BY ZOHA TASNEEM (IAED/II)
Name: Joud Daouk
Department: Molecular Biology and Genetics
Country of Origin: Syria
What do you like best about Turkey?
I like the people. They’re really nice and try to help as much as they can, which makes adapting to life here much easier. And of course, not to forget, the delicious food is great too.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
Syrian and Turkish food are kind of similar, which is awesome because I love the traditional food here. Also some of the music is similar to some Arabic music. I guess some of the traditional clothing is similar as well.
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
I’ll miss the fun and exciting things I can do and the adventures I can have here. I’ll especially miss the friends that I’ve made and will make at Bilkent.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
I just love sitting in front of the fountain in front of SA Building or the one near B Building, and I even love anywhere that has grass, which is almost everywhere.
Why Turkey?
I chose Turkey because I wanted a different experience, especially since I was born and lived in Saudi Arabia. I wanted to go and live in a completely different environment and learn a different culture that I hadn’t ever been exposed to, since I love learning about cultures. I’d heard a lot about Turkey and how great it was, so I wanted to witness that from all perspectives, not just as a tourist for a few days.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
Well I’ve already mentioned food a lot, so apart from that, I really love Turkish music, even though I barely understand some of the lyrics being sung. I also like the general social life here.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I honestly don’t know, but what I hope that I’ll be doing is pursuing something that I love and am passionate about, whether it’s related to what I’m studying now or to something completely different like my hobbies. As much of a cliché as this may sound, I also hope to have traveled in several countries with my great friends.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
I think the hardest challenge would be the language. Since most people here don’t speak English, it was kind of hard to communicate with people outside of Bilkent, but with time communication has gotten a bit easier.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
I actually haven’t visited many. Apart from Ankara, I’ve only been to İstanbul. I absolutely loved Istanbul.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Yes, I do, but it’s not exactly “hidden.” I can sing, and I’m very passionate about it.
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
Surprisingly, many people comment and assume that I’m Turkish, even though I don’t think I look Turkish at all, but anyway I take it as a compliment. Frequently I’m asked whether I had lived in Turkey before now, since people assume I lived in Syria before this, even though I never did.