BY ZOHA TASNEEM (IAED/II)
Name: Salwa Bafadal
Department: Psychology
Country of Origin: Singapore
What do you like best about Turkey?
I absolutely love the food here in Turkey, from pide to dürüm to desserts like şekerpare! Back in Singapore, I could never eat plain yogurt on its own. I love the yogurt here, even the plain, naturally flavored kind. The fruits here are also so much fresher!
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
I would say that there are vast differences between Singapore’s culture and Turkey’s. While Singapore’s culture is metropolitan, with a patchwork of customs from different races and religions (due to its multiethnic makeup), Turkey’s culture consists of one strong, dominant culture rooted in its long history despite the presence of modernity as well. Despite this difference, I find both cultures unique and beautiful in their own right.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
I will definitely miss the company of the Turkish and exchange student friends I have made here. They have made my experience at Bilkent and in Turkey a lot more enjoyable—through fun conversations, organized events and traveling—despite the challenges of living in a foreign country. I will also miss the experience of snow I’ve had in Turkey, since Singapore is a tropical country with hot and humid weather. I had my first experience of snowfall when I arrived here, and it was a beautiful moment that I can still vividly recall.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The green hill in front of Dormitory 69. It is a great place to hang out and take a breather, be it alone or with a group of friends. Despite the cold winter, the place remains warm with laughter as people go sledging, have snowball fights and make snowmen. During warmer days, I love to sit or lie down on the hill, have an ice cream and keep count of the seemingly endless helicopters that pass by. This place holds plenty of fond memories with friends and of the silly things we do (note: I once rolled down the hill on purpose), so it is definitely my favorite place on campus.
Why Turkey?
I have always been interested in exploring the culture and historic sites in Turkey because it is a place uniquely embedded at the intersection between the cultures of the East and West, owing to its central geopolitical position. Furthermore, I am a person who is fond of both natural and manmade beauty, and Turkey is a country that houses some of the best examples of both. It was no question then that Turkey was a must-visit place for me, because it offered many opportunities for me to enrich myself culturally and politically, as well as to appreciate the beauty of an environment that is a lot different from Singapore’s.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
I don’t have a particular favorite Turkish food since I love all the food here, but I do have a favorite drink unique to Turkey—sahlep. It was my best friend during the cold winter, and I love how milky and filling it is, not to mention—drinking it with cinnamon. It is basically warmth and comfort in a drink.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
Honestly, 10 years down the road is a far stretch to predict, but I hope I will be able to become a practicing clinical psychologist and contribute back to society by helping people with mental health disorders or people involved in efforts to improve mental health. I also hope to become a person who is more traveled and more sensitive to differing value systems, cultures and opinions around the world. Most importantly, I hope I remain interested in learning from new opportunities and challenges and growing myself not in wealth and status but in kindness, courage and wisdom.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
I think the hardest challenge is the language barrier, which I am still experiencing and overcoming.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
I have yet to travel much since it is still quite early in the semester, but I have gone to Kapadokya and İstanbul, and I absolutely fell in love with both.
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
The most interesting comment I’ve gotten is that I look like a Turkish local myself, and people are generally surprised to know that I actually come from Singapore.