REFLECTIONS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Parchment

TÜRKAN ZORCAN'S TEAM&nbsp; GÜLSER MEHMET BOLLUK ANATOLIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Although her father and mother were always understanding and respectful to their decisions, feeling, wishes, Zarife was quite hesitant to tell her father what her real feelings about Nikola. But her father's intuition was very strong that's why he was asking this question about Nikola. Zarife thought that how difficult this situation was.For many years they lived peacefully with non-muslims. But an emotional relationship or getting married with a non-muslim was a completely different topic. Marriage with a non-muslim was absolutely not welcomed by all segments of society. Then she thought Nikola. He was a kind, handsome, helpful and hardworking man and she was deeply in love with him. Perheps this is the right time to tell them about her feelings. She gathered all his courage and he said to his father ; -Yes father I want to tell you something. I have strong feelings for Nikola.He is so nice and kind that it is impossible not to be affected by him. Suddenly, her father and mother looked at eachother . They didn't expect such a clear answer. They didn't know what to say...

Rahmi Köşker Üre's&nbsp;Team Kadir Has Anatolian High School

Dilek ÇENGEL'S Team GÜRÇEŞME KANUNİ SULTAN SÜLEYMAN ANATOLIAN HIGH SCHOOL

LALE GÜZİDE ALGEDİK'S TEAM &nbsp;Selçuklu Anatolian High School

Her father and mother tried to overcome their surprise because Zarife had clearly revealed these feelings. Her father said - "We are having a very difficult time right now and we are at a crossroads and I don't want to think about such a thing."&nbsp;On the morning of the night when Zarife and Zarife's father and mother did not see a drop of sleep, the father took his children in front of them and told them that they had to leave this land. The sooner they got ready and set off, the better.&nbsp; This was devastating for Zarife, because it meant never seeing Nikola again. Two days later,&nbsp; Zarife's mother and father loaded mattresses, duvets, 3 -5 clothes, 1 sack of bulgur, pillow, flour in the car, and hid the gold and money under the belongings and set off. Some families made the same thing, they set out to go to Turkey. As their father walked out of the city and passed the cemetery, he prayed for dead relatives. It was such a sad departure that maybe they would never see the land where they were born again, maybe they would come back after the war was over. Who knows?

he day started early in this house. The people of the house were too early to wait for the sun gliding through their curtains. The doors of the rooms were opening one by one with sleepy eyes. Their eyes were sleepy, yet their smiles were still on their faces. Opening the eyes with the smell of leavened dough gave them peace. Her brothers had already risen through their white, lavender scented sheets. Zarife was still in her bed. She wasn't sleeping, but she didn't want to get up, either. Even thinking her beloved made her happy. The time she saw him yesterday was still in her mind. They met while she was picking two baskets of grapes from the vineyard and making her way home. Surprised what to do out of excitement, she felt as if her feet were not on the ground and her heart was disobedient. She was awakened from her dreams by the voice of her mother: _Zarife! Zarife!

&nbsp;Ozana Vignjević Team &nbsp;Tehnička škola i pirodoslovna gimnazija Ruđera Boškovića, Osijek

Sure mother, I'm getting up and coming. &nbsp;- Get dressed, go to the barn, and milk the cow. &nbsp;-OK mum. &nbsp;Her mind was very confused these days. Oh Nikola. How would all these things be welcomed by their families? She didn't know. All she knew was how much she loved Nikola. &nbsp;When she reached the stable, she thought how much she loved these lands during milking. Her friends, the Macedonian food of her neighbor Marija, everything… Meanwhile, all of the milk was spilled. &nbsp;She returned home, and when her mother asked for milk, she stumbled. &nbsp;- I poured breast milk,- Anyway, we'll have milk in the evening. &nbsp;So, her days passed with love, she couldn't get him out of her mind. She went to work in the garden with Elena, the daughter of the race, hoping to see her one day.

&nbsp;Dilek Akay Team &nbsp;Amasya Social Sciences High School

Elena found Nicola and arranged to meet Zarife at their vineyard house.Elena was waiting outside the door as they were talking. - Darling, I'm very worried about my father, his work is very bad. He tries not to reveal it to us, but I heard them talking to my mother.I have been an apprentice with my father since my childhood, I know how to sew although I'm not very good. -My dear Zarife, I go to town and sell the items you sew. I will do my best to improve your situation and help your family. After talking to Nicola and deciding how to help her father, Zarife happily returned home, but when she got home she found her whole family sitting on the porch waiting for her. His father looked very worried. On the other side his mother was crying and his brothers were confused.According to the news his father received today, Turks living in the Balkans would be sent back to Turkey.According to his father's friend, the milkman Ramis, those who settled in the bowl were very comfortable, the lands were fertile and the people were wealthy. Besides, there were not many people who knew how to tailor.His father said that he wanted to immigrate there after he heard about&nbsp;Çanakkale. While she was crying,she was grumbling.This is my homeland, this is my home, my children were born here, all my relatives are here, my neighbors are here. How can we leave everything behind and go? Learning all these Zarife was shocked,she just cried.

