an important city with respect to Christian history and Islamic history.

The lake, it is about 65 km long, so it is large. There are olive groves all over up to the lake up the sides of mountains. The city has interesting stores and colorful buildings. A large church turned into a mosque and now a museum is present. This is the Hagia Sophia. This church is the place where there some important ecumenical councils. The city was surrounded by 5 km of walls (3 mi) 10 m (33 feet) high with over 100 towers. The walls are still there although parts were taken down to allow for modern day streets to pass. I think the photos will give you a good idea of this place.

Day 42, July 19, 2011 (Experiments)

2011-07-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today was an experimental day. Fairly relaxed. We are getting to the end of the experimental sequence we have completed most of the combinations that we need to do and will will be entering data soon. We are going on a hike/trip to Uludag Mountain tomorrow.

Day 41, July 17, 2011 (3rd Experiment other Group)

2011-07-17T04:02:00.000-07:00

Vids 23/24/27/26

In the experiment which I call Experiment #3, under the direction of Dr. Harrington. The students built a viewing device out of carboard quite handy these guys. Basically as they explained to me. They are looking to train bees to learn to associate a color with food. So when a specific color appeard in front of the bee it will react by extending its probosics out, thinking that it will get a sugar reward that is associated with a color. See pictures and videos to go over.

The team of students working on this conditioning experiment

A look in the testing chamber

This is on top of the box. This is where the black is removed to reveal under it a different color

These are the bees to be tested secured in the bullet casing

Bee is placed facing a black screen

The black screen is moved out and the yellow color behind is revealed (conditioning stimulus)

a person is giving the bee a sugar when the yellow appears.

Day 40, July 16, 2011 (Bursa/Synagogue/SHOPPING)

2011-07-17T04:01:00.000-07:00

Inside the Gerush Synagogue taken from Website Turkofamerica

Vids 28/29/31/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43

To go to the synagogue I had to make prior arrangements for security reasons. I tried to find the place on my own using google maps, but there are few street signs here so that proved impossible. I e-mailed the the Turkish Jewish agency in Istanbul to see if I could make a connection with someone associated with the Gerush Synagogue here. The did come through and told me the name and number of a community leader named Leon. I was supposed to meet them at the synagogue on Thursday at 11 am. Dr. Camak called the person Leon and Leon asked a lot of questions. There is always the concern for security at synagogues here. Well it turned out that there is a medical professor here at Uludag Universtiy whose family belongs to the synagogue. Her name is Dr. Alis Ozcakir She actually came to the be center to meet us and talk about our interests and spoke to us about some of the history of Jews in Bursa. She suggested we go to a shabbat service to see the synagogue in action. Jews in Bursa first arrived here in large numbers in 1492 (Jews of Bursa). This was after their Spanish expulsion. The Ottomon empire offered them refuge. This synagogue was built around that time. All the people praying there are descendents of those people from Spain. The entire neighbourhood used to be Jewish, but now there only 50 Jews left in the city of Bursa. Dr. Ozcakir picked me, Amanda and Maria up at 730 am and drove us to the place (no way I would have been able to find it). It is simple looking from the street. There are no signs and markings at all until you get into the courtyard. There was a gate on the street so cars could not get near. Only people that they knew could drive by the gate after it was unlocked. There were some police around, but it was relaxed. We passed through a gate into the synagogue courtyard and we were greeted very warmly. The inside had the look of mosque architecture. It was round with a domed roof over the pulpit which was in the center, as per sephardic tradition. There was a womens section on the second floor that was closed off the women sat on one sit of the circle. There were benches in the wall and in an inner section that surrounded the pulpit. I was going to get an Alyiah (called up to the Torah), I gave them my hebrew name. The praying was all in hebrew so I could follow them. There tunes were different than the ones I am used to but the words are the same. They asked me to open up the ark were the Torahs are. That turned out to be really different. They gave me a key that opened the first wooden door. Beneath that was a thick metal door, very heavy. I unlocked that and opened it and then pulled over the curtain to reveal about 12 Torahs of various sized, but general smaller than what I am used to. The had silver breast plates and simple crowns. One thing that really hit me was the musty smell of the ark. The Torahs are this communities treasures as they predate the Jewish arrival to Turkey. They came here over 500 years ago and who knows when they were written in Spain. I handed the Torah to the Rabbi and carried around to the pulpit. A man was called to recite the blessings for the first reading. After the that Torah portion was read, he himself lifted the Torah up to show the congregation. My turn next. BUT what happened next denied me the chance to
say the prayers in Turkey in an ancient synagogue. One of the men in the congregation, perhaps someone who was visitiing, he kind of looked that he was not a member left the service abruptly, which sent everyone in a tizzy. Why, now we had only 9 men. This is not good as you need to have 10 men to read from the Torah and complete the entire service. Some men left the synagogue to search for other potential people to help complete the service, but to no avail. They returned the Torahs to the ark and finished the service with a couple of quick prayers. After the service we went in a separate room, with a big picture of Ataturk and other photos from years past. We had a nice home cooked style breakfast. One women helped interpret for us. She was a visting student who worked in agriculture. Afterwards Albert Ozcakir, Alic's father took us to his jewlery shop which was in a market-bazaar area. His shop which also had a picture of Attaturk, as most places do belonged to his father (a picture of him was also there). We sat on some chairs of this very small shop, tea was ordered for us and I had my first Turkish coffee. The coffee, which is served in a small cup, was quite strong. He gave each of us a silk scarf. (Turkish hospitality knows no bounds). Amanda bought a piece of jewlery. This turned out to be the beginning of a big shopping and spending day. We then left and wondered in and out of stores. The area was an incredible labryinth of maze like alleys each side lined with stores and vendors selling food, carpets, household items you name it they sell it. We went to an area, really run down where they sold fridges, TV's, stoves and computers. If I lived here this is where I would always shop. We even saw a real blacksmith, making metal stands; this was not one of the blacksmith you see at a pioneer restoration village. He was the real deal. Okay I am sure you are wondering what I bought today. Here is my list: fancy hand decorated plate/carpet/2 sports t-shirts/dates, the food/bracelet/olive oil soap/Nay/Bendir/scarf. This is not like me but why not.

