BY NAUSHERWAN AZIZ (MAN/II)
Name: Daniyal Admaney
Department: CTIS/I
Country of Origin: Pakistan
What do you like best about Turkey?
The numerous and varied places one can visit, ranging from exotic beaches to beautiful ski resorts, and that too at a price not so damaging to the pocket.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
Yes, far more than I had expected! While it’s a tough challenge to adapt to the Turkish language, I find that it’s made easier by the fact that Urdu (what we speak in Pakistan) and Turkish have a lot of similar words and grammar. In addition to that, the immense hospitality of the general population toward foreigners is something that I doubted I would see outside my country.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
Since it’s only my second semester, I’ve yet to develop such a bond with the place that I’ll miss it terribly. One thing I’m sure I’ll never, ever miss is the food at Marmara.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Obviously, Bilka Hill (or Dorm 76 Hill). While it’s a place where people usually come to chill with their friends, for me, the best times there are when you’re alone and lying on the grass under the sky accompanied by the soft flow of music as you get lost in your thoughts.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
Oh, baklava all the way! I’d had baklava before in Pakistan, but over here it’s something different. Feed me all the baklava you have, and I’ll still want more.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
Nobody really knows the future, so it’s fruitless to make plans for something so far away. Hopefully I’ll have life figured out and will be pursuing something that I’m passionate about.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
The language barrier was initially a huge issue and still persists. While you have problems going about in the city when you don’t speak the language, the biggest challenge is having that feeling of alienation when your friends are talking in Turkish and you don’t seem to understand what’s going on.
What cities have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
Other than Ankara, I’ve only been to İstanbul so far, and while the buzz over there was better, sometimes the serenity that Ankara has to offer is what one really desires. But again, I can’t pass any judgments until I’ve visited more cities – something I hope to do this semester, with trips to Bursa, Ölüdeniz, Antalya and İzmir already planned.
Do you have any hidden talents?
Not many people know this, but I used to do stand-up and improv comedy back in Pakistan, something I’ve been wanting to do a lot since coming here but haven’t been able to because of the language barrier.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently about Bilkent/Turkey?
Something I’ve heard on the streets of Ankara: “If you go to Bilkent, you’re automatically richer than most people in the city,” along with the remark that Bilkent is a bubble inside Ankara and almost a different city in itself.
Describe yourself in three words.
Determined, people-pleaser, procrastinator.
If you could master any skill, which one would you choose, and why?
I would love to master the art of filmmaking and marketing. Marketing through film and video is the future and something I’ve been really interested in for the past couple of years. I’ve tried my hand at it several times but don’t consider myself anywhere near the level I want to be at.