Dear Students and Staff, The beginning of this editorial is devoted to all of those in the medical profession and especially the representatives of this profession who offer their services (on a contractual basis) at EMU Health Center. The Hippocrates Oath, is one of the earliest codes of ethics and based firmly on the qualities of human dignity, religious responsibility, ethical conduct and upholding the sacredness of the medical profession. It is an oath that every physician should ceremoniously recite before starting their medical profession. At its heart, lies the doctor’s sense of responsibility to his/her patient no matter who they are, where they come from or their economic status. Whether you are serving people at a hospital, your own private clinic or the EMU Health Center, remem-
ber that the Hippocratic Oath begins with a solemn pledge to Apollo and the other gods to serve mankind to the best of your ability and with professional dignity. It ends with “While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times. BUT SHOULD I TRESPASS AND VIOLATE THIS OATH, MAY THE REVERSE BE MY LOT!” Now on a much lighter note, I would like to share with readers my Love Affair with Paulo Coelho… I try to remember when he came into my life. It was a grizzly London afternoon, with gray skies and rain.As I sat on my brother’s brown leather couch, staring at the HSBC building dominating the Canary Wharf skyline, I remembered my brother and Yelda raving on about a Brazilian author a few nights ago at dinner. I quickly got up and headed for the bookcase in my brother’s room.
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There he was, a row of books bound in warm inviting colours. I read through the titles but nothing seemed to grab my attention. In fact my mind was on the hours of shopping I was missing out on because of the rain. You might be saying “ Since when does rain stop a person from going shopping?” Well if you have hair like mine (which shrivels up to a quarter of its length in the rain) and a cat’s aversion to water, it would. The flat was clean, tonight’s dinner had been prepared and there was nothing else to do. So I made myself a strong cup of tea, grabbed all the novels and spread them out on the coffeetable. Most of the blurbs stated “ from the author who has touched the hearts of millions of people…worldwide….”. Oh yeah ! How many times have I bought a book based on “fab reviews” on the blurb, only to find that it was a total literary disaster.......... n
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Spring: 2006
Children of the Revolution EMU 1999-2006
I
came to North Cyprus in 1999.Today it’s 2006. No- I am not one of those amazingly durable students who are in their tenth year in Cyprus and only their second semester at uni. I came to North Cyprus in 1999; that exciting year leading up to the new millennium. It didn’t turn out to be as
Norouz Celebrations Page 3
seen them. Not surprisingly, the foreign boys were another story; they had the privilege of having travelled long before us and some had even established families and homes before our arrival. Still, they could be pointed out from passing cars and counted on fingers.
exciting as I was expecting. The reason for this is not the much lamented lack of entertainment in North Cyprus, but, the fact that the promised millennium revolution never materialized, neither here nor anywhere else in the world. And so, we headed back to class the next day in
yesterday’s clothes, taking up the textbook from where we left off the century before. In those days, along with my sister and a handful of other foreign students, we were some of the first ‘brown’ foreign girls to come to EMU, or at least, so it seemed. Sure, there where rumours of others, but we hadn’t
A Taste of the Middle East
Train to Heaven...
Mother Africa
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Spring 2006
CAMPUS NEWS - CAMPUS NEWS - CAMPUS NEWS - CAMPUS NEWS - CAMPUS NEWS 150 new English novels to hit the EMU library shelves
We take our hats off to Mr.Osman Soykan, Director of EMU library and his staff for their efforts to improve library services. Avid readers know that getting your hands on a good English novel in North Cyprus, is a task in itself. 150 new English novels will be awaiting eager bookworms in 40 days time…..the Harry Potter Series, Dan Brown, Paulo Coelho, Maeve Binchy, Patricia Cornwall…..and many more contemporary writers and their bestsellers. Remember, if you want to see your favourite writer or book in the EMU library, just send an email to the International Center.
967 new EMU graduates
The 2005-2006 Fall convocation ceremony was held on February 13th, 2006 at Lala Mustafa Pasa Sports Complex. It was a joyous occasion for 967 students who had the honour of receiving their hard earned diplomas; not to mention the pride felt by their parents and lecturers who supported them throughout their 4 year marathon at EMU.
US ambassador visits EMU
The honorable Ronald .L.Schicher, US amabassador to Cyprus and his entourage visited EMU on the 18th of April, 2006, to meet with the Rector, tour the campus and meet with US citizens studying and working at EMU. The ambassador was particularly interested in the American Corner that has been set up in the EMU library.
Greek Cypriot politician speaks at a conference at EMU
Mr Michalis Papapetru, Chairman of the United Democrats, a political party which is based in the South of the island, participated in a conference titled “Prospects for a Reunified Cyprus”
which was organized by the EMU Cyprus Policy Center. In his speech, Mr Papapetru invited both communities to establish stronger links and dialogue.
Iranian delegation visits EMU
Distinguished scholars from Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran visited the university in early February to lay the groundwork for academic collaboration between the two universities.
New Student Activity Center
The Vice Rector’s Office for Student Affairs, the Students’ Activity Center and Student Clubs have all moved to their new offices which are situated in the building which formerly belonged to the Education Faculty and which is in a more central location than before.
Annual Tourism Festival 31st March, 2006
The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management have once again pulled off another successful tourism festival.Various stands were set up by different societies and clubs at EMU. Stage performances and dances, gave students a chance to unwind before the exam period.
Roll out the red carpet for the EMU African Awards Nights
LXG (League of Xtra-ordinary Gentlemen) a social club affiliated to the Nigerian community on campus presented the 2nd African awards night. Categories included Best Couple, Miss Boootylicious, Miss Congeniality, Most famous African (won by Somali from the International Centre), Mr. Sophisticated to name a few. Such award nights serves as motivation for excellence in both academic and social life.
1st EMU Second Hand Bazaar
Electrical goods, jewelry, clothes, handbags, books, computer parts and food were just some of the goodies on sale at the “secondhand bazaar” organized by the Faculty of Communication. A good number of students and locals turned out at the event. In particular, it was a golden chance for students graduating in February to generate some money from the items they had accumulated over the years.
EMU Soloists Group perform at Bellapais Abbey
Students and lecturers from the EMU Department of Music gave a classical music recital in the famous Bellapais Abbey in Kyrenia.Music lovers had the chance to listen to the works of Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven, Paganini, Shostakovich and Frolov. The program was organized by Prof. Mateja Marinkovich who lectured at the Royal Academy of Music before coming to EMU.
Welcome Party for new Pakistani Students
EMU Pakistani Society arranged a welcome party at a local restaurant for new Pakistani students arriving at EMU for the spring semester. The President of the society is quoted as saying “…this kind of gatherings are important for new students, as it’s a great chance to socialize with fellow nationals and to get your bearings…”
Countdown for the Olympix
EMU Olympix kicks off with a grand opening ceremony at EMU stadium on the 25th of April. 18 countries will be participating in the Olympix in 8 major fields of sports.The first day of competition will be in the field of athletics.
