Istanbul

The best 4 months of my life

The ultimate Istanbul exchange blog post I was just about to show off my underwear before I was instructed that Turkish people might not appreciate it very much. Another reminder that it’s remarkably easy to offend people if you don’t know about their cultural views. I just wanted to

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Visiting a different kind of Europe

I can’t believe it’s only a month until I leave this beautiful Istanbul again. For an exchange student enjoying life to the max, a weekend trip to a different city is a must. This time we were heading back to Europe! While Europe is usually associated with a flawless train system, this trip to Sofia would teach us that…

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When Turkey stops living for 60 seconds

Passports remind me of spy movies. Spies always have a few of them for each nationality. My passport is Bordeaux red and says “Europese Unie – Koninkrijk der Nederlanden”. When you open the leathery cover with two golden lions there is a picture of 20-year old Frank, looking like he just took a mugshot for…

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A typical day as exchange student in Istanbul

I wake up to my alarm clock and the happy sounds of my 6 year old flatmate eagerly getting ready for school. Before I leave for my own school, I gobble up my non-Turkish breakfast: I just can’t detach myself from yogurt and muesli, because a Dutchman needs his dairy after all. The free shuttle bus my university provides…

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Turkey is beautiful. Thinking is, too.

Turkey is beautiful. That is probably the most obvious discovery I have made so far. University started a month ago, but it is only now that I’m finally leaving my vacation mood. After our trip to Çeşme and the first introductory weeks of classes, the national holiday of Bayram „forced“ us to take advantage of…

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Toilets, Money, and Vacation

Three weeks. That’s how long I’ve been in Istanbul, but it feels much longer. Somehow I just really feel comfortable here, despite all the complications that come along with being a foreigner. Hospitality here is legendary after all. But no matter how hospitable a new place is, there are all always these ‘weird’ differences you…

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Home – leaving it and finding one

Upon boarding the “SWISS” plane I greet the friendly stewardess with a “Grüezi” and laugh a bit inside because it fools her into thinking I’m Swiss (which I am a little, but not really). While speaking Swiss-German was fun, being able to understand English, German, and Dutch isn’t fun when you have to listen to…

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