What comes to your mind first when you think of "New Arab City"? For some reason, Dubai comes to my mind first. I guess that since I had never been there before, it automatically came to my mind because that it was the most known and also the most magnificent and developed Arab city. Apart from that, I think of Mecca (Mekke in Turkish) and Medina (Medine in Turkish). They are a part of our religious history, which is very important for the Muslim culture come to my mind next. Mecca and Medina are two Arab cities that are highly mentioned in the culture of religion and knowledge of ethics lessons which we take in our education life before university. And of course Syria ... There have been really sad events in Syria in recent times. As a result of the civil war in Syria, many people emigrated to Turkey. However, we got to know their people much better. In addition to these, if I consider the Arab cities in general; I did not know before that they were so modern and developed. After a business trip that my father went to a few years ago, we learned as a family that most of the Arab cities were much more modern than they were projected to us in media. In fact, it is not appropriate to try to understand a place with only hearsay stories that we do not have enough information about. As it is said in Lefebvre's Seen from the Window; In order to perceive the rhythm and beauty of a place, we must feel it with all our senses. Therefore, acting only on the information we see or hear in the news may cause us to be biased. However, every country, every city has its own unique beauties. It would make me upset as a Turkish citizen if a stranger person who is unfamiliar with Turkey, got a thought that Turkey is not developed and not a beautiful country based on the information acquired only through the media. That's why I wouldn't want to be biased towards Arab cities in this way. After my father went there for a business trip, my mind changed thanks to the photographs he took there and the beauties he explained. In addition to these, we also had a lot of international friends from Arab cities at our university like in the many other universities. Thanks to them, we had the opportunity to learn more about Arab cities. We have understood much better the culture and developments of the places where they live.

One day, I also want to go to Arab cities, especially Dubai, to learn about their culture, to see all their beauties with my own eyes and to feel them with all my senses. I hope I can make this dream come true. And which Arab city are you most curious about? 💐

The real question is: What hasn't changed? 😁 First of all, it caused us not to enjoy our last years at university because we will graduate in this term, but we have not been able to go to school for the last 3 terms due to the pandemic conditions. Our university years, which will be the most enjoyable years of our lives, have passed in this way. I used to go to school every day by public transport. I was taking the subway the most. Since I live around Batıkent, my school is quite far from my home. It was difficult from time to time to go that long road every day, trying to keep up with classes and exams in a constant hustle and bustle. As it turns out, how delightful was that sweet rush. Taking the subway and going to school was more fun than I thought. The pandemic made us realize the value of many more things like this. For example, to be able to breathe freely. It turns out how precious it is to be able to breathe deeply when we perceive a pleasant smell while walking through the streets. Apart from these, many businesses had to be closed. People faced enormous difficulties, both material and spiritual. Unfortunately, this situation still continues. Because of this deadly virus, people have been imprisoned in their homes. Everyone started working and studying online. In this process, our lessons progressed online. I had a hard time getting used to this process at first. While I was seeing my friends every day, I suddenly couldn't see them for long periods of time. My parents had divorced before the pandemic, so I could not see my father for about 3 months during the quarantine period. During this time, I really missed him and I realized once again that I should be thankful for having my family. Now we're back a little bit more normal. When the weather is nice and when we get the chance to have free time from lessons, we can meet with my friends by sitting at a distance in the parks. I stay with my mother on certain days of the week and with my father on the other days, I spend more time with them. Since a year has passed and there is no quarantine period like the first time, I can continue my life a little easier now. I think this is our new normal now, and we should learn to live with it until this malady is gone.