We had such a magical time all day. It is really hard to describe. As we went in and out of stores, people wanted to talk to us. Find out where we were from, did we like Turkey? what is going on with the US economy. In 4 stores (there could have been more if we wanted) they asked us to stay and have some cay or a cold drink. Out came chairs, laughter and questions. This hospitality is like nothing we have in the United States.
It is a ingrained Turkish-Moslem tradition. Nothing is rushed, people from other shops or customers join in for tea and conversation. We spent about 5 hours just talking and relaxing with people in stores, a jewelery and carpet store, artisan shops. At the end of the day we went back to the Dem Cayevi, that is the place were the play music with people coming in during the day to jam. They were so pleased that we came back to see them. Mesut was there the owner and one or two recognized musicians from last time. Howerver this time two women and a girl were singing playing the dumbek and these wooden spoons. After this I went to some music stores to purchase instruments for 2 of my children. We went out for a light dinner and headed home to the dorm.
This day was so eventful, fun and eye opening.

Related websites
Silk making

Silk Trade in Bursa

Maria, Albert, Amanda, Me in Albert's shop

View of Gerush synagogue from the inner courtyard

This is the outside street view of the synagogue

Windows of the santuary

The Gerush Community of Bursa

There are only a few Jewish symbols on the outside of the synagogue

Albert and me

My first Turkish coffee

Calendar in Albert's shop

Albert's shop

Puppet shop in artisans area

Talking to our artisan friend Fatma

Artisan friends

In the music Cay Cafe

A street food place

This is typically how food is ordered, using pictures broken Turkish and a smile

The bazaar

Local real blacksmith

Turkish delight!

Skate for dinner anyone?

Jewlery shops (for my brother)

Silk Baazar. This is a place that was where the silk road ended and the traders from Asia

and Europe met to do business in silk and spices

Old business area of the silk Hahn

Many silk shops displaying there scaves

Old picture of a man working with silk cocoons

Cocoons

Maria buying silk scarves

Silk Hahn eating area

My lunch artichoke, beans and onions

Day 39, July 15 (Goodbye to the Camaks)

2011-07-17T03:55:00.000-07:00

The emphasis of today was saying goodbye to the Cakmaks, one of the heads of the bee lab and his wife. They are going to an Island in the Marmara Sea to work on bees. This project is sponsored by the Eurpean Union. Sami and Semi are also going. They are looking at and monitoring varroa mites on the Island, where there is a few hundred hives. They have a tremendous amount of work to do. We will miss them as they have been amazingly gracious hosts. Sami and Semi our guides and friends will be back near the end of the week.

Amanda making a cake for the lab in recognition of the hosts leaving

Moon out my window

Our bee institute friends

From the left: Ibrahim Cacmak, Selvey Cakmak, Semi, Sami and Fatma Nur standing

The cakes, one on the right from our favorite Gorukele bakery, one of right Amanda's special

Day 38, July 14, 2011 (Work day and News about the Gerush Synagogue)

2011-07-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Get bees in the morning run an experiment. Lavender smell and sugar but no pairing, then change over to cinnamon paired with sugar reward. I have been trying to get to visit the Bursa Synagogue and today as in most days here good stuff can happen. I will explain the story more detail later, especially after the sabbath on Saturday as I am very very tired. In short a Jewish women who is a MD at Uludag university came to see us at the bee center. We talked and she invited us to shabbat. She is one of only 50 jewish people in Bursa now. The synagogue is called the Gerush Synagogue. Most of the group went to see Harry Potter movie. I will wait until I get home. I wanted to finish the last 2 post.

Selvi and Dr. Ibrahim Cacmak and me at the bee center. They are leaving on Friday night
for an Island on the Marmara Sea to do work with varroa and bees for the EU

Fatma Nur feeds the bees, with a smile and determination

Day 37, July 13, 2011 (Whirling Dervishes)

2011-07-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

Vids to install 308-318

More interesting things everyday. Started out nomally collecting bees in the morning early around 730 am seems to work well. We feed right after we collect and harness about 100. These bees will be ready for experiments for the next day. Finished my last recommendation letter today, at least for now. They never really get done. At 730 pm we met at the bus stop and Sami and Simi took us into Bursa, a part we have not seen before. We were going to see the Whirling Dervishes, a sect of sorts called the Mawlawi order. The were formed in 1100's out of the Ottomon empire period. When we arrived at this sort of compound with a large courtyard of benches and tables. A big screen where I found out later the Dervishe's dance is projected as there is not a lot of room in the mosque were the nightly ceremony takes place. We had cay and toast (melted cheese in bread). We sat for about an hour, people looking at our group with delight, little kids cutely trying out their english phrases on us. We then went into the mosque early so we could get a seat on the floor (shoes off of course) around the middle of the dance area. The women and children were in the upstairs balcony. The ceremony which is or will be chronicled using video that I took. It was sort of a progressive ceremony. Musicians coming in first, singers, Nay player, Bendar and other Turkish instruments too. About 10 singers. All dressed in black robes. A sort of older master takes charge does the chanting, the dancers paying homage to him and each other. They had roundish tall hats. The dancers had a long white dress under their black robes. The removed the black robe and slowly gained speed in therie twirling. There hands in the same position throughout the dance their head cocked just so to one side. The head man in the center circuling slowly the other each twirling and circling at the same time. Who would think that a bunch of men and boys twirling for 1/2 hour would be fascinating. That was what it was. A relaxing almost mesmorizing experience for me. I think that the visuals provided will help you a bit.

