BY YAREN SAĞLIK (TRIN/III)
Name: Soha Saleem Paryani
Department: Architecture
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
This is my first time in Turkey. My family came here to drop me off, so initially I explored a lot of Ankara with them. It was extremely difficult to get around because I didn’t know even basic Turkish. But the one thing I loved about this place was how even though I couldn’t communicate in their language, everyone was very willing to help and extremely sweet. They would take time and actually type proper sentences on Google Translate so that I could understand. Once I met two girls at the bus stop, and I asked them (with the help of Google Translate) how to use my metro card. They immediately asked me to talk to them in English because they knew very little and wanted to learn more. They additionally gave me their phone numbers in case I ever needed help in Ankara. So, the best thing about this place is its people and how kind and helpful they are.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
There are quite a few, actually. I’ve noticed how traditional Turkish food (not that at Marmara) has some similar uses of spices. Our languages have similar words, too. Oh, and our obsession with chai (çay): anytime, anywhere. Culturally, our societies are very similar as well, but here there is a more unified moral code for both genders compared to back home.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
Since this is just my first year, I haven’t really thought about that yet. But if I were to say something based on my three-month experience, I would say walking. As absurd as it sounds, I don’t get to walk a lot back in my home country, especially not at night, so I’ll miss being able to do that. Also, the new-found independence. It’s hectic and scary, but something I’d craved for a long time, because growing up, brown kids are babied so much that they never seem to grow out of it – the reliance and dependence. I’ll also miss the snow and generally being able to witness temperatures below 10°C.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
You might think the FF studio would be my favorite place, considering the amount of time I spend there, but it’s actually the Spring Fest area and the music building (only at night). The walk to and from there is just so wholesome.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
I don’t have a single favorite food yet, but I really loved the Turkish breakfast at Araff Cafe and the tavuk, kuzu and ciğer at Ciğerci Ahmet (both in Eskişehir), and the dürüms at Profösör Köfte and Kumpir. All the Turkish desserts are so good, too. Other than the food, my favorite part of Turkish culture is the blend of Western and Eastern architecture.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I’m in my advisor’s office trying to figure that out myself, guys…
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
It wasn’t really a challenge, but my friend and I kind of got lost once – and then another time, and another. But that first time was the most memorable, because we ended up hitchhiking four times in order to get back to Bilkent.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
So far, I’ve just been in Ankara and to Eskişehir. But I really want to go to Antalya, İzmir and, of course, İstanbul.
Do you have any hidden talents?
It’s better if they remain hidden. (My way of saying “No, sadly, I don’t.”) I do dance, but that’s not really hidden.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently about Bilkent/Turkey?
When I tell any stranger I meet in the city that I study at Bilkent, I’m told, “Oh, you must be smart/rich.” No one ever says both, though.