BY NAUSHERWAN AZIZ (MAN/II)
Name: Amir Asyraf Zainudin
Department: MAN/IV
Country of Origin: Malaysia
What do you like best about Turkey?
I like a lot of things about Turkey, because there is history to be discovered in every corner. I love to visit museums here in Turkey, because that’s what Turkey is famous for. And not only that: the arts and culture scene is constantly growing. Turkey’s markets are an opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the culture. The most important thing is there are no bad views here in Turkey.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
The warm greetings from the people here make me feel like I’m home. Turkey is now my second home.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
I’ll probably miss the days when I’m walking down from the dorm to go to the gym and racing the clock because I need to catch the bus that will leave in two or three minutes. I know that I can run fast, but catching the bus is never easy, and I’m likely to feel exhausted due to doing some parkour on the way there!
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The hill in back of my dorm (61). I always walk a little bit far back there to catch the sunset. Everyone else does this in front of Bilka, but the spot where I catch the sunset is much more beautiful, believe me.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
I love baklava, kebabs and simits. These three favorites are the things that I always consume whenever I go to the city center on weekends or after class on the TMD bus.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
Travelling with my wife and kids and showing the kids where their father used to study: Bilkent University.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
Speaking with Turkish people, because when you’re outside, it’s harder to talk with them because of the language difference. However, I can manage that now, since I’m taking Turkish classes and can actually speak a bit of Turkish.
What cities/places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve visited Cappadocia, Eskişehir, İstanbul and, of course, Ankara. I would say that among these four, I liked Cappadocia the best because it’s less crowded but still has some “outskirt vibes” from the main city, making it a really good place to have a short rest from the busy schedule of a student’s life.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Not many people know this, but I was on a TV show, “Wishlist,” in Malaysia several times and also did a little bit of hosting on the channel and gave some talks on TV, so yeah, I would consider my hidden talent to be the ability to host a TV show.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently about Bilkent/Turkey?
I’ve heard that Bilkent is very good in terms of the communication and the facilities that are provided by the university to the students here.
Describe yourself in three words.
Fun, talkative and energetic.
If you could master any skill, which one would you choose, and why?
The skill of flying. Then it would be easy for me to wake up every morning and fly to class, or to Tunus or anywhere in Ankara, so I wouldn’t need to catch the TMD or Doğu buses to go to the city or to class. Even more important, I wouldn’t have to walk so far every day just to go to my dorm, which is located pretty far above the classroom buildings.