SPYING on SPIKE
There I was, standing in a mob of people. There were elbows digging into my sides, people were grabbing at my backpack and shoulders, trying to pull me backwards. The people who were in front of me were doing their best not to be pulled backward. The scene could only be described as mass chaos. Friends were yelling at their friends, who were farther ahead in the mob. It was everyone for himself, just trying to get to that magic table where you could get your card stamped. This was an experience from my very first SPIKE event. SPIKE is a program with great potential. It stands for Socio-Cultural Professional Industrial Knowledge Experience. In theory, it’s a great idea about giving students a more well rounded education by holding seminars both inside and outside their departments. However, SPIKE leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the way it is carried out. I have to admit that, since this is my first year here, I have only been to a limited number of SPIKE events. My close friends and I have attended about of 35 SPIKE events in the past seven months. We have noticed that there are certain “patterns” that are present in almost every one of those SPIKE events. One of SPIKES’ strengths is that they are offered both in English and Turkish. This attribute is almost negated, as it is impossi-
ble to hear what the speaker is saying because he or she is drowned out by conversations going on amongst students. This is not only incredibly disrespectful to the guest speaker, but it also defeats the purpose of even having SPIKE events. This problem could be fixed by having monitors move throughout the students, especially those who did not arrive early enough to get seats. If people are not quiet, they need to be ushered out. If we as students are not allowed to disrupt other classes with our conversation, then why should this go on at SPIKE events, where guest speakers are left with negative impressions of Eastern Mediterranean University. Another one of SPIKE’s major shortcomings is the lack of regulation and enforcement regarding both attendance and the stamping process. Often students show up for the last ten minutes of SPIKE, or worse, just send their SPIKE cards with their friends to get stamps. When the SPIKE finishes, usually there is a mob around the few people that are stamping. Often you will see a single person having several SPIKE cards in their hands and getting every card stamped. I have also been approached by friends of mine to get their cards stamped. I am not accusing anyone of cheating, but I am just saying that we have a responsibility as students to preserve the integrity of
not only the institute we are studying at, but also—and much more importantly—to preserve our own integrity by refusing to participate in this blatant form of deceit. One possible way to seriously limit the opportunities for deception is by having organized, exit routes with staff to make sure that students exit in an orderly way. If there were single file lines to the Teaching Assistants with the stamps, and each student was only allowed to get one card stamped, the opportunity for cheating would be almost eliminated. This would cultivate a much quieter and more relaxed atmosphere. Also, this would make departure from the SPIKE event much quicker and so
much more efficient. I believe that EMU should work to improve its SPIKE program. This program is a wonderful idea, and I know that I have benefited from attending a few well-run SPIKE events. However, this program is nowhere near as beneficial to the students as it could be, to say nothing of the impression that some of our SPIKE events leave on guests of the university. Some of the best SPIKE events that I have been at and heard about are in the tourism department, where the director, Dr. Mehmet Altınay personally presides and ensures both organization and efficiency. The burden does not only lie with the faculty, staff, and adminis-
tration of EMU. We as students have a responsibility to do everything we can to help this university portray itself as an educational institute of high quality. Not only is this the right thing to do, but, it will also benefits us in the long term. If EMU continues to develop as a reputable academic option, we will only benefit from having a degree from here on our resumes. There are many ways that we as students can do this. One small way is to do our part to contribute to making SPIKE the quality program it has the potential to become.
Jake Zauche USA
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Azerbaijan: ‘Fire of Norouz’ l
The Norouz New Year celebrations which were once forbidden under Soviet rule are now happily celebrated by the people of Azerbaijan…
One of the most beloved holidays for Azerbaijanis is Norouz, which is celebrated on March 20 -21. For Azerbaijanis, Norouz indicates the beginning of Spring and is associated with many traditions. Before the holiday arrives, women do a major annual housecleaning. Two or three weeks before the big event, most families start to grow a plate of "samani" ("sabzi" in Iran) - which are sprouted grains, such as wheat or lentils. The green symbolizes their hope for an abundant harvest in the coming year. Norouz is a favorite holiday because of the special home-made pastries that are prepared (shakarbura, shorgoghal, and pakhlava / baklava). Pilaf (rice) is one of the main dishes for the Norouz dinner. Also plates of "govurgha" (toasted wheat) are mixed with nuts (mainly walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and chestnuts) and placed on the table along with the sweets. "Khoncha" (a tray with sweets, nuts fruits and dyed eggs) is a traditional holiday table setting. Sour or bitter things are never placed on the khoncha. Samani is always the dominant feature of the setting. In Iran (where an estimated 25 to 30 million Azerbaijanis live) the families traditionally prepare a holiday table that includes seven items ("haft sin") which start with the Persian letter "sin" or "s". However, this practice is not followed in the Republic any more, perhaps due to the fact that during much of the Soviet period (1920-1991),
Norouz was officially banned and the tradition may have been lost. Norouz is known as the time of year when people try to mend broken relations with each other; especially if they have quarreled during the past year and are not on speaking terms. So, this holiday is a chance to renew friendships and to strengthen relationships. That's why Norouz is associated with love. Families visit each other and take home-made pastries and sweets as gifts. Young people go out of their way to visit and pay respect to elder members of the community. Some Norouz traditions are associated with superstition. The most famous is "gapipusdu". Young girls make a wish and then go to listen at a neighbors' door. According to the nature of the first word they hear, the girl will interpret whether her wish is likely to come true or not. Children especially love this holiday and can hardly wait for it to come. In addition to enjoying many home-made sweets and getting new clothes, they love the tradition of "papagatdi". This practice is similar to Halloween in the West but simpler. Children join their friends to place their hats in front of their neighbors' doors, knock and run away to hide. When the owner opens the door, they see the caps and usually fill them with sweets, toasted wheat, candy and fruits, which the children share amongst themselves.
Another favorite activity for kids, is jumping over bonfires on the Tuesday prior to the start of Norouz. They say this symbolizes leaving pain and grief behind and starting the new year afresh. Norouz was forbidden during the Soviet regime because it was considered a national holiday that is specific to only a minority and not the entire USSR. Therefore, it was perceived as devisive. Now that Azerbaijan gained its independence in late 1991, the holiday has been revived and is celebrated openly in the streets once again. No one knows how old this holiday is. Most people would say this wonderful holiday has been celebrated for hundreds, perhaps, even thousands of years. In Cyprus This year Azerbaijani students celebrated Norouz with teachers from Azerbaijan and the Kazakhstan Students Society. In order to feel as if they were back home on this special occasion, the students cooked their own traditional meals.Different poems concerning the first day of spring and national dances were performed. As a symbol of the holiday, a fire was built. All students were dancing the national dance “yalli” and jumping over the fire…… Rana Kangarli Azerbaijan
Haft Sin Table
New Year in the Middle of Spring l
Right at the entrance to Beach Club, I was covered with the magical aura of Norouz. I felt as if I was at the realm of a great fortune teller, who surrounded herself with mystical objects and was ready to start with her alchemical tricks. Garlic, fish, vinegar, apples, coins, wheat, pudding, flowers ….. where am I?I was probably witnessing one of the miracles that are supposed to happen on New Years Eve? Or at least that’s what they told us when we were children … What year is this? Definitely not 2006 but 1385 as I hear from the people around….
