BY MAHİR HASSAN MİAN (ECON/III)
Name: Mutangana Derrick
Department: MBG full-time student
Country of Origin: Rwanda
What were your first impressions about Türkiye?
The hospitality of Turkish people has driven me to like Türkiye even more than I had expected. So, I would say the Turkish people made the biggest impression on me.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Türkiye?
The thing I like most about Bilkent is that it provides almost all the resources and facilities students need, so we don’t have to struggle to find them outside.
Are there any similarities between Türkiye and your home country?
Yes, Rwanda and Türkiye are close friends, both striving for peace and prosperity for their citizens.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Türkiye?
I will miss the friends I’ve made during my years of living in Türkiye.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
I like the Sports Hall the most because I find sports very helpful to relieve stress and refresh my mind, which helps me study better afterward.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
I like kebap, although I’m not sure if it’s my absolute favorite. It tastes great, and I had the chance to try Adana kebap, which my friend recommended as the best.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I expect to be pursuing my PhD studies or working in an industry relevant to my field.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
I have learned a lot, but I would say the most significant things are Turkish hospitality and the strong family connections.
What places have you visited in Türkiye, and which one is your favorite?
I have visited Anıtkabir in Ankara, Eskişehir and Düzce. Even though I had great experiences in all of them, Anıtkabir is my favorite because I learned a lot about Türkiye’s cultural history, especially about the country’s first president, who is laid to rest there.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Türkiye?
Questions like “Do you have a girlfriend?” and “How old are you?” are quite common, even though they are not typically asked in my country.
Describe yourself in three words.
Cool, hardworking and social.
How is the studying experience at Bilkent?
It requires a lot of sacrifice in terms of time and effort to achieve good grades.
