My study abroad experience was, to put it simply, life changing Past Review
By Max M (Social Studies Education, SUNY - Binghamton) for
Bogazici University: Istanbul - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience was, to put it simply, life changing. I found out so much about myself and grew a great deal personally. I met so many incredible people and made a few life long friends. Studying abroad in Istabul made the world seem so much smaller, and I now realize that I will be doing as much travelling as I can for the rest of my life. I had planned to move to New York City and begin teaching and getting my masters after I graduate, but I now realize that I will teach English in as many places as possible for a few years before actually starting a career in the U.S. Istanbul will always be a second home for me, and even though I have been back in the states for only a week I miss it greatly. I strongly recommend this program to any student considering it.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was particularly struck by the differences in strict citation rules. In one class, we had to do power point presentations, and several students cited Wikipedia and YouTube as sources on their citation slide, which the teacher never commented on. In addition, the students relied heavily on frequently irrelevant YouTube videos in their presentations. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the Superdorm, which is the Bogazici dorm where international students and the more wealthy Turkish students live. I woud highly recomend searching for off-campus apartments on Craigslist, either around Rumeli Hisarustu or in the Taksim area. The Superdorm has archaic rules regarding visitors, drinking in the dorm, and is generally way too overpriced for the accomodations. The rooms are tiny and extremely un-inviting. The one positive aspect of dorm living is meeting other international students. However, if you are adventurous enough and can make friends easily, I would recomend off-campus housing. Frequently gatherings in the suites involving drinking were broken up by the guards, and the dorm manager is a generally cold and unfriendly woman who will chew you out for having a beer can in your garbage. Off-campus apartments are cheaper, you can have visitors whenever you want, and if you live in Taksim you can go out to party and not spend 15 lira on a cab ride home. <br /><br /> |
| * Food: |
I loved the food, especially any of the food at Urfam, a local restaurant around campus. Beyti Sarma was my favorite menu item. The service was incredible there and we got very close with the wait staff by the end of the semester. Being a vegitarian in Turkey is hard, but not impossible, as I had several friends who were able to get around Turks extreme fondness for meat. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Perhaps it was out of sheer ignorance, but I felt much more safe in Istanbul, even late at night, than I do in Buffalo, NY. I never had a reason to venture into the really seedy and poor parts of the city, but even so, I never encountered any problems, besides having a jacket stolen at a club. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Alcohol is relatively expensive there, even compared to the U.S. Do not plan on getting drunk for cheap. However, there are essentially no open container laws, so you can get cheap beer from bodegas and drink them in Taksim if necessary. Food is pretty cheap and it is easy to get an extremely filling meal for 8-10 lira. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was able to get by the whole semester speaking essentially no Turkish besides a few key words and phrases. Chances are, especially in the wealthier and touristy areas of Istanbul, you will be able to find someone who speaks English. I did not take the Turkish language for foreigners class, but those who did said it was not that effective. The best way to be able to communicate in Turkish while there is to attend the Turkish conversation club, or set up something to be tutored by another Bogazici student. This assures that you will learn relevant informal Turkish as opposed to overly formal Turkish which will sound rediculous to ordinary Turks. In order to get by while in Istanbul, you must know the numbers, at least 1-20. This is extremely important for setting cab ride prices, haggling for goods, and any money transaction. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would highly recommed this program to students seeking a program where that is more adventurous and unconventional compared to programs in Europe, while still maintaining a European feel. Turkey is a fascinatingly diverse country, and the same can be said for Turkish culture as a whole. In addition, Istanbul is easily the coolest city I have ever been to. It rivals even New York for its sheer electrifying nature. You will never be bored, and there is so much to do during the day and in terms of nightlife that one could never be bored. |
