BY ADA KILIÇARSLAN (ECON/IV)
Name: Leyla Hashimli
Department: Computer Engineering
Country of Origin: Azerbaijan
What do you like best about Turkey?
The memes and all the cliché stuff about nature, the rich history, etc.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
Well, are there any differences?
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
Ankara ayazı.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The bench behind the Engineering building facing the main road. There’s never anyone around, so you can spend some quiet time by yourself.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite Turkish food is çiğ köfte. It’s spicy, it’s hot, it has everything I could expect from any food.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
In a clinic, getting Botox.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
Telling people my name. It’s a pretty common name in Turkey but pronounced way more softly here. So, I start to spell out my name just in case.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve visited İstanbul, Eskişehir, Fethiye and Alanya up to now. My favorite would be İstanbul, because of the hectic pace.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Turkey?
I’m frequently asked whether çiğ köfte is made from raw meat or not.
Describe yourself in three words.
In five minutes!