Collecting bees in the morning

Cafeteria

Sign at the front of the courtyard

Sign at the front entrance to the mosque

Inside the mosque

A young man comes out to lay down the prayer matt for the elder leader. He prays

hands up and palms upward

The band arrives first with the singers

The dancers in front of the band, white dresses showing

Greeting each other in front of the head man in the back to the left, black robe

Sama dance

End of dance and go back to positions with robes back on, Head chanting

Day 36, July 12, 2011 (a "regular" DAY

2011-07-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Being in a new country for me involves something new each day. New thougths brought on by new sights. Today was a pretty normal day however. We did some Lavender/Cinnamon experiments, worked on a research paper. Prepared bees for tomorrow, we are cleaning the bee station and then I may go out to help feed bees.

Day 35, July 11, 2011 (an official Bursa tour)

2011-07-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

Vids 299-307 (go over these)

Came to collect bees. We did not do experiments today, Dr. Abramson took over from us for that job. We went on a tour of Bursa courtesy of the mayors office. Great bus good guide he really tried to make this a great trip. He was a little bit at ease, kept asking us if his english was okay. It was and we were all grateful for his enthusiasm and knowledge. We went to the place of burial of 2 of the 5 Sultans that were here in Bursa. Sultans ruled a greater part of the world from 1299 to 1922, there were 36 Sultans. The 5 in Bursa were buried in family areas. Each one Sultan has a memorial where he is buried, either beside him or in a close by room is his family. We went up part of the side of Uludag to a small village with a very interesting tree Platanus orientalis, Oriental Plane tree. It was very wide at the base and its branches low to the ground. The branches were so long and wid e in diameter that they had to be supported by metal supports. There was a stream running through the outdoor restaurant directed in a man made culvert. We then visited a 700 year old town, steep streets with stones for the road. Cumalikizik is made of various unorganized homes mostly old some in good condition many were very worn. A stream of water ran down the middle of the street. I can imagine that when it rained or when there was a major snow melt te road must become rivers. There were small shops along the road. All selling similar things. We had an absolutely great breakfast. They put out plates of olives, cheese, spices, fresh baked flat bread, honey and jelly and eggs. I bought some honey and pollen at one of the shops after we ate. Slept all the way back to the bee building, fed the bees then went home. I spent an hour talking to a Turkish student about the world, Turkey and the USA.

Graveyard in one of the Sultans compound

Great history everywhere

Student learning in a Mosque school

View from Uludag

Oriental Plane tree on Uludag Mtn

Soccer stadium (football). They are building an new on for the Bursa crocodiles

Besides the Sultan's tombs (inside), there were graves on the outside too

A Turkish tour group

Entrance sign to the town Cumalikizik

Strolling through the streets

The most amazing restaurant for breakfast

The food/spicey sauce/olive oil/olives/round freshly baked bread

Cheeses/bread and tomatoes and cucumbers

Making our bread for breakfast

Day 34, July 10, 2011 (Musical day)

2011-07-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Select from Videos 274-294

Came in early to collect the bees as we did no experiments today. The bees were set up for Dr. Abramson to work on tomorrow. I went to Bursa with Maria and Amanda. I wanted to find the Gerush Synagogue one of 2 in Bursa. I could not find it as there are very few street signs on the roads here. I will try to get better directions. We took some back alleys in narrow streets and walked around taking in all the different sights, smells and sounds. We found a small tea house that had musical instruments on the walls, various percussioni instruments and strings (sas). All of a sudden a few of the men begin playing and singing and then some of them got up to left. Still music is going than some new people come into the tea house and it starts up again; new people new songs.
This went on for about 2 hours. The walls were covered with photos of musicians. We met Mesut Oztouron an older gentleman who was so joyous about singing and just being friendly. Cragip was the person who was next to singing and talking he was the interpreter for all of us. We had Cay and left for the bus back to campus. Crossing the road which is quite an experience remember cars have the right of way here. We crossed back to the other side when we saw some dancers with a huge crowd. These were dancers from Sirbistan. What an amazing day. At night we attended Simi's brother's wedding. It is not like any wedding we are used to, the energy in the dancing and the joy is really felt by all.

One of my lunches that I made

Ataturk in Bursa

Its everywhere

The Musical Tea Shop

My new Turkish friends Cragip and Mesut

Bursa from the wall of the old city

Music store

Sirbistan dancers in the park

Before the wedding

Dancing at the wedding

Day 33, July 9, 2011 (Some fun today)

2011-07-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Met 2 nursing students from Azerbaijan. That is really far away. They are from Baku a large port city on the Caspian Sea. They were very proud and told us about the fact that performers from their country won the very prestigous Eurovision Award. Best song 2o11 for Europe. The song is called Running Scared

no pictures today

Day 33, July 9, 2011 (Lab and market discovered)

2011-07-09T09:14:00.001-07:00

Vids 272/273

A lab day in the morning. Took data which I will explain below. After work, which was pretty early ending about 2 pm. I went with Maria to Gorukle. We found on a street parallel to the main street a very large market. Farm produce, spices, nuts etc and junky clothes and all purpose stalls selling every kind of house hold item. I purchased a lot of food to make a fresh dinner with.
I for the first time forgot my camera, next week I will go back and take some pictures

A repeat of another experiment. Gave a odor of Lavender (CS, no sugar reward). In this experiment US was just sugar not paired with an odor

Results show clearly that there is very little response to the odor in this case CS+ and the CS- which was just sugar most of the bees sticking out their probosics. No learning here 5 min between trials.

Ten minutes after the previous experiment, I ran a learning test. That is lavender followed by food immediately, which as you can see the bees were able to learn the association of food with the lavender odor

Day 32, July 8, 2011 (Work and Bursa Trip)

2011-07-09T09:05:00.001-07:00

My intention was to go to Bursa with Fatma Nur to find some musical instruments. That did not quite work out but as usual we loved the trip and discovered new things. We meet people all over who want to talk to us. They all want to know what we think of Turkey. The answer OF COURSE is that we love it. This place is so vibrant, people active talking relaxing in cafes drinking chai.