&nbsp;Tamara Kapraljević Team&nbsp; &nbsp;Tehnička škola i prirodoslona gimnazija Ruđera Boškovića

Zarife went to the room with sound and now wanted to discuss the problem openly with her family. She listened quietly to the conversation. Her father's voice was trembling. SHe wondered why her father was worried; her father was telling her mother that things were not going well and that they were economically troubled because he could not fulfill their last debt on time. When her father heard that Zarife was coming, he immediately packed up and signaled his mother to keep quiet. Zarife was delighted that her father had not learned about Nikola from others, but was upset when she found out about his debt distress, and proceeded to the room. She took a deep breath: —I overheard my father involuntarily and I heard that things are not going well these days...

Elena, who saw Zarife’s pensive mood in the garden, was curious. She had never seen her like this before. When they played games as a child, they would sometimes fight and be offended to each other. Zarife used to sulk and get calm back then, but this time was different. She was kind of weird and Elena was sure about that. Because anyone who knew Zarife was used to seeing her cheerful. Elena asked what was wrong with her that kept her so quiet. Zarife knew that she could not hide anything from her. She was also counting on her so much. She told her about Nikola. How they met… She explained that they met again a few days ago on the way home from the vineyard, and she hadn't been able to get him out of her mind since then. Elena was listening to her with all her ears, but she couldn't understand why she was so concerned about this situation. There must have been another reason behind this sadness. And finally she asked: -So what really bothers you, Zarife?

Nigar Tunçbilek Team&nbsp; Anafartalar Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School

Zafire thoughtful and sad: "Does love make a man a fool or do only fools fall in love? With tears in her eyes she still doesn't believe what is happening to her..they leave, they will never see each other again..the moment she was crying in her thoughts in the distance she hears as if someone is calling her her name Zafire, Zafire .. she starts slightly and sees Nikola walking towards her without any plan or goal and telling her that life without her has no meaning...

Baran UĞURLU's Team Baku Turkish Anatolian High School

How could she go far away from him when she doesn't even stop thinking about him? She thought what they talked with Nikola then she decided to tell his father with last piece of hope. Maybe they wouldn't have to leave. While she was telling his father about Nikola, her eyes were shining. Her father didn't want to feel a yearning about his home. He felt proud of her due to her behaviour.

Mother, I would like to help but I am not sure if you and father will like my idea.....If you allow me some time, I will come back tonight and I will propose my idea to you and father together....Zarife runs to Elena and asks for her help to arrange a secret meeting with Nikola. They know it is risky but Zarife is sure this is the only way to solve both her problem and her family's problem. Elena disguised herself and went into town to find Nicola and suggest a secret meeting with Zarife.

Sandra Valić Team&nbsp; Tehnička škola i prirodoslovna gimnazija Ruđera Boškovića, Osijek

My dear Zarife, your mother and I will do everything we can so that our family stay here. Nikola is a hard working young man and I’m thankful for his proposal and all the effort. Father saw how Zarife’s eyes shined when she talked about Nikola… It was the same what he felt when he met their mother. They were very young, but he remembered everything and he now realized struggle Zarife is going through. He hesitated for a while, then he asked: Zarife, is there something more you would like to tell me about Nikola?

Zarife,started to tell Elena about the issue that bothered her so much.Elena, what really hurts me is how our families will accept this situation. This situation worries me a lot. Elena now understood the real problem of her friend and was uncomfortable seeing Zarife with this. When Zarife and Elena got home, the voices of her parents were coming from the backyard. &nbsp;Zarife's father to her mother: &nbsp;- You know I'm very worried these days. &nbsp;When Zarife heard this word from her father, she hesitated for a moment. But her mother closed the subject because she noticed Elena and herself. After having her dinner, Elena left for her home. Zarife wanted to sleep, but the thoughts in her head kept her from sleeping. Why was her father worried. Was he worried that her&nbsp;father had learned about Nikola, but how could he learn? Zarife woke up to her father's voice. Her father was telling her mother something about yesterday's problem.

He had heard from him once, but the letter did not contain as much happy news as he thought. It had been almost a year and a half since he found out that he was called into battle as a soldier. He received a letter almost a month later. In the letter, it was written that he would wait for Zarife on the beach next to their house on Monday. His lover was alive and waiting for him. He hardly slept at all on Sunday night. He got up early in the morning and put on his best clothes. He reached the beach at noon as it was written in the letter. Nikola was standing before him. He looked at the beautifully worn face of the war. Then Zarife realized that she was crying, but this time it was for happiness. She hugged her lover tightly. That day, they promised that they would never leave again.

Ayşe Şayan's Team &nbsp;Cumhuriyet Anatolian High School

&nbsp;EMİNE OKÇU'S TEAM&nbsp; ŞEHİT TÜRKMEN TEKİN ANATOLIAN RELIGIOUS VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

REFLECTIONS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE TEAM &nbsp;

&nbsp;Two Nations, One Love

Cennet Erol Team Gülser Mehmet Bolluk Anatolian High School

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