The International Chronicles
BY TASNEEM AL-GHAMDI (COMD/IV)
Name: Zainab Haroon
Department: (ECON/IV)
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
The kind-hearted and warm people.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
Our cultures are pretty similar, especially the love for chai!
What will you miss most about Turkey/Bilkent?
I think the most obvious answer is the amazing company I’ve had all these years!
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Being a huge couch potato, I’d have to say my room.
Why Turkey?
My dad’s a diplomat, so we moved to Turkey a couple of years back.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
The traditional irmik helva with ice cream; tahinli helva is also delicious.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I hope to become someone who can make a difference in the Pakistani economy, or influence it in some way.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Learning how to communicate without knowing the language.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
İstanbul, İzmir, Eskişehir, Konya, Antalya, Cappadocia, Trabzon, Rize and Samsun. Pamukkale was breathtaking and the most unique place I’ve ever seen.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Dancing!
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 hear from many people at Bilkent: “You look like Sandra Bullock!”