BY MAHİR HASSAN MİAN (ECON/II)
Name: Araiana Ghavam Baigi
Department: Psychology
Country of Origin: Iran
What were your first impressions about Turkey?
Turkey is more free than my own country. I like the fact that I can wear whatever I want. The weather is also nice. I was 16 when I came here.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Turkey?
Well, what I like about Bilkent is that it’s like a completely different country. People are very open minded, more than the average person in the city. Bilkent is very academic, and I like the academic challenges.
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
Yes, definitely. The cultures are very similar and very close. I don’t feel far away from home here.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
Definitely my professors, they’re amazing. I love every inch of this place. I’m really attached to Ankara because when I came here I was a teenager and I sort of grew up here. Those last teen years are memories to cherish for the rest of my life.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
That’s a hard question. I guess my favorite place would be right next to the B building — when you’re walking towards the bus stop there’s this alley. And specifically in the evenings, the view there is completely amazing.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
Tavuk Dünyası has a dish named café de Paris, and the spices in this dish are on point.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I’m expecting to have at least a PhD. I’ve been interested in classical music and how it impacts the cognitive developments in humans, and in 10 years I see myself having done some research in this area.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
Being friendly towards animals, taking care of them, feeding them and giving them a sense of belonging is what I’ve learnt from Turkish culture.
What places have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
I have visited most of the touristic cities of Turkey, but there is this one city called Datça. It has the nicest sea the nicest ocean view and the nature is immaculate.
