BY EHSAN SHAREEF (CTIS/II)
Name: Cahide Esra Altunsöz
Department: Law (Erasmus+)
University: Leibniz University Hannover
Country of Origin: Germany
What were your first impressions about Türkiye?
Honestly, it felt strange and familiar at the same time. Strange because everything was new: a new city, a new campus, a new life. But familiar because Türkiye has always been a part of me. Turkish was my first language, even though I was raised in Germany. I grew up visiting my grandparents here, eating the food, hearing the music. So when I landed, I didn’t feel like a tourist. It felt like coming back to a place that had been quietly waiting for me.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Türkiye?
The energy here is just different. Back at my home university in Hannover, people study, go home, study some more. Here, people actually live. They go out, they sit together, they talk. There is always something happening. And the professors, they actually know your name. That surprised me a lot. In Germany, you can feel invisible in a lecture hall. Here, there is a real connection between students and teachers. And Türkiye itself? It is rich in a way that is hard to put into words. The history goes so deep, and people carry it with real pride. That kind of cultural confidence is something I really admire.
Are there any similarities between Türkiye and your home country?
There are definitely a few. In Germany, we have a tradition called “Kaffee und Kuchen” (Coffee and Cake), where people meet in the afternoon to drink coffee, eat cake and socialize. The Turkish equivalent is çay culture, where people gather over tea, chat and often enjoy sweets or pastries together, just less fixed in time and more flexible throughout the day. Both countries also love football (soccer) and are very proud of their teams.
What will you miss most about Bilkent and Türkiye?
Everything, really. But if I had to put it into words, it is the people and what this place did for my identity. I have met some genuinely wonderful people here, the kind you do not forget. And coming here gave me something I didn’t know I was missing, a real university experience. Living away from home, building your own routine, figuring out who you are. That is priceless. But beyond the campus life, Türkiye has always been part of who I am, staying connected to my roots even from Germany. I always carried that identity with me. Being here made it feel more real, more alive. When I leave, I will miss that feeling of being exactly where a part of me has always belonged.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
There are these benches near Dorm 76 that overlook the campus, and from the very first month I was here, I fell in love with that spot. At night, when the lights come on across the buildings and everything gets quiet, it is honestly one of the most peaceful places I have ever sat. I put on my noise-cancelling headphones, look out at it all and just breathe. Sometimes you need a place where you can be alone with your thoughts without actually being alone. That spot gave me that. There is something really special about a place that makes you feel both small and at peace at the same time.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
Where do I even start? I’m completely in love with içli köfte, those little stuffed bulgur dumplings with spiced meat inside. And Adana kebap, obviously, that is in a league of its own. But honestly I could write a whole essay about Turkish desserts. Baklava, kazan dibi, katmer; each one is a different kind of joy. Turkish food has this way of making you feel like you are being taken care of, like someone put real love into every dish. I grew up with a lot of these flavours because of my family, so eating them here feels less like discovering something new and more like coming home.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I am very much a family person, so I see myself happily married with three kids. A beautiful Mediterranean house, maybe something with a big garden, warm light and a lot of noise and laughter. I want to be a lawyer or a judge, building something I can be proud of. And financially, I want to build generational wealth, not just for myself, but for the people I love. Paying back to my parents is one of my biggest goals. They have given me so much and I want to give them a comfortable, beautiful life in return. A world tour together, a summer house in Tuscany, maybe even moving out of Germany at some point. And beyond my own family, I want to help other people, support children’s education, be generous where I can.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
Hospitality. Real, genuine hospitality. In Türkiye, when someone comes to your home or even your table, you serve them. It is automatic: çay appears, food appears, you make sure your guest feels welcome before anything else.
What places have you visited in Türkiye, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve been to quite a few places: İzmir, Mersin, Antep, Ankara, İstanbul. Each one has its own character, and I loved something about all of them. But Istanbul is at the top of my list. It is one of those cities that gets under your skin. The way it sits between two continents, the way ancient and modern coexist everywhere you look, it is unlike anywhere else I have ever been. İzmir is a very close second. The coast, the vibe, the food, it has this warm, breezy energy that makes you never want to leave.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Türkiye?
“Nerelisin?” Where are you from? I get that constantly. And it makes sense, because people can tell I am not quite from here, but they cannot quite place me either. Sometimes they guess I am from a completely different country. I think it is the combination of looking Turkish but having a slightly different way of carrying myself. And then when I say Germany, they are surprised.
Describe yourself in three words.
Ambitious, curious, kind.
How is the studying experience at Bilkent?
It has been a real challenge in the best way. Almost all of my subjects are in Turkish, with only one in English. Legal language is so specific and technical, and learning it in Turkish has pushed my fluency into completely new territory. I am building a vocabulary I never had before, and not just for everyday conversation; I am learning how to think in Turkish law. It is demanding, and some days it is genuinely hard, but I would not trade it.
