Turkish & Ottoman Studies Program | Near Eastern Languages & Civilization | University of Washington
Turkey in Seattle : an Oral History Project
Kuzey Buyukyildiz, born on February 23, 2003, in Bellevue, Washington, spent his early childhood in Bellevue before moving to Ankara, Turkey, where he lived for about eight years, attending elementary and middle school. Kuzey then returned to the U.S. for high school and has lived in Seattle ever since. He is currently a () in the University of Washington studying CS, a career choice he attributes to his fathers influence and passion for video games. Growing up moving between Turkey and Seattle was difficult for Kuzey, he had trouble overcoming language barriers and making friends. He connected with the Turkish community in Bellevue upon returning to the U.S., finding friends through shared interests like cars and video games. Although less active in the Turkish community during college, Kuzey maintains ties with it through the UW Turkish community where he helps (lead the club? Citation needed). Kuzey identifies as Turkish, not Turkish American, claiming that Turkey is where he feels he truly belongs.. He plans to spend more time in Turkey post-graduation, ideally living there for part of the year while maintaining his career in the U.S.