Öznur Başaran Zihl
About Öznur Başaran Zihli
my mom is a very hard working person. She is kind, caring and also very hard working. To find her, you probably have to go to her office inside the house or her office in langelstwin.
Firstly, where are you from?
‘I grew up in a small town on the east coast of Turkey, uh, which is also known by the ancient Troy history. Troy story.’
Okay. Interesting. What was the economical situation for your family? Please explain
Uh, it was, and still is, it is a middle class family where only, uh, my, my father was working. Uh, my mom was never, uh, you know,she didn't work at all. Um, but it's kind of a self-sufficient, um, family where my mom was also let's say, um, doing the, um, a lot of stuff for us. So, so, you know, a very, very typical middle class family.
What are some strong memories, good or bad about growing up there?Too small, not too big on the sea coast. Uh, very nice summers, um, a nice community feeling. Um, so I think it's, it's overall very nice. The only, or diverse thing is the that I was blue. I, I, I, I will fly one day.
Did your parents have time for you or were they usually busy?
No, they always have time for me and maybe because my mom was not working. Um, and my dad was, was kind of also quite interested, uh, you know, with us.Okay. Um, how did you like going to school in a small cityUh, I, I, um, after the fifth grade I had, um, there's an examination in Turkey and I was successful. So I went to a state school, uh, which only, um, that the successful kids, um, can go. So it was, um, although it's in a small city, the quality of education was good. Also it's a seven year school. So you can build relationship friendship, uh, strong friendship actually throughout that seven year. So you start the school when you were still a kid actually, and then you graduate, uh, when you are a teenager, even, even yeah, 18 years old.
How was it like living in a small city by the seaside? Do you miss it, pleaseExplain.
I do. I do miss it because, as I said, it's, it's, there's a community feeling. Um, it's, uh, also naturally, uh, a kind of a nice place to be in. Um, and maybe one day when I retire, I may still return back to my hometown.When you went away to university, what, what are the memories of where you moved to?So I moved from Istanbul and this is kind of, um, funny because, you know, in Turkey there are two, uh, bot forests, which connect the agency and the black city. And, uh, Istanbul also has, uh, and my hometown has a boss forest. So they are, you know, geograph very similar cities, various, uh, you know, population side I think is one of the
Have you ever felt targeted for being a woman or being from Turkey?Please explain.
No, never. And, and I think that's kind of, uh, um, uh, kind of a misperception Turkey that women, uh, are not always treated that's yes or no, because especially on the Asian and, and the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, let's say the, um, best coast. Um, the culture, uh, is different than the, or, or east side of Turkey. And, um, where I was growing up, the women are always from, they, uh, kind of have a voice, uh, in the family, in the community. And so that's why I never felt inside of me that I am a woman, and I'm less, I have less power. And I believe when you, as a woman feel that you are powered and powered, then nobody makes you feel that you are less, less, uh, capable. Interesting.
“If you told her where she was from was a small city, she would tell you it is not. .”
-Öznur Başaran Zihli
Did your parents have time for you or were they usually busy?
No, they always have time for me and maybe because my mom was not working. Um, and my dad was, was kind of also quite interested, uh, you know, with us.Okay. Um, how did you like going to school in a small cityUh, I, I, um, after the fifth grade I had, um, there's an examination in Turkey and I was successful. So I went to a state school, uh, which only, um, that the successful kids, um, can go. So it was, um, although it's in a small city, the quality of education was good. Also it's a seven year school. So you can build relationship friendship, uh, strong friendship actually throughout that seven year. So you start the school when you were still a kid actually, and then you graduate, uh, when you are a teenager, even, even yeah, 18 years old.
How was it like living in a small city by the seaside? Do you miss it, pleaseExplain.
I do. I do miss it because, as I said, it's, it's, there's a community feeling. Um, it's, uh, also naturally, uh, a kind of a nice place to be in. Um, and maybe one day when I retire, I may still return back to my hometown.When you went away to university, what, what are the memories of where you moved to?So I moved from Istanbul and this is kind of, um, funny because, biggest cities in the world. Not only in Turkey actually. So, there was a scale difference, so everything was bigger, more crowded, um, more opportunities, but at the same time more challenges
Have you felt that it is that privilege to be living in Switzerland? Please explain.
I would not say privilege. Maybe we can say it is, uh, safe. Nice. One of the best places is to be living, but I don't think it's a privilege . It's um, every country has its, um, opportunities and challenges, difficulties at the same time. So Switzerland is a very stable country. Uh, various Turkey is quiet, um, unstable politically, economically, but that also gives you a lot of, um, not a different skill set. It makes you stronger. It gives, uh, it gives you a different, uh, perspective. Um, you're more resilient and, and I believe the, uh, the, uh, skillset that, or the capabilities that I have because I'm Turkish and I grow in, in Turkey has also, um, is making me maybe more, more, uh, successful in business life.
“ Although it's in a small city, the quality of education was good.”
