Blogs

Hello, Erasmus students! As you explore Turkey, you may notice a surge of excitement and pride throughout the country as 29 October approaches. This date marks Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı), one of the most significant national holidays in Turkey. It commemorates the day in 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared Turkey a republic, officially transitioning from the Ottoman Empire to the modern, secular nation we see today.

As we have passed an important religious holiday, Eid, we are almost on another holiday that means a lot. Even though here, we are a bunch of university students we still feel it in our hearts while reminiscing those days that we celebrated, with lots of joy. And to those who didn’t have the honor of celebrating it as a kid, here’s a brief history: In Turkey, April 23, 1920, was declared as National Sovereignty and Children's Day to honor the Grand National Assembly's founding.

It is that time of the year when everything is red and pink in the shape of a heart.

Republic of Turkey

 What is SID?

Social Impact Days (SIDs) are dedicated occasions that aim to raise awareness, inspire action, and effect positive change in various spheres of society. These days are dedicated to addressing social issues, advocating for marginalized groups, promoting environmental sustainability, or fostering a culture of giving back to the community.

What can we do?

They often encompass a range of causes:

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace is an architectural masterpiece also one of the world’s largest surviving palaces. The palace honors the extensive history and culture of the Ottoman Empire. It was built between 1460 and 1478 by the orders of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the infamous conqueror of Istanbul.

Did you know?

Tea, What Is It Exactly?

Tea is a plant cultivated in humid climates, with its leaves and buds used to create a beloved beverage. The tea we enjoy is made by processing the green leaves of the tea plant.

The Origin of the Name

The name "tea" has its roots in the Mandarin dialect, where it's known as ç’a. This term has traveled around the world in various forms, such as chaa, cha, tcha, chia, and cia. In English, we refer to it as tea, cha, char, and chai.

The Prince Islands(Turkish=Prens adaları, because the name means “Islands of the Princes”) officially “Adalar” is an archipelago off the coast of Istanbul, in the sea of Marmara. It has a population of 16.690(2022) people. It is by far the least populous district in Istanbul.

As we organize a trip to the prince islands every semester, it is a great trekking, biking and swimming spot of Istanbul. Even camping is a common activity in islands. Eventhough they are small islands(except Büyükada) it lasts a day to comprehensively visit there.