https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary Nilüfer's Diary en-us 2021-03-08 16:04:03 UTC 2021-06-10 19:37:31 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f973.png nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1311313599 There is a saying among the people that it is to live the moment and feel the rhythm. I understand this phrase more and more as time passes. As people grow, their responsibilities and jobs increase. It interferes with the intensity of daily life and cannot live in the moment. Returning home from work or school, or in any activity, we cannot feel others because we are focused on a certain thing. 

For example, on the way home by public vehicle, we look out of the window and think about what we will do later, but we cannot see the speed of the people outside, the beauty of the environment, we cannot feel the conditions and feelings of the people on the bus. However, I think it is very important to be aware of the beauties around and to feel them and it will be very good for our soul. Because we all get lost in life trying to catch up. Sometimes the smell of hot coffee, sometimes the sound of a bird, sometimes even the smile of a passing person can change our whole day. As writer Henri Lefebvre said, these are actually the rhythms of the city. Of course, these rhythms change according to the times and from which window we view the city. Sometimes the sounds of traffic and horn create the rhythm, while sometimes the laughter of two couples passing by creates the rhythm. So can we feel these rhythms by looking at a photo? Maybe, but never quite, because feeling the rhythm is something that happens with all our emotions, by smelling, seeing, hearing ... But by actually feeling it. 

If I had to give an example from myself, I used to think that the rain was not a nice thing, we had to go under somewhere when it rained, we should never get wet. Because the people around me would do that. But one day, when I was listening to music with my headphones and walking on the road, it started to rain and I continued walking. I calmly watched the hectic escapes of the people. I watched the raindrops hitting the ground one by one, the waves they formed as they hit the ground. Finally, I took off my headset, listened to the rain, and continued walking. At that moment, I remember feeling the city completely. And I actually realized that getting wet isn't such a bad thing. Since that time whenever it rains, I open my window and breathe in that smell of rain and watch outside. Or I prefer to go out and walk in the rain. Sometimes with music, sometimes just with the sound of rain. This makes me feel extremely calm and happy. In fact, I once read that there is a scientific explanation that drops of water hitting our body relax us. This is the reason why we relax after taking a shower. Ever since I learned this information, I was more and more aware of the sensation of the drops of water hitting my body.

If you are reading this now, try walking when it rains, you can be sure that you will be more relaxed when you come back. I know people look at beautiful rainy videos or photos and say how beautiful it is, but I can't understand why they can't really catch that rhythm. People often prefer to watch the lives of others, including me, on youtube or any other platform. We spend our day caring for others, but we cannot live our own moment instead of watching them. We cannot fully observe and live in the city we are in. There are those who live, of course, I admire them too, but I think we should focus a little more on our own lives and discover the flavors of life. The only time we have is now and I think we should spend every moment feeling it. 

In this respect, I agree with Lefebvre in terms of Seen from the Window that. Instead of keeping the moment for later, I think we should feel it with everything. With its smell, its color, its appearance, the feeling it has left .. Because the moment we have is now, and if we focus, we can catch that rhythm.]]> 2021-03-15 15:36:51 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1311313599 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1311473131 As with many things, people have prejudices within cities. For example, when we say Arab Cities, some people think of them as backward cities. However, it also includes the most developed cities of the world, although there are some undeveloped ones. According to Yasser Elshestawy, who is the author of this article I read, cities are divided into categories among themselves. For example, traditional ones and new ones, like cairo and doha. 

In fact, until recently I knew Arab cities as backward cities. Of course, I don't mean wealth by backwardness. Because when people think of Arabs, gold, palaces, rich upper class people come to mind. But besides this, I have heard that they are not very clean and women cannot interfere in business life very much. (Of course I don't think it is correct to generalize, I just wanted to emphasize that this is the idea that awakens in people's minds. I wish we could classify people according to their race. For example, women were recently given the right to obtain a driver's license. But in other countries, this right for women has already existed for a long time. When I said underdeveloped country, I talked about situations like this. At the same time, these cities are called cities that are bound by their traditions and living with their past. 

On the other hand, there are cities in Arab countries, such as Dubai and Doha, which I was just learning about. I often saw photos of people taken in Dubai on social media, it might sound funny, but for some reason I never thought it might be an Arab city. Because it surprised me that one of the most developed cities in the world is an Arab city. 

Although these backward and developed cities have the same geographical features, we can see the differences in their current situation. In the article I read, Yasser Elshestawy touched on this issue. The author also points out the importance of global citizenship and that it will make up cities like these developed cities, the author says that cities experience the same problems and the bonds between them will develop when they seek solutions together, and I totally agree with the author.]]> 2021-03-15 16:05:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1311473131 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1391973998 In this article, I will talk about what kind of changes the covid pandemic has caused in our lives and especially its effects on myself.

