BY SAİDA RUSTAMOVA (CTIS/IV)
Name: Perhat Amanlyyev (CS/III) fulltime student
Country of Origin: Turkmenistan
What were your first impressions about Türkiye?
When I first came to Türkiye, I was still a child, but I clearly remember how surprised I was by how different everything felt to me: the people, the clothing styles and the overall culture. I was especially curious when I saw women wearing hijab, because at that age I did not understand much about different traditions and ways of life. Looking back, I see that it was simply part of discovering a culture that was new to me.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Türkiye?
I like the people who surround me every day at Bilkent. As for Türkiye, it’s the food and travelling around its cities, where you can see various sights and try different foods.
Are there any similarities between Türkiye and your home country?
When I arrived in Türkiye, I didn’t feel like a stranger here because we share a similar mindset and heritage. That made me feel right at home.
What will you miss most about Bilkent and Türkiye?
I’ll miss those days when I’m swamped with homework and, on top of that, have an exam tomorrow that I also need to prepare for. I’ll look back on that feeling with nostalgia. As for Türkiye, the country has become a second home to me, which is why it’s hard for me to pinpoint just one thing I’ll miss most.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Building EE, because it’s convenient to stop by Meteksan after class for some tasty treats or drinks.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
I’d say döner is my favorite Turkish food. Aside from its divine taste, I love how easy and convenient it is to eat. I could eat döner all day long (which is probably obvious just by looking at me).
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
In 10 years, I’d like to have my dream job, live in a house of my own, grill on the weekends and be a cool uncle to my nieces and nephews.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
Turkish culture and the Turkish people have taught me to value and respect my heritage and the achievements of my nation and my people.
What places have you visited in Türkiye, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve been to many places, but one of my favorites is İzmir—not only because of the beach and the sea, but also because of historical sites like Ephesus (an ancient Greek city) and the insight they offer into how people lived in ancient times.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Türkiye?
Most of the time, I get a lot of questions about where I’m from, followed by questions about my country. There aren’t many Turkmen students at the university, and many people are curious about our country.
Describe yourself in three words.
Genuine, adventurous, youthful.
How is the studying experience at Bilkent?
The coursework is pretty demanding because of the workload—quizzes, four homework assignments, group projects and everything else. However, in my opinion, our department is quite out of touch with the real world, which is sad. But the good news is that changes are being made to the curriculum, and new teachers are coming in who, I hope, will turn things around.
