As a graduate student in Turkish Studies at Sabancı University, Nur conducted an oral history interview with E. about his migration to the Netherlands.
Nur:
"Having the chance to talk to E. about his plans to leave Turkey and work in Northern Europe was a very inspiring experience for me. It was my first-time interviewing with someone, and I was very nervous however I managed to finalize the project with the enthusiasm to find out more on the issue of migration. I think the most impressive part of Oral History is the special connection you have with your interviewee while he tells you many personal details about himself sincerely and with the trust that you would not judge him. In today’s world such communication between people, talking to each other face to face is a rare occasion and I find it similar to being naked in front of someone else thinking from our era’s mentality."
From the interview:
“Well, I don’t know, I mean a peaceful environment, where ideas can be discussed, a trust culture, not being scared while on the streets, sharing ideas freely… I am afraid to share my ideas even with friends and these are not such people, I mean they wouldn’t react in a judging way, if I tell a Muslim friend that the evolution and Islam doesn’t conflict with each other, he won’t say ‘what do you mean they don’t!’ or anything, yet he won’t take me seriously either because here discussing ideas is not a thing, there’s no such culture.”
In this project, the interviewee preferred to remain anonymous.