Name: Chi Wen Lee
Department: Industrial Engineering
Country of Origin: Taiwan
What do you like best about Turkey?
The food and the friendly people I’ve met so far.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
The locals are very friendly to visitors in both places.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
A very satisfactory living accommodation and the terrific cleaning lady who comes once a week. I’ll also miss the many friends I’ve met through sharing a common kitchen.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The lawn in front of Dorm 76, because you can view the entire city of Ankara from there.
Why Turkey?
I wanted to experience a totally new culture with few similarities to that of Taiwan in order to further understand more of the world. Turkey also seemed mysterious to me at the time as I didn’t know much about its culture or people.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite food is anything related to chocolate and all kinds of cheeses.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I’ll be stationed in some part of the world reaching out to people in need.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Adjusting my level of awareness in order to stay as safe as possible whenever I’m outside of campus. It also takes time to form genuine relationships with new people, especially people from different backgrounds and cultures.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
İstanbul, İzmir, Kars, Safranbolu, Cappadocia, Denizli, Ankara and Antalya. Cappadocia has been my favorite place so far because it gave me insight into a new lifestyle I had never seen before back in Taiwan. The hot air balloons were also beautiful to watch and experience.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I enjoy cooking tasty meals for myself and friends.
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
A question I’m often asked is what kind of food Taiwan is most known for.