Embracing the Turkish culture

Growing up in Waterloo, Sara Najib (BSc ’24) yearned to experience life and culture beyond her hometown, leading her to a four-month study abroad term in Istanbul, Turkey. Immersing herself in a country with a different language and customs took her far outside her comfort zone, but it led to one of the best experiences of her life. 

Eager to embrace a new culture, Najib immediately enrolled in Turkish language classes for beginners so that she could strike up conversations with locals and students. “It was a risk to go to a country where they didn’t speak English, but I saw it as an adventure,” she says. “Forcing myself to speak Turkish with my classmates helped me pick up the language faster.”

While studying abroad, Najib became close with two French exchange students she still stays in touch with and built connections with Turkish students through her science courses at Istanbul Technical University. Her most memorable experience was when the university hosted over 2,000 people for dinner during Ramadan.

“It was surreal,” she says. “Everyone was eating on mats, beautiful lights surrounded us, and food was everywhere. It was a moment spent with friends that I will never forget.” 

Najib took several courses, but her favourite was Globalization and International Relations, which had a mix of exchange, international, and domestic students.

“It was an eye-opening, discussion-based class,” she says. “Diverse viewpoints brought forward a range of perspectives that made for engaging and meaningful conversations. It provided me with a deeper understanding of how people from different cultures see the world.”

Reflecting on her time in Istanbul, Najib believes the experience taught her adaptability and resilience. Her advice to students considering studying abroad is to take the leap!

“I almost cancelled quite a few times, but I’m so happy I didn’t,” she says. “It was truly one of the best experiences of my life and I was so sad when it was over.”

Najib recently graduated from the University of Waterloo and is now pursuing a law degree at the University of Windsor. Building on the skills and experiences that shaped her in Istanbul, she hopes to pursue her passion for social justice by addressing global issues.