10 Things I miss about Interning in Turkey

By Angela Son on July 31, 2013

Interning in Turkey in the summer of 2012 was one of the highlights of my undergraduate career.

International internships are growing. In 2011, the number of students worked and studies abroad tripled up to 20,000, according to the Institute of International Education.

I had always wanted to study abroad for a semester, but interning in Turkey was a much more affordable substitute that helped me build international connections toward a prospective career.

I encourage everyone to study or intern abroad when they have a chance to­—an opportunity to spend a chunk of your time abroad doesn’t come as often when working full-time. These are 10 things I miss the most about interning in Turkey that anyone who has spent some time there could relate.

 

1. Hospitality

Turkish people are so welcoming. Teaching English in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, I had an advantage of meeting the locals of my age—the students. TOBB students were inviting, warm, and eager to introduce their culture to me and the fellow American interns. At a dinner party, I first-handedly experienced their culture from observing the home décor (beautiful carpets!) to dancing to the traditional Turkish tunes with them.

When I was lost on the streets (which happened a lot more than you’d think), Turks would approach me asking, “Can I help you?” Even when they didn’t speak English, they found somebody who did for me.

 

2. Turkish bath

I’m in a circular room where the wall is equipped with faucets every five feet and buckets of water. The room is hot and humid, and I’m surrounded with women in bathing suits taking a bath. My experience of hamam (Turkish bath) was a pleasant culture shock.

On the circular table in the middle of the room, masseuses gave massages by rubbing coffee, mud, or soap on the women’s bodies. Rima and I received the soap massage, which was relaxing and energizing. When we came out of the bathing room, there was what seemed like a bachelorette party in the lobby of the bathhouse–‘Only in Turkey,’ we thought.

 

3. Experiencing Turkish college life

University of Michigan has restaurants in Ann Arbor downtown, a two-minute walk from campus. TOBB University, where I taught, was a private college with a small campus. The only place to eat on campus was the school cafeteria.

Going out was different. Many bars in downtown Ankara had open patios and live bands playing Turkish and old American songs. There was absolutely no grinding on the dance floor and no drunken shenanigans often observed on Michigan campus.

 

4. Beaches

The sea—Black Sea to the north, Aegean to the west, and Mediterranean to the south, surrounds Turkey.

The beaches have different vibes and sights to offer. Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Black Sea, was worth a visit. Izmir, a city on the west coast, isn’t too far from Ephesus, where all the ruins are. But if you’re looking for a resort, opt for the southern beaches.

 

5. Sharing one another’s culture

One of my favorite times in Turkey was when my friends and I shared our cultures. I learned how to make stuffed grape leaves, and my friends learned how to taught them how to cook kimbap.

While interning in Turkey, its ethnic diversity reminded me of the share of problems the United States has. My Turkish friends and I liked sharing thoughts on how ethnicity plays a different role in our countries. Sharing the cultures, as a result, strengthened my Korean American identity.

 

6. Camels and Castles

Turkey is full of camels—no, I am just kidding. Some Turks told me that’s what foreigners tend to think of Turkey. But the only time I encountered one was outside of a pier in Antalya, a touristic city in Southern Turkey.

Camels aren’t real, but castles are. Castles in Turkey boasts long history, ranging from ones that go back from the Ottoman Empire (the ruling entity before modern Turkey) all the way to the Bronze Age.

 

7. Awesome public transportation

Coming from a small college town in Ann Arbor where buses are the only public transportation, I fell in love with the ferries in Istanbul. The public ferries that float on the Bosphorus were so magical, they made me feel as if I were going island hopping down the Aegean Sea.

Turkey has a well-established bus system that takes you to anywhere in the nation. I had the luxury of being served tea, cookies, and lemon cologne on the busses.

 

8. Unique tourist destinations

Did I mention Turkey is full of surprises? Working (but not really) in Turkey gave me the chance to wander around the volcanic peaks of Cappadocia where early Christians seeking refuge built underground cities (not to mention it’s where Star Wars was filmed), and the white, sandy hot springs of Pamukkale. I walked through the ruins (or “rocks” as one of my Turkish friends would call it) and Christian sites (tomb of St. John), and learned to appreciate rich history and one of a kind landscape of Turkey.

 

9. Weekend getaways

In addition to the unique tourist destinations across the nation, It is only a short plane trip from Turkey to Europe, Cypress, or Middle East. One extended weekend, my friend Rima and I traveled to Athens, Greece, which was only night-bus-and-all-day-ferry long.

 

10. Healthy food

Thanks to my good (vegan) friend Jessie, I was able to experience the healthy Turkish food such as this vegetarian soup and stuffed peppers.

Turkish ice cream is also worth mentioning, which is sticky and resistant to melting, and the ice cream vendors will always (especially when they see you’re a foreigner) mess with you before handing you the ice cream.

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