First of all, we encountered this pandemic, which has been going on for more than a year, at an unexpected moment and the whole world stopped. Our schools took a break, everyone was closed to their homes. And since we hadn't encountered anything of this degree before, we didn't know what to do. While this slow world and life at home were good for some people, it caused some to become depressed. I'm not sure which applies to me, but I guess I'm closer to the depressed side.

It has been a year since now, we got used to it a little more. Even when I say we got used to it, I get upset because we don't know how long it will take and we are all very overwhelmed. Let me talk about the difficulties and changes I have experienced during this period.

First of all, we had to switch to online education, and this situation challenged me. Especially in the early days, it was really difficult to attend classes remotely and try to be motivated without leaving home. At the same time, with the intensity of the lessons and the state of the world, I remember that I always cried once in a while.

Another problem, which particularly impressed me the most, was the decline in my social circle. Over time, I started to talk less and less with my school friends. Because we could only talk by texting, and that was less and less. Even though we were talking on the phone with my close friends all the time, I always thought that we were not as close as before. After a while, the epidemic decreased a little more and we all started going out, but we were only meeting in open air. I think most of my friends wanted to meet in cafes now because they were tired of meeting outdoors. But I'm still afraid to go to cafes because of my family. In the past, I would go to my friends by public transportation whenever I wanted, but since I don't use public transport and I don't have a car, I can't do that either. This distance I feel with my friends is one of the issues that upset me the most.

Finally, the government determined different going out times for certain age groups. Therefore, unfortunately, I can barely meet any of my grandparents with whom I normally meet very often.

Hopefully, the covid will be over as soon as possible and we will have our old happiness and even better days.]]> 2021-04-07 15:27:58 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1391973998 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1432242141 There are situations in our lives where we all feel as a stranger, or there are strangers we come across during the day. So why do we see these people as strangers, what are the things that differentiate them?

Someone who came from another country and now lives in a new country may be a stranger for the locals. Or, simply, when we enter a new environment or sometimes a difference we have visually, or even our beliefs are enough to make us strangers. While most of us experience the same situation, unfortunately, we cannot put ourselves in the shoes of the people we see as strangers and think about what they are going through. We are getting more polarized and alienated day by day.

When we meet a person of a race that we have never encountered before, it may of course be different because we do not know his/her language or have not heard of that country before. And these people are strangers to us and I don't think it's a bad thing. But if it still seems unfamiliar to us after meeting these people and living in the same city, I think there is a problem. Because we need to accept each other with our differences and know that we are all the same. None of us is superior to any of us, we are just different and this is very normal.

I have many friends of different races and I try to communicate with all of them whenever I have time. Because I like to know different cultures and I am very curious about people’s living experiences in different countries. At first they become strangers to me, but later as I realize what we have in common, even if we do not have anything in common, I realize we are not different at all as we share something with each other. Sometimes we forget that our differences make us whole and that we are all human. I hope we all realize that we can all be strangers depending on the situation and that this is normal, there is nothing to differentiate. If we try to get to know strangers, they are no longer strangers in our eyes and they can feel more belonging to the city they live in.. ]]> 2021-04-19 09:26:20 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1432242141 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1501790628 I think we all have a prejudice when it comes to slums. Of course, it would not be correct to generalize, but as far as I can see around me, it is true that we are prejudiced. So why? Why do we sort people according to where they live?

Unfortunately, we live in a country with a very unfair income system. I do not know other countries very much, since I do not live, I can easily say this for my own country. This is why most people do not make enough money, even if they work hard, but some can make billions with very little effort. For this reason, people sometimes may not be able to choose their place of residence as they wish. People are forced to live in a place according to their income level. But this should not show that they are in any social inferiority. Although the number of slums has decreased over the years, it is still quite common today. For example, the building I live in is a new building, but there are many slums around us. What I noticed over the years that I lived in this building was that my friends in the building were afraid of the people in the slums. I don't know, maybe it was because of an incident they went through, but still I don't think it's a situation to be afraid of. We all live in the same area and the building difference should not be enough to separate us. Over the years, the slums next to our building are being demolished and new buildings are being built. And suddenly these people are expected to change their way of life. I don't think they want to continue their lives in the slums, but they still need to get enough money and social support to get out of here. But I am not sure if they are given enough money and support. I think this situation will force them again.

I wish everyone had a certain level of living income and they wouldn't have to be segregated like that and they wouldn't have that much difficulty.]]> 2021-05-07 11:14:39 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1501790628 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1573366111 Do you like or support graffiti?

For years, we see many written or painted walls around us while walking on the road or when a vehicle is going somewhere. Well, have you ever stopped and examined these walls, has there ever been a wall that changes your mood or feels like art? Or have you ever stood in front of it and examined it? I did it and I've always been tempted to do graffiti on a wall. I think that graffiti is an art for me, something that beautifies the city and gives visual pleasure to people. But I also believe that, as with most graffiti, it should convey a message.