Waiting for Bus 24 (Amanda made us late, she had to go to the store)

Hakun his girlfriend outside left, Fatma Nur outside right. Other male is Aaron and middle is

Amanda

Trying out a Ney which is pretty much not possible to play

Kemence

An area outside of Bursa, like a suburb

Music store owner, very good at guitar

Nut and spice store

Store owner gave us some stickers

This way to the bus station

Day 31, July 7, 2011 (Some Data/Specific Example)

2011-07-07T08:56:00.002-07:00

Thanks to Dr. Abramson, Marisol and Maria we are getting some nice results. Expected in some ways. We have worked out the bugs, we are efficient at sampling, doing the assay and cleaning up. We have a routine and specific jobs. If you scroll down you will see 2 sections of a data sheet with data collected by me today. I will explain in detail below. I think it is so amazing.

These bees were collected yesterday. We feed them a couple of hours after we catch them and leave them overnight for morning experiments.

In this experiment, which is called a Discrimination experiment, we are essentially checking to see if the scent of Lavender which in this experiment was the condition stimulus that was accompanied by a sugar reward (CS+) can be distinguished from the cinnamon odor which after being presented was not matched with sugar. In more detail a syringe with the scent of Lavender is pressed in in front of the bee for about 2 sec, immediately following the bee's antenna is touched with a swap of sugar water. This sugar causes the bee to extend its proboscis and then I allow the bee to put her probosics on the sugar for a short taste (this is the reward).
If the bee has learned it will extend its probosics out when the lavender is presented, if this occurs the bee has been conditioned. In the chart the CS- is the scent of cinnamon being administered from the syringe but it is not followed by a sugar reward. In the chart a zero means that after the odor the animal did not extend its probosics. The one in the upper right hand corner for the CS+ means that the bee extended its proboscis for the sugar water.

CS+ = lavender (coupled with the sugar reward)
CS- = cinnamon (no sugar reward)
Each trial consists of the same 15 bees, 20 trials

As can be clearly seen the bee is responding to the odor of lavender almost for each bee, extending its probosics. The cinnamon for the most part does not cause the probosics to be
extended. The bee definitely is able to distinguish between the 2 odors.

Summary Data Sheet

This was a stark example of discrimination learning in honey bees. At the end of the experiment
all bees were extending their proboscis in response to only the smell of lavender and not to cinnamon.

Gosh I hope this all makes some sense.
Rich

2011-07-07T08:56:00.001-07:00

Day 31, July 6, 2011

2011-07-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

We had a mixed day in the lab as we think the bees we collected yesterday may not have been very healthy and the results were poor in general. They did not feed very virgously. That could have been due to the high heat that the bees were collected in yesterday. We went out as a group to Gorukele to eat with Diana from NSF. I stayed with Dr. Wells his wife and kids and Diana after dinner. Went for some shopping and took a very fast crazy drive back to campus in a taxi.

They have a restaurant in the city where you sit on bean bag chairs in a park like setting

Day 30, July 5, 2011 (Experiments)

2011-07-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

No pictures of videos today. It was a lab day, with no real social or cultural happenings. We introduced the scent of Lavender and did a discrimination test with it. And looked at lavender and cinnamon together. Marisol did a alcohol discrimination tests. The lavender tests were a bit shaky and not predictable.
Collecting bees today was quite hectic as it was very hot and during the day they stopped feeding as it was so hot they were busy collecting water not nectar to cool down their hives. We met with Dr. Kiana Elder Anderson, she is from NSF (National Science Foundation). She is doing a site visit as this program is funded by the NSF. She made observations talked to all the people involved in the program including me and the students. She had good questions and there were good exchanges.

Day 28, July 4, 2011 (Uludag Mountain Trip!!!!!)

2011-07-06T06:14:00.000-07:00

Vids 264265/266/267/268/269/270/271

Our trip to Uludag Mountain was a really highlight for the whole group. We took a bus through Bursa to the bottom of the mountain where the lift was located. Dr. Camak, Selvi and Semhi and Sami met us. It took more time for us to get there than we expected as the line to get to the lift was about 2 1/2 hour wait, in the heat. Normally I would complain but it was a fascinating experience just seeing the color, food, vendors, hearing the different languages, meeting interesting people. I spoke for a while to a man from Saudi Arabia and his wife. They are bother teachers. There were so many children and interesting people, what a great sight. Arriving through an amazing heavenly rising trip up the side of the mountain on the lift was not explainable. It was not like a steep rise. It was a gradual ride up with some steep parts and flat meadows underneath. Kind of looked like a green carpet of trees that we were drifting upward to. The barbeque was delicious, everyone helped with preparing the dinner. Some also played soccer with Dr. Well's 2 daughters. It was very cool (temperature) up there and I guess that is why so many Arab people were there as it is green and cool, unlike their home countries. This is a vacation spot for them. The trip down was just as thrilling going up. We walked through Bursa to find a bus back to campus. Bursa was alive with excitment. People everywhere all the shops open and crowded. All and all a unique day.
Leaving the dorm in the morning, note the shoes in the hall. Custom is not to wear shoes in the house

Base of Uludag Mtn

In line activity

Dr. Well's children really were the stars in the line. Everyone wanted a picture of these blondies

The lift ride

Fatma Nur in the lift all smiles

National park sign

Carmen

Amanda

Aaron

Dr. Cacmak

Maria and Josh and Marisol

Little kids going up on the lift

Bursa blankets

Bursa streets

Bursa, yellow star thistle our old friend

Day 28, July 3, 2011 (Experiments/Josh's Birthday)

2011-07-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

Josh and his birthday cake

Maria from Michigan

Vids 261/262
Today we continuted our work in the lab. We do experiments right away in the morning. Then after we complete those we may do another set. We get bees for the next day and tether them and then feed them sugar water so they will ready tomorrow. Today we did Conditioning stimulus both cinnamon and alchol. In this experiment we paired sugar reward for each. This was done in a specific pre-set out sequence that Dr. Abramson gave us. On Sat and Sun all food places are closed on campus. Sometimes we order food out but those are closed sometimes too. Some of the Turkish students make the lab lunch. Today's was so good. One thing they must have at all meals here is bread!! and tea (chi) and conversation all musts at a Turkish sit down. July 4th tomorrow our Turkish hosts are taking us up to Mount Uladag for a fun day.

