BY SAİDA RUSTAMOVA (CTIS/IV)
Name: Sara Zebardast
Department: CTIS/IV
Country of Origin: Iran
What were your first impressions about Türkiye?
Having visited Türkiye several times before enrolling at Bilkent, I already felt quite at home in the country.
What do you like best about Bilkent and Türkiye?
What I appreciate most about Bilkent and Türkiye is the beautiful natural environment. The campus is lovely, with purple flowers blooming everywhere in spring.
Are there any similarities between Türkiye and your home country?
The culture and linguistics overlap a lot. Both share a strong emphasis on family and community, making Türkiye feel like home to me.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Türkiye?
I’ll miss the people at Bilkent the most. There’s something special about the community of internationals we’ve built here.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
I love the grass area next to the running track. The sunset view from there is absolutely gorgeous.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and why?
I love sütlü baklava. I cherish the Turkish tradition of sharing tea and conversation as it is something I grew up with too. We often have tea at the booth, and it feels like we are in a sitcom.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I honestly have no idea where I’ll be in 10 years, and that’s kind of exciting! But I hope I have built a career for myself that lets me travel.
What’s one thing you learned from Turkish culture?
The importance of hospitality—Turkish people welcome everyone like family.
What places have you visited in Türkiye, and which one is your favorite?
I’ve travelled to many cities across Türkiye. İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya, Pamukkale, etc. Though each
place has its charm, Çeşme is my favorite.
I love its beautiful beaches, clear blue waters and relaxed atmosphere.
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/in Türkiye?
How do you know Turkish so well?
Describe yourself in three words.
Very complicated plant.
How is the studying experience at Bilkent?
It’s challenging but rewarding.