Study Philosophy, History, Religion, Culture, Languages, Economics and Politics in the Capital of Empires

 

 

 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

[These are some of the questions I have been asked in reference to the Duke in Turkey program. If you have others, please feel free to e-mail them to me and I'll try to incorporate them into this list.]

 

ABOUT TURKEY

Where exactly is Turkey?

Turkey is located at the Eastern edge of Europe and the Western edge of the Middle East. Its neighbors are Bulgaria and Greece on the West and Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Azerbeijan, and Georgia on the East. The Bosphorus straits, a waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, marks the marks the border between Asia and Europe, and Istanbul is located on two sides of it (with two bridges that connect the two continents).

What is the language used in Turkey? Can I get by with only English?

The official language of Turkey is Turkish --a non Indo-European language that belongs to the Uralic-Altaic family of languages, with distant similarities to Finnish and Hungarian. The script is Latin; Turkish alphabet is composed of 29 letters and is very similar to the English alphabet (with minor variations).

In 2004, over 17 million people visited Turkey, most of whom probably did not know a word of Turkish, and they got by just fine. No doubt so will you.

Do I need a visa to enter Turkey?

Yes, but you can get it at the point of entry. The U.S. State Department web site states:

[To enter Turkey] "a passport and visa are required. Currently, holders of all types of passports can purchase a 90-day sticker visa at the port of entry for $20 cash, if they are traveling to Turkey as tourists. For further information, travelers in the U.S. may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey at 2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone: (202) 612-6700, or the Turkish consulates general in Chicago, Houston,Los Angeles, or New York. Information may also be found at Internet address http://www.turkey.org/."

Is it safe to travel for Americans in Turkey?

Tom Brosnahan, travel writer for the Lonely Planet Guide to Turkey and Turkey Travel Planner, writes: "Most travelers comment on the friendliness and hospitality of the Turkish people. It really is exceptional. Turkey is not only friendly, it's as safe as Europe and North America--perhaps safer, although no place is completely safe."

To read the whole document, "Safe Travel in Turkey", where you can also find more detailed information and statistics about crime and risk factors in Turkey, as well as useful links such as the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, click here.

Last year, approximately half a million American citizens visited Turkey, and there is presently no travel warning against Turkey in the State Department's listing.

Any words of advice from fellow travellers?

Here are a few travelogs that I have come across on the web on Turkey. I especially like the monthly columns of Karen Claire-Voss, a very acute observer who has been living in Istanbul for quite a few years now.

Istanbul? Yes, Istanbul!

Dave's Travel Corner

The Hobo Traveler

There is also a web site for the expat community living in Turkey which may be a useful resource for any visitor. You can read a bunch of interesting interviews about life in Turkey for the non-Turks as well.

 

ABOUT ISTANBUL

 

 

 

 

How cold does it get in Istanbul during the winter? How hot does it get in the summer?

Istanbul is along the same latitude with New York City, and the weather is, although a bit milder, not that different. One can observe four seasons in Istanbul, with snow in the winter and warm sunny days in the summer.

The average temperature in the winter is 38 degrees F and 79 degrees F in the summer. While it gets humid in the summer, the weather in Istanbul quite a bit more mild than Durham, NC in the summer.

[Along the Aegean Coast, it is typical Mediterranean climate with warmer average temperatures of 49 degrees F in winter and 84 degrees F in summer.]

What is the dress code in the University? In the city?

Quite casual. Jeans and t-shirt, sweaters, or any variation thereof. Only while visiting places of worship, women would need to bring with them a scarf to cover their heads and shoulders.

Is there anything I cannot find in Istanbul (food items, clothing, books, gadgets) that I should bring with me?

Probably not. I've asked this question to American friends living in Turkey and they could not come up with any suggestions. Except perhaps for ... Southern BBQ!

Note, however, that as in all European cities, electrical devices run on 220 volts in Turkey and the outlets are for round plugs. So you will need an adapter and/or transformer, unless you have double-voltage devices. (Apple computers run in the110-240 volts range, for instance, and require no transformer. But you will still still need an adapter for the plug, though you can get one in Istanbul if you forget to stop at Radio Shack before taking off.)

