[:en]Merhaba arkadaşlar! I’m Micha, a Law Student at Faculty of Law, Universitas Brawijaya. I was honored to be one of the IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards) awardees for the 2022 cohort. I had the chance to spend a fall semester in Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University (METU), in Ankara, Turkey. Living in Turkey for those few months really opened my eyes and new perspective of the way I see the world, personally, and as a global citizen. Being a country between 2 continents, brings an interesting dynamic to this country. In every new place and city I visit, there’s always something interesting, either their customs, cultures, and dialects that are endemic to that place that I can’t find anywhere else. There’s an interesting blend between east and west cultures that influenced the country.
As a top university in the country, studying in METU is not less interesting than the country itself. With freedom of thought and speech, especially in an academic environment, brings a very diverse atmosphere in the campus. I got exposed to new clubs, movements, and personalities among my friends and classmates that also opened up a whole new perspective for me. Learning in a technical university and studying outside of my actual major gets me out of my comfort zone and brings me new knowledge that I hope will be applied in the future.
Not only experiences in the academic environment, I also took this opportunity to indulge myself in Turkey and its culture. As I mentioned before, every piece of Turkey holds a historical moment and story in it. Many locations are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I can experience that culture very vividly. I could visit mosques, see the ruins of the Roman Empire’s center of trade, and also there’s sites that not only hold its cultural significance, but also its natural beauty; namely National Park in Cappadocia and Hierapolis in Pamukkale. Each place I mentioned holds a very strong historical influence that mesmerizes me, not only for its beauty but its story every time I hear about it. Becoming an IISMA awardee gave me the opportunity to explore and see the world, learn about new cultures, and build networks, not only with local people, but also internationally.
Author: Micha Risyafnisyifaa Jayadi[:]