Meet Julian, OIA Administrative Officer
The Administrative Officer for International Affairs at UC Merced, Julian Luke is originally from Atwater and is a UC Merced alum with a bachelor's degree in cognitive science. Julian's route to OIA went through a peer advisor position to Bilkent University in Central Turkey, through the 2020 Project, and back to OIA at UC Merced.
In 2016, Julian studied abroad through the UC Education Abroad Program in spring 2016 in Ankara, Turkey.
Below we interviewed Julian, added some photos from his time abroad, and pulled some of his quotes from the past.
Craig: What drew you to Turkey? Why do you think students should study in Turkey or similar countries?
Julian: What drew me to Turkey is that I was always interested in studying abroad in a country that wasn’t as common where students would visit, and I was always fascinated in the religious history of the country. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I wanted to participate in a place that would be completely different than what I was used to and also wanted to learn a third language. In addition, I was fortunate to be a Peer Advisor at the Office of International Affairs during my undergraduate time at UC Merced since it allowed me to learn more about the program from my study abroad advisor and student returnees who previously studied abroad in Turkey. I hope students are able to participate in any potential study abroad opportunities in Turkey to learn more about the country.
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Above: Julian in Ankara, Turkey, where he studied at Bilkent University as a UC Merced undergraduate Below: Julian in Nevşehir, an ancient site in Central Turkey |
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"Studying abroad in Turkey enabled me to get out of my comfort zone and develop a better sense of self. In addition to studying abroad, I have had the great pleasure being able to help support our students, and be part of a great team here at UC Merced!"
Craig: Based on your experience, how do you think your life has been improved because of having studied abroad?
Julian: I believe life has improved due to studying abroad for the reason that it helps you stand out as a candidate for potential job openings and also makes you more culturally aware. It’s always a good conversation starter during an interview and it sparked an interest in me to want to explore more countries in the world. Although I had not been to any other countries despite Mexico and Turkey at this time, studying abroad allowed me to want to get to know even more about my own culture and heritage by visiting different parts in Mexico.
On what Julian learned abroad, culturally:
I was able to learn more about a culture that I wasn’t exposed to locally in the United States and was able to develop a better perspective on the importance of customs. Another important experience that I found was that I was able to develop relationships with others despite the differences in culture and learning ways that one would greet another along with gestures that one should do and should not do.
Craig: What do you miss most from your time abroad?
Julian: What I miss the most are the friends that were made, the food, and also the people! In addition, there are a lot of beautiful places to visit there and I would say there’s a lot of historical significance to learn. Turkey has a lot to see and hope to one day return for continued exploration.
Stop by and say hello to Julian. Feel free to ask about studying abroad in the Middle East or about his personal experience.
