From Istanbul to Remagen: Building Dreams and Friendships in Germany

My name is Furkan Kaya, and I participated in the Erasmus program from Istinye University in Istanbul, Turkey. I chose to join the Erasmus program because I aim to establish an international technology company. This opportunity allowed me to build international networks and gain valuable experience.

Before coming here, I had heard some stereotypes suggesting there might be a negative attitude towards Turks in Germany, and I was concerned about facing racism. However, my fears were unfounded. I haven’t experienced any such issues in these three months; on the contrary, everyone is very friendly and welcoming!

My experiences with accommodation were quite eventful. The first house I found was in really terrible condition. Since a friend of mine had stayed there before, I signed the contract without seeing the house, which was my biggest mistake. I had given 50% of my Erasmus grant and spent a whole month trying to get my money back and find a new house. Selsela and my friends (especially Ilja) were very helpful. During this process, I learned that universities in Germany offer free legal counseling to their students, which I used. In the end, I moved into a beautiful villa in nature, met a wonderful host family, and managed to get my money back in full! As a friend of mine (greetings to Xavier) said, “The worst of luck will lead you to the best of possible outcomes.”

As someone who struggles with fluency in speaking and has a busy schedule, making new friends and forming a social circle was challenging for me. However, the Erasmus community and campus life are very friendly, and it is very easy to form a social circle. Even in my busy schedule, I made very good friends whom I will never forget and with whom I will stay in touch for the rest of my life.

Overcoming the language barrier was another challenge. Almost everyone in the university speaks English, and even outside the university, many people speak English, so I almost never had any trouble communicating. Speaking fluently was quite difficult for me at first, and I’m still working on it, but it has improved so much over time that you wouldn’t believe it! Don’t worry about it; many of the people you talk to don’t have English as their first language either, and they are very understanding.

Finding accommodation was definitely the hardest part. You should start looking by August for the winter term and by January for the summer term. It is very difficult to find a house after arriving here, as Remagen is quite a small place.

There are so many events and trips during the Erasmus program that describing each one would fill ten pages. The international office works hard on this; there is a different event or trip every week. Additionally, Germany is in the center of Europe, and you can hop on a train and cross into many European countries within a few hours. So far, in three months, I’ve had the chance to visit a few cities in France, Luxembourg, Amsterdam, and several cities in Germany. I have planned my main trips for August and want to travel all over Europe.

In terms of local culture and lifestyle, Istanbul is a beautiful city, but it’s best appreciated as a tourist rather than a resident. After Istanbul, Remagen feels so peaceful and calm that I can’t even describe it. I can hop on my bike and be at the university in 10 minutes, and when I’m bored, I can open my window and sip my coffee amidst the sounds of birds. People are very respectful of bicycles; even if a car sees me from 30 meters away, they wait for me to pass. These small things greatly enhance the quality of life. The only downside is that everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is closed on Sundays.

The Erasmus program has contributed significantly to my personal and academic development. I’m no longer afraid to speak English. Until now, I had never lived alone, but now I know I can live alone and overcome difficulties. I met many new professors and business people, which greatly contributed to my professional and academic development. I am planning to come back here for my master’s degree.

I definitely want to repeat this experience. I’m only in my third month, and if I have the chance to extend it, I will try to do so.
To other students considering the Erasmus program, you should definitely join. I can’t even begin to describe the opportunities it opens up and the people it brings into your life. In the worst-case scenario, what happens? You return home after six months, but I guarantee that you wouldn't want to go back!