BY YAREN SAĞLIK (TRIN/III)
Name: Muhammad Shaham Farrukh
Department: Management
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
The thing I like best about Turkey is how the whole Turkish nation comes together as one and how passionate this nation is about things they love, from their culture and history – the Turkish people are proud of where they come from and what their culture is like – to football, where their passion is reflected during matches as they support the teams they love.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
Turkey and Pakistan are similar in many ways; that’s why Bilkent and Turkey have always felt like home to me. They’re similar when it comes to the culture, moral values, respect toward elders, family dynamics and many other things.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
Whenever someone asks me this question I ignore it, because I don’t want to imagine the time when this will end; I’m so used to life at Bilkent and the people here that I don’t want it to end. I’ll definitely miss everything on campus, from my friends to the dorms to things as little as walking around campus.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
My favorite place on campus would definitely be the Faculty of Music building and the area around it, because it’s really therapeutic to sit there at night and appreciate the view; also, if you’re lucky, someone may be playing an instrument, which just adds to the beauty of the place.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite Turkish food would be lahmacun; as my Turkish friends say, “Lahmacun is a lifestyle.”
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
You don’t always end up the way you expected, but I’d like to imagine myself as someone traveling the world while managing my own business.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
That would surely be the language barrier; I still remember the time when I first came here and had to switch to sign language to communicate with people.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve visited Çanakkale and İstanbul so far. I think İstanbul will always be my favorite city; I’ve been there four times already. It never disappoints, as the feeling that you get there can’t be described and touches you on a spiritual level.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I think I have a really good aesthetic sense.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently about Bilkent/Turkey?
From people back home: “You’re just making excuses, Bilkent isn’t that hard.”