It is Norouz, the Iranian New Year, and the mystical objects at the entrance have nothing to do with a witch’s magic. It is, Haft Sin – the tradition of setting up a table with items symbolizing seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them – love, patience, rebirth, affluence and so on. “Every family attempts to set a Haft Sin table as beautiful as they can”, someone whispers into my ear, “The table setting carries not only a special spiritual meaning, but is also noticed by visitors coming to the house during Norouz. It also serves as a reflection of their good taste”. Suddenly, a loud noise overshadows the whisperings of the stranger… 10, 9, 8, 7……1…., people are counting the last 10 seconds of the previous year and once Norouz was announced, the celebrations started in full swing with lots of kisses and shouting. I sat silently observing a happy crowd and was thinking that this is a perfect time for Santa Claus to appear. And.. he did ! In a typical red Santa Claus dress with an oriental twist. But what a face – completely black! No,
this was not an African student invited to play the role of Iranian Santa Claus, neither was it a man who fell out of the chimney, covered in black soot. No! His name is Haji Firouz, a male troubadour, who in ancient times used to appear in public and announce the coming of the New Year. He symbolizes the rebirth of the Sumerian god of sacrifice, who was killed at the end of each year and reborn at the beginning of the New Year. “But why is his face black ? ”, I ask my neighbors at the table, “He is supposed to spread good cheer of the coming New Year, not scare people with his black face.” Firouz, according to tradition, is a spirit who protects the dead and was part of the celebrations welcoming the dead ancestors, hence his face is symbollically painted in black”. “Norouz has been celebrated for at least 3000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian belief system. No wonder that everything has a meaning and symbol in this magic hall”, I was thinking to myself. Before going home, I heard several people mentioning number 13 and honestly was
slightly scared of this superstitious number. Later I learned that number 13 means the 13th day after the New Year celebrations. For the next 12 days people visit old relatives and friends and on the 13th day go outdoors, usually for a picnic. I didn’t sign my name to join the Iranian students for a picnic to Kantara, but I secretly took a flower and one coin from that Haft Sin magic table to ensure that I will have another miracle next year - right in the middle of spring. Yana Boyko This article was prepared with the help of Shahbod Momeni
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Children of the Revolution EMU 1999-2006 n
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I remember when the Faculty of Communication was on the main campus and how the Internet Café under the CL building was big enough to house us all. Today, I work in the new Faculty of Communication on the south campus (although why the sun constantly shines through my window, I’ll never know) and so feel, as many of us here do, a little detached from the happenings and buzz of the main campus. But lethargy aside, I enjoy my occasional walk through the main campus to the starved eye’s hustle and bustle of Salamis Yolu. And every time I do, I am pleased and amazed at the visible multiculturalism that has devel-
I tried to recall the conversation at dinner that night. I couldn’t remember if they were praising the author in general, or a particular book of his. In the end, I decided to read his first bookthe Alchemist. It wasn’t so much the blurb that grabbed my attention, but the fact that the story took place in the Middle East. I have a fascination for the Middle East and worse case if the novel was terrible, I would be able to savour a few tidbits on Arabia. The Alchemist is a novel about a shepard boy’s journey into the desert and his encounter with an Alchemist. A novel that took me only a few hours to read. I was mesmerized and glued to my seat. As I turned the last page, I suddenly realized what it was all about. At first I found his writing style to be a refreshing change from the authors that I am used to reading. However, it was just at the end that I understood the real magic in his books. It wasn’t about the quest to turn metal into gold. He was telling the reader “to follow the dream”. This realization made me go back through the pages, pondering on his words and sentences, pulling them in all directions, asking myself how he knew my darkest thoughts and desires. He kept me home the next day. I couldn’t get enough of him. He presented an uncanny insight into the deepest corners of the human mind. The questions we all pushed into our subconscious, the words we avoided saying, the times when stuck at the crossroads of life, the road up a dead end street. Playing me like a finely tuned piano, touching chords that I never knew existed, wiping away the tears, teaching me that its never too late, helping me to accept that everything has a reason, pushing my thoughts beyond their threshold. I took him home to Cyprus- every little bit of him. I introduced him to my friends. I memorized his every word and craved for more. I took him on holiday to Spain and Jordan, looked for him whilst shopping in the South. Missing him at work, dying to snuggle up with him in the evenings. He now shares my bedroom. Lying in his place of honour- on my bedside table. His words the last thing I see and feel before I drift off into total oblivion. Discover the magic of Paulo Coelho for yourself. You won’t be disappointed! In the meantime, spring is here. Shake off those winter cobwebs. Expand your horizons.The trees and flowers have blossomed once again as nature rejuvenates itself. Remember, we are part of that magical cycle and it’s never too late to start all over again. Asst. Prof. Dr. Salime Mehtap-Smadi Editor
oped on campus particularly over the last two years; foreign students everywhere…I begin counting…then give up…it used to be so easy in 1999 to put a name to a face. In 1999, most of the foreign students came to EMU though the main communication medium which was word-of-mouth- the technical name for the grapevine, which in those days, extended along well worn routes to certain countries such as Sudan, Pakistan and Arabia. Today, with the university’s international campaigns, recruiting offices, steadily growing number of alumni and wealth of multi-cultural activities once students arrive at EMU, foreign students no longer come in apprehensive ones and twos, but in community-confident representations of their nations. We have, among others, little Persia, little Nigeria, little Sudan and little Pakistan who have added their various cultural flavours to the university and to North Cyprus. Ahh…North Cyprus…the little island in the Mediterranean…a corner of earth touched by heaven….one of the region’s best kept secrets. So many of us have traversed the globe in order to meet here. North Cyprus has become the melting pot of so many different cultures. By the way, I am told that there are even some U.S nationals on campus…perhaps since the turn of the century there has been a revolution after all. Suzannah Mirghani
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A Taste of the Middle East
Now sit back and relax, as we take you on a magical carpet ride to the land of Ali Baba, desert oases, the aroma of freshly brewed qahwa and the intoxicating smell of the hubblybubbly( nargile). A vista of endless sand dunes, the exotic movements of a belly dancer, the muezzins call to prayer. Ahlan wa Sahlan……….. Welcome to the delights of the Middle East. Arabic cuisine has its roots in Bedouin cooking. This Bedouin influence was broadened as caravans journeyed throughout the Middle East. The Lebanese had the greatest influence on Arabic cuisine, resulting in the highly diverse and exotic food and drink culture we know today. Arabs are famous for their hospitality and now we definitely know why! The evening bought together students from the Middle East who are studying at different universities across the island not to mention a large crowd of international students and lecturers who were curious to learn more about this neighbouring region and its customs. Guest students from Palestine who are studying at Near East performed the traditional Arabic dance called the “dabki”. Dabki, is an Arabic word meaning "tread" or "stamp". This word typifies the style of this dance, since all variations include some type of stamping or treading. Some say the dabki suggests the closeness of the Arab people with the earth. The dabki danced in Arab villages is a traditional folkdance, whose unknown origin is unknown, yet so widespread that it’s an integral part of life in the Middle East. Diala Abu Sabah from Jordan (MC of the night) encouraged the crowd in Arabic and English to join in on the dancing. It wasn’t long before the dance floor was overtaken by students of all nationalities performing their “personalized” style of the dabki amidst high pitched ululations from the Arab students.Their performance was followed by a dance show by the Iranian Society and members of the Gulf Society. And the food……. Tabbouleh, Magloubeh, Falafel...... foodVenice that was cooked and Grand The Canal, served by EMU students was enough to feed an
