Starting Classes

I'm really liking the University. The facilities are amazing - there's a even a market, bank and hair salon right in the Student Center (or Öğrenci Merkezi). The only drawback is that it is about a 20 minute dolmuş drive from Sarıyer, the closest town, and an hour and a half from the Old City (Sultanahmet). The top of the clock tower (pictured above) is a student lounge where you can take coffee and homework or just soak in the view. On a clear day you can see both ends of the Bosphorus - the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Here are some photos of/from the lounge:

Students are all self-catered, which sounds more intimidating (at least to a student forced to have a meal plan at home) than it actually is. There are plenty of inexpensive food options on campus, plus we have kitchens in the dorms and the food in Sarıyer is very reasonable. In fact, we've gone to town for meals almost half the time. (Food tour of my first week and a half to come)


At Koç, most students consider the first week of classes a "shopping week." You go to any class that you're interested in, and then form the schedule that you'd like during the add/drop period. I think I've finally figured out my schedule, and it is:

- State and Society in the Middle East

- The Middle East in a Globalized World

- Basic Turkish

- Social Stratification

- Turkish Society and Culture (An exchange student course)

- A Seminar on Living and Learning In Turkey

I'm excited for most of them, but many of them won't count back at SU for anything other than electives. I've decided that I'm taking this semester as an opportunity to get a different perspective on this area of the world, rather than focusing on rigorous academics and requirements. 


Here's to a semester filled with new perspectives, people, and adventures!


All the photos except the first one on this post have been mine. However, as it's been snowing and gross outside here since we arrived, I grabbed this one at: http://www.bdcintl.com/portfolio-koc.htm