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FAMILY
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I am a 31-year old Turkish girl from Nicosia in North Cyprus. This territory contains a small, tightly knit community of only about 200 thousand people. I have four sisters, three of which are older than me.
My parents are in their very early sixties, but have been married nearly 44 years. They grew up in quite a small village - at a time when schools had not yet become widespread - so their formal education never proceeded beyond the primary stage. Nevertheless, they were determined that their daughters should be given the opportunity to complete not just secondary school, but also to gain a university degree. And they succeeded very commendably: all five of us graduated from universities. I studied English language teaching in Ankara. My youngest sister even went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Pure Mathematics.
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INTERESTS
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I enjoy reading - particularly when that leads to learning something new. I am a part-time English teacher. Out of doors, my favourite occupation is swimming, but my main interest lies in studying international affairs. I would love to do a Master's Degree in that subject, perhaps in the USA, if the opportunity ever arose. I work as a journalist at a semi-official radio station here, monitoring the BBC and other overseas services.
NORTH CYPRUS
The outside world regards the Cyprus question as still unresolved, not recognising Turkey's forcible partition of the island in 1974. However, it can at least be said that strife and bloodshed are being minimised through keeping the Greek and Turkish communities apart. This can actually be described as a peaceful equilibrium, certainly when compared with the turmoil and suffering in so many other countries round the world.
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MY BLINDNESS
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My vision is only about one to two percent, because I suffer from RETINOSA PIGMENTOSA. It started to affect me when I was seven, and by the time I turned twenty one I was unable to read any books or magazines. At that time, I had still not completed my degree, but managed to pass the final examinations. Facilities for blind people here (and in Turkey) are not particularly good, although I have been able to acquire a voice synthesiser with which I can use my computer and explore the Internet.
My philosophy is that we should be thankful for what God has given us, and try and make the best of it. I have accepted my blindness.
E-mail: [email protected]
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