army. Reflecting the typical Arabic notion that a guest should eat to his heart’s desire and leave the table completely full, yet, the table should have plenty more left - in case…... For the Arabs, food appeals to all the senses and it is important to satiate the eye as well as the palate. Yet, my gluttony had me thinking of other Middle East favourites that could have been on the table such as; Mansaf, Warak dawali, Manaqish, Fatayer and Kunafe. I think I will join them in the kitchen next time they hold such a night. There are so many delicacies to share. Some say that coffee originated in Ethiopia, others in Yemen; a country in the Middle East? Arabic coffee contains cardamom, a spice known for its digestive properties and thus, a must after meals. Unfortunately, I had to wait
until I got home to have a ”fincan qahwa.” But, what a better way to work off the calories and jolt the digestive system into action, than by hitting the dance floor, and rhythmically snaking your body into a 100 different figuresas called for by the beat of the music of the Middle East!! Here is a quick recipe for one of my favourite Arabic appetizers( mezzeh). Baba Ghannouj ( Moutabal)- Aubergine dip Ingredients: 1 large aubergine 1 clove garlic, crushed 3 tablespoons of tahini 2 tablespoons of lemon juice 2 tablespoons of yoghurt A dash of salt Preheat oven to 1800C. Place aubergine on
a baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes until the outer skin is burned and the inside becomes soft. After the aubergine has cooled down, split it open by slashing down the center. Scope the flesh out into a bowl and throw away the skin.Next add the garlic, salt, lemon, yoghurt and tahini and mash the mixture with the back of a fork, until you have a smooth consistency. Alternatively, you may pulse all ingredients in a food blender. Spoon the mixture onto a dish and drizzle on olive oil and some more lemon juice-if desired. Decorate with parsley or sweet red paprika. Serve with pita bread, chips or crackers. Sahten wa Afiye...... Dr.Salime Mehtap-Smadi
I’m proud to be from Pakistan Speeches, Slide Show Presentations, Songs, Fashion Show and Dances were the highlights of the night organized by the Pakistani Society in order to celebrate the National Day of Pakistan. Attended by three hundred people from various nationalities including guests from South Cyprus, the function was graced with the Pakistani multicolored traditional outfits worn by different people. The hall was
decorated with the flags of Pakistan along with green and white balloons and candles. One of the most interesting things about the night was that different clubs along with the society worked together to make the night a success- setting a good example for international cooperation. Assoc.Prof.Dr. Majid Hashemipour, the Coordinator of the International Center and Asst.
Prof Dr. Samil Erdogan, Advisor to the Rector, were guests of honour, while the President of the Society Ali Reza Mukhtar presided over the event. The event started with the National Anthem followed by some recitations from the Holy Quran by Hafiz Shahzad. Mr.Ahmed Shah, a Pakistani Phd student, gave a speech and emphasized the importance of the Day. After his speech, a documentary slide show about Pakistan which was designed by Mr. Syed Amjad Ali, another Pakistani PhD student, was displayed on the projector. Then Dr. Hashmipour shared some memories of his recent trip to Pakistan. After that, a token of gratitude was presented to the University on behalf of the Pakistani students and to the different clubs (Fashion Club, IR Club & Tourism Club), who worked with the Pakistani society on this occa-
sion and also various occasions in the past. The Fashion Show was the most colorful part of the evening, depicting the latest trends in the world of Pakistani fashion and organized by the EMU Fashion Club. Then members of the Turkish Folk Dance Club, performed a dance to symbolize the brotherly relationship between Pakistan and Turkey. After that, Pakistani students did a “Bhangra” dance and all the guests joined them on the dance floor. All guests were served a traditional Pakistani meal, consisting of Baryani, Chicken Masala and Gajar ka Halwa. Everyone enjoyed it immensely. The event ended up with students from all nationalities gathering at the university campus in order to dance along with their Pakistani friends. Pakistani Society
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Spring 2006
Train to Heaven… Easter 2006. Railway station. 7 pm. A few passengers are sitting on the platform waiting for the train to … heaven. Sounds strange? Well, for Christians celebrating the Easter this can be a very realistic scene. The holiday implies the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is believed to come again and take every true believer to heaven. Keeping this meaning of the holiday in their minds and hearts, the Christian students of EMU came to the EMU Cultural Center, to join the crowded railway station, or, without any metaphors, the Easter Celebration! If you are still confused as to what is the relation between Easter, a railway station and a train to heaven, then let us give you a more detailed explanation. The Christian students had a big concert with a drama performance called “Train to Heaven”, which was prepared in honor of the holiday. The drama was about the anticipation of Jesus’ return to earth. This message was expressively shown through allegorical representation of different passengers waiting for God’s train to come. They are all on the right platform, but the train they've heard about hasn't come for a
long time. Do they have to wait or take one of the many others? The problem with this mystical train is that it is not scheduled and the time is a little bit non-specific (yes, who knows exactly when Jesus is coming?) This fact makes people anxious making some of them take the wrong directions and even if the directions sound good, they get on the wrong train. “Express Train to a better world is now arriving on platform three”, says one of the announcements. It sounds more promising than the Train to Heaven and one of the passengers happily takes off and runs after the train. But……. “Due to a fatality, the better world train has been cancelled. In its place the 6:15 will stop at stations hopelessness, drugs, depression and the journey will terminate at self pity. Change at self pity for your mainline service to suicide”. The guy who took this train was definitely not expecting that… Easter is the season which gives us the hope that no matter what the circumstances are, everyone will be able to get on the right train. The joy-
ful voices of the gospel choir were delivering the same idea through singing and dancing. The choir conductor greeted the audience - “Come on, lift up your hands! Christ has risen”. No one hesitated to stand up, applaud and dance to the energetic melodies of Easter songs! The concert was open to every-
one; we had the visitors from all denominations and religious backgrounds, students and strangers who were passing by and got attracted by lively music coming from the old Nestorian church. Everyone seemed happy to join the Easter celebration. Interestingly enough, in the first part of the drama performance, the role of
A REPLY TO THE “CATS AND WOMEN” ARTICLE… Those of you who follow our newsletter, will remember Khalid’s interesting article on the parallels between the female and feline population , which was printed in our second edition. While the article bought chuckles to most sectors-especially the male population, it has also sparked protests of indignation from some of our female readers. Here is an unedited “feminine” reply to his article. I would like to thank Mr.Khalid for giving so many details on the DARK characteristics of cats. It is obvious that
he is a professional in CAT criteria and I cannot deny that. But, I am sorry to say that unfortunately, he has never found a chance to meet the BRIGHT side of the CAT or even a woman. May be it was not only about bad luck…..Anyway! As someone who adores cats and has been raised in a family known as cat lovers, I would like to add some more points: 1. Well, actually in all types of cat families, it is the female’s responsibility to go hunting and to feed the family.