I complete my article here, wishing that this situation will end as soon as possible, that everything will return to normal as soon as possible and that all of us will have health and freedom again. The next question is for you: What has changed in your life during the pandemic? What positive and negative benefits has it had for you? Let's talk together a little bit. I am waiting for your answers. 💞

 A stranger does not just mean that someone who is far away from us or that someone which we do not know anything about them. A stranger may also be a familiar person who is near to us. Just because we know someone does not necessarily mean that we know everything about that person. Unfortunately, we sometimes discover much time later that someone we know actually has very different traits or is actually not the person we think he or she is. Apart from that, when we go to another country, another city or even simpler; when we go and enter to a brand new environment or a different place,  everyone there is a stranger to us that we have never known before. We are also complete strangers to others. Based on all of this, I think that a stranger may be someone that far away from us and that we do not know, but also one of our closest ones. Of course, seeing someone near you who you think you know well is actually a stranger to you is a very weary and frustrating experience. Therefore, establishing close relationships with people we really trust and know that they also trust us is has a great importance in bilateral relations. Actually, when I think of the word “ stranger ”, I do not think of positive things most of the time. That’s why? Because unfortunately in nowadays, we hear so much bad news which makes us that we can not trust anyone in any way. We were afraid of a stranger who is on the street could hurt us. As a woman, we could not choose to walk down the dark or uncrowded streets just in case we may come across an ill-minded stranger who could hurt us, especially in the evenings. But in fact this should not be the case. If only we, as a woman, or even as a human being, would not need to be afraid of the strangers. If everyone were a little bit more understanding and helpful, and if we put aside our selfishness and anger, we would not be so afraid of each other in this way. In addition, the COVID-19 virus has also made us strangers to each other. We can not meet with our relatives or although we do meet, we can not establish as sincere as before. (such as hugging, having a long conversation with each other ...) We also escaped from strangers outside since we do not know whether they have the virus or not. While we are about to protect our body health, I hope we will not disturb our mental health.

I complete my article here. The next question is for you: What do you think about this topic? Who do you think is the real stranger? What does the word stranger reminds you about? I want to talk together with you a little bit. I am waiting for your answers. 💐

 

The biggest reason for the formation of Gecekondu settlements is migration and the increase in the urban population accordingly. Since the beginning of the Gecekondu settlements, there have been thoughts about whether individuals who migrate and settle in Gecekondu’s can adapt to the city or be included in the class structure. This situation continues today. Discrimination occurs against people living in slums because a perception is created by labeling them, such as those who are generally underclass or people who do not have much in common. However, we are all human in essence. None of us has any difference. We do not choose the house where we will be born. Therefore, it is very wrong to judge people based on where they were born and raised. Let's not forget that in the exams that will direct our lives, such as high school or university exams, people who live in Gecekondu and similar places, who do not have large-scale opportunities, often come first. One of the biggest reasons for this is that such people see these exams as a method by which they can prove themselves in order to have a say in the society and to prove that they are much more successful than most of us by working under difficult conditions. We understand from here that instead of judging each other based on where we live, our family or our appearance, we should get rid of our prejudices and unite.

This is the end of this post. What do you think about this topic? I am waiting for your answers. 💐

 

What is graffiti? First of all, let's talk about this briefly. Graffiti is a graffiti or drawings that are usually done in places that most people can easily see. We can encounter graffiti, whether it is big or small, in most places in the city. I usually come across the more minimal ones or the ones in the form of text only. I guess I have never seen a carefully crafted, large and colorful graffiti alive before. This situation may be due to the city where I live. Maybe it will be different in elsewhere. If you ask me whether I support graffiti making or not, I can say no in some cases, although most of the cases I will say yes. Because if I see such graffiti somewhere, I probably can't help but be impressed by this art. But we must also think in terms of the owner of that wall. I don't know how I would welcome someone to come and paint the wall of my shop. Of course, it can be remarkable and pleasant, but if I am doing a more formal job, it might disturb me. Therefore, I think it would be better to do these works on empty walls that generally do not have an owner, in order to please both sides.

