Pelin Kalem- Foregin Exchange Student and Knight Life Reporter

Coming to US was my dream and I am living my dream right now. I am curious about people and different cultures. Being an exchange student is like bridge from your home country to the US. I think like that because you bring something from your culture; then you see and you take the cultures from your host family and friends. I’ve met so many nice people and I like to share something with them.

I live in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is the most crowded city in the Turkey and there’s not much forest. You can find anything what you want in there but Florence is like a town; there’s really big difference from here and there. At the same time I like more towns than big cities, so I love Florence.

The education system is really different. I think it is the big culture shock for me because we sit in the class and teachers switch in Turkey and we have 15 classes each semester.

Sometimes I miss everything, especially my friends and my family. Then I realize here is my home; I have family and friends here. I love to spend time with my family; I can say that they’re the nicest people I’ve ever met. I appreciate everything they’ve done for me. My classmates are really nice people and I am so glad to took these classes. I am so glad to be here. I hope I will improve my language and gain new cultures and different perspectives from this experience. After this year, I want to come back to visit my family and maybe go to college.