Hi! I am Şebnem.
I am an almost 22 years old, outgoing, funny and curious university student in İstanbul who also likes cooking, translating, traveling and dancing.
Besides I am interested in humanities and social sciences so much.That's why I am also tend to observe people, mostly from different cultures and backgrounds. So it is not surprising that my major is Chinese Translation and Interpreting and have minor degree in Psychology :)
I was born in İzmir and my family is still living there ( İzmir, Bornova)
In summer, I am generally in İzmir with them for three months.
But from September to May( for almost nine months in a year) I stay in İstanbul and this cycle will continue until the end of 2015-2016 education term.
So temporarily, I am available to host people just during summer.
After graduation I will rent my own apartment and start to host more.
We are a family of four. Mum, dad, brother and me.
They are so friendly and hospitable as well.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I am so much interested in meeting with people from all around the world, exploring new and especially historical places, learning different languages, getting to know about different cultures and share my experiences with foreigners.
Couchsurfing is a very good opportunity for us to get socialized while travelling, and creating valuable connections. A local host can be very helpful, according to staying in a hotel, it is more fun!
On the other hand, obviously, I am a student, and I love travelling and my family can support me financially to a certain limit. Mostly I cover my living costs through working while studying and with my success and honor scholarships.

Interests

Traveling, reading,photography, trekking, folk dancing, swimming, origami, authoring, translating,editing, music and cooking.

• humanities
• writing
• photography
• dancing
• folk dancing
• education
• environment
• ethics
• cooking
• recipes
• reading
• traveling
• origami
• music
• cycling
• swimming
• teaching
• languages
• psychology
• social science

Music, Movies, and Books

Favourite Musics: Ethno, Exotica, R&B, Progressive Rock and Jazz

Movies : Dark Comedy, Action-Thriller, Historical - Dramatical and Psychologic Films

Books: World Classic's, Historical books, Travel Literature, Essays,Comic Strips, Story Books

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Last summer I went to USA, Florida/ Orlando to participate in an international college program and worked in Disney Hollywood Studios in Rock'n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Fantasmic! as a cast member.
My role was merchandiser.
As being an International College Program (ICP) member, I had opportunity to observe professional working environment and see their work ethics and dicipline while working with different managers, coordinators and cast members from all around the world.
Also I met with thousands of college degree students from world's top universities.
It was really an amazing and lifetime experience for me.
Let's guess why? Because it was the happiest place on earth! :)

Teach, Learn, Share

I would like to accompany you while visiting İzmir and introduce you the historical places and essential foods of İzmir.
As you know, the Turkish cuisine is very rich. I can also make luncheons and other delicious dishes especially from Aegean region. If you would like to, we can cook together as well .
In addition, because that I am learning simplified Chinese in Turkey, I am intermediate at speaking Mandarin but I keep improving myself and planning to go China for one year to increase my writing, reading and speaking level.
So if you are from China, or have Chinese friends whom you can introduce, it would be very nice for me to practice more before going abroad :)
And of course no matter from which country you are, I can teach you some basic and useful Turkish words and sentences if you want.
I can speak English fluently and have so many foreign friends from different countries who are studying at some universities ( like Ege, Yaşar, 9 Eylül etc.) in İzmir.
It would be my pleasure introducing them to you and we can have chance to join various social activities all together in summer.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share my historical and intellectual knowledges about Turkey and Turkish people such as funny and interesting Turkish idioms and proverbs, the interests and habits of Turkish people, cultural and religious ceremonies, current affairs, recent events etc. and show photos that I took in several places in Turkey.
I'd like to talk about the details of my first overseas experience in USA .
I also can share some delicious Turkish recipes with you.

Countries I’ve Visited

United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Turkey, United States