| September 7, 2007 Lesson Four: Friendships know no national borders You can't imagine the relief I felt as I stepped onto Bilkent’s campus. At last I reached my home for the semester. Although I grew to enjoy Istanbul and appreciate the ancient ruins of western Anatolia, I was overjoyed to settle down in the familiar setting of a university. I could finally unpack my suitcase (I'd been living out of a suitcase for over a month!), get into a routine and go back to the gym. Life wasn't going to be as hectic, and returning to academic life, surprisingly, would bring stability and comfort. Before class started there were two weeks of orientation for international students, where we would become accustomed to campus, learn our way around Ankara, apply for residence permits and register for courses. The international community is comprised of about sixty undergraduate and master's students from across the world; within the first day I met people from Denmark, Germany, Italy, France and Slovenia. I'm flabbergasted by the diversity of the students which around me. Even though many languages are spoken among us, most students speak fluent English. At times students revert to their native language out of habit, and laughter erupts.
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The past week I've realized that many similarities exist among the international students, despite our various backgrounds. I instantly realized I'd be forming friendships with people from all over the world, enriching this semester’s experiences and establishing a global network for the future. |
