Exchange in Istanbul: University starts

Almost 2 weeks since I last wrote and again many things has happened during that time. So my time in Fatih University started on on lovely Tuesday morning.  I was supposed to meet my friend Nora at Mecidiyeköy metro station and travel together to the university but somehow we missed each other and ended up traveling alone until we met in Avcılar. The trip to the university is quite experience for me. The traveling time is exactly 2 houra for me. I first take metro from Taksim to Mecidiyeköy and then metrobus from Mecidiyeköy to Avcılar where I change to other metrobus to TÜYAP. And from TÜYAP there is fre shuttle bus to the university. But we didn't know this shuttle bus possibility on first day so we took local bus from Avcılar to the university. That bus was the most crowded I've ever been in but we met some other exchange students in it who were also coming to Fatih. Thankfully the bus was getting less crowded during the trip and I even got a seat.

When we arrived to the university we had orientation presentation where told us all the important information for example about registrations. It was also nice finally to meet other exchange students. Otherwise nothing much happened during that day but me, Nora and other girl went to see if we could get student travel cards already but unfortunately the office was already closed. Next day we had tour at Istiklal Caddesi which was very short. Some of us went for tea and nargile and it was really nice time to get know each other. In the evening few of us went to watch football match together in a bar. It was very nice to see Turkish fans' reactions during the game but unfortunately the local team Galatasaray lost against Manchester United.

On Thursday we were supposed to have a tour in the newspaper called Today's Zamaan but it was cancelled so the day was free. But in the evening there was first official Erasmus party which I took part. I met first with my Finnish friend Arttu and with other exchange students Bence and Tomas and we went to have beers under the Galata Tower which is great spot for having beers if it's not closed by the police like it sometimes is. Me and Arttu's friend Inka had time between her flights in Istanbul and she joined us for the party. It was crazy night and thankfully the next day was free also.

On Saturday we had tour with all the exchange students around Sultanahmet area where is located all the famous landmarks of Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. We visited them quite quickly but I will go there some day again on my own because I have now card which allows students enter for free. In the evening I had party with Arttu, Bence, Bence's girlfriend who came for visit and 3 Korean exchange students.

So first week was quite party oriented but on the second week the courses started. Everybody was saying before I came to Turkey and also in here that the lessons are not going to in English and education in Fatih is horrible conservative. After first week I know this true on some courses but thankfully not in the ones I am. All my teachers are not from Turkey originally so they speak good English and not Turkish at all (except for my Turkish language teacher). I have courses from many different years and the ones which are meant to for second or third year students feel like high school classes in Finland. Teacher has to remind students to be quiet and sit still. I could maybe understand this if the students would be 18-year-olds but they are 20 or over. But I also have to say that Turkish students are really friendly and helpful and interested in exchange students. I have enjoyed a lot talking with them but unfortunately most of them are shy to use English eventhough they're studying in that language! I have one sociology class where to teaching is totally different. Every student speaks good English and the subjects of the course are on the level I'm expecting the university courses to be.

So I would rate Fatih University positively at the moment. Teachers and students are really nice and classes seem to be interesting. Some negative things are that staff of the university doesn't speak English at all which makes you rely on the help of the other students all the time when you're trying to take copies in copy center or buying food in the canteen. And I don't get pricing system in the canteen yet. And the traveling time to the university but that is my own choice basically. Funny thing about the university campus is that you can find everything from there. There is supermarket, book store, 2 hair saloons (one for men, one for women), post office, fast food restaurant and many cafés. Also there is really nice view from the university to the Lake Büyükçekmece because it is located in top of the hill.

After the first week we Erasmus students decided to relax together at Galata Tower but unfortunately police had closed it that night. We then found good spot in a park in Kabataş where you could see the Asian side in it's night lights and the Bosphorus Bridge with it's light show. It was again crazy night and while writing this I'm still recovering from it. It is interesting to see what the next months will bring with them, especially when the weather starts to get colder because it is still very warm and even hot if the sun is shining from clear sky.

Exchange in Istanbul: Princes' Islands & getting apartment

A lot has happened since I last time wrote this blog. I had little over week long trip around Turkey but I'm going to write about that later. I'm now back in Istanbul and university should start next week. I rented a room right next to Taksim Square which was not my original plan. But I will write more about that later in this blog.

Before I left for my trip to central and south Turkey I spent sunny Saturday with Can on Princes' Islands which are located right in front of Istanbul on Sea of Marmara. We took a boat from Bostancı towards the islands. We were supposed to go on Büyükada which is the biggest island but Can mixed the islands and we ended up first on the island of Heybeliada. We first checked how we can go to Büyükada and because there was some time until next boat leaves we walked around the village of Heybeliada. The village is small but full of beautiful wooden houses. Cars are not allowed on these islands so it's easy to walk around. Horse carriages cause sometimes troubles though. After the walk it was time to have a short boat trip to Büyükada.

At Büyükada we met Can's friend Yusuf whose family owns a house on the island. We had first quick snack which was kokoreç, bread with lamb intestines. Good thing was that I didn't know what I was eating but it was bad anyway. Spices were good though. We then rented bikes eventhough I was quite suspicious of that first because I have bad experiences with them. And the island is very hilly. And the first bike I got broke down soon after I jumped on it. Next bike also had some problems but we fixed them and then it was time for bike trip. Route was surprisingly easy because it was mostly downhill on the way where we were going. The roads were lined with very beautiful villas but it was hard to marvel at them when you had to look that you don't hit tourist or horse or chickens. At one point villas ended and we cycled through pine forest. Soon we were at the middle point of our trip, a bicycle park at the bottom of the tallest hill on the island. We left our bikes there and then started to walk towards the top of the hill. The hill is very steep and the walk took at least 30 minutes. Thankfully there is one point where you can fill your water bottles by the path. Towards the top wind was also blowing harder which gave some relief. Finally at the top we visited the small monastery of St. George, established by Greek Orthodoxs. Then we had dinner at the restaurant which was located next to the monastery and had nice views towards Istanbul's eastern districts or on the other side towards Sea of Marmara. After dinner we walked down the hill and then cycled back to the village of Büyükada where we started the bike trip. Sun was setting down when we entered the boat and it was dark already when we arrived to Bostancı.

Next day I planned my trip to Anatolian Turkey and went to buy bus ticket and new smallet bag for the trip. I found very good one for very cheap! And then on Monday it was time for trip but more about that on other blog post.

When I returned from my trip I picked up my luggage from Can's home and then I moved to Chillout Hostel in the centre of the city at İstiklal Caddesi and in the hostel I met my Finnish friend Arttu who is also coming to study at Fatih University. Together we decided that it's not probably good idea to go living in university dormitories so we started quickly to find rooms for us. After sending some emails we went to see some apartments. All of them were very nice but unfortunately from the more expensive side of the price range. I however decided to take one room right next to Taksim Square. It is quite expensive on Turkish prices but affordable. And the location is amazing, near all the important places, except Fatih University :D Arttu decided to try university dormitories for some time and I went with him to see the dormitories. As soon as we arrived there I was sure I had made right decision to stay in the centre of the city. The neighbourhood where the dormitories were located was quite unfriendly looking and it was still 30 minutes from the university. After saying goodbye to Arttu and to other exchange student from Hungary which I met at the dormitories I took some very slow bus back to Taksim. After arriving back to centre I went to hostel, took my stuff and moved to my new room and now I have happily lived here for one day :) As I have lived alone in Helsinki it takes me for some time to get used to have a room mate but Ehad, my room mate, seems to be very relaxed and friendly person.