So, why should the ‘feline’ ask a human (not the man!) to give her food? In parenthesis, I would like to add that it is not correct to compare the relation of woman to man as cat to human. 2. Cats are very clean and this attitude is always appreciated by any ordinary human being. In this way, women are proud to be compared to cats. 3. The female cat is in charge of taking care of the next generation and especially protecting them from the dangers around them. This sense of motherhood will never be dam-
aged even with the hardest attempts from the male side(to attract the mother for mating). She will always stay with her children until they are fully capable of pursuing their own lives. After that, she will look for the best mate she can find and isn’t this wise? However, human life is different from the animal world and our lifestyles are constantly changing. Today, women and men stand side by side in all fields including the highest level of science and technology. With so many better things to achieve in this world, maybe these kinds of topics (she vs he) should be filed away for times when we want to evaluate the different ways of thinking between men and women. Yes, Mr.Khalid, we women, never think of men as complex creatures that require some pretraining to manage; we accept them as they are and with whatever they have to offer. We believe that God first created men, because there is always a rough draft before every MASTERPIECE!!!! God bless you too……. Maryam Gharebaghi Master of Mechanical Engineering.
Jesus as well as some other roles were played by Turkish and Iranian students. It doesn’t really matter who or what you are - the most important thing is to get on the right train leading to…. heaven! Happy Easter time! Yana Boyko and Liliya Akhmadeeva
HAVE YOUR SAY If you are confused and want to share your views If you have complaints and suggestions for us to improve If you’re full of ideas and wish to express, Then this is the right and ideal place! Don’t hesitate and say what you’ve got to say We are ready to publish your critiques and ‘essays’ Your voice will be heard, no need to be shamed Just open your laptop and send us an Email! International.center@emu.edu.tr
POET’S CORNER
What is in the glass? We send our child to watch TV and leave us alone So they can find answers on their own And define what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’ We refuse to explain what is shown on the screen The child is confused and goes out to the street Where he tries to learn what it means. The naked images of Calvin Klein Is just a form, is just a glass What our child fills it with depends on us Gulnara Karimova Russia
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Spring 2006
The Big Fat Wedding Season
Are you ready to say “I DO” ? l Spring is the season of love… The mind is swirling…The blood is boiling…The time to look for a partner…The hunting season begins In this University, the chances of having a girlfriend or boyfriend of a nationality different from your own, is more than 90%. If it happens, then you will need to be prepared and know what to expect as you travel to the home country of your partner-for your dream wedding. Are you ready to take a virtual trip to the Middle East, China or Africa and get familiar with the customs and rituals at a traditional wedding. If yes, then don’t lose this chance… These countries, all have their own distinct wedding traditions. Some of them are more strictly adhered to than others, yet all of these countries have something in common: the bride and groom do not see each other before the wedding day… We start our trip with the Gulf Countries If you are an Arab male and you want to get married-then you better have a big fat bank account. It’s not easy to find a wife in the Arab world and a sure way of permanent bankruptcy. Fine pieces of jewelry, perfumes, silk materials, gifts for the family and piles of gold enough to fill a treasury are all presented to the bride on behalf of the groom. Don’t forget that in this culture, it is the poor groom that provides the dowry for the bride, not to mention the alimony you have to pay if you want to divorce. All of these matters are settled in advance, in a business like
way between the two respective fathers, so that they don’t cast a shadow over the wedding celebrations. The women have usually started celebrating from a few nights before with a traditional “Laylat Al Henna / Henna Night”- the Arab version of the western “bridal shower” where the bride’s hands and feet are decorated in lovely henna designs and everybody including the bride celebrates her last night as a singleton. Gulf weddings usually separate men and women and are known for their abundance of food, music and dance. While the groom is celebrating his wedding by having a heavy dinner in the men’s section, the bride is enjoying hers in the women’s section. The women’s side hires a deejay or a band and everyone dances till the groom finishes from the men’s section. When the groom arrives, he is usually escorted by his father. He sits next to the bride, cuts the cake and takes photos. Both are tired, feet are swollen and family members shed emotional tears.There is a permanently stretched smile on both of their faces. Both are eager to leave on their honeymoon-the beginning of a new life and the ultimate chance to get to know each other. Our next stop is China The night of the wedding… The bridal room… newlyweds see each other’s faces for the first time… The room is full of dragon and phoenix
candles to drive away the evil spirits; the newlyweds are drinking wine from two cups tied together with red string, their arms entwined. This is the formal wedding vow in the Chinese culture. Then the bride will be offered dumplings that are halfraw. The word “raw” in Chinese sounds the same as the word for “giving birth ” and is used as an indication of family prosperity. The traditional Chinese Wedding dress is called Qi Pao. It is of red color and printed with the design of a dragon and phoenix; the strong red color and dragons bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. A Chinese wedding is a wonderful, exciting ceremony full of games for both newlyweds and guests. Good news for those who plan to get married. You should do it THIS YEAR because according to the Chinese calendar THIS YEAR is the Wedding Year and thus, the best time to tie the knot. Let us now take you to Africa, particularly Nigeria. There is so much to tell about colourful African weddings, but we have decided to limit our description to some small parts of a traditional Nigerian wedding. The traditional wedding starts with the oldest man in the bride’s family breaking the cola nut. After breaking the cola nut, the bride’s father pours local wine into a cup and gives it to the girl. She takes the
cup and goes around the crowd to look for her groom. The trick here is to find the groom in the crowd of men all stretching their hands for that magic cup. When she finally finds her man, she kneels down in front of him and gives him the wine to drink. When the groom finishes drinking, she holds the man and brings him out of the crowd. During a traditional wedding, the bride changes her dress several times and plays a game of “guess who” with the groom, who often finds himself in a hopeless situation. In order to get money from the groom , the girl’s family switches the real bride with a false one; they cover the face of the girl with a veil so that it makes it difficult for the groom to identify whether it is the real bride or not. If the groom is unsure, he has to lift the veil that covers the lady’s
face- for a small fortune. For the groom to get the real bride back, he should pay the family money. And even if he pays, it is still not guaranteed that he will have his lady back. The process of replacing the real bride with the false one, can be repeated up to four times. Can you imagine how much money the groom pays on that day…just to have his sweetheart back! We hope you enjoyed this wedding trip. There is a lot more to add but we wish that you will experience the extra flavors from different wedding cultures in person. We wish you good luck in finding your life partner here…at EMU! Liliya Akhmadeeva The article was prepared with the help of Saeed Omar Al-Tamimi (United Arab Emirates), Yan Zou (China), Idowu Sholanke and Prince Joveluro (Nigeria),
We Will Win For Mother Africa! 8
The African football team is the first of its kind here at the Eastern Mediterranean University. The team comprises of talented players from all over the continent, who are studying in various departments at EMU. These guys have enough team spirit and zeal and are willing to go to any length to win a football match for Mother Africa. The team marked its first victory on the 1st of April, 2006, at the Lala Mustapha Pasha main football pitch, where they defeated the visiting team from Girne American University 5-0. And it was definitely not an April Fools joke! Rather, it was a victorious day for the EMU African team, who proved just how talented they are. A return leg match was played a week after in Girne at the PIA
Spring 2006
BELLA hotel pitch. This time the GAU school team was ready to tear the EMU African team apart. But with their natural football skills, the talented EMU African stars, performed magic by beating the GAU team at their home ground 4-0. The captain of the team is a talented student from the Business Department named Nosakiare Ogbeifun. The same African team will be going to the University of Lefke during the first week of May for a new series of football matches. WATCH OUT FOR THE AFRICAN TEAMS IN THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS. WE WILL SURPRISE YOU...