Because if we draw something on the wall just because we want it, it will cause visual pollution rather than art. Everywhere is littered with graffiti. Of course, when I say messages need to be given, I am not talking about slandering the walls in political or similar events or protests. I am especially against this kind of graffiti. Graffiti should also appeal to the eye while giving a message. Because although the message of a graffiti is beautiful, if it visually makes the city ugly, I think it's useless.

For me, it would be nice to see some artistic graffiti that make our day beautiful. Art is always beautiful, in whatever form.]]> 2021-05-31 10:54:13 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1573366111 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1573396686 Have you ever thought of urban transformation from the perspective of those living in the transforming area?

Urban Transformation is a situation that is increasing day by day. Because as the world develops, countries and their cities try to keep up with the developing world. One way is through construction and the establishment of new neighborhoods. From this angle it seems like everything is fine, but is it really so?

Have you ever thought about what the situation was like for those who live in these areas? In fact, most people living in these regions do not want urban transformation. Because the house or slum and their environment will change and they will have to adapt to it. This adaptation process is not an easy one for them. Because all of a sudden, these people are told that their houses will be demolished and maybe not enough support is provided. They do not think whether they will be able to get used to this newly formed neighborhood, whether they will need financial and moral support, or whether there is any help that can be provided. Maybe they won't be able to provide the financial strength to live here in the long run after this transformation.

I hope people's lives are not played with more in order to beautify the city. After making sure that the necessary support is provided, Urban Transformation is carried out.]]> 2021-05-31 11:17:20 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1573396686 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599016521
Have you ever heard of what a carbon footprint is? I thought it was a real footprint when I first heard it, but it's not actually. We all actually have a carbon footprint that we leave on the world, and that's actually not a good thing at all. Maybe we can't completely destroy our carbon footprints, but the less we leave, the better. The carbon footprint is actually the harmful carbon gases we leave to the nature, and we do this in many indirect ways. As the amount of carbon in nature increases, the living space of living things shrinks, global warming increases and we are making the world increasingly uninhabitable. Our waters are running low, the world is getting warmer and drier. Even the air when we open the window to get fresh air is no longer clean. We are destroying the world with our own hands. 
So how do we do this? Now I will give you a few examples and you will be very surprised and upset. For example, we all know that exhaust from cars and gases from unfiltered factories pollute the air. But perhaps you have never thought that even a fruit we buy pollutes the air and leaves a carbon footprint on the world. The reason for this is, for example, if the food we buy is grown in another country, it means that it comes to our country by planes or other vehicles. In this case, the more we take, the more planes will go and go, and the amount of carbon released into the air will increase. In many ways, we leave a bad mark on the world without realizing it. For example, in class, a friend of mine told us that she went vegan to reduce her carbon footprint. I think it's an excellent step. I hope we all become aware of this and learn how we leave a bad mark on nature and act carefully.]]> 2021-06-10 16:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599016521 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599105603
Do you think feeling safe and being safe are the same thing?

I often think about this question. Maybe I don't feel safe because I'm not really safe, but they trick me like I'm safe. For example, femicides are constantly occurring in our country and this situation is increasing day by day. But the people who will protect us, namely security, may not be able to protect us completely. So how can I feel safe in this situation?

If we leave these aside, what I want to say is that safety and security are not the same thing. Safety is what I actually feel. So safety is feeling safe whether I am safe or not. Security, on the other hand, is the protection of someone else, an organization or a certain power. It is clear where we are actually safe with Security, but it is not clear if we look at the term Safety. Because safety differs from person to person, and everyone can feel safe somewhere else and with someone else. But back to the beginning of the article, security is something that should make us feel safe and hopefully they will prove to us that we are safe. At the same time, femicides in our country decrease, those who commit murder receive the necessary punishment and we can breathe a little easier.]]> 2021-06-10 16:53:39 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599105603 nnurgulec https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599464525
Today, thousands of people live and work as precarity. In the video we watched in the lesson, it was mentioned that Zara and several companies were working without paying their workers and that these workers were sick because their work also harmed them. But these workers continue to do their jobs, perhaps because they have no other choice and in the hope that they will one day get paid. For these workers, we must make our voices heard and do what we can. I remember hearing about this incident years ago and was very sad, but unfortunately it still continues. The worst part is that the companies we shop with the most do this. Obviously, this situation will continue if we do not raise our voices and join forces as a people. I don't know if it's enough to interrupt our shopping or share this situation on social media. But I hope we get something. Although we live in 2021, it is very sad that people are insecure and forced to do so. On top of that, it's even sadder that they get sick and die because of their job (jeans grinding). I hope we can do something and maybe a law will be related to the precarity issue.

If you can think of something that can be done about this issue, please write your opinion.]]> 2021-06-10 19:31:34 UTC https://padlet.com/nnurgulec/CIT330_Course_Diary/wish/1599464525