After many weeks of holiday, the moment was there, the first classes of the new academic year. And the classes were not like usual, not like on my home university. This time the classes are in a different country, with a completely different culture. I had so many questions beforehand, so many unanswered questions that were going to be answered that same day. How is the atmosphere in the class? How are the teachers? How are the other students? This time I was not surrounded by other exchange students like in the orientation day. Today I will tell you all about my experiences of my first week classes in Istanbul.

I prepared my first day very well. I went multiple times to the campus beforehand and I searched the buildings were my classes are. Luckily the buildings where I have classes are not very difficult to find. Still, on the first day, I arrived early on the campus. The holiday period was now completely over, so I expected that it would be crowded everywhere I had to go. It was indeed crowded, but still my travel to the campus went smoothly and quick. I walked to my building, and while I was walking I could enjoy an amazing view of the Bosporus. I was so early, that I searched a place to sit for a while and waited until it was time to come to class.

The Academic Experience

The first class started. It was a class of the management department, this is the department that I’m enlisted to. The first thing I noticed is how friendly everyone is towards the teacher. The teacher noticed immediately that I was an Erasmus student and asked where I’m from. Not many Erasmus students were in this class. The teacher talked much and before I realised the first lesson was already over.

I follow another management class, two economic classes and a Turkish for beginner class. What I noticed is that in all classes, except for the Turkish class, I’m the only or one of the only foreign students. And especially in classes with only twenty students more or less, this can feel quite lonely. However, other students also understand this and other students will always help you. Very soon this, maybe uncomfortable, classroom gets a lot more comfortable. Also considering that all teachers here are very nice and helpful.

Some teacher preferred everyone to introduce themselves, this is also a nice way of getting to know each other very quick. And in my experience, this helped me to feel more comfortable in the classroom. In some classes there were immediately some people I could talk to, in other classes this took a little longer. But eventually in all classes you will know some persons.

All classes that I follow are taught in English. However, because of the high concentration of Turkish students in the classes. Some teachers decide to also explain some things in Turkish. To make it more understandable for the Turkish students. Everything will be discussed in English first, however not every teacher speaks very good English. Some have quite an accent which requires some more effort to understand. But if you speak good English, you should be fine here.

The Social Experience in the Class

In the first weeks I met so many new people. I’m quite good with remembering names, but this was just so much that I not remember everyone. As mentioned before, in most classes I’m surrounded with Turkish students. They seem to know each other already much better. They sit with friends, talk to each other, in the breaks go out of the classroom with each other, etc. It can feel quite difficult to connect with somebody then, but it is important that you still do this.

In some classes the teacher wants you to talk and work together with other students from the first moment onwards. This is quite helpful for an outsider like me. This help connecting to people that I would otherwise never connect with probably. And again, every student I spoke with was very nice and helpful. After classes, most people just go to their other classes, smoke outside or talk to the teacher. Here you can see that often, Turkish students group with other Turkish students, and exchange students group with other exchange students.

The first week was full of exciting moments, full of new people, and full of incredible experiences. The exchange period for me is only one semester, which contains thirteen weeks of classes. Time flew so much that the first week is already finished. The most important thing I learned is that this is going to be an amazing adventure that I will never forget. Next week something exciting is happening: I’m going to visit another city! When I come back I will let you know all about it.

I’m also very excited to hear about your stories? How did you experience the first week of classes? What are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!