Samuel Abdullhi, Nigeria
AFRICAN DANCE PANORAMA AT EMU decale, and zouk, to the African traditional beat like afro juju and sometimes a little Caribbean music like dancehall and raga. The dances are taught in simplified ways, making it easy for people to grasp the different moves, turns and other body movements. It started as a simple exercise class with African music and dance but now the demand to learn the dances outside the exercise class has risen, making it more demanding for the African dance teacher Rasaq Sodienye
Ojewuyi. Our teacher is also a student of international relations and has put in a lot of energy to promote the African culture through dance, music, and poetry. He has been supported by the International Center and Ulli Lerner. The African Society with the help of the International Center, is now making plans to set up an African Dance and Culture Club which will further display the rich culture of the black continent. Habiba Nene Atta - Nigeria
AFRICA Come to the African dance classes
way (with so much enthusiasm and
on campus‌ Here, you can see
zeal). This is what the Eastern
how students from all parts of the
Mediterranean University offers to
world who have never been to
its students. Every Monday and
Africa, try to dance in the African
Tuesday at the Lala Mustafa Sports
Complex, people come together to do a session of fitness with African music and dance; ranging from the popular francophone songs like makossa, coupe
Africa my Africa Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs Africa of whom my grandmother sings On the banks of the distant river I have never known you But your blood flows in my veins Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields The blood of your sweat The sweat of your work The work of your slavery Africa, tell me Africa Is this your back that is bent This back that makes under the weight of humiliation This back trembling with red scars And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun But a grave voice answer me Impetuous child that tree young and strong That tree over there Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers That is your Africa springing up anew Springing up patiently, obstinately Whose fruit bit by bit acquire The bitter taste of liberty. David Diop
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Spring 2006
EMU Students Follow Hip Euro Designs In February, the Faculty of Architecture and the Department of Interior Architecture arranged the 5th technical trip to London and Paris.35 students and academic staff traveled to Europe to make the most of this chance to see different cultures and European modern design and architecture. In London, students visited the “Tate Modern Museum” and were fascinated by the Temporary Design exhibition. In the “Design Museum” and “British Museum” they became familiar with some designs and architectural heritages. One of the most interesting parts of this trip, was the visit to the London offices of the famous architect; “Zaha Hadid”. A Turkish Cypriot architect named Saffet K. Bekiroglu works for Hadid and was kind enough to show EMU students the latest architectural and interior designs created by the office.
Students also had the chance to do some sightseeing at Madame Tussauds, Big Ben, London Eye, Ice Bar, Planet Hollywood and Sarastro. The last three places are particularly important in terms of their interior design. In Paris, students visited some famous cultural places like the Pompidue museum which is designed by I.M.Pei, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, LeDefense, Grand Arc and Champs Elysees. The trip was a great chance to combine learning with lots of fun. We were delighted to have a firsthand chance to see architectural monuments that we only knew through books and the media. I hope that this trip has inspired everyone to show creative flare in their future designs. Rafooneh Mokhtarshahi Iran
DAU2.com – The First Step Towards Action l
Have things to sell? Perhaps you are looking for something you need? For second hand goods on EMU campus visit DAU2.com . . . Sounds familiar? This was our first motto to introduce DAU2 to the EMU community.
The idea dates back to Fall 2002, when I came to EMU to pursue my masters. At that time I needed to find a second hand monitor. The difficulty of finding a cheap used monitor made me think about having a service for students to buy and sell their used stuff easily, through a well organized service. In 2003, I stayed at EMU, the entire summer
vacation to work on DAU2.com; one of my friends also came from his country and stayed here for three weeks to help me with his programming ability. We prepared a very primitive version of the site, as a demonstration to the center that had promised us support, but, after more than a month of going and coming nothing happened. I got
really upset and disappointed. I also had financial problems for the web-hosting . So, I left the project unfinished. Two years later, in late summer 2005, I could finally manage to upload the test version of DAU2.com. Since then, many good friends of mine, students and academic members from dif-
ferent nationalities have supported me. I really owe them and here I take the opportunity to tell them: THANK YOU! You see how your support is fruitful? We hope that DAU2.com can be a medium to share your innovative ideas with others. We believe that There are many talented students that can show their abilities to academics and the industry. We noticed that We all have goods we never use and that can be given to somebody who really needs it. For example, there are many used text books that graduates lug back to their countries. These books can be sold to new students.
We found out that We have such a good network infrastructure; why not to use it better? We think that Its time to stop environmental pollution. Now, we can gradually stop hanging advertisements on the walls, windows and bus stops; instead, we can bring them all to a center like DAU2.com. We experienced that Innovation and creativity can bring elite people together, and make friendships that are fruitful for societies. We believe that There are a number of good ideas, here in our university, that are only one step behind action. What is missing ? COURAGE !!!.
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Spring 2006
EMU Spring Festival What do black cats and the number 13 have in common? I can hear you all saying Halloween, black magic, witches, superstition, Friday the 13th……Well, normally you would be right. But not this time. This year, these two symbols have come together for a joyous occasion of good food, music, dance and entertainment. The slinky black cat is the symbol for this year’s 13th EMU Spring Festival. The festival starts on 16th of May and continues till the 20th. The festival’s organizing committee are working round the clock to ensure that this year’s festival is even better than the last one. The “5K Fun Run” which is a traditional part of the Festival, kicks off on the morning of the 19th. Registration is free and each participant is given a complimentary T-shirt. Although it’s called a “run” you still have the option of walking, jogging or running. At the end of the day, it is all about having some fun - just as the name implies. Trophies and medals will be awarded to the winners of different categories.