Look at that smile Amanda's first suit up for the bees, she handled the smoker

Feeding a newly teathered bee

The bee gets a puff of odor, either alcohol or cinnamon, using a syringe

Depending on the experiment the odor puff can be followed by a sugar reward on the end of a
filter paper dipped in 50% sucrose solution

I know it is difficult to see but the after touching the antenna with the sugar soaked paper the
bee extends its proboscis to obtain the sugar

Hard to see. When the bee learns it will extend its probosics when it gets the puff of odor.

It associates the odor with the sugar

June 30, July 1 and 2, Day 25, 26 and 27 (The Research)

2011-07-02T05:50:00.000-07:00

Vids from July 1 253,254,255/June 30 259,251,152

I decided to combine a few days into one as basically we are intensely into doing research now. So I will try to explain the 2 lines of work as best I can. A few things first. Happy birthay (July 1) Canada, my native country. Happy birthday to our REU Josh, that is tomorrow (Sunday). It is so easy to lose track of dates and days as we work everyday from around 7 am to 6 or 7 pm. We are all help clean up the Bee institute as teams with the Turkish students, who by the way are great young people, very helpful. Yesterday (July 1) a crew from a Farmer TV show came to the Bee Institute and collected interviews and took video of the American research and the work in general that is done here. It will not be shown until the winter probably, so I will not be famous in Turkey. Our big thrill is taking the one Lira van into Gorukle, about a 20 minute drive. Oh some advice do not, if you do not speak Turkish stand or site near the front of this 20 person Van (I have counted 35 in one trip though). People start handing their 1 Lira payment to the front to give to the driver. They started speaking to me in Turkish to get change and I am paying for my girlfriend and mother etc. Quite embarassing. Maria and I had to got into town to buy 2 fans. Well the electricity was out so we had to shop with flashlights. Luckily there was a nice women, a high school language teacher who helped me with the purchase. People here are amazingly friendly and quick to laugh in a good way. There are 2 lines of experiments one, which I am involved in and is simply fascinating is conditioning bees, or learning in bees. The other is odor and color preference in bees out doors

Learning in bees.

First experiment was to have the bee smell either cinnamon or Alcohol followed immediately by a reward of concentrated sugar solution. They stick out their proboscis to obtain the food. Eventually in most cases the bee learns to associate the odor of cinnamon and alcohol with the sugar. If learning has occurred it will stick out its probosics when it smells the odors. There are many controls set up for this experiment that Dr. Abramson has set up. After the bees have gone through the trials to learn, an extinction phase begins. That is they get the smell but no reward.

What happens if the learning had taken place is that they will eventually lose association connection of the odor and reward and they stop extending their probosics if no reward is presented. Today (July 2) we did another set of experiments that really hit home. That is discrimination tests. In other words, if the bees are really learning to tell that a specific odor is associated with a reward and learning is paired with that odor only. for example I trained a group of bees to associate alcohol (conditioned stimulus +) with a reward. Eventually they learned to extend their proboscis when smelling alchol. During the same trial in a very organized manner, being presented with cinnamon (CS -) which meant that cinnamon was not accompanied by a sugar reward. In the same set of bees they learned only to respond to alcohol by extending its proboscis but not for cinnamon.
The outdoor color ordor experiment is quite interesting. Through a long process a specific bee is chosen that in the field has been trained to come to an artifical flower. This is a round piece of plexiglass with a round color in the center (see picture). In the middle of the "flower" where the color is a small amount of scented sugar liquid is placed, simulated floral nectar reward. The bee is marked with paint. It will go to one flower to the other, getting an award on a flower with a specific color. In other words, for example, the bee is taught to associate blue with a nectar award. Then a dividing board is placed in the middle of a platform (see picture) 2 flowers on each side. The students train the bee to go from one side to the other looking for its sugar reward on a flower with a specific color. Remember there are many trials and the marked bee usually will go back to the hive with the nectar and return to the exact fake flowers, This is a very cool think in my opinion and fascinating to watch. Eventually, after the bee has been completely trained the students do a switch. They put a salt solution (not something the bee likes) on the flower that the bee was trained to go to before when it had sugar on it. The bee now goes to the color of flower that had the reward on it but now there is no reward. The bee flies back to the other side of the platform award the barrier and the same thing on the other side. So what I know so far (experiments in progress), is the bee gets confused. They have a very very strong odor sense with the visual. Some bees seem to get frustrated, wanting to go back to the flower with the color they prefer, but the salt prevents that. Some will switch color and go for the sugar reward on a flower with a different color, but some will not switch and will the sugar reward. They get frustrated and leave.

Just got back helping with putting in new queen hives shaking bees only 3 stings. Keeps you humble

Students observing and training bees to a fake flower with a sugar reward

An identifiable bee marked with paint for the experiment

Bees are trainted to take sugar from a specific color fake flower and go around barrier for

the same on the other side

Filling the pipette to add more sugar onto the flowee

Long hours of observing by the very dedicated REU's

TV Turkish Style

Dr. Harrington Wells (middle) with Ibrahim Cacmak being interviewed

That is a wrap

Day 24, June 29, 2011 (Working on Experiments)

2011-06-30T00:09:00.001-07:00

Vids 243/240/241/242/245

We tried some new ideas, mostly Marisol worked on trying to train them to respond to a vibration apparatus. Many of our specimens were not adequate for the experiment so at the end of the day we collected mor bees and set them up for tomorrow. You can look at the pics below ad I will give a short description of how it relates to te experiments we are doing. The other group is doing
some really interesting work.

