BY AMNA KARA (MAN/IV)
Name: Fatma Betül Güreş
Department: ARCH/III
Country of Origin: Romania and Turkey
Why Turkey? What do you like best about this country?
The thing that I like the most about Turkey is in fact the reason I chose to study here. I feel like this is the place where I truly belong. I feel more Turkish than Romanian, even though I had never lived here before. I love the feeling of belonging. When people see me, they don’t expect me to be a foreigner; in Romania the opposite was true.
Are there any similarities between your country’s culture and Turkey’s?
Surprisingly, the Romanian language contains many Turkish words. For instance, bacșiș (bahşiş), chibrit (kibrit), iaurt (yoğurt) and dușmăni (düşman), to name only a few.
What will you miss most about Bilkent?
I will miss my student years, the best time in anyone’s life, when the only responsibility you have is to do your assignments and study (which is quite hard at Bilkent, as we all know)
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
The table closest to the heating unit in my studio, as that’s the place I never leave on cold nights when I have to finish an architectural model before the sun rises.
What’s your favorite Turkish food/favorite part of Turkish culture?
I like red meat, so foods like kebap, döner and pide are at the top of my list.
Where do expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I have dreams like anyone, and I’m not afraid to be a dreamer and aim high, but I’d rather not answer this question. They say, “Work hard in silence, and let your Lamborghini make the noise.”
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve overcome in Turkey?
Prejudices are always an obstacle, no matter where we are. Unfortunately this applies to Turkey as well. In Romania we say, “Aparențele sunt înșelătoare”—appearances are misleading. I wish more people could be aware of this fact.
What cities have you visited in Turkey? Which one do you like the best?
I’ve mostly traveled the Mediterranean coast. Fethiye-Ölüdeniz is my favorite place.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I can find shortcuts for any sort of job. I think this talent comes from laziness. Think about the quote often attributed to Bill Gates: “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job, because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
What’s a question you’re asked frequently, or the most interesting comment you’ve heard at Bilkent/in Turkey?
I’m frequently asked what language is spoken in Romania. It’s Romanian—not hard to guess, right?