The Story of the Story Day
Different Grades ( February 12, 2016)
Story Day on February 14, as declared at the 69th P.E.N World Conference in November 2003, is a day celebrated by literarians around the world. A group of Tarsus American College students who were joined by an Turkish Literature Department to mark the day, looked at the day through the lens of “home”. The activity which included reading and discussions on the concept of home as “a place where one feels safe and has a place in memories”, continued with the exploration of the ancient streets, workplaces and spirit of Tarsus. Students who observed, took photos, made interviews, took notes have accumulated quality materials for the stories they will write later on the theme of “home”. This literary field trip, which encouraged student perception of home not only with its residential connotation, but also in a more public sense such as “Senior Citizens Home, Hospital (lit. “Home for the Sick”), Guest House, House of Worship, Student Home, Prison (lit. “House for Prisoners”), Restaurant (lit. “Meal House”). This experience, guided by Önder Şit, Chair of the Turkish Literature Department, is sure to be immortalized through the production of a story book titled “Tremendous Stories”.