Türkiye saw me not just as a traveller, but as a university student going on an international trip. My module explored how the Middle East has been shaped over the years of colonisation, empires, and trade. Therefore, I believed I had a fairly good idea of what to expect from the region, such as hectic streets full of vendors and historical sites. But little did I know, Türkiye had something special in store for me as soon as we landed.
The trip began at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), and as soon as we left the airport, the class experienced firsthand the modern infrastructure of the train system and how locals travel with a MetroCard. One fact that surprised me as a Londoner was how every journey had the same fare, and this fare was less than a pound. When we got off the train, we saw the beauty of the Asian side of Istanbul, with the Bosphorus River at night and vendors selling simit, corn, and roasted nuts. Our hotel was in Kadıköy, the artistic area of Istanbul, like Hackney back in London, and even here in the quiet backstreets of the city, cats were everywhere, sitting on cars, motorbikes, and some come up to you to sit on your lap. Another aspect of culture shock was the hospitality of the place. When we had our first meal, after finishing, the waiters gave us all free Turkish tea. By the end of the trip, I had more tea than water. People also remember you if you visit a shop twice. One guy remembered me after I had previously bought fresh honey and then returned for traditional goat milk soap.
The following day, we had lectures from various professors, some from Türkiye and others from Thailand, demonstrating the nation’s multicultural and accepting nature. One thing I noticed was that there were international students studying at the Turkish university, such as one girl from Sudan. One lecture was specifically given by Professor Derya Demridizen Çevik, along with Eslem Seymen, and discussed the employment situation of women in the nation, which directly links to the Sustainable Development Goal of gender equality (SDG 5). This lecture was particularly interesting to me as it relates to my dissertation topic surrounding the effects of pornography in girls in the nation.
Next on the agenda was a walking and talking tour of Istanbul. For this tour, we took a riverboat using the same MetroCard and the same fare to get to the European side of Istanbul. Here, we saw historical sites, such as the Hagia Sophia, a centuries-old mosque with a rich history embedded within it, evident through the various transformations it has undergone. The call to prayer in this square was also beautiful as the mosques in the area responded to each other in Arabic. The Grand Bazaar was filled with a variety of teas, spices, and iconic lamps, spread throughout the place. During my entire time there, I think I only explored 0.05% of it. We also saw both the modern tram systems and the historic tram in the Regent Street of Istanbul, Istiklal Street. Independently, I visited the 1400-year-old walls in Fatih, a wall that remains standing to this day.
At the end of the trip, I realised that Türkiye is not just a place, it is a mixture of both historical sites and modern politics. One huge takeaway for me is once again the fact that the public transport is so cheap, and everything is just one fare. I hope to visit again soon and meet the person who remembered me.
Afra Bhuiyan