Name: Syarifah Mashitah Binti Syed Muhamad Siddik
Department: CTIS
University: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
Country of Origin: Malaysia
What were your first impressions about Türkiye?
I was freezing the moment I stepped off the plane, since Malaysia stays around 25 to 30 degrees most of the year, so this was a completely new feeling for me and my friends. What really stuck with me, though, was how kind people were; even with the language barrier they would pull out their phones to translate just to help us, and they never gave up trying.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Türkiye?
The STARS system, honestly — it is so convenient. I can pull up my syllabus, check my documents, top up my card, even sort out laundry, all in a few clicks. And on top of that, the elderly people here are so welcoming; they wave you into their shops and keep offering you things to try even when you are not buying anything.
Are there any similarities between Türkiye and your home country?
Respect for elders is a big one; that feels the same as back home. The nature and the terrain also remind me of Malaysia in some ways — there are hilly regions with waterfalls that feel familiar, even if the landscape looks different overall.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Türkiye?
I think I will miss feeling like a celebrity a little; people sometimes call us “çok güzel” when we are out and about, especially in Bursa, and it always gives us a nice little ego boost. I will also miss the buses here — they are so convenient that I can hop on right after class and be back in half an hour. We complain about them, but honestly we are spoiled.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Bilka Hill, definitely. It is where my friends and I go to just sit, chill and talk; we were even there yesterday helping each other with random things. It has become our favorite spot on campus.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
Lokum (Turkish delight), along with çay — I have grown to genuinely love hot tea here even though I never used to drink it back home. I also really like the pastries. I have not gotten around to trying a proper döner yet, but the sweets and pastries have already won me over.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I definitely see myself happily married with two kids, probably living abroad, and working as a data analyst or running my own business. I want to make a lot of money, though I would want my husband to make even more than me. I picture a G-Wagon, a penthouse with a view, maybe even a helicopter parked above it, and enough free time to focus on art and photography, since that is my real passion. But underneath all of that I still want a peaceful, humble life; I do not want to be surrounded by too many people or too many friends, just my close family.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
Turkish culture is very high-context; people rely a lot on body language and tone instead of just words. I only really understood that after being misread once at a mosque, where something I thought was obvious was not obvious to everyone else at all — my friends still tease me about it.
What places have you visited in Türkiye, and which one is your favorite?
I have been to Bursa, Istanbul and Cappadocia, and Cappadocia is my favorite by far. We ended up on a hill looking out over the whole view and even took naps up there; it was such a fun, memorable day.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Türkiye?
“Where are you from?” — and then almost always çok güzel right after. It is a small ego boost, but I think people ask because they are genuinely curious; everyone always assumes I am from Indonesia before Malaysia.
Describe yourself in three words.
Independent, bossy and observant.
How is the studying experience at Bilkent?
Honestly, it is difficult for me, mainly because the grading system here is so different from what I am used to at my home university. The actual course content is not new to me, since I have already covered the fundamentals; it is really just the grading that is tough to score well on.