These bees are part of a group that have learned to come to this spot. We collect them on the spot for our experiments

Single mounted bee

These bees are in a glass vial freshly captured from the feeding station, they will be frozen to knock them out so we can tape them into the bullet casing
Ready to test learn

Feeding before we leave for the day so they will be ready tomorrow

Day 23, June 28, 2011 (First Experiment)

2011-06-29T05:20:00.001-07:00

Vid 27

715 am starting time at the lab. Not a problem walking over the muzzen wakes me up every morning 5 am sharp from the loudspeakers on at the university mosque. We here the prayers 4 other times during the day. You definitely get used to it. We carried out sort of a preliminary experiment. using a LED white light and 2 set ups using laser pointers. We used the bees that were secured yesterday to the bullet casings. We ran 20 trials for each bee waiting 10 min betwee bees, each of us had 12 bees. We gave them the Light (CS) then immediately after gave them a taste of 50% sugar water on a filter paper strip. When presented with the stip the bees extended their proboscis to lick te suar. The goal was to see if the bees could learn to associate light with food and stick out their tongue only when the light is flashed before the sugar strip is presented. In the end we did not get any consistent learning. The other group of students worked with Dr. Harrington Wells to set up for their experiment tomorrow. Lots of painting and some carpentary. When they were done they helped us get bees feeding at the station and put them in the bullet holders for tomorrows experiments. We cut off the antenna of 30 or 1/2 the bees for tomorrow. Then they were all fed sugar water for overnight. Non science stuff that happened. My group helped clean up the bee institute building. Each of us in pairs with a Turkish student has been assigned a clean up day. They do not have custodians so the students everyday must clean the building WITH VIGOR. We all chip in, the least we can do for our gracious hosts. On the way back to the dorm it was obvious that there were big things happening on campus. 'There was. It was graduation day for the economics majors. That was quite interesting as I could see the ceremony from my window. Lots of singing and dancing. A ton of people on campus. Maria, Aaron and myself went into Gorukle. The bus is small more like a van carries about 25 people sitting standing, sitting on each other and such. We all pass up our 1 Turkish Lira (TL) to the bus driver. There was traffic jam due to to the graduation ceremony. This did not deter the driver as he cut around the traffic by going into the lane next to us, that is the on coming traffic lane. He sped past cars and when there was an oncoming car he honked and squeezed inbetween 2 cars in the traffic line. What a great way to beat the traffic, plus a thrill for the passengers!!! We shopped and ate. Must mention the amazing Baklava we had!!!

Bees secured in place in the bullet casings

Cutting off antennae

Graduation gathering at the arena for the ceremony

View of Uladag Mountain from my dorm window

Day 22, June 27, 2011 (learning experimental methods)

2011-06-27T10:41:00.001-07:00

Dr. Harrington Wells and Dr. Abramson arrived and met us at the Bee Center this morning. Things kicked into gear right away. We all got into our research groups and started planning and setting up. We needed to train the bees to come to a specific sugar water food source. This was a very cool method. Start with some sugar water in a petri dish with some color tiles around it.
Place this on a small table right next to the hive. Bees start feeding, then move it a meter or so away. Wait a 1/2 or so and continue this, move further away from the hive over the course of a few hours and place the sugar supply where you want it. In this case a opening in a small pine grove.
The bees come to this spot. I am involved with 2 other students in doing behavior experiments. I will not go over the details now as we are still working on plans with Dr. Abramson. What we did do though was really interesting. We obtain bees from our feeder in the pine grove. Brought them back to the lab, placed them in a freezer until they stopped moving. Then we removed from their glass screw cap vials and taped them just under the head with a thin strip of duck tape. They were mounted on a bullet casing that had a piece cut away. You can see this in the pcs here. There is more I want to explain but I think that tomorrow I will have a much better feel for the process and report back. I need to get better videos and pics which I will do tomorrow to enhance my explainations.
Marisol is cutting thin strips of duck tape for the bullet ases

We made quite a few set ups

Amanda moving the sugar and bees a bit farther from the hive

Approaching the final destination with the sugar water and "trained" bees

Bees imobolized in the bullet casings

Feeding a contained bee sugar water before we leave for the day.

We will be working with these tomorrow. Start time 645 am.

Day 21, June 26, 2011

2011-06-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

VIDS 26/27/28/29/30/31

More cleaning around the Bee Center. Highligts of the day included Selvy showing me how she obtains semen from drones and how she inseminates the queen under the microscope. We played soccer at night. First it was the Turks vs. the Americans. Then after the Americans could not compete with the Turks, they drilled us. We switched teams and made it mixed teams. Our football ablilities definitely need improvemenet. Dr. Abramson and Wells arrived in the evening, we did not see them yet. We will meet tomorrow.

Tackling the sidewalk and garden

Carmen exhibits amazing form as she tosses a rock into the woods, great follow through

Exhausted after playing in the world cup

Day 20, June 25, 2011 (The Mall)

2011-06-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

A straightfoward not complicated day. We worked at the bee center with odd jobs, cleaning, moving things and making bee frames. Afterwards we went to a very large and fancy Mall. Typical just like those at home. I bought a few things.
Group Lunch at the Bee Center

Outside the mall

Day 19, June 24 (Bee Work)

2011-06-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

Vids 224/223

Focussed day on beework. Generally cleaned frames and assembled new ones. They are letting one or two of the REU's to go out and work with them in the bee yards, to give the students a bee experience. At the end of the day Ibrahim took all of us out to observe their work. Thought this was very nice of him. I worked on checking for queens in these small styrofoam hives where they in a way prep queens. Then I helped with Carman feed all the bees in I think their 3 bee yards. They are not interested in honey production. They want good queens to increase numbers and health in their hives for breeding experiments. We did get a lesson on using the washing machine which was very helpful. I did cook my first grand meal in the dorm when I got home from work around 8 pm.
Laundry Lesson, very intense

Working on the frames

In a bee yard

Checking to find queen

Checking in queen cell

Observing bee yard and work

Queen Cage

Feeding the bees

Day 18, June 23, 2011 (Dr. Johns)

2011-06-23T13:22:00.001-07:00

We spent the day at the beelab. Helping with chores around the place especially working with frames. We cleaned off excess wax, help make the smaller frames for rearing queens. Most of us worked on wiring the frames. We did say our farewells for now to Dr. Barthell and Dr. Hranitz. It was wierd to think that we would not see them tomorrow. They were our guides our organizers, the 2 most responsible for getting us here. They were kind generous and funny.
We will miss them a tremendous amount. We did see some deer on a sort of fenced in nature preserve beside the road towards the bee building. I think it is the red deer.
Chi (the ch is like ch choo). There is a lot I do not know about Chi ettiquet. I think this
tea hold Turkish society together. Below means, I do not want any more.

