Busra Bilaloglu from Turkey still remembers her first day in Kaunas – it reminded her of her hometown, which is located near the coast of the Black Sea. “When I came here, I wanted to explore other cultures and countries before going back home. Now, however, I would like to stay,” says Busra, who has just graduated with an MSc in International Business from KTU.
Originally from Turkey, but coming from Northern Cyprus, where she was living with her family, Busra Bilaloglu was a lawyer. “After a while, I wanted to change my field,” she says, “but my English was weak. I wanted to improve my English and, at the same time, to graduate from a field that was relevant globally.”
Thankful for the support of KTU staff and teachers
That is how she chose a master’s in international business at KTU’s School of Economics and Business, to combine her knowledge in law with new insights from the business field.
“KTU was a perfect choice, because it offered an English preparatory course. During that period, I was getting used to living here, improving my English, and I was not feeling like wasting time,” says Busra.
Remembering her first day in Kaunas, a fresh KTU graduate says that she felt she knew this place, so much it reminded her of Trabzon, a similarly green and beautiful Busra’s native town. “For those who feel connected with nature, Kaunas is the right place. At least, it works well for me,” says a KTU international business graduate from Turkey.
Although she admits to the stress at the beginning due to everything being new and not perfect English skills, Busra is grateful for her professors and the university staff who helped her along the way. “They didn’t just teach us academically but also supported emotionally and helped us grow in confidence, as a family would do,” says a fresh-out-of-university KTU graduate.
Thinks about a career in Lithuania
Among the most significant cultural differences she experienced was the different nature of the locals. Coming from a warm place, Busra now thinks that the weather affects people’s behaviour, as Lithuanians were smiling far less than people back home. “At the beginning, I literally wanted to see their teeth,” says the girl, “however, over time, I understood that kindness and love don’t need to be shown with a big smile.”
Although at the beginning, she was thinking about going back home after studies, she has had a change of heart. After spending a couple of years in Lithuania, she became attached to the place: “Now, I want to find a job in my field and settle down in Lithuania. I have experienced many emotional moments here, ranging from the difficult to the happy and peaceful. I am grateful for all of these experiences because I have learnt a great deal from them, and I still have much more to learn.”
She recommends Kaunas for all who consider studying abroad. According to her, it is a student-friendly and comfortable city, safe, affordable, and full of green spaces. “I am still in love with nature, and when I feel down, I go for a walk to Ąžuolynas Park. When I need a quiet and peaceful moment, I like going by the lake to listen to the calmness of water and the sounds of birds singing,” says Busra Bilaloglu, a KTU School of Economics and Business graduate from Turkey.