For this photo essay, I’ve decided to shoot my friend Berk who is 21 years old and he is also from Turkey. He is one of my best friends and I first met him at the first day of our college. He is studying Electrics and Electronics Engineering and Economics so he is always very stressful. He decided to come to NYC for the exchange program like me. “Coming to NYC changed my life” he says. He’s taken only economics classes in here, so his schedule was pretty easy when you compare it with his past years’. So he had a lot of time for himself for this semester. Apart from all these, he learned that he has a cyst on his right foot. So his mother came right away to NYC to see the doctor and Berk herself. Now, Berk goes to physiotherapy twice a week in the Upper East Side and he’s going to have an operation from his foot most probably this summer. Other than that, he loves going to concerts, exploring new cuisines and meeting with new people also new cultures.
This is Berk under his favourite tree at Hudson River Park. He says that “This park is the only quiet place that I can find in Manhattan, that’s why I always come here.”
When he is late for the doctor, taking a cab is his only chance.
Berk is waiting with other patients and he says that “This place is very depressive, everyone is old and sick.”
Despite his troubled foot, he still gives the seats for the elderly people.
He loves to explore new cuisines and food
He loves listening music and exploring lesser known musicians. “This was my favourite concert of all time.” he says
Since he has a passion about music he decided to join the Sofar NYC as a volunteer. In this picture Berk is sitting at the front and controlling social media for his volunteering job. “Nothing better than a free concert” he says.
Basak and Berk are at Central Park. His closest friend made a surprise visit. “It was the most shocking time of my life” he says.
Berk’s he keeps these pictures all the time. Some of the pictures from Turkey and some of them are from NYC. “I collected so many memories” he says.
“In the future I want to be here, I want to work in Wall Street” he says.
According to doctor, Berk shouldn’t smoke cigarettes but he says that smoking is one of the few things that he really enjoys in his life.
Berk is now packing for returning back to Turkey. “I never want to leave this city, people living in NYC are so lucky having all these freedom in their usual environment.” he says.
