Erasmus+ Programı KA107 Uluslararası Kredi Hareketliliği Kapsamında 2022/2023 Akademik Yılı Bahar Dönemini Üniversitemizde değişim öğrencisi olarak geçiren, Daffodil International University (Bangladeş), Bilgisayar Bilimleri ve Mühendisliği Bölümü, 4. sınıf öğrencisi Dewan Babri Bristy’nin kaleminden Erasmus+ süreci, kazanılan deneyimler ve programdan yaralanmak isteyen öğrencilere tavsiyeler…
This is Dewan Babri Bristy, a final-year student from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, at Daffodil International University (DIU). Recently I completed one semester (Spring 2022) at Iskenderun Technical University, Turkey; as an exchange student under the ERASMUS+KA107 Exchange Student program.
I am really glad to have the opportunity to express my gratitude to my university as our university is constantly doing everything to keep pace with the current needs of the world. It goes without saying, I am here because DIU that gave me the opportunity to apply and get a fully funded scholarship to study at a public university in Turkey. I would like to pay my gratitude to my beloved university and also to my department, because without their help and encouragement I wouldn’t have been here.
The motive for choosing abroad
When I was a first-year student at my university I came to know about the ERASMUS student exchange program from one of my seniors. He shared his experience and all the things he learned from there. From that day I was adamant about the ERASMUS student exchange program. As I was nearing the end of my graduation, I wanted to have some good experience before it was done and over. And when I learned about ERASMUS+KA107 student exchange program via Daffodil International University International Affairs, I put my name forward as quickly as possible. I was really excited to venture outside of Bangladesh, and combining my education with living in a new country seemed like the ultimate learning experience.
The best parts of being an international student in the Republic of Turkey
I was so excited to live and study in such a country that has breathtaking scenery, fascinating history, intricate architecture, lovely people, and the best shopping in all of Europe, just to name a few. I had a great interest in the culture, history, food and lifestyle of Turkey. I was fascinated to experience that firsthand. I got to see many historical sites like Saint Pierre Church, Payas Sokullu Mehmet Paşa Külliyesi, Hatay Archeology Museum, Habib-I-Neccar-Cami, Mar Yuhanna Kilisesi and so on. It overwhelmed me with lots of emotions and I made great memories. At first, we faced some difficulties in understanding Turkish language and communicating with people was so hard for us. We had to act to communicate with people and sometimes we used a translator. But soon we made some amazing friends who helped us a lot there. In our university students and teachers were very helpful and friendly with us and they made everything easier for us. We had a group of Turkish friends and we always went out together. The food was very delicious; especially the world-famous baklava and Kunefe. The food delivery system was so amazing, no matter where you are if you order the food it will come to you anyway. Public transport was very convenient but we didn't use it a lot because we were in Iskenderun, which is not a big city and everything was within walking distance.
The opportunity to make friends from around the world and the possibility to share my experience with other foreign students may have been the greatest joy of all. We quickly developed a sense of belonging to a thriving multinational society, and experienced a lot of new things. Every break from studying offered the chance to check out a brand-new museum, café, eatery, market, park, or historical place. Though I didn't get a chance to visit a lot of popular cities as I said, I had an amazing group of friends. We always went out and explored new places near the city. We learned a lot from each other. Sometimes they invited us to their home and from there we got to meet their family. We got to see the traditional Turkish household and experienced their amazing hospitality.
Study in the Republic of Turkey
Iskenderun Technical University's student life was active and varied both within and outside of the classroom. The teachers were incredibly supportive and friendly. From the first day, they were helpful to us, not just in academics but also with the difficulties we faced adapting to a new place. I got to learn a lot about my subject from a unique perspective. Getting used to the various evaluation techniques and teaching philosophies in each session was difficult, but overall, it was a really gratifying experience. They constantly put more and more emphasis on gaining valuable presenting abilities. Even the university had a lot of facilities for students to utilize their leisure time properly. Turkish people are so hospitable and friendly that wherever I go now I can proudly say to everyone that I have a family in Turkey who are more than my friends like Irem, Leyla UYAR, İlker Can, Buğra, Asma, Tuğçe YAKAR, Alperen Selimler, Loran and many more. It would have been much more difficult for me if Iskenderun Technical University International Office was not with me. Whenever I faced any problem, they were always there for me. Thank you ISTE International Office.
Impact of studying abroad on me and my career
As I always wanted to go abroad for my higher studies so I thought this would be a wonderful experience for me that will help me in the future. I also have a newfound respect for other languages and the value of communication. I've started putting the abilities and information I acquired during my five months in Turkey to use since returning to Bangladesh!
Advice for students who are considering studying in Turkey or other countries
Be ready for all types of weather, and don't get discouraged if you can't speak Turkish very well. You will discover that the majority of Turks are proud of how difficult it is and don't anticipate foreigners to try it. However, learning the fundamentals and utilizing a few Turkish phrases in daily conversation is valuable and will probably make any local you encounter smile!
To have a multicultural perspective on life and to have a broader understanding of information, attitude, and thinking abilities, I personally advise everyone to travel abroad at least once while they are still students. Because I believe in “Explore more, know more.”
I have thoroughly loved my time there and have had the great opportunity of staying and studying with folks from many nations. The most significant lesson I've learned is that there is a world outside of our own, and we need to explore it in order to extend our perspective.
I will kindly ask my juniors to submit applications for courses like Erasmus, and other programs. This, I assure you, will be your finest chance to discover other cultures and take advantage of a pristine environment.
To obtain such a scholarship, I would urge my friends and classmates to focus on four things: Develop their networking and communication skills, try to take part in extracurricular activities, try to explore themselves, and always try to be connected with DIU International Affairs.
The International Affairs of DIU and İskenderun Teknik Üniversitesi always bring these golden opportunities for students.
Don't hesitate to apply and seize the chance to study abroad!