Will I have time for sightseeing in the city? How can I get around town?

Yes. While you are not doing your readings or working on your paper, you will have plenty of time to go roaming around town. Public transportation (busses, tram, subway) as well as taxi cabs are easily accessible, common, and quite inexpensive.

What about arts, culture, music ...?

Istanbul is a true metropolitan city when it comes to arts, cinema, music, and other cultural activities. In the summer, there are impressive jazz, rock, and classical music festivals, as well as an international film festival during the year. Many pop, rock, and jazz music concerts probably going on every single day of the week throughout the city.

You can check out what's going on in Istanbul at the Biletix website, the equivalent of Ticketmaster for Turkey. Take a look, also, at the programs of two of the most fashionable rock/jazz clubs of the city: Roxy and Babylon.

Can I get a cell phone while in Turkey? Would my own cell phone work there?

Certain cell phones that work in the U.S. also work overseas (3-band models). If you have such a phone, you can always get a new pre-paid SIM card and begin using it immediately with local rates. But it is also possible to rent a cell-phone, or buy a second-hand unit quite inexpensively to use it for a month as a pre-paid phone. There are also public phones through the campus, in the dormitories, and in the city where you can make domestic as well as international phone calls with a calling card.

You can find more information about the technicalities of the telecommunications system in Turkey here, and about cell-phone service here.

 

ABOUT BOGAZICI UNIVERSITY

Will I have access to a library with holdings in English? Access to the Internet?

Yes. The language of instruction in Bogazici University is English, and most of the books in the library are in English. You will have access to the Internet and printing facilities in computer clusters on campus. if you have a portable computer, you can also find cafes with Internet service through the city.

Is there a gym on campus that I can use?

Yes. There is a gym, a track field, and a swimming pool on campus that will be all accessible to Duke students during the Duke in Istanbul program. There may be nominal fees for these services if they are not automatically incorporated in the the program fees for everyone.

What kinds of food can I expect to find near the campus and in Istanbul in general?

There are many small and inexpensive eateries around the Bogazici University campus, all within walking distance, including fast-food joints as well as restaurants that serve home-cooking kind of food. Duke students will also have access to the univeristy cafeterias where meals are served for a nominal fee. The dormitory has kitchens shared by four to five single-rooms so you can also keep drinks and food items handy in a fridge in your dormitory suite if you like.

In general, you can find all cuisines of the world in Istanbul, and you'll probably be taken by surprise at the great variety of choices in the Ottoman/Turkish cuisine. My only warning: watch out for those extra pounds!

 

ABOUT THE AEGEAN COAST TRIP

What will be our means of transportation?

We will travel in a large (4o-person capacity), air-conditioned coach, reserved exclusively for our program, and driven by a professional driver, stopping in our destinations along the way. As a relatively small group (10-15 people), we should have plenty of leg room in t he bus. When we reach our final destination, Bodrum (Halicarnassus), we will take a flight back to Istanbul.

During the trip, we will also be accompanied by a professional tour guide who is an expert on the Greco-Roman history of the Aegean Coast. The logistics of the trip are being provided by one of the best specialized small travel agencies in the region, Argonaut Escapades.

What kind of places will we be staying in? Will I have any time off at the beach?

We will mostly be staying at either small charming boutique hotels, or 3-star hotels close to the sites we will be visiting. You can check out some of the small hotels in the region in the Best Small Hotels of Turkey website.

During the trip, we will have some spare time to just relax and enjoy the surrounds. Some of the sites we will be visiting are near beautiful beaches, and in our last day we will have also have a half day boat trip in Halicarnassus.

Does this trip cost extra?

The cost of the trip is integrated into the program fees, except possibly for lunch and dinner expenses. Only the cost of the transportation from and back to the U.S. is in each student's responsibility. For more information and exact figures, please contact the Study Abroad Office.