BY AMNA KARA (MAN/III)
Name: Umer Qidwai
Department: Management/III
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
From the calm waters of Antalya to the mysterious caves of Cappadocia, Turkey is like a sci-fi movie where sometimes you’re the maze runner going through the forests of Bolu, sometimes a wizard on a broom soaring over the salt pools in Pamukkale, and then you’re Indiana Jones going through the ruins of Ephesus. There are literally 50 shades of Turkey, and I’m falling in love with each one.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
Watch a cricket match in Pakistan or a football rivalry in Turkey, the heat is the same. We share a burning passion for the games we love, and we’re not afraid to show it.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
Laziness; Bilkent has given me the license to do whatever I want to whenever I want to. Ever since coming here I’ve been the master of my own fate, and that is something I treasure the most.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The area between the gym and the main football field. I discovered it one day randomly jogging around campus, and nothing beats the view from there. Find a suitable rock to sit on, and sit back and stare into the peaceful city of Ankara. Look down, and you can imagine yourself playing on the football field. Gonna miss that the most!!
Why Turkey?
’Cause it’s my Hogwarts.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
HD İskender, without a doubt.
Where do expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I’m not sure where I’ll be in the next 10 minutes, so I can’t really tell where I’ll be in the next 10 years.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Living with the fact that I won’t find my family waiting for me every day after I come back from classes.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Antalya, İstanbul, İzmir, Samsun, Amasra, Safranbolu and Bursa. My favorite would be Olympos, just outside Antalya.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I guess randomness is my talent of sorts.
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
“Hey man, are you from Sri Lanka?” There is a difference between Pakistanis and Sri Lankans, okay?