Well, it's official. It's time to go home, and my time in Turkey is finally over. I'm on the plane from Munich to Chicago right now, and since nothing monumental really happened today, I figured I'd take some time to put my final thoughts down on paper.
Turkey was a far different experience from what I thought it would be. Having lived in Europe, international travel is not something that is weird for me. However, being in Turkey definitely made me experience a culture shock that was far greater than anything I had ever felt before.
I guess I'm what you'd call a "westerner." All of my life experience has been in either the United States or western Europe. I never really considered myself culturally insensitive, but I don't think it would be a stretch to say I was culturally ignorant to a degree when it comes to eastern countries, especially Islamic ones. Quite frankly, growing up in Naperville and the US, I didn't really need to be that knowledgable. If there is one thing this trip changed for me, t is exactly that mentality.
When we first arrived in Istanbul, I felt honestly very uncomfortable. People were pushy, the city was confusing, and all the food looked weird. And that's even without the language barrier - I was totally lost. But unfortunately for me, not adapting wasn't really an option. We were in Turkey whether I liked it or not. So, after a few rough meals that were ordered using broken Turkish, English, and everything in between, I couldn't believe it, but I was starting to get used to it. Having a shopkeeper bombard me with questions over apple tea started to become a normality. Hearing the call to prayer at even intervals became as natural as the incessant honking of anything that had a horn. And you know what? I was actually starting to enjoy it.
I always said I loved Europe and Germany because I felt more at home there than I ever did in the US. One thing this trip taught me was that is is indeed possible to enjoy a place even if it is different that what you're used to. Outside of offhand references in history books, I really had no idea this country of such a rich and unique heritage existed. Having been there, I really wonder why it was never higher on my travel list. I may never live in Turkey, or even visit again, but I definitely feel like I have a new appreciation for the eastern culture and its place in the world.
This trip has helped me grow both personally and professionally far more than I ever thought I would. Istanbul may not be Constantinople, but I have learned that it is so much more than a song or any words can describe.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Ephesus
Our joys of no wakeup time were short-lived. We left for Ephesus just after 8 a.m. this morning. Our first stop was at the House of the Virgin Mary, which apparently is a pilgrimmage point for many Christians (I'm Catholic, so that was pretty cool). Next, we drove to the third city of Ephesus, which included many ruins from Greek and Roman times. It was really neat to see how their society functioned, and it was even cooler to see how they figured out all that they know today. After many group shots, we made a quick stop at the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
After coming back to the hotel, we napped and then went out for dinner for the last time. It's definitely going to be weird not seeing all these people for a while - I'm going to miss this place. I'll write more on the plane.
After coming back to the hotel, we napped and then went out for dinner for the last time. It's definitely going to be weird not seeing all these people for a while - I'm going to miss this place. I'll write more on the plane.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Selçuk
Today was our first day without an assigned wakeup time - çok güzel! After a hearty mid-morning breakfast, we headed to the beach on the Aegean Sea. It was BEAUTIFUL. Sand, water, warm sun, mountains, and no corn - pretty much the anti-Illinois. We went in the water, laid out in the sun, typical beach stuff. I think I got burned, but it was definitely worth it. After the beach, we showered, ate, and got ready to watch the final game of the Champions League, which was Manchester United vs. Chelsea. I was rooting for Chelsea, since Michael Ballack of Germany plays for them, but unfortunately they lost :[. You can't have everything, I guess. It was still a great last night in Turkey.
I'm going to miss this place a lot more than I thought.
I'm going to miss this place a lot more than I thought.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Government Presentations
Man, today was busy. We started off by heading to the Ministry of the Treasury to hear presentations on everything from the Turkish economy to accounting methods to risk management strategies. I don't know too much about the government side of finance (even in the USA), so these presentations were definitely very informative; it was kind of difficult to process all of the information at times, though.
After the four presentations, we had a break for tea, and we reconvened to hear a representative from the Ministry of Defense speak about Turkish diplomacy, specifically with regards to Turkish-American relations. We learned all about the history of our strategic alliance, but it was definitely interesting to hear a Turkish perspective on the war in Iraq - although the resolution to allow US troops in Turkey did not pass, it sounds like both countries are starting to understand each other's mutual interests and are taking steps to restore good diplomatic relations. When Brent asked about the AKP, however, the representative declined to comment on the issue; politics is politics, I guess.
After the governmental speakers, we went to lunch at Middle East Technical University, which is where Sibel goes to school. We saw a big of the campus and then went to a "Science Park," which is what Turkey calls its research parks. There were a few corporate presentations, including the administrative copmany and its governmental partner organization, and two technical firms that have rooms in the building. It is interesting to see that a common trend in Turkish business is maintaining a competitive edge, especially through emphasis on research and development. Many of the technical firms also do a lot of work for the government, which is also a bit different from the United States.
Once we ate dinner, it was back to the government building for our meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade. I was surprised to learn that he was actually an alumnus of the University of Illinois, and that Professor Leblebici had taught him. He offered some interesting insights into Turkey's future as both a European and Asian trade partner. I was surprised to learn how much more Turkey exports than many present member states of the European Union, and that seems to be a big plus for the country.
After all this, we still had a flight to catch! Go figure. At 11:40 p.m., we left Ankara for Izmir, and then drove by bus to Selçuk. After an eighteen-hour day, we were exhausted, and immediately after arriving at our hotel, I was out like a light.
After the four presentations, we had a break for tea, and we reconvened to hear a representative from the Ministry of Defense speak about Turkish diplomacy, specifically with regards to Turkish-American relations. We learned all about the history of our strategic alliance, but it was definitely interesting to hear a Turkish perspective on the war in Iraq - although the resolution to allow US troops in Turkey did not pass, it sounds like both countries are starting to understand each other's mutual interests and are taking steps to restore good diplomatic relations. When Brent asked about the AKP, however, the representative declined to comment on the issue; politics is politics, I guess.
After the governmental speakers, we went to lunch at Middle East Technical University, which is where Sibel goes to school. We saw a big of the campus and then went to a "Science Park," which is what Turkey calls its research parks. There were a few corporate presentations, including the administrative copmany and its governmental partner organization, and two technical firms that have rooms in the building. It is interesting to see that a common trend in Turkish business is maintaining a competitive edge, especially through emphasis on research and development. Many of the technical firms also do a lot of work for the government, which is also a bit different from the United States.
Once we ate dinner, it was back to the government building for our meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade. I was surprised to learn that he was actually an alumnus of the University of Illinois, and that Professor Leblebici had taught him. He offered some interesting insights into Turkey's future as both a European and Asian trade partner. I was surprised to learn how much more Turkey exports than many present member states of the European Union, and that seems to be a big plus for the country.
After all this, we still had a flight to catch! Go figure. At 11:40 p.m., we left Ankara for Izmir, and then drove by bus to Selçuk. After an eighteen-hour day, we were exhausted, and immediately after arriving at our hotel, I was out like a light.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Atatürk Youth & Sports Day
Day one in Ankara! Today was a huge rush of Turkish culture - it was Atatürk Youth and Sports Day. We went to a soccer stadium where we saw everything from marching bands to volleyball players. For about three hours, tons of little kids and teenagers danced and played sports on the field. There was also a card-holding section that put Block I to shame, frankly. I found it interesting that Atatürk created this holiday not to commemorate his start of the war for independence, but rather the future of the country. All over the city there were pictures of Atatürk and Turkish flags - it was like a more intense 4th of July.
Speaking of Atatürk, we went to visit his Mausoleum after the celebrations - it's very apparent that he is extremely important to the people of Turkey. Since it was Youth and Sports Day, there were tons of people there, as well as a really cool display of flowers in the form of a Turkish flag.
For lunch, we went to a little shop on the street that sold Döner Tavuk, and it was dirt cheap, so we were happy. After a quick catnap, we went to dinner at a place called Vitamin, and then walked around a little more. At night, we went back to the same bar as the night before to celebrate Brock's birthday at midnight, which was really fun. We got home before it got too late, though, because we knew we had a very big day ahead of us.
Speaking of Atatürk, we went to visit his Mausoleum after the celebrations - it's very apparent that he is extremely important to the people of Turkey. Since it was Youth and Sports Day, there were tons of people there, as well as a really cool display of flowers in the form of a Turkish flag.
For lunch, we went to a little shop on the street that sold Döner Tavuk, and it was dirt cheap, so we were happy. After a quick catnap, we went to dinner at a place called Vitamin, and then walked around a little more. At night, we went back to the same bar as the night before to celebrate Brock's birthday at midnight, which was really fun. We got home before it got too late, though, because we knew we had a very big day ahead of us.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Travel Day to Ankara
Today was also pretty low-key. After a seven-hour bus ride from Istanbul to Ankara, we met up with Sibel, Professor Leblebici's and Yontz's daughter. We all went to a great Turkish restaurant right around the corner from our hotel (which was very nice, by the way). Then she took us to a cool bar in the city where we met a few of her friends, including a guy who is originally from Germany. We talked a bit about college life in Europe/Asia, and found that there are definitely more similarities than differences. So far, Ankara doesn't seem quite as busy as Istanbul, but we'll see - it could still be promising.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Sightseeing in Istanbul
Today was a pretty low-key day. We started off with a really cool boat trip on the Bosphorous, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. We got dropped off at the Haghia Sophia, where Professor Hedeman gave us a quasi-tour of the mosaics. Having her explain everything definitely made me appreciate its grandeur a lot more.
For lunch we ate at a little cafe by the Blue Mosque, and then we headed to the Grand Bazaar. One of my friends wanted a purple headscarf, so it was time to bargain. After about an hour of chatting, modeling, and apple tea, Lucas, Heather, and I left with multiple scarves at 10 YTL each. Not bad, if you ask me.
After sleeping through dinner (whoops!), we all headed to Taksim for our last night in Istanbul. We found a club called Babylon, but I didn't really want to pay 25 YTL for cover, so Heather, Bryan, and I decided to walk around Istanbul. We saw a few good sights, but we were pretty tired, so we went to bed pretty early.
For lunch we ate at a little cafe by the Blue Mosque, and then we headed to the Grand Bazaar. One of my friends wanted a purple headscarf, so it was time to bargain. After about an hour of chatting, modeling, and apple tea, Lucas, Heather, and I left with multiple scarves at 10 YTL each. Not bad, if you ask me.
After sleeping through dinner (whoops!), we all headed to Taksim for our last night in Istanbul. We found a club called Babylon, but I didn't really want to pay 25 YTL for cover, so Heather, Bryan, and I decided to walk around Istanbul. We saw a few good sights, but we were pretty tired, so we went to bed pretty early.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Corporate Visits in Istanbul
Today was our last day of corporate visits in Istanbul. We started off the day by going to Sabancı Holding Company, one of the largest companies in Turkey. First, the Chief Economist talked to us about Turkish economics in general, followed by one of the Chief Straegy Officers, who detailed the major companies that Sabancı holds. It was interesting to see how the major sectors of Sabancı are also the main areas of activity in the Turkish economy; banking and finance are definitely the major areas of economic growth.
After lunch in this little touristy area on the Bosphorous, we went to Kagider, which is the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey. There we heard a presentation about the growing interest in entrepreneurship in Turkey, and how people are trying to get women more involved in this growing trend. The president, Gülseren Onanç, was a manager of pharmaceutical sales in the Soviet Union before her involvement with the association. However, I found it interesting that in addition to entrepreneurs, women who were daughters of famous CEOs (like AKBANK) were also members. She also talked about services the association offers, like business incubation and consulting.
For dinner we went to Sultanahmet, and then Shaistah and I went to a Turkish bath in Chamberlitaş, which was quite an experience. I got an intense massage where this Turkish guy rubbed off a TON of dead skin - it was very weird. Afterwards my body felt so smooth, though. After that, I went to a little restaurant in Taksim with Mike, Maggie, and Tiffany, where we had a few drinks and just people-watched for a while. All in all, another busy yet satisfying day.
After lunch in this little touristy area on the Bosphorous, we went to Kagider, which is the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey. There we heard a presentation about the growing interest in entrepreneurship in Turkey, and how people are trying to get women more involved in this growing trend. The president, Gülseren Onanç, was a manager of pharmaceutical sales in the Soviet Union before her involvement with the association. However, I found it interesting that in addition to entrepreneurs, women who were daughters of famous CEOs (like AKBANK) were also members. She also talked about services the association offers, like business incubation and consulting.
For dinner we went to Sultanahmet, and then Shaistah and I went to a Turkish bath in Chamberlitaş, which was quite an experience. I got an intense massage where this Turkish guy rubbed off a TON of dead skin - it was very weird. Afterwards my body felt so smooth, though. After that, I went to a little restaurant in Taksim with Mike, Maggie, and Tiffany, where we had a few drinks and just people-watched for a while. All in all, another busy yet satisfying day.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sabancı University/CNN Türk
Today was another early day; we were at Sabancı University by 10 a.m., and it was a long drive to Asia. Seeing a Turkish university was quite an eye-opening experience. We sat in on an organizational management class, which was really similar to BADM 310 at Illinois. One of the most striking thinkgs about the university was that all of the classes were in English, not just business classes. We learned that admission to a Turkish university is based almost exclusively on an entrance exam, which is very different from the US. One of the students I met actually studied at the Wirschaftsuniversität Wien, which is where I plan to study abroad next spring. Small world, eh?
After lunch with the Turkish students, we drove back to Europe to CNN Türk, which was very similar to the CNN studio in Atlanta. It was cool to see how the studio functions, especially regarding foreign news in multiple languages. We also saw a live taping of a talk show, as well as many empty studios.
After CNN Türk, we had all planned to see the inside of the Haghia Sophia, but it ended up being closed when we got there. Instead, a few of us went to dinner at the Green Market, which was a very nice outdoor restaurant right near the Sultanahmet train stop (and it was cheap, too!). We stayed there for a while and talked, and then walked around the alleyways near the Blue Mosque, where we found another small restaurant owned by a guy named Friday. There we had a drink and listened to his stories of serving in the military and flying to Chicago for a while. After riding the tram and the funicular back to the hotel, we were all dead tired, so we went to bed.
Today was a good example of how relationships are just as important (if not more) than the exchange; makes you wonder if we shouldn't change our own idea of business in the states.
After lunch with the Turkish students, we drove back to Europe to CNN Türk, which was very similar to the CNN studio in Atlanta. It was cool to see how the studio functions, especially regarding foreign news in multiple languages. We also saw a live taping of a talk show, as well as many empty studios.
After CNN Türk, we had all planned to see the inside of the Haghia Sophia, but it ended up being closed when we got there. Instead, a few of us went to dinner at the Green Market, which was a very nice outdoor restaurant right near the Sultanahmet train stop (and it was cheap, too!). We stayed there for a while and talked, and then walked around the alleyways near the Blue Mosque, where we found another small restaurant owned by a guy named Friday. There we had a drink and listened to his stories of serving in the military and flying to Chicago for a while. After riding the tram and the funicular back to the hotel, we were all dead tired, so we went to bed.
Today was a good example of how relationships are just as important (if not more) than the exchange; makes you wonder if we shouldn't change our own idea of business in the states.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Istanbul: Day 1
Today was our first full day in Istanbul. At the beginning of the day, we took the bus to Şişecam Glass Company, which is also the parent company of Paşabahçe, a reatail brand of glassware that is the third largest producer in the world (behind Arc in France and Libbey in the United States). It was interesting to see how such a specific company can realize such a good profit margin, and how much business they did with other eastern countries like Iran.
After the glass company and lunch at the Kanyon Mall, we went to a yacht company called Yon-tech, which was a really cool experience. The copmany started in 1986, and has grown to a major competitor, especially with regards to military clients. The two founders of the company are an engineer and an entrepreneur who believe in maintaining a competitive edge by "learning faster than the competition," which is an interesting take on the notion in economics that short-run profits can be realized through innovations in technology. He also told a powerful story about the death of his son and how he was able to overcome such an obstacle in his enterprise. We definitely got a sense of Turkey's nationalism through his pride in his military projects. We got to see some of these projects, as well as some neat car molds he was working on; that seemed to be his hobby.
After the two corporate visits, we went to the Grand Bazaar, which was quite an experience. It reminded me of the international marketplace I went to once in Hawaii where you could bargain for the stuff you wanted to buy. I got a magnet for my parents and some postcards, but they were selling pretty much everything there. We took a long route back to the bus stop, and at night we ended up at a club featuring a live Turkish band named Pickpocket. After seeing them and wishing Maggie a happy birthday at midnight, we went home and went to bed - all in a day's work.
After the glass company and lunch at the Kanyon Mall, we went to a yacht company called Yon-tech, which was a really cool experience. The copmany started in 1986, and has grown to a major competitor, especially with regards to military clients. The two founders of the company are an engineer and an entrepreneur who believe in maintaining a competitive edge by "learning faster than the competition," which is an interesting take on the notion in economics that short-run profits can be realized through innovations in technology. He also told a powerful story about the death of his son and how he was able to overcome such an obstacle in his enterprise. We definitely got a sense of Turkey's nationalism through his pride in his military projects. We got to see some of these projects, as well as some neat car molds he was working on; that seemed to be his hobby.
After the two corporate visits, we went to the Grand Bazaar, which was quite an experience. It reminded me of the international marketplace I went to once in Hawaii where you could bargain for the stuff you wanted to buy. I got a magnet for my parents and some postcards, but they were selling pretty much everything there. We took a long route back to the bus stop, and at night we ended up at a club featuring a live Turkish band named Pickpocket. After seeing them and wishing Maggie a happy birthday at midnight, we went home and went to bed - all in a day's work.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Arrival in Istanbul
Today was the second half of our "travel day," which ended up lasting until about 2:30 p.m. today. When we got to the hotel, we checked in and went to Taksim, the major shop street in Istanbul. It reminded me of a Fußgängerzone, or pedestrian-only zone in Germany. However, cars also drove on it, which was a bit weird. We got some money and went to the Blue Mosque and the Haghia Sophia, which were absolutely amazing. I had never been to a mosque before, and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) was simply breathtaking. We heard the call to prayer around 5:30 p.m., and while we waited, Professor Leblebici and Professor Yontz took us to a little cafe where they served fresh-squeezed orange juice (there were even seeds!) and Mike, Lucas, and I talked to them about Turkey in general.
After that, we went to an alley of shops called the Rasta Bazaar while we waited for the professors to recommend a restaurant for dinner. We ended up going to a great place called Tamara, which specialized in Kebobs. I got grilled meatballs, but what I really liked was the rice, actually. It was very reasonably priced, especially considering the favorable exchange rate of the US dollar against the Turkish Lira. After dinner, we took the tram to Karabaş, and then the funicular (underground tram) to the Taksim stop to walk back to the Hotel Villa. We were all really tired, but I went with Allison, Lucas, Varun, and James around Taksim for a while to see what all was open. We stopped at a grocery store and then went back to the hotel around 9:30 to go to bed - we were beat.
After that, we went to an alley of shops called the Rasta Bazaar while we waited for the professors to recommend a restaurant for dinner. We ended up going to a great place called Tamara, which specialized in Kebobs. I got grilled meatballs, but what I really liked was the rice, actually. It was very reasonably priced, especially considering the favorable exchange rate of the US dollar against the Turkish Lira. After dinner, we took the tram to Karabaş, and then the funicular (underground tram) to the Taksim stop to walk back to the Hotel Villa. We were all really tired, but I went with Allison, Lucas, Varun, and James around Taksim for a while to see what all was open. We stopped at a grocery store and then went back to the hotel around 9:30 to go to bed - we were beat.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Flight to Turkey
Today was our major travel day. We also have to travel through Tuesday because of the time difference, but there is a possibility we will do some sightseeing, so I'll write a separate entry. Traffic on the way to the airport was pretty bad, but seeing all my business honors friends (BizHos) made it instantly worth it. Our flight to Munich was pretty painless; I spoke German with the flight attendants, and the rest of the time I was pretty much out cold. In the Munich airport I bought Dean Hedeman and his wife Kinderüberraschungseier, which are not allowed in the US, so I did my part to spread at least a little German culture on my way to Istanbul. Right now I am on the plane from Istanbul to Munich, and all is well. I'll write more once Tuesday officially ends.
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