 

This is the end of this post. Have you seen a graffiti before & did you like it? What do you think about this topic? I am waiting for your answers. 💐

First, let's talk about what is the main difference between security and safety meanings. While safety means like being protected against unwanted problems, security means like being protected against possible problems that can ocur expectedly. To enrich with an example, the place where we feel safest is usually our own house or our own car. Because our home is where we live, our car is also a special vehicle belonging to us, and both are areas we know and can be comfortable with. As soon as we close and lock our door, we know that most likely there will be no problem. On the other hand, security can be defined as taking such preventions against possible bad situations for us. For example, security checks in shopping malls or subway entrances and exits can be given as examples. It is a protection that is taken in advance to minimize the damage against a possible danger and will continue as long as we are in there and can be intervened immediately in the slightest adverse situation.

Here we are at the end of this post. What do you think about this topic? Are there any other examples you could give? Let’s discuss together. 💐

First of all, let's briefly talk about what is urban transformation. Urban transformation is the reconstruction and restoration of structures in certain areas of a city that are under risky conditions. We always see this in movies like; a contractor who wants to urban regenerate an old neighborhood comes and says that he/she wants to demolish and rebuild the houses in the neighborhood and promise that when they have rebuilt the neighborhood, they will give the rights to stay there to people who are already living there. While many people approve of this, generally the main characters in the movie don't want their neighborhood to change. The reason for this is because they know that when their neighborhoods change, they also need to change themselves or they need to leave the neighborhood. Because when a place is renewed, it will attract more attention. When it attracts more attention, the living conditions there will be harsher. If the people living there cannot adapt to this situation, they will become strangers in their own neighborhood and will no longer feel belonging there.

Do you think the same way about this subject? Let me know in the comments! 💐

 

First of all, what does it mean when we say Garden City? Briefly, Garden City is an urban planning method. In our world that is getting more and more complex, we missed seeing a little more calm and appealing looks. Nowadays, in newly built buildings, parks, or gardens, it is important to make the landscape more calm, peaceful, and ordered. The fact that these structures are built in proportion and harmony is more appealing to the eye. This both leads to more aesthetic appearances and thus enables us to attain a calmness in the complexity that I mentioned at the beginning. This serenity I mentioned is a situation that many of us need and long for in busy city life. I support this kind of urban planning to be preferred and used more frequently. We all need a place to spend time quietly and away from the chaos.

 

And what does it remind you when I say Garden Cities? Do you think the same way about this subject? Let's share in the comments! 💐

First of all, let's talk about what a carbon footprint is. The carbon footprint is a degree of the harm that human sports purpose to the surroundings in phrases of the quantity of greenhouse gases produced, measured in devices of carbon dioxide. In an online test, my carbon footprint was 100% according the test. Of course, it is very important that this value is as low as possible. So, how to reduce it? We actually need to embrace some simple things. For instance, if it is not necessary, we need to turn off the lights and unplug the unnecessary devices. Unless it is very necessary, public transportation, or even transportation such as cycling or walking, should be preferred instead of using private vehicles. Also, we need to use reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles. With these small changes, we can both save money and the environment. So, let’s start making some change! 

https://footprint.wwf.org.uk by following this link, you can also learn your carbon footprint.

Let me know your result and thoughts if you take the questionnaire. 💐

Municipalities generally have certain duties to perform. Some of them are as follows: they are responsible for the collection of garbage in cities. They ensure that structures such as parks, overpasses and bridges are built in necessary places. Along with these, they not only help to reduce problems such as air pollution and environmental pollution, but also ensure that our environmental landscape is more orderly and appealing to the eye. In addition to these, there are also social service and assistance duties. They provide aid to the needy according to the basic materials they need, such as wood, coal, food, supplies and stationery. They assist families of soldiers in need, provide care for the elderly, and provide tuition and scholarships to students in need. All of these are the consequences of the social responsibilities that a municipality should have. In my opinion, municipalities that fulfill these requirements will achieve more efficient results and offer a more sustainable life for the public. 

Are there any other responsibilities that you want municipalities to undertake? Waiting for your comments. 💐