BY AMNA KARA (MAN/II)
Name: Soo Youn Kim
Department: Tourism and Hotel Management (THM/I)
Country of Origin: South Korea
What do you like best about Turkey?
I like the people, especially those who understand my poor Turkish and are kind.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
In Korea, there are a lot of food delivery services, and Turkey has them too! I’ve been in other countries, and there are rarely any delivery services, so it was quite surprising to see motorcycles deliver food to our dorms here.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
My friends and the campus. Oh, and of course Turkish food!
What is your favorite place on campus, and why?
To be honest, I like my dorm room the best, because it’s the place where I can rest and just relax. I also like the path between the East and Main campuses, because I walk there often, and the night view of the city is amazing.
Why Turkey?
A friend of mine introduced Bilkent to me while I was trying to find the right place to continue my studies, so I ended up attending Bilkent. I also liked Turkey’s location. It’s at the center of where different cultures and people meet, so I thought it would be a great place to meet a variety of people and experience different cultures.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
Well, I’m the type of person who can’t pick only one favorite food; it’s impossible because I have so many! However, these days I want to have kuzu etli döner and çiğ köfte. They are so good. I also like how Turkish people drink tea and coffee often.
Where do expect to see yourself in 10 years?
I really don’t know what I’ll be doing by then. I might be in a totally new country, meeting new people and experiencing a new culture.
What is the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Maybe the language? I haven’t completely overcome it yet, but I hope I’ll be fluent in Turkish someday.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
I’ve visited Istanbul, Izmir and Cappadocia, and my favorite among these is Cappadocia. However, I haven’t been to other famous touristic places in Turkey yet. I want to tour Antalya; I’ve heard it’s a beautiful city.
What is a question you are asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
Well, I’m frequently asked where I’m from and whether or not I speak Turkish.