ON THE G‹RNE HISTORY TRAIL On the 11th of March 2006, as part of spring semester orientation, the International Center sponsored a trip to Grine which included such sites as the St. Hilarion Castle, the Bellapais Abbey, and the Girne Castle. The trip was a wonderful success with over approximately 200 students. The four buses were overflowing with excited students from many different countries wanting to see the many sites of Girne. Our first site was the beautiful St.Hilarion Castle which lies at the peak of an enormous mountain. The weather was not very clear but it did not keep students from climbing to the top of the castle to take pictures of the view. The castle had many rooms and a majority of the castle walls were still stand-
ing. The castle is named after a hermit monk who fled the Holy Land to escape persecution. St Hilarion Castle was originally built by the Byzantines as a watch tower to give warning of approaching Arab pirates who launched a continuous series of raids on Cyprus and the coast of Anatolia. After we left St. Hilarion we went to the other side of Grine to see the Bellapais Abbey. It was built in the 14th century during the Lusignan period. This mountianious area, with its narrow streets and small houses has the look of a typical European village. Outside the abbey’s walls, students had the most beatuiful view of the Girne coast. The very blue Mediterranean Sea was staring back at us along with a wonderful green and yellow
sea of flowers on the vista below. The last place we went to on our tirp was to the city center of Girne, the harbor area and the Castle of Girne. Inside the city center there are many shops, resturants, cafes and lots and lots of tourists enjoying the winter sunshine. When we arrived, the students had the choice to wander around the city and the harbor alone or go on a tour inside the castle. The students divided themselves up and everyone went off on there own. The new students, were truly amazed at the wealth of historic sites that such a small island like Cyprus has to offer.
THE DIFFERENT FACES OF THE SUN
The sun that day, had different faces… since everyone was looking at it through different objects, like sunglasses, dark transparent notebook covers, plastic bags, the inside of floppy discs and even X-Ray films borrowed from the EMU Health Center. The creativity of students was endless. Surely, most of the teachers would wish to see the same ‘performance’ during class hours and exams. …Speaking about the exams and presentations…that day, some of them were even canceled because of the eclipse of the sun. It seemed that EMU campus was the main spot to observe how the moon covers the sun. The amount of cameras on campus was even more than students. They say that the next eclipse will happen only after a hundred years and we hope that even after hundred years, EMU will stay in the same place and serve the same purpose!
Andy’s Concert Veronica Masoud USA
Arash sings for Norouz in Cyprus l
Areé, areé, bahare…His songs are heard everywhere. There is no disco or party left in North Cyprus where his songs have not been played…
When I heard that the Iranian singer Arash is coming I couldn’t wait to attend his concert. The concert took place on the 29th of March as part of the Norouz festivities organized by Iranian students at EMU. Thousands of people were waiting for him to sing. The crowd was very colorful because there were people from different countries and nationalities. At 12 o’clock midnight Arash appeared on the stage and welcomed everybody in Persian. But what I liked the most is that, he spoke in English to welcome all the international people who came to see him and listen to his songs. That night the crowd was boiling with energy, singing, dancing and enjoying their time with Arash. For
me, I had a great time, and I will never forget that night because it was one of the best concerts in North Cyprus that I have gone to. Hania Amro, Palestine
Andy is a famous Iranian popstar who has toured extensively and whose concerts sell out all over the world. His popularity stretches from the United States to Europe and the Middle East. He has recorded more than 25 albums and sold over 60 million copies of his albums worldwide. On March 28, during the Norouz period, Andy was invited to perform in North Cyprus. Andy’s live concert lasted more than 3 hours, and over 800 students and families( many from South Cyprus) attended the concert. There were also many Tajik, Armenian and African students who got together with the Iranians to enjoy the Persian pop music. The next day, Andy visited the International Center where he had a chance to meet with some Iranian fans. He also visited a photography exhibition at the Communication Department which displayed the work of an Iranian photographer. While leaving the island, Andy said “Cyprus is an unbelievably beautiful place which I did not have any idea about before. But in the future, I will definitely return.”
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Spring 2006
HOME SWEET HOME
Nigeria
This is home sweet home, this is Nigeria. One cannot help but notice the growing number of African students on campus over the past two years. I wonder how many of you know about my country and what makes Nigeria so unique ? Nigeria, which is officially called the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Its neighbors are Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The lower course of the Niger River flows south through the western part of the country into the Gulf of Guinea. Swamps and mangrove forests border the southern coast; inland are hardwood forests. The estimated population in 2005 was 28,772,000. Did you know that…?
l Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, accounting for about one-fifth of the continent's people. It is very diverse, with more than 250 ethnic groups; the largest are the Yoruba, the Hausa, Fulani and the Ibo (Igbo) tribes. l The area known today as Nigeria has seen many great kingdoms develop and decline, such as the 15th century Kanem-Bornu, which rivalled Mali, and the Hausa and Yoruba empires of later eras. l Nigeria's vast reserves of oil make it an important member of OPEC and bring to mind the question of why the country is still in
debt? l Nigerian Climate is hot—averaging around 90 F degrees across much of the nation. Nigeria has two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. Each lasts about half the year. l The school year in Nigeria runs from January through December. Typically, there are three semesters, with a month off following each one. l Most schools have strict dress codes. Students are not only required to wear uniforms but there are also strict rules about hairstyles, jewelry and accessories. Play: l A board game called Ayo, played by two people using seeds and a board that has twelve cups, is widespread. So are checkers and hand-clapping games. l Soccer is a national craze in Nigeria, as it is in much of Africa. Volleyball, wrestling and boxing are also popular. Family: l Age earns respect in many families. As a mark of honor, an older sibling may be addressed as
“Senior Brother” or “Senior Sister” instead of their name. l Traditionally, most Nigerians lived in extended families, either within the same home or in separate homes clustered together. Signature foods: l Spicy pepper soup, made with onions, hot chili peppers and meat or fish. l Plantains (a member of the banana family), which can be fried, stewed with meat, toasted or made into pastries. Interesting animals: l The rare Sclater's guenon, a small (6–9 pound), wiry gray monkey that dwells in swamps and moist forests. l The West African manatee, a thousand-pound water mammal with small flippers and a mouth full of molars.
Unique holiday: l October 1 brings the biggest festival in Nigeria—Independence Day, which celebrates Nigeria's independence from Great Britain in 1960. The day begins with a presidential address and includes parades and festivities in all 36 Nigerian states. Things to Do and See: l Yankari Game Reserve is Nigeria's best park for observing wildlife. l At nearly 1000 years old, the mud-walled Muslim city of Kano is the oldest city in West Africa. l The Sacred Forest is a large area of rainforest on the outskirts of Oshogbo that houses the beautiful Shrine of Oshuno, the River Goddess. l Zuma rock at Abuja which is said to have a 'human face'.
