Unusual year in Turkey
WHY DID I CHOOSE TO DO ERASMUS IN IZMIR?
Beacause I study International relations and European studies and Turkey is the most controverse candidate country ever. That would be official reason however there were also some personal ones like girlfriend, weather etc.
HOW LONG IS THE SCHOLARSHIP? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU RECEIVE TO HELP YOU WITH LIVING COSTS?
I got 350euro per month which is not enough at all. Real expenditures are 500euro per month if you dont party too much.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE CITY AND EGE UNIVERSITY TO OTHER STUDENTS?
Izmir is quite nice city, people are easy going and nothing is problem. At least you ll hear that very often and it is true if you are not in a hurry. My biggest problem here was that Turks have always enough time. If you arrange a appointment dont bother to be on time. Transportation is quite horrible fortunately I am lucky enough to live next to metro station and Ege uni is next to another station. Bus transportation is really "great" experience. I fainted 2 times while traveling by 40years old bus without air-conditioning. Thanks God bus was really crowded so I could fall down:) So, no buses in summer!
WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
Generally? Meatless! Prices of read meat are insane! 25TL/kg and more. But I really enjoy Durum - everyone should try. You can buy cheap vegetable in farmers markets once a week but youmust find yout which day it is in your area.
HOW DID I FIND YOUR ACCOMMODATION?
With other students. If you arrive during first two weeks of September there are hundreds of free apartments in Bornova.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATION PRICES LIKE? WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE FOR OTHER THINGS IN GENERAL?
Dormitory was expensive - 350TL for dhared room. So i quit after first month and moved into apartment with other students. I got single room for 270TL bills included!
IS THE LANGUAGE EASY TO GET TO GRIPS WITH? ARE THERE LANGUAGE COURSES AVAILABLE IN THE UNIVERSITY?
Yeah, I find Turkish quite easy. Fortunately Ege uni didnt open Turkish course because teacher got pregnant. But I remeber something from EILC (Nevsehir). Btw, EILC was the best part of Erasmus so far. One month of studzing Turkish, traveling, accomodation and food for 500TL! Nevsehir universitesi 10/10:-)
WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO GO ON A NIGHT OUT?
Nowhere, I am from the Czech republic the country where beer is for 1euro, bottle of vodka for 4euro (1 shot of vodka for this price). Prices here are 4times higher:-)
AND FOR EATING? CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME GOOD RESTAURANTS?
In Kucuk Park at the main square there is a small restaurant with red chairs. I eat there everytime I go to school. Their Durum is perfect.
WHAT GOOD CULTURAL SITES ARE THERE TO VISIT?
Do not wanna judge this city because I am from Prague which is one of the most beautiful citis ever.... However, there are tons of sightseeings around Izmir (100km).
IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO FUTURE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO IZMIR?
Do you party hard? Take extra cash. Do you need steaks? Do not go. Would you like to improve your English? Haha, do not go. YOu cant imrpove here. I think my english got worse because no Erasmus student can speak english fluently. Turkish students cant speak at all. So you wont bother to think about grammer after few weeks.
IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR IN TURKEY. WOULD YOU GO?
Yes, yes, yes!
OVERALL RATING OF MY ERASMUS IN TURKEY = 90%
OVERALL RATING OF MY ERASMUS IN IZMIR = 75%
Beacause I study International relations and European studies and Turkey is the most controverse candidate country ever. That would be official reason however there were also some personal ones like girlfriend, weather etc.
HOW LONG IS THE SCHOLARSHIP? HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU RECEIVE TO HELP YOU WITH LIVING COSTS?
I got 350euro per month which is not enough at all. Real expenditures are 500euro per month if you dont party too much.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE CITY AND EGE UNIVERSITY TO OTHER STUDENTS?
Izmir is quite nice city, people are easy going and nothing is problem. At least you ll hear that very often and it is true if you are not in a hurry. My biggest problem here was that Turks have always enough time. If you arrange a appointment dont bother to be on time. Transportation is quite horrible fortunately I am lucky enough to live next to metro station and Ege uni is next to another station. Bus transportation is really "great" experience. I fainted 2 times while traveling by 40years old bus without air-conditioning. Thanks God bus was really crowded so I could fall down:) So, no buses in summer!
WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
Generally? Meatless! Prices of read meat are insane! 25TL/kg and more. But I really enjoy Durum - everyone should try. You can buy cheap vegetable in farmers markets once a week but youmust find yout which day it is in your area.
HOW DID I FIND YOUR ACCOMMODATION?
With other students. If you arrive during first two weeks of September there are hundreds of free apartments in Bornova.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATION PRICES LIKE? WHAT ARE PRICES LIKE FOR OTHER THINGS IN GENERAL?
Dormitory was expensive - 350TL for dhared room. So i quit after first month and moved into apartment with other students. I got single room for 270TL bills included!
IS THE LANGUAGE EASY TO GET TO GRIPS WITH? ARE THERE LANGUAGE COURSES AVAILABLE IN THE UNIVERSITY?
Yeah, I find Turkish quite easy. Fortunately Ege uni didnt open Turkish course because teacher got pregnant. But I remeber something from EILC (Nevsehir). Btw, EILC was the best part of Erasmus so far. One month of studzing Turkish, traveling, accomodation and food for 500TL! Nevsehir universitesi 10/10:-)
WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO GO ON A NIGHT OUT?
Nowhere, I am from the Czech republic the country where beer is for 1euro, bottle of vodka for 4euro (1 shot of vodka for this price). Prices here are 4times higher:-)
AND FOR EATING? CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME GOOD RESTAURANTS?
In Kucuk Park at the main square there is a small restaurant with red chairs. I eat there everytime I go to school. Their Durum is perfect.
WHAT GOOD CULTURAL SITES ARE THERE TO VISIT?
Do not wanna judge this city because I am from Prague which is one of the most beautiful citis ever.... However, there are tons of sightseeings around Izmir (100km).
IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO FUTURE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO IZMIR?
Do you party hard? Take extra cash. Do you need steaks? Do not go. Would you like to improve your English? Haha, do not go. YOu cant imrpove here. I think my english got worse because no Erasmus student can speak english fluently. Turkish students cant speak at all. So you wont bother to think about grammer after few weeks.
IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ANOTHER YEAR IN TURKEY. WOULD YOU GO?
Yes, yes, yes!
OVERALL RATING OF MY ERASMUS IN TURKEY = 90%
OVERALL RATING OF MY ERASMUS IN IZMIR = 75%
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Comments (1 comments)
Ahoj. Ja mám ísť teraz do Izmiru na Yasar od Septembra do Januára. Celkom ma potešil Tvoj uprímný článok, no trochu i vystrašil. ;) Ty si býval v oblasti Bornova? A nemáš tam nejaký kontakt na to ubytovanie? Ďakujem :)