This means I would like some more

A Turkish computer key board

Bee frame work

Aaron suits up for the first time to work with bees, he got stung 5 times

Seen on the way home from the bee lab

Day 17, June 22, 2011 (Bursa Turkey)

2011-06-22T21:39:00.000-07:00

Vids 214/216/217/218/219/211/212/213
We spent part of the morning at the Bee Center here at the university. About a 15 minute walk from our dorm building. We were introduced to the staff, Sami and Simi are our guides, they are college students. I think that Dr. Ibrahim Cakmak and Selvi will be our main science contacts at the university. They do different kinds of work in this new building. They work on artificial insemination in search of varroa resistant strains, they study bee diseases, investigate pollination and look at pesticide effects on honey bees. Selvi showed us a bee yard and some of the nuke colonies and other hives that were relatively new. Ibrahim gave us a extensive introductory talk about beekeeping in general with emphasis on Turkey and a talk about some diseases especially varrao related. Being like most Turks we have met they showed great hospitality by serving us Chi and watermellon. We also were served Rhododendron honey which can be toxic if you eat too much. It taste good. After our meeting our adventures just started. We ate a nice cafeteria style lunch on campus. We then took a long bus ride to Bursa with Sami and Simi as our guides. Who knew how amazing Bursa is. Full of history, beauty and hustle and bustle. Its historical importance as the first capital of the Ottoman Empire after it was captured from the Byzantine Christians in 1326. We visited the Ipek Hani (silk selling area). Bursa in an important area for silk and silk product manufacturing. We stopped into the Ulucami (Big Mosqe) and we walked around the Topane (amory area), wicis an area that provides a great view of the city. We walked through markets and visited the tombs of some of the early Sultans of the Ottomon, including Osman Gazi, from which the Ottomon name is derived. He founded the development of the new state in 1299 that eventually rose to world dominance. We are now in dorm rooms at the university. Very adequate. We have a suite with a kitchen. After visting Bursa we went to a mall, one of Americas great "gifts" to the world, in the mall was Carrefour a giant supermart-type place. We purchased supplies for our rooms and some food to get us going for this week. Now we are kind of settling into a routine. We did look very funny as we lugged all our bags back on the bus (see photos).

Our dorm on campus

The Bee Institute sign

Rhododendron honey

Looking down on parts of Bursa

Ottomon coat of arms

Osman Gazi's tomb with coffins of family members

The Big Mosque

The four women on our trip visit inside the big Mosque

Ozman Gazi statue in Bursa

We took a nice subway and buses all about town

Could not resist from playtime in a park

We can SHOP

And we can carry bags

Bus stop with bags

Day 16, June 21, 2011 (Travelling to Bursa)

2011-06-21T08:34:00.001-07:00

Travel Day

Begin in Bergama a few stops on the way and then we arrive at Uludag University.

These travel days are tiring but in many ways miraculous. Buses or vans seem to appear out of nowhere. For example approacing Bursa the bus drops us off who knows where?? on the side of a busy highway. A van from the university is there waiting to pick us up!! John B and John H work together to make it happen. They should be organizational engineers.

On the road again

Ottogar and the bus to ???? Ask Dr. B, he should know

Food break on the way

Our assigned seats, do NOT forget to give in your ticket to Dr. B and we are all

John Barthel on this trip

Travelling scenes

You have 10 seconds to take the lugage out of the big bus and put it into a waiting van by the road or you get left behind

University bound

Our new homes

Travel Day

These travel days are tiring but in many ways miraculous. Buses, vans and taxis seem to magically appear out of nowhere. For example approaching Bursa the bus drops us off in the middle of nowhere. Two vans from the university are waiting to pick us up!! The Johns make it happen on our behalf. These guys should be organizatinal engineerings.

Anyway I think the photos say it all.

Bergama a few stops inbetween and at Bursa at Uludag University, a 6 hour or so.

Day 15, June 20, 2011 (Exploring Bergama's past)

2011-06-21T08:33:00.002-07:00

The Crew at the Acropolis in Pergamon (Bergama)

VIDS TO ADD 191/192/193/196/191/198/199/201/202/204/205/206/
A day of walking and looking and seeing the past in a spectacular way. We started off with a FAST ride from the Gobi up to the Acropolis which is about 15 min from the where we were. Getting there and entering the area you are overwhelmed with enormous size and the large quantitiy of ruins, columns, marble, old stones, pathways that surround you on the top and down the sides of this area. The amphitheater, which sat on the western slope is very steeept about 70 degrees and sat around 10,000 people. We walked down (some of us). You look up to the seats from what would have been the stage and you are in awe of this place. A turtle walked by on stage and did not really seem to care about the REU audience. Most of the area is made up of scattered pieces that once made up the various building including a library one of the largest in the world at the time, next to the library in Alexandria, Egypt. We walked down the te hill and again saw scattered remenants of buildings all the way down a winding road that was itself formed with stones over 2,000 years ago. This area was first settle in the 7th and 6th century BC. We encountered an area where there were gymnasia and a building that had in it floors of beautiful tiles, so well preserved. Our journey continuted. We found a new restaurant. The owner's brother lives in Rochester and the store owner's nephew was there visiting from New York. We sent out after getiing out of the heat, having water and fanta and walked to the Red Hall or the Red Bascilica. This is a building that is made of red brick. It is essentially a large courtyard that is surrounded by high red bricked walls. Ther structure and all the hidden parts now buried under buildings in the surrounding area was build by the Roman Empire in the time of Emporer Hadrian. It was a temple to Egyptian Gods. A man was working on a large Egyptian sculpture outside, restoring it. In Byzantine times it was changed into a church. During Ottomon times one of two domed structures was used as a mosque. Another walk was made to the Asclepion.

