BY NAUSHERWAN AZIZ (MAN/II)
Name: Sabuhi Osmanov
Department: Economics/IV
Country of Origin: Azerbaijan
What do you like best about Turkey?
I love the diverse culture, hospitable people and amazing sightseeing locations in Turkey.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country? Infinitely many! Being secular, speaking a similar language, sharing a very similar culture, having an insane love for tea and enjoying hosting guests are only a few examples.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
About Bilkent, I’ll miss attending early morning classes when the campus is half-empty, spending time with my awesome friends, randomly taking the TMD buses, and campus life in general. Regarding Turkey, I’ll come back in the very near future to visit and explore more places.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
I enjoy having a cup of tea or coffee in front of A Building near my faculty and chatting with people I know, because this way I get the chance to see many of my friends passing by.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
I would always go for İskender kebap, pide or lahmacun, although I love a variety of other Turkish foods as well. I like how Turkish people usually include soup in the meal. The dessert I’ll miss the most is definitely künefe.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
Representing Azerbaijan in a foreign country.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
I’ve handled many things easily; however, it’s sometimes challenging to explain and demolish the stereotypes that exist concerning Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani language.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve been to İstanbul, Eskişehir, Rize, Kemer, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Denizli, Amasra, Safranbolu, Bolu, Samsun, Sinop, Akçakoca, Trabzon, Konya, Dikili, Ephesus, Çeşme, Alaçatı, Bursa and Antalya so far, but I plan on visiting at least İzmir, Çanakkale, Gaziantep and eastern Turkey before I graduate. Having gone there numerous times, my favorite is Eskişehir.
Do you have any hidden talents?
It’s not really hidden, but speaking a few languages actually helps me understand many people.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently about Bilkent/Turkey?
The environment at Bilkent is different than it is outside, and the students studying here learn to think more creatively and independently. I also come across many people who don’t know that Turkey is a secular state.
Describe yourself in three words.
Organized, optimistic, punctual.
If you could master any skill, which one would you choose, and why?
I would love to be able to travel anywhere I want within a second, because I’m extremely passionate about seeing new places.