BY AMNA KARA (MAN/III)
Name: Muhammad Humza Majid
Department: MAN/I
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
What I love about Turkey is the people. Every Turkish person I’ve met, whether they could speak English or not, was very kind and willing to help. They’re very honest and trustworthy.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
The historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Turkey are very old and exist in a wide variety of areas. In Turkey, as in Pakistan, most people are Muslims. Secondly, the languages, Urdu and Turkish, have many words in common.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
Even though I arrived at Bilkent not quite two months ago, I’m sure that campus life is what I’ll miss the most, because the experience is like no other; it’s unique. There’s no guardian with you; you have to do everything all by yourself, which is quite new for most of the freshmen.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
My favorite place on campus is Bilka Café, because no matter what time it is, you can always find someone there to hang out with. Secondly, at night most of the other places on campus are either closed or pretty empty. So, Bilka is kind of a lively place at night.
Why Turkey?
I chose Turkey as the base for my undergraduate studies first of all due to its vibrant culture and the similarities it has with Pakistan, and second, because of the important place it holds in the world of tourism. In addition, studying in Turkey is affordable, and at Bilkent, I have the opportunity to study alongside students from different backgrounds, cultures and religions. This will help me build a strong international network.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite Turkish food is iskender, as it’s full of rich flavors.
Where do expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
In 10 years’ time, I expect to see myself as a successful human resource manager in a major company in Canada.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Initially, when I came here, I knew nothing about cooking. I only knew how to make sandwiches and fry eggs. Also, I wasn’t used to Turkish food. So I had a lot of problems regarding my diet. But with help from some of my friends here and Skype calls with my mother at home, I was finally able to cook some proper meals, mainly Pakistani dishes.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
So far, apart from Ankara, I’ve visited Izmir. I went there during the Bayram break, and I loved it.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can play tennis with both hands. That’s the only thing I would consider a hidden talent in my case.
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
There’s one question that many students, especially Turkish students, at Bilkent have asked me: “Why are there a lot of Pakistani students at Bilkent?”