My Nigerian Diary – Three Days of Wedding Fever *This diary was carefully read, modified and presented to you by Yana Boyko, so all the responsibility of any mismatching fully lies on her shoulders. Ajirioghene Oshobe Imagine not being at home for two good years and all of a sudden, you receive a call from the folks back home with an invitation for a wedding! My heart was leaping out of joy and anticipation of this event – ‘I am going HOME to see EVERYONE!’ My sister, who lives in USA, was going to get married and the whole family was supposed to get reunited for this event. 8:00 in the plane: You may ask how it feels to visit your country after not being there for quite a while. Yes, I was exited! Sitting in the plane, I felt that there, on the ground, millions of members of my extended family were thinking about me at the same moment as I was thinking about them. When the plane landed my heart was beating faster than 300 beats per minute. My only wish was not to be late for such a
grand event…. 14:00 after landing: It is my country! Everything seems so familiar. I am remembering the day when I was leaving Nigeria for Cyprus and one of my elder sisters was saying ‘HURRY UP, and don’t forget the bags’. I was repeating this phrase automatically … oh, yes, hurry up, hurry up….. Ajiri, you can not be late for your sister’s wedding! And… I WAS late! Not for an hour or two, but … for 7 good hours thanks to the ever so reliable Nigerian transportation system. I won’t tell you what I felt shaking in the bus on my way home… in fact this part of my diary is washed away with tears. 19:00 home sweet home: A crowd of exited folks went mad, just by seeing my head appear on the horizon. ‘Here he is’, they were shouting and then … tears, laughter, applause and so on and on …Well, at this time someone grasped my diary from my hand and handed me a plate of food instead. The long description of the family’s excite-
ment at meeting a returned Nigerian Cypriot, is lost to different Nigerian accents and foods. Second day morning: Next morning I was happy to find my diary lying peacefully under my pillow. For a moment I thought I would find it in a plate of food!!! And I continued writing: “Today was a hard day - I was cleaning dishes, washing laundry, peeling potatoes and could not even see any of my friends. All these sacrifices were done in honor of the preparation of the so called “white wedding”. My family was happy to have an extra helping hand (obviously the other million members of the family were not enough). Anyway, it was nice to spend the whole day in the sweetest home in the world. Third day - White wedding: The last day.There was a knock on my bedroom door and joyful shouts and music! My hands and legs were moving, but I tried to force myself to control them as much as I could. It was the bride who was supposed to be dancing in front of the people- NOT ME.
When the turn for giving gifts came, I rushed to be the first in the queue and hence, first for the traditional Nigerian dancing (oh, yeah, I missed it indeed!). I don’t remember how all these finished; but I do remember the cute faces of Nigerian girls dancing around me in their colorful dresses. It was the nicest last memory, I have. Well, I won’t repeat my mother’s concern about my bags, relatives waving goodbye to me at the airport and a flood of tears, watering the pages of my diary… Cyprus, EMU Ohhhh…Back to studies….Here I am now sitting in the exam, hiding my diary inside my jacket. Unfortunately, I can’t use it as a cheating sheet (I wish I could, especially after three days of the full wedding treatment and no books at all)… The Last Remark: My next trip to my homeland Nigeria will be after my graduation. I just hope and pray that at least one of my other 4 sisters will plan another wedding before that!
Salamis
In this edition, we take you just down the road from the University to the ancient ruins of the city of Salamis. The region of Enkomi (Tuzla)-Salamis is no doubt one of the most important archaeological areas in Cyprus and a mere five minutes drive from campus. The earliest archaeological finds go back to the 11th century BCE (Late Bronze Age III). A harbour and a cemetery from this period have been excavated. The town is mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions as one of the kingdoms of Ia'. The mythical founder of Salamis is believed to be Teucer, son of Telamon who could not return home after the Trojan war because he had failed to avenge his brother Ajax. According to legend Salamis was named after Teucer’s homeland that carries the same name and was situated just off the coast of Athens. In the ancient myth, the Nymph Salamina is the daughter of the Corinthian river Asopou and Koulouri. According to the myth , Address: Eastern Mediterranean University Tel: +90 392 630 2444 e-mail: international.center@emu.edu.tr http://ic.emu.edu.tr Printed at EMU Printing-house
Poseidon fell in love with Salamina and she gave birth to Cychreus the first king of the original Salamis who was half man, half fish. In 450 BC Salamis was the site of a simultaneous land and sea battles between Athens and the Persians. The history of Salamis during the early Archaic and Classical periods is reflected in the narrations of the Greek historian Herodotus and the speeches of the Greek orator Socrates. The city was then the capital of the island and led the other Cypriot cities in their efforts to liberate themselves from Persian rule. The most important ruler of the kingdom of Salamis was Evagoras (410–374 BC), who became ruler of the whole island, and won its independence from the Persian Empire. Under King Evagoras (411-374 BC) Greek culture and art flourished in the city. After Alexander the Great destroyed the Persian Empire, Ptolemy I of Egypt ruled the island of Cyprus. He forced the last king of Salamis,
Publisher: On behalf of Eastern Mediterranean University Rector
Prof. Dr. Halil Güven
Out and About
Nicocreon, who had been the Ptolemaic governor of the island, to commit suicide in 311 BCE. Nicocreon is supposed to be buried near Enkomi(Tuzla). In Roman times, Salamis was part of the Roman province of Cilicia. The town suffered heavily during the Jewish uprising of AD 116/117. Although Salamis ceased to be the capital of Cyprus from the Hellenistic period onwards (it was replaced by Paphos) its wealth and importance did not diminish. The city was particularly favoured by the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian who restored and established its public buildings. Several earthquakes led to the destruction of Salamis at the beginning of the 4th century. The town was rebuilt under the name of Constantia by Constantine II (337-361 AD) and became an Episcopal seat. Emperor Constantine II helped the Salaminians for the reconstruction of their city, by relieving them from paying taxes for a short period. Thus the new city, rebuilt Editor-in-Chief Asst. Prof. Dr. Salime Mehtap-Smadi Asst. Editor Meryem Ezel
Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Majid Hashemipour
on a smaller scale, was named Constantia. The deterioration of the harbour led to a gradual decline of the town. Salamis was finally abandoned during the Arab invasions of the 7th century AD and her inhabitants moved to Arsinoë (Famagusta). Most of the uncovered ruins date to the Roman period. A gymnasium, theatre, amphitheatre, stadium and public baths have been revealed as a result of the excavations that started in 1952. The amphitheatre, and the gymnasium have been extensively restored. Today, the ruins rub shoulders with a pine forest, public beach and dining facilities and a picnic area that is very popular with the locals all year round. The ancient amphitheatre is still used to host many open air local and international music performances, operas and ballets. Compiled by: Meryem Ezel Lecturer EMU Prep School News Coordinator Liliya Akhmadeeva
Layout Artist Hüseyin Pekün