by Patricia Siminea, SEAA, Business Administration
After the first Erasmus mobility I did in the UK, a country of excellence for its universities and studies, I took another step, fulfilling the childhood dream of living the life of a Turkish TV series, and this has taken my life to a new level.
The Erasmus mobility I chose to pursue in the heart of the seven worlds, nowadays known as Istanbul, during the fall of 2024, brought many surprises, beautiful moments, and memories, as well as several achievements.
I decided to leave Brașov again, for one more semester, to experience what life and university are like in the city I dreamed of living in as a child.
My choice was not made only based on that, but also on the base of discovering the educational system in a private university in a country with completely different culture and traditions. As I was looking for a more challenging and cultural-shocking experience, my choice was carefully guided by my Erasmus coordinator, to whom I will forever be grateful.
There I encountered a much larger and more modern university campus than those in Romania, having many restaurants, cafes, sitting areas, and even a private hospital, everything right in the campus! I had a wide variety of differently structured courses, and a diversity of students and professors from around the world that I had never imagined.
During the semester at Istanbul Aydin University, I had access to well-structured and interactive courses, longer classes duration than I was used to, but with lots of interesting information and class interactions. I was particularly proud of my performance in group projects and presentations in front of colleagues and professors. Working in a multicultural environment helped me develop essential skills in intercultural communication and collaboration.
I also managed to achieve excellent academic results, with grades that reflect both my effort and my ability to adapt to the independent academic system, which is different from our own. I managed to be a top student for all the courses that I took at that time, making myself noticeable in front of my professors and other colleagues.
Besides my performance in the courses, I also participated in a Turkish language course offered by the university to all students, where I got A1 level. During these months, I experienced several innovative teaching methods, supported by a very proficient usage of technology in class both by us and our professors.
Moreover I had the opportunity to explore the surroundings and integrate into Istanbul like a local. In such a big city, with a population higher than the one of whole Romania, I could never get bored. There was always something new to see, something new to discover, something to explore. Istanbul is a city surrounded by beauty that cannot be described in words, it can be just felt.
It has a special energy that cannot be taken from anywhere else. I visited a lot during my time there, but I also lived a lot and I had a lot of first-time experiences, such as Cappadocia sunrise, Bosforus boat parties, horse riding, bike exploring, food experiences from all across Turkish, Arabic, Asian, and African cuisine, and many others that filled parts of my soul in ways that I did not think it would ever be possible.
As I went in Istanbul alone, without knowing anyone there, the beginning was not easy. But in time, during the orientation week, I was lucky to meet a lot of people from diverse parts of the world. I made friends both from the Erasmus community, but also locals or students from my courses. For this time, I put my social skills at maximum capacity, and it was worth it.
I created a strong connection with a lot of Romanians during this project, but also with students from Türkiye, Palestine, Irak, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Syria, Ukraine, Croatia, Poland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and China. The trips and activities we did together, the weekly lunches we had, as well as the group study sessions during exams, gave me new perspectives, cultural knowledge, and friendships that still endure even a year after setting foot in Istanbul.
For making this possible much faster, we got help from the Erasmus office, who made an amazing organization by creating an unique Erasmus Club, with “mentors”, who were students and amazing people that wanted to make us integrate and feel supported all along the way.
The Erasmus experience in Istanbul helped me become more confident in my abilities and understand that not everything that is said about some countries is true, that stereotypes might be wrong sometimes, and that there is actually a lot more traditions, values and history behind every behavioral pattern.
Moreover, I gained a better understanding of the importance of adaptability and empathy in an international environment. This mobility gave me insight into the Turkish business environment and general lifestyle, strengthened my desire to work in a global business setting, and provided me with a clear perspective on the professional path I want to follow.
In conclusion, after five months of Erasmus in Istanbul, I came back to Brașov full of gratitude and ready for more: getting my degree, starting a Master’s program, learning more, gaining more international experience.
Writing this from Italy, while doing and MBA related to Sustainability at the University of Bologna, I can say that I blossomed so beautifully that I can no longer imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t chosen this path – academically, professionally, and personally.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had, for everything I experienced during this mobility, for all the knowledge I gained, and for the people I met. And a part of my heart got lost in Istanbul, with no chance of ever recovering it…