Cultural Exchange: Experiencing Indonesian and Turkish Traditions
Written by Najm Al-Dain Sadeq Mohammed Saeed Bahein
An international student in the Department of International Relations at an Islamic University in Indonesia. My experience as an international student here in Indonesia was delightful, and it made me feel how much Indonesian culture and cultural heritage are rich. I also had the opportunity to travel to Turkey through my department’s Global Mobility Program. This trip taught me much about two different cultures and how cultural communication impacts international relations. In my speech, I would like to share my experience living between two cultures.
When I arrived in Indonesia, everything was new and strange: the customs, the people, and their history. I got into the atmosphere and quickly fit in. The same thing happened when I traveled to Turkey. I have long wanted to visit a country that connects two continents, and traveling with the GMI program opened new doors for me. As soon as I arrived, I was amazed by the fantastic combination of cultural heritage and progress. For example, Ankara is calm and natural, unlike Istanbul, which is full of life and noise but shares the same culture and history.
The first activity we participated in was Turkish paper painting and Ebru art workshops at Kirklareli University in Ankara. It was a completely new experience for me. I discovered how proud and protective the Turkish culture is. I learned a lot about the history of Turkey from these trips and workshops and compared it to the history of Indonesia. For example, when I visited the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, I felt their greatness and thought of Indonesia’s Borobudur and Prambanan temples. I felt the connection between the two countries’ keenness to protect historical and cultural landmarks.
I learned from these experiences that cultural interaction is excellent and valuable. Despite the differences, all countries have shared values, such as love and respect for culture and history. This made me see international relations from a new perspective and deeply understand people, traditions, and diplomacy.
Picture 1. People gathered in Hagia Sophia, enjoying the beauty of this attractive historical landmark.
Picture 2. Musicians playing traditional Turkish melodies at the cultural workshop at Kirklareli University.
Being an international student in Indonesia and participating in the GMI program has completely changed my life. Not only because I got to visit new places but also because I got to meet many people, learn from their stories, and discover the things we have in common. Cultural interaction makes us know and accept differences and focus on what unites us.
The experiences I gained from living and learning about the culture in Indonesia and my knowledge of the culture of Turkey will benefit me a lot in the future in all aspects, especially since I am an international relations student. Living in these cultures has generally changed me and made me more determined to spread understanding and cooperation between peoples and societies.
