Turkish Local Interview: Hande Akdeniz

Throughout my blog you've been experiencing life as told by a foreigner so I wanted to interrupt that trend by getting a local's opinion! Hande Akdeniz, a computer engineering student at Hacettepe University has kindly agreed to answer questions on living life as a local in Turkey.

The infamous Hande Akdeniz

Me: Thank you for agreeing to this interview! How are you today, Hande?

Hande: Actually I m glad to interview with you Melody Thanks. I am a bit tired because of my school routine but it's better nowadays. so i m happy about being with you

M: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

H: I am 21 years old and still a student at Hacettepe University as you have already said, studying Computer Engineering in Ankara. I also was born in here in Tunalı

It's my 4. year at university, and it's really busy in this year at school so i have not much time but when i find time for other things i really like to be with my friends

and i used to interested in kick boxing and fitness, i know it's not looking like that now :) otherwise i have a small family as my parents and one sister.

Studying for exams

M: What's life like for you in Turkey? What does an average day look like for you?

H: Turkey is a really good country to travel but living here, nope not as good as travelling . Because it's hard to study hard to find a good job and it's a disadvantage.

i mean everyone wants to live a good and comfortable life. but in Turkey it's a little bit hard . 

i can say sometimes i wish i would born another country a developed country. but i m not so depressed not at all i m happy to have like my family or friends. And i can say i m trying to be survive :)

M: What do you love about Turkey and living here?

H: i love foods :D because all cities has different meals and turkey is a big country. you can find any kind of food here for you.

i also like my neighborhood people are so modern and kind here.

besides there are many place to see in turkey if you have time and money you cannot get bored in Turkey it's not possible :)

finally it's a sarcastic reason . if you live here you can improve yourselves (and your personality) so easily . because everywhere you go, there is a challenge to solve :D 

 

M: Where would you recommend a traveler to go in Turkey? Any particular cities, attractions or annual events? What is the most underrated city in Turkey?

H: i really love the west part of Turkey . maybe i miss sea :D i do not know but istanbul is really popular for foreigners because of the historical places and 

There are some natural beauties like Pamukkale or Kapadokya etc. yeah you know there are many places as i mention before also how can i say.. east is really mystical and more traditional

M: How did you learn English? You speak better than nearly anyone else I've met here.

H: I started to learn at primary school. Generally it's same for every student. And it continue at highschool and also many of universities but it's not enough to learn just at school you should do also practice in your real life 

i found a chance about it and i m doing some other practices like watching movies&TV series or reading some english books and also books of my lessons mostly in english so i just have to learn it :)

Enjoying Izmir

M: What are your plans after you graduate? Is there anywhere you'd like to travel & if so, where?

H: ahh :) actually i would like to move, work and live abroad a couple years ago. i also want to study  Master of Business Administration after graduate from engineering. 

but now when we talk about reality i have a boyfriend and he lives in izmir . i really would like to go there and work there as a computer engineer. i hope i can go abroad for travelling with him :) who knows.

M: Can you teach us a little bit of Turkish? What's an important, useful or funny phrase?

H: yes of course :) first it's familiar for you 'naber kanka?'  lol it means "what's up bro?" :)
and here is some common words such as
hi = selam
how are you? = nasılsın?
please = lütfen
thanks = teşekkürler
i am Hande = ben Hande
nice to meet you = tanıştığıma memnun oldum (it's a little bit hard i know :D)
i love you = seni seviyorum
and finally it's the most useful sentence for a foreigner when somebody ask or say to you something you can say "seni anlamıyorum" = "I don't understand you"

M: Haha! For anyone confused, Hande's first phrase is making fun of me - I accidentally said "naber kanka" instead of just "naber" to her when we first met.

Lounging in Dikili

M: Now then, is there anything you'd like to change about Turkey? Or is there any popular misconception you'd like to clear up? Can you share some advice about traveling in Turkey for our American readers?

H: yesss!! as a student of course it's education system . i think it's really useless and old it needs reforms. 

about misconception i couldnt think anything. for American readers i just can say come and see :) you will not have regrets.

M: Finally, has Turkey changed since you were a child? If so, how?

H:Actually yes or no i have no answer because my age it's not so old and i may could not understand what has changed. :)

Thank you so much for your time today! We've learned a lot more about Turkey now that we've gotten an insider's perspective. Hopefully your answers will help our readers make a more educated decision about traveling to Turkey.

* Note: none of the pictures in this post belong to me

5 Random Inconveniences of Living in Turkey

If you've been following this blog, you know that I love living in Ankara, Turkey. That said, there are a few differences between life in Turkey and life in the US. Here's 5 random inconveniences to expect in Turkey:

1. No escalators. You'll find them in malls and upscale hotels but otherwise you'll be hiking up and down stairs frequently. Elevators are rare in older buildings like apartments, shops and governmental agencies. On the plus side, you'll have killer calves!

2. Lack of English. While a given in a foreign country, getting around Ankara becomes a complicated puzzle. On the upside, you'll learn Turkish more quickly! No patience? Head to Istanbul for the convenience and comfort of more English speakers.

3. Unpredictable weather. Abrupt swings from 80° F to hailing in under 10 minutes aren't uncommon in summer. Washing your clothes becomes a gamble as you string them out to air-dry on the balcony clothesline. If you've got a 90's style standalone heater, you can try drying them inside the house though.

4. Unsafe taxis. You have a 50% shot of getting a taxi with seatbelts & another 50% chance that they're functional. Your life is in the hands of a distracted driver on their cell phone, on narrow streets with disobeyed one-way signs, and pedestrians crossing on a whim. Life is an adventure!

5. Disorganization. Whether you're a foreigner or a local, government disorganization is a real problem. Ever-changing requirements make even registering your phone inordinately grueling for no conceivable reason. International shipping is an absolute nightmare - bring everything you'd need in with you on the flight over as shipping is inexplicably, unnecessarily difficult.

Like I mentioned at the start, I do love living here and plan to stay for a while. That doesn't mean I don't get homesick or miss the conveniences of life in Los Angeles.