Can you imagine to live just one floor above the AEGEE office? Ok, for CD members that is their everyday life, but it also true for Enes Furkan Kurt from AEGEE-Istanbul. After being active in AEGEE-Istanbul he is now ready for the next step: joining the Network Commission. You will see him running for that position on the Agora stage in Bucharest.
Golden Times: Where would you be now if you hadn’t joined AEGEE?
Enes Furkan Kurt: Well, there were some options. But I would be a person who visited only two or three countries! Besides this, I would definitely have a typical engineer life, working possibly in Russia, somewhere in Siberia… [smiling]
GT: How did you join AEGEE exactly? How did you find out about it?
Enes: It was an advice from a friend. My friend suggested me to go to the AEGEE-Istanbul office together. I never asked where we were going. These days I was staying at a dormitory, on the first floor, and it was my second year at the dormitory. Then, I realized that we went to my dormitory on the ground floor. There was the office of AEGEE-Istanbul!
GT: How long did it take you from the first moment until you signed the membership form and joined AEGEE?
Enes: It took me approximately five months. Because I was curious about Summer Universities and willing to go to my first international event in AEGEE.
GT: What’s the typical drink & food you bring to European Nights?
Enes: I never miss Turkish delight because I love it. I never miss baklava too because I also love it. My table is always based on sweet stuff from Turkey. As a typical drink, I serve a huge amount of cocktails!
GT: At an AEGEE party where will we find you? On the dancefloor? Talking at the bar?
Enes (laughing): You can find me at the bar queue waiting if I am missing.
GT: What was your first position in the local board?
Enes: 2.5 years after I became a member, I got elected as Vice-President.
GT: What was your favourite event as organiser – and why is it your favourite?
Enes: Definitely Agora Istanbul! I have never seen so many people’s sacrifice at the same time. I experieced an amazing teamwork and friendship and also had the chance to live in my apartment with core team members!
GT: What was your first Agora and how did you feel there? Happy, excited, overwhelmed, lost?
Enes: My first Agora was in Chisinau in 2016. I was really excited, but I did not show my excitement much to other people. Moreover, I felt lucky because I realized that I am a member of a huge network where people share common values.
GT: Have you ever hitchhiked to an AEGEE event?
Enes: No, because I like to fly! I also find opportunities every time to fly in the cheapest way.
GT: Do you like cooking and what’s your favourite dish you like to cook?
Enes: I do not only like to create a sweet table for European Nights, I also love to cook desserts. My favourite one is “souffle.” It is really hard to cook, because if you leave it one minute more than needed in the oven, you would indeed cook a cake!
GT: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Enes: For me, breakfast is a holy meal. That is why I am also lucky that I have the opportunity to have Turkish breakfast anytime I want. Related to that, I always have three or four kinds of cheese, egg and sausage.
GT: What do your parents think about the idea that you are so active in AEGEE?
Enes (laughing): I think it is up to how you tell your parents about AEGEE. Since they are now my financial support, they have the right to ask why I am so active. I always tell them the consequences and impact of the event I am joining to my life so that they are happy. I can also mention that they are happy that I balance AEGEE life with my academic career.
GT: In a typology of members there are the three aspects fun member, career member and idealist – to which percentage are you which of these aspects?
Enes: Definitely a fun member – I would say to 50%. It is not because I love just the fun part of AEGEE. If I have to do something serious or important, I try doing it in an entertaining way. This is how I became an active member too and I am thankful to AEGEE that it is reducing the huge amount of academic pressure on my shoulders. I would also say I am a career member to 30% and an idealist to 20%.
GT: What other hobbies do you have aside from AEGEE?
Enes: I love electronic dance music. I am also good at tennis and cannot miss any tennis match of Novak Djokovic as he is my idol! I am also familiar with football, especially when it comes to the World Cup and Die Mannschaft. I also like to read academic articles and science fiction books.
GT: What do you study – and why?
Enes: I have finished my bachelor in Mechanical Engineering. I chose this field because I think it is one of the fields that you can actually find your own creative way. Nowadays, I am studying my Master in the field on Energy Planning and Management because I want to work on how we can use energy more effectively.
GT: What’s your dream job?
Enes: To become a DJ. They are good at bringing people together and help them enjoy the moment without any more thoughts. I find it quite unique.
GT: What’s the favourite city or place on this planet you ever visited?
Enes: Because of the amazing food and coffee culture, many local bars, and the amazing AEGEE local, I would definitely say Lviv is my top place. I first went there for my fourth SU. I liked it there so much that I had to visit Lviv again, after three months .
GT: And where would you really like to go?
Enes: Before I die I am definitely sure that I will go at least once in my life to Boom in Belgium, to join the most amazing music festival for me: Tomorrowland – hopefully in 2020!
GT: What’s your biggest frustration in AEGEE?
Enes: I could not participate in Agora Catania.
GT: Please complete the sentence: “AEGEE is for me…”
Enes: AEGEE is for me borderless friendship.
GT: How would you describe yourself in a few keywords?
Enes: I am a calm and a sarcastic person who is versatile when it comes to working, and easy-going when it comes to socializing.
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