BY MAHİR HASSAN MİAN (ECON/I)
Name: Alhassan Raad Jassim Al-Badri
Department: Computer Engineering
Country of Origin: Iraq
What do you like best about Turkey?
What I like the most about Turkey is how amazingly hospitable and accepting the Turkish people are.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
The social aspect of Turkey and Iraq is very similar; you can make conversation with anyone you meet. It doesn’t matter if you’re a stranger or a local, they’re always up for good conversation and eager to make you feel at home. The sense of community and togetherness is immense.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
I’ll miss all the amazing people I’ve met and will meet as well as the early mornings on campus when it is very quiet and peaceful and all the natural aspects of campus pop out.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
I am a person that loves the quiet and peaceful places, so my favorite place on campus has to be the library’s quiet area, whenever it’s empty. It has a different sort of feeling with a cold breeze coming in from the window.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
My favorite Turkish food is İskender. It is interesting how many flavors come together to create such an amazing dish!
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
In 10 years’ time, I’d like to see myself either working in a big FAANG company or having my own company for software solutions. It would be great if I could start off in Turkey or perhaps expand into Turkey.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
The hardest challenge I’ve handled in Turkey is adapting to the environment and the language. It wasn’t easy to communicate with people, but I think that’s a good thing because it pushed me to learn the language and, consequently, learn about the culture.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I have visited İstanbul, Antalya, Malatya and Mersin. My favorite has to be Mersin because it is a very quiet city and has very lovely and understanding people. As a side note, Mersin’s Tantuni tastes amazing!
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Turkey?
Something I hear quite often is “Why Turkey?” Many of my Turkish friends wonder why I came to Turkey in the first place. Many of my friends aspire to go to Europe or America, but I have never had this preference. A big factor for my family and I in choosing Turkey was that the cultures are somehow similar, so we wouldn’t feel too far away from home.
Describe yourself in three words.
Sincere, Patient, and Curious