This area was a healing temple in ancient times, the physician Galen worked here. It was an important destination for those who had illnesses and were seeking expertise at that time. There was a stream and pools in an elaborate system above and below grounds. Again a lot of large and small pieces of stone granite and marble were scattered about the property. The entrance to the temple area consisted of a stoned paved road with columns in various conditions (some intact most partial) on each side of the entrance row. Upon leaving I purchased some local honey from a stand by the exit road.

Our Hotel

View from the top of the Acropolis (Acropolis pictures)

Information sign

Ampitheatre steeply build on mountainside

Walking down Ampitheater

View from the Ampitheater looking down on aquaduct to the Asclepion

Clapping at Ampitheather

Reconstructed temple on Acropolis

Red Hall

Inside one of the round Red Hall buildings with a sunlight beam shining in

Passing a house on the way to the Asclepion

View of Acropolis from street

Entering the Asclepion

Tunnel in the Asclepion

Asclepion Ampitheater being set up for a concert

These are flower patterns on stone lying on the ground, non had the same pattern

Honey stand

Picture with the honey sellers

Day 14, June 19, 2011 (Lesvos, Greece to Bergama, Turkey)

2011-06-21T08:33:00.001-07:00

vids 173/174/175/179/191/184
Travel day in the morning left Malemi hotel at 7 am. Ferry to Avylik from Mytilini a bus to Dikili and then arrived in Bergama late afternoon. Looks like a very cool place. We are located on the main street. Lots of shops and people outside. Some of us went to the museum that houses artifacts from the surrounding area, with emphasis on material from the Ascepion and the acropolis. It is good to see this place as we will go to those places tomorrow. At night the streets are crowded with a lot of people couples, friends family just walking about, music and food all around you.
There is a vibrancy and excitement here that you do not feel in a city street very often in the US

Leaving Mytilini

Entering Bergama via taxi from a bus that took us to the Ottogar

Taxi with a stuffed trunk

Waiting for the taxis

In the taxi

Ataturk on a balcony in Bergama

At the museum

Day 13, June 18 (inside the Sanctuary in Monestary)

2011-06-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

Theses are images from the inside of the Limonos Monestary main church area

Day 13, June 18, 2011 (Sigri on Lesvos, wow!)

2011-06-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

This day was full of beauty and adventure. It was like being in a Greek postcard

Above PASHA Barthell (our leader) is giving a impromptu guest lecture at Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. He observed Mason bees using holes in the modern sculpture piece to place their nests. All the people in the museum came pouring out of the building to hear his talk. There were about 6 people. Thanks to Dr. Barthell
Today was a great day. We sent to Sigri on the Southeast coast of Lesvos. The highlights included: the Limonos Monestary near Kalloni, the mountianou.s curvasious car ride by villages on the sides of mountains. We stopped about 10 km outside of Sigri to visit the Petrified Forrest, a world culture site. It proved to be awesome. You can see stumps with their roots going into the ground. Some of these trees were 20 million years old. We could have stayed longer than te 40 minutes, there about 2 km of paths. We just made it before closing at the Petrified Forrest Museum in Sigri. The museum was beautifully kept and designed well, it was mostly about fossils and had detailed descriptions of the geography of the area. John found a great example of Mason bees nesating just outside the entrance door for the museum. Some of the students went to down to the beach. Some of the others meandered down to the beach taking pictures will descending. We swam, I played with Aaron Freesbie football with a bunch of kids and a guy from Sweden and another from the Ukraine. The day ended with a seaside dinner, Tanks to Dr. H.

Entrance sign to the main santuary of the Limonus Monestary (photos of main sanctuary on next blog)

The grounds of the large Monestary has about 200 "small" churches. These Churches are personal Churches donated by people and families. The Monks want to have 365 one day.

Beehives at the Monestary

View of the Monestary

Out of the car pictures on the way to Sigri

Outside at the Petrified Forrest

Sigri Pictures

Museuem

Frisbee with Aron and a guy from Sweden and another from Eastern Europe

vids to add 171/167/168/169/156/159/160/161

Day 13, June 17,2011 (Field Experiments on Lesvos)

2011-06-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

vids 157/56

Today the group left from the hotel at 530 am. Returning at 830 pm, a long very warm day. People were organized and fell into specific jobs that they more or less kept during the day. There were periods when not much happened and then times when sampling and collecting were done. Jobs were 2 people on each transect observing and recording insects coming to the Yellow star and Vitex sprig in water tied to the plant. They noted the visit and the insect that visited. A group of 2 were collected and pinning insects throughout the day, Marisol very good at that. Aaron and I measured plant height and distance from each other as well as recorded the distance that the observed flowers were from each other on the same plant. Around 1130 am I took 3 students Marisol, Carmen and Aaron on the road to try to find Vitex which would be flowering. One of the problems in this experiment is that the Vitex has been late this year and we had a hard time finding the flowers, especially white colored (there was a good purple plant). Again, we worked around the problem as best as we could. The sampling took placer for 1 hour (2.5 min at each plant) at 7, 9, 11 am and 1, 3, 5 and 7 pm. We had time for a bit to sit on the beach, talk run errands and drink lots of water of course. It was a long day but very fun to be with the group, learning and contributing in different ways. Various people fall into their area of interest and talents, it happens informally and easily. Dr. H and Dr. B are low key but firm and I think the students appreciate and respect their style. They all work very hard
Sign away from research site. This is where Aristotle stayed

Vitex on plant by road

Cutting Vitex to take back to field transect area

Vitex sprig in water in floral tube attached to plant

Dr. H and Maria observing insects on specific flowers, notice the hats and smiles.

No doubt really experiencing the joys of field work

These donkeys were near by keeping us company. They seemed interested in the project

When not working explored beach we found sponges getting washed up on the shore

Just finished sampling and cleaning up before sunset

A beautiful sunset, a reward for a good day

Still Smiling