SHOWCASE

  For years, I had been fascinated by the Turkish language - its unique script, melodic pronunciation, and expressive vocabulary. As an avid language learner, I knew that true fluency required immersion. After much research and consideration and 4 years of failing one of these Turkish government scholarships, I finally went to Ankara Türkiye to carry out one of its programs in collaboration with ASEAN. At the time, my Turkish proficiency was limited to basic phrases like "merhaba" (hello), "teşekkür ederim" (thank you), and "gunaydin" (good morning). I had dabbled in a few language learning apps, but I knew that surrounded by the language and culture, my progress would be exponentially faster. Ankara, with its rich history, vibrant cultural scene, and friendly locals, seemed like the perfect place to embark on this linguistic and cultural journey. I was excited to explore the city, meet new people, and challenge myself in ways I never had before. Little di...