BY NAUSHERWAN AZIZ (MAN/III)
Name: Haider Arif
Department: International Relations/Erasmus
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
What do you like best about Turkey?
There are many things I like about Turkey; I like the culture, history, places and people. The people in Turkey are very hospitable and very honest; many times, as my friends know, I’ve lost my wallet and left my bag in various places in Turkey, but not once have I been robbed. Each time I’ve found the item, or a Turkish person has handed it in for me or returned it to me.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
I would say there are very few similarities between England and Turkey; however, as certain places in Turkey are getting more westernized, the culture of the younger generations is becoming similar to that in England.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
I’ll miss my friends and traveling with them. I’ll also miss ordering food and eating out every day; and I’ll miss Bilkent and studying here. At the beginning, it wasn’t the best, but it’s grown on me.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
My favorite place on campus is the grass area in front of the Dorm 76 Bilka. I’ll miss lying there and enjoying the sun.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite Turkish food is İskender. I could eat it every day.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I have no clue, but hopefully alive, healthy and happy.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
The hardest challenge I’ve experienced in Turkey was my residence permit expiring before it was meant to, and because Turkish bureaucracy is not the best, it was quite troublesome to resolve the issue.
What cities have you visited in Turkey?
I’ve visited a few places in Turkey; I’ve been to Trabzon, Fethiye, Cappadocia, İstanbul and a few small villages. My favorite was İstanbul; the sights, the places and the people were amazing, and the atmosphere was out of this world.
Do you have any hidden talents?
None of merit.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Turkey?
A question I’m frequently asked is, “Is it true Turkish people can’t take spice, and do people eat döner every day?”
Describe yourself in three words.
Lazy, spontaneous, persevering.
If you could master any skill, which one would you choose, and why?
Doing back flips, because why not, or learning how to play the piano.