Hey there, I’m Esin! I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey. My educational journey began with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Yeditepe University. Afterward, I obtained a teaching certificate from Marmara University, which marked the beginning of my teaching career in both Turkey and Greece. I got an excellent opportunity to study modern Greek at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and fell in love with a Greek guy. A long story…

Life has a way of taking unexpected turns, and for personal reasons, I found myself in Germany, exploring different job opportunities. Don’t worry, I made an effort to learn German, as Mark Twain wrote in his essay called The Awful German Language. Then, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I took a step back to reevaluate my career path. I realized I wanted to return to teaching, but this time with a fresh perspective and enhanced skills.

To achieve this, I embarked on a new adventure by pursuing a master’s degree in Ireland (although I’ll be completing it next year). As if that wasn’t enough, I also made my way to Canada to obtain an elementary teaching certificate. You could say I’m a firm believer in the concept of lifelong learning. I genuinely enjoy the process of acquiring new knowledge and skills.

My journey in education technology is a bit challenging. Back in the 1990s, when I was a high school student, educational technology meant having televisions and a computer lab in our classrooms. Those TVs occasionally brought fascinating educational programs to our attention, while the computer lab introduced us to basic computing skills. Little did we know that these modest beginnings were just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what technology had in store for us.

Fast forward to my university years, and we were in for a pleasant surprise. We were a tad luckier than our high school days because the university library boasted a collection of computers that allowed us to type up our assignments and even venture into the uncharted waters of the internet. It was an era when Yahoo Chat Rooms were all the rage, and they played a significant role in expanding my horizons. These chat rooms became a valuable resource for me. Whenever I had questions about my program or simply wanted to delve into a specific topic, I could effortlessly join a chat room based in New York, for instance, and engage with individuals who could provide insights and answers.

However, as I embarked on my journey as a teacher at the turn of the 21st century, the landscape of educational technology was not quite as advanced as one might have hoped. The support for educators was scarce, and the tools we had at our disposal were limited. Now I would like to learn and use educational technology in my classrooms.

So, whether it’s my educational journey or my passion for continuous learning, I’m excited to share my experiences and insights with you on this blog. Stay tuned for more stories and adventures from my educational odyssey!

PS: Who is Odysseus? Nope, he is not a Greek god! He is the king of big journeys! You can learn about Odysseus’ journeys, his adventures, and how he finally got home on the study.com website. Here is the link. It is just a 25-minute video.