We have a great and enthusiastic international alumni volunteer team of 22 people from 15 countries. Most of them decided to create an alumni chapter in their home country or make international professional alumni groups and some of them did great social media work. In the next chapter of our volunteer series, you can read Berkay Yasar Senkalfa’s story from Turkey! He studied in Hungary between 2017 and 2020 at the University of Debrecen and now he’s finishing his Master’s degree in Health Sciences and Technology as an Excellence Scholar at ETH Zürich in Switzerland.
Why did you choose Hungary and the University of Debrecen?
In the long term, I was looking to combine my theory-oriented Molecular Biology and Genetics degree which I obtained at Istanbul Technical University in Turkey (also a very good one!), with a more applied engineering-oriented degree within the same domain. Having come across Stipendium Hungaricum, the offer in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Debrecen caught my attention. Seeing the engineering-oriented curriculum, university standings at the time, and international connections, I thought it had what I was looking for to combine my theoretical degree with an engineering one, so I have decided to apply. Having been to Hungary as a tourist before, I knew it was a beautiful country that was also affordable and had lots of great, friendly people. I also heard that Hungary is also successful in science, having had one of the top Nobel Prize laureates per capita. So, all of these came together in my decision, and I think it was a good decision – just look at this year’s Nobel laureates!
How did you like your studies? What was your favourite memory during your studies?
I think the studies had a well-kept balance between engineering, theory, and practice, which I think was good. There were of course many points that I thought needed improvement (which I tend to do everywhere), although I also saw a lot of investment into university infrastructure in various fields at the time, which I think constituted steps in the right direction. Many professors were also very helpful and showed individual care to students, which was a huge plus. As for memories, there are just too many that I would need a book. Countless amazing moments are scattered across the country and corners of the city. I made so many lifelong friends, most of whom were Hungarians, and we see each other regularly, be it in Hungary, Turkey, or somewhere else.
How did you like the country?
Like, would be too weak of a word. I love Hungary. And I do not only mean the touristy Hungary. Throughout my years there, I have learned Hungarian at a conversational level (it has been getting rusty but still trying to use it when I can!). And I have visited nearly every corner of the country. Besides the cities, I went to the less shiny towns deep in the country, random villages scattered in the hills of Bükk and Mátra, or the never-ending planes of Alföld. Nearly wherever I went, whether alone or with company, I had so many lovely interactions with by meeting many kind people. On several occasions, if I met a stranger, they were so delighted to encounter a Turkish man who could speak some Hungarian and they immediately offered to buy me a drink - even if I wasn't speaking the language perfectly. People were almost always very curious about Turkey and me as a person, showing almost immediate positivity, and we made nice connections almost everywhere across the country. These are just a few excerpts of why I came to love the country, but I came to love it so much that even this year I will have visited it 3 times already!
Did you have any difficulties with the Hungarian culture? What was that and how did you handle it?
I really had to sit down and think hard about this, because I do think there are more similarities between Hungary and Turkey. There really was not much that struck me in day-to-day life. I really would not define these as “difficult” But if I had to name a few differences, one would be the fact that shops close very early, especially during winter, which was sometimes a challenge for me. I missed some of the dishes of Turkey, especially vegetables, olive oil, and seafood, but these are natural occurrences even if you travel within a country... Needing keys for trash containers was also new for me. Yet again, I would not call these “difficult”, just a few minor cases I found after a long thinking session.
How does the Hungarian culture differ from the Turkish culture?
Among all the places I have been abroad, Hungary was one of the countries with the most parallels to Turkish culture I have observed. Both countries have rich histories and have been in close contact even longer than many often think, and this is reflected in many aspects. Whether it is the paprika and spice-rich cuisine or the baths; whether it is traditions and patterns of embroidery, or some folk clothes and dances; whether it is elements of architecture that include types of wood usage, woodcarving patterns, and Ödön Lechner’s Szecesszio ornaments, or the traditions surrounding horse riding; whether it is the treatment of household guests, or even the traditions of moustache keeping, or the tunes of folkloric music (which Béla Bartók himself noted!), we have had extensive contact and impacted one another throughout history... I always thought we should be aware of these and do our best to foster and pass them on.
You are among the alumni volunteers. Why did you apply for that position? What's your task and how do you manage it? What do you think about the Alumni Network Hungary?
Fundamentally, I want to keep connected with Hungary on a professional level like I am keeping connected with it on a personal level. While I can achieve personal connection on an individual basis, the best way to achieve a professional connection is through a robust network, which is why I am part of the volunteer team, as it is doing a professional job of fostering such a multifaceted network. In the long run, I would strive to act as a bridge between Hungary and Turkey and the Hungarians and Turks everywhere. Even in Switzerland where I currently reside for my master's degree studies, I try to achieve that, and communities like the Alumni Network Hungary are crucial in that regard.
What's your plan for the future?
I have recently completed a fast-paced internship and just started my master's thesis research. As of now, I am focusing on what is on my plate, and right now, that is finding out what some previously uncharacterized human mitochondrial carriers do, which can have important scientific and clinical impacts in the future. As for beyond that, I of course have overall ideas and goals for what I want to pursue, but I approach things as one at a time; and aim to meet and exceed my best in what I currently do.