Utku

Travel information

I am currently

Description

Having studied plant sciences for one and a half years strengtened my passion for sustainability. I learned primarily about its importance for our food security and safety from environmental hazards. These cannot be overstated, yet it impacts our lives in many other ways as well. Through maintaining global to local ecosystems, through preventing droughts and torrents, by keeping our bodies clean from microplastics and toxins, and in just about every other way imaginable.

Currently I am studying computer science as this better aligns with my skills. Now still the impression my studies of plant science left on me are apparent in my vision for the IT-industry. I believe programming can and should be done sustainably, limiting our carbon footprint by avoiding the use of AI and to develop green-hosted alternatives.

I've made it my mission to research how the IT-industry can become more sustainable and to encourage other programmers to do so as well.

While I Iove doing this work, looking at a computer screen for so long does get tiring on the eyes, and I often miss working with plants as I did before. This is why I love going out in nature. Seeing the mechanisms I learned about in biology classes out in the world fascinates me. Seeing how animals interact with eachother to maintain their ecosystem reminds me that I'm part of it, which I tend to forget sitting behind a screen. I've also yet to find something as beautiful as a real sunset on a computer. How simple that might sound, it reminds me that out in nature is where I truly want to be.

It's unfortunate then that the best way I can protect nature is from behind a computer screen. It's further unfortunate that my contribution thereto is not so easily measurable, and thus not very fulfilling. To fill this gap I would love to work on sustainability projects 'out in the real world', working with my bare hands, learning new skills and feeling like I'm making a real difference.

Interests

Events & social

Technology

Sustainability

Movies & TV

Farming

Culture

Music

Drawing & painting

Cooking & food

Mountain

Hiking

Nature

Languages spoken

English: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Turkish: Intermediate
French: Beginner

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Charity Work

Eco Projects

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Helping around the house

House sitting

Art Projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Teaching

Languages

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Some knowledge of:  

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

My parents grew up in a turkish village and taught me some of the skills they learned there, like pickling vegetables and making yoghurt. On vacation in Turkey I would frequently help harvesting hazelnuts, and my mom would teach me how to make the most delicious baklava with them.

My dad could not say goodbye to the farm-life. In the Netherlands he started renting a plot of land to grow his own crops on. I would occasionaly help him, planting seedlings or carrying the giant pumpkins he managed to grow.

In Rotterdam I worked at a local market, cleaning herrings, frying fish and selling them. The work was hard but I enjoyed it. The variety of work and the amount of new skills to learn was engaging. Conversing with customers and meeting new people was also very enjoyable.

This experience translated well to hospitality where I continued improving my social skills, and also learned how to make a tasty capuccino.

Age

25

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements