Page 98 - KÜLTÜR ATÖLYESİ III

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multiplicity of cultures, religions and
the huge variety of views on politics
caused a lot of discussions but also
mental growth.

I remember the typical day in the
student house. If there was no
university we started the day very
late, because of the long previous
night. After waking up at noon,
“Ismail abi”, a shop owner in our
street supplied us with good “yarim
ekmek” for a reasonable price. We
had a small terrace where we ate our
breakfast when the sun was shining,
unfortunately it was not very often at
that time. After that we came around
in the main halls of each floor and
did some sports and contests like every day. People like street sellers, chat. Every day I improve my Turkish
wrestling or pushups. During the workers and business people.All in all and get to know my neighbors better
evenings we discovered the people it was a great time. and they also get to know me better.
and tasteful foods from the “mahalle”. The best thing about my new home
Especially a small place where “Ibo” After one and a half month in are my flat mates. Yelis, a Turkish girl
prepared handmade pide. The taste of Bahçelievler, which was far away from from Hatay who works in a cafe and
this food still remains in my mouth. the centre of Istanbul I decided to move studies graphic design, Orhan who
I love the way of life on the street to Beyoğlu. I was very lucky to find a is a choreographer and film student,
that Turkish people have. People sit flat with a lot of space and one of the born and raised in Istanbul and
outside, drink cay and play “tavla” most beautiful views of Istanbul. Now Jamshid from Afghanistan studying
or they enjoy a football game in the I live near to “Tarlabasi mahallesi” architecture. Jamshid has been living
cafe. In Germany life is mostly inside, and also near to the “Istiklal caddessi”. in Turkey for eight years and knows a
so mostly we meet at our homes for The variety in this neighborhood and lot about Turkish culture, food, music
activities and only at weekends we go the amount of people I see every day and language. We spend a lot of time
out to clubs or bars but there is not is even bigger than in Bahçelievler. together and learn a lot from each
such a “cafe culture” like there is in In my area there are foreigners, other. The fifth member of our home
Istanbul. For me, as I live in a small Turkish, Kurdish, Gypsies and others is a sweet cat named Ying&Yang, she
city in northern Germany called Kiel, living together. Similar to Șirinevler, loves to keep us in movement.
Bahçelievler and especially Șirinevler I appreciate the familiar atmosphere
were very exciting due to the amount on my street. For instance when I Almost every morning we come
and the variety of people. I have seen go to buy something from the small around to have a huge Turkish
masses of people moving around shops, there is always time for a little breakfast on our beautiful terrace