Erasmus Experience in Istanbul, Turkey by tiffany

Why did you choose to go to Istanbul, Turkey?

I have been to Turkey many many times before. Not only on holiday but also to visit friends of my parents who moved 10 years ago to Turkey. Over these years, I have decided that I would like to work and live in Turkey after my study. Doing a study abroad in Istanbul would help me to get to know the language, but that is not the only reason. Turkish people are really friendly and I absolutely love the culture.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I receive an Erasmus grant and my study finance and that is enough to help with living costs. Turkey is a really cheap country. I pay around 280 euro's for rent and maybe 35 euro's per week for food etc.

What is the student lifestyle like in Istanbul?

In the neighborhood where I live there are many buildings full of Erasmus students, which makes sure that all nights are really nice. If you are studying on the Asian side, the best place to live will be Kadiköy. Most Erasmus students live over there and it is easy to go to the European side and go out there at night.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Istanbul to other students?

Even though Istanbul is completely different from the other places I have seen in Turkey, I would still recommend it. The city is so modern and big that every time you find out about new places. Also, Yeditepe University is a large university. There are 18.000 students who study in this school and most of them are really nice and helpful.

What is the food like?

The food is cheap and really good. Especially we Dutch people don't care about food, as long as it is easy and fast. Within the Turkish culture, food is very very important. Often you can be invited by Turkish families to have breakfast or dinner with them and those are really delicious. The Turkish kitchen has a huge variety, so for everyone, there is something good to eat.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Istanbul?

I found my accommodation via a friend of mine and of course if you need any help with finding accommodation you can always contact me because it is easier to arrange things from the inside out.

How much does it cost to live in Istanbul?

As I have mentioned before, Istanbul is really really cheap. I pay 280 euros for my accommodation and that is one of the most expensive places because I wanted a big room with my own shower and toilet.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

The language is a whole different thing. I am really good at learning languages (I knew 5 already before starting Turkish), but Turkish is very very very difficult to learn. It seems like there is no logic haha. Fortunately, there are a lot of Turkish people willing to help you out when having any problems and especially the younger generation knows how to speak English very well (even though sometimes they pretend not to).

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Istanbul from your city?

From the Netherlands, I traveled by plane, because there is no other easy way of transportation. Within the city of Istanbul, you can travel everywhere with your Istanbul Card or your student transportation card. It is like 1 TL (which is 0.40 cents) to travel wherever you want to go. You can take the bus, ferry, and metro, whatever you want!

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Istanbul?

I would recommend going to Taksim (especially Beat Club). There are also a few nice clubs near the Bosphorus, but if you want to go out there, make sure you bring enough money. In Taksim everything is relatively cheap, only alcohol in Turkey is a bit more expensive.

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And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Istanbul?

I have been eating in a lot of different restaurants and the best one I found till now is Happy Moon's (or something) located on Bagdat Street in Bostanci. They have a really varied menu and a really friendly staff.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Well, the old city centre (Sultanahmet) is full of cultural activities and sites, but also some can be found on the European side. I give you one tip and that is to make Turkish friends. Turkish people can tell you about and show you the most beautiful places of Istanbul, where most tourists don't even know about.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Istanbul in the future?

Don't be afraid of different cultures, if you are, then don't go to Istanbul. People will stare at you because you are different, most of them (especially on the Asian side) have never seen tourists before. If you cannot handle this, or you have a hard time adjusting, then don't come here, because I have noticed that these people do not fit in here, don't feel at home, and can feel really homesick.

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