BY NAUSHERWAN AZIZ (MAN/III)
Name: Nagima Abuova
Department: Tourism and Hotel Management/I
Country of Origin: Kazakhstan
What do you like best about Turkey?
Turkey is a center of leisure 3S (sun–sea–sand) tourism. I like that it’s very easy to go on small trips to other cities on the weekends and discover breathtaking places. Also, the weather in Turkey is amazing. In comparison with the place where I come from (Astana), I can consider even –10 degrees here to be warm.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
Yes! Turkey and Kazakhstan are similar in terms of culture and language. Our languages belong to the Turkic language family. A lot of people mix up the meanings of “Turkish” and “Turkic,” but they’re different, which explains why I can understand Turkish even if I don’t speak it. For example, even though I didn’t know a single word when I first came here, I tried to use Kazakh, and sometimes it worked very well.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
About Bilkent, I’ll definitely miss people I’ve become very close with and am still meeting here; the huge campus with all the necessary facilities; the transportation system; and, I think, even though I’m not a big fan of cats, those fat, spoiled creatures are worth mentioning.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Main Campus Bilka, which brings together everyone at Bilkent (you can’t sit there without seeing at least one of your friends); the hill next to Bilka, with the best atmosphere and view of the city; the Spring Fest area, especially when it’s warm outside; and the benches behind the statue of İhsan Doğramacı, with the calming sound of the fountain.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
Well, I’ll definitely go for Turkish mantı. Other than that, any type of kebap, pide or lahmacun must also be mentioned.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I see myself as a person who speaks at least seven languages perfectly, traveling around the world not only for leisure, but also for business, education and charity purposes.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
The hardest challenge has been to get used to the emotions of Turkish people. It’s actually very interesting. When I hear random people’s conversations, I still can’t understand whether they’re complaining and being angry about something or just saying how good their day was.
What cities have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
Apart from Ankara, I’ve only been to Trabzon, Antalya and the airport in İstanbul. But I have a lot of plans for this semester’s weekends and breaks.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’ll search for them throughout my life. But if I do have any, they’re probably hidden from most people, except the ones I feel comfortable with.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Turkey?
I’ve heard a lot of times from full-time international friends and Erasmus students that Bilkent’s international office is the best. Even though I don’t have any other universities in my background to compare it with, I’m sure that it actually is!
Describe yourself in three words.
Dreamer, realist, hardworking.
If you could master any skill, which one would you choose, and why?
I would learn more languages from different language families. For example, in addition to Kazakh, Russian and English, I would love to master Turkish and Spanish and start learning a language like Arabic. Also, I adore people who play any kind of musical instrument. If I could manage to start learning, I would choose piano or guitar. It’s awesome to be able to share your feelings and mood via amazing live music.