Trainee Station in Istanbul: The Dynamic City which bridges Continents & Cultures

"Bir lisan, bir insan. Iki lisan, iki Insan." Let me translate this turkish saying: "Who knows one language is only one person; but who knows two languages is considered as two persons." This proverb can be understood as mutual understanding between cultures. The fact that my country of origin is Türkiye and that I more or less know the Turkish language was a real asset.

I had the incredible opportunity to embark on a four-month overseas adventure in Türkiye to support the Coorporate Finance (CF) department in Istanbul & Austria. I was additionally given the trust and responsibility working together with our Russian colleagues in Istanbul and also of executing commercial and financial tasks for our Russian Entity in Moscow. This experience opened doors to a world of cultural immersion and professional growth that I had only dreamed of. Continue reading the article if you want to know more about my personal highlights which I collected during my journey in the bustling heart of Istanbul and in other regions. Here are 4 reasons why Türkiye will exceed your expectations of an adventure abroad.

• Working on a global Carve-Out project

西门子 has a big history of Carve-Outs to sharpen the portfolio strategy, so I was pretty lucky that during my time at CF the Carve-Out of Innomotics in Turkey was scheduled. My primary tasks were the communication between the project team and the closing team, clarifying questions with business managers and monitoring the Finance and Accounting workstream in order to meet the deadlines of the project milestones. Thus, I got to know essential business processes in mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs and extended my network with valuable global experts within our company. I was also allowed to participate in the creation of the Carve-Out balance sheet and independently conducted test cases before and after the migration of the company data. At this point I need to say a big thank you to Gregor, because I couldn't have imagined a better station manager. He is the Head of Accounting and is responsible for the IFRS Reporting of the Turkish Entity. With his empathetic, patient and very professional way of working I learned a lot from him.

• Learning from really rare events

Vienna is about a two-hour flight from Kiev. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has a profound and devastating impact on the region, causing widespread suffering and displacement. Siemens has therefore decided to shut down its business in Russia.

As you might imagine, of course this does not happen overnight, EU-laws but also local national laws have to be strictly followed and the most suitable exit strategy needs to be defined - there are many factors which need to be considered carefully. Stefan Naderlinger , Head of Accounting Principles, Processes & Projects contacted me at the beginning of assignment and gave me a big leap of trust. During my time at CF, I was given the chance to carry out commercial activities for the Russian company. This included purchase orders, revenue recognition, taking care of the technical archiving of framework contracts and carrying out the technical part of fixed asset sales.

Our Russian colleagues also travelled to Istanbul to finish the last tasks for the regional company in Russia in order to prepare the exit. Since there are very strict requirements due to the sanctions (e.g. no operation any more of different credit cards companies) and of course also internal guidelines, I organized the business trips for my colleagues. This may seem like a simple task, but due to the external and internal regulations, there are many different stakeholders. Therefore I also had to coordinate external companies directly (e.g. hotels & transfer companies, or just to get in touch with restaurant). As you might know - Istanbul has a big population, it is three times the size of Austria - the population size amounts to about 22 millions unofficial, and 16 millions offical. Therefore patience is needed. Another Turkish saying come to my mind which fits to this kind of situations: "E?ek sudan gelene kadar", translated into english: "Until the donkey returns from the water." That means something like "How long should I wait?" and is intended to express that not everything runs quickly in Türkiye. :D

• Being surrounded by fluffy friends

If you have ever been to Türkiye then you know - there are many animals on the street, especially cats. The fluffy friends greeted me in the morning when I came to the office and said goodbye at the end of the day. Between the appointments and tasks, it was always a highlight for me to pet the animals. Well, that's how it went on after work, they're just everywhere. :)

Fortunately, there are many people who take care of the street animals, such as voluntary organizations and passers-by. They are also captured to be spayed and neutered to contain the population.

• Exploring my country of origin and learning more about its history

After an intense and dynamic adventure in Istanbul, there's nothing recharching your energy like the experience of traveling to the Turkish Agean coast. Destinations like ?e?me and Ku?adas? not only boast stunning seaside vistas but also offer lively markets and a rich culinary scene to explore.

Venturing further inland, Pamukkale Hierapolis beckons with its breathtaking terraces of travertine and ancient ruins, providing a truly unique and awe-inspiring visit. Hierapolis is an ancient city with a rich history dating back to the 2nd century BC. Its name translates to "Holy City," and it was known for its therapeutic hot springs and as a center for healing in antiquity.

I couldn't pass the opportunity to explore Ephesus in Selcuk, drawn by its captivating history dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman eras. Walking its well-preserved streets, I marveled at the grand Library of Celsus, the monumental theater, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Visiting these sites was like stepping back in time.

My journey concluded with a truly remarkable highlight in Cappadocia. This unique region is known for its surreal landscapes, featuring cone-shaped rock formations and ancient cave dwellings. One of the most unforgettable experiences was a sunrise hot air balloon ride, where I floated between the valleys as the sun painted the sky with breathtaking colors. It was a surreal moment, gliding above the otherworldly terrain of Cappadocia and witnessing the stunning sunrise.

I would like to finish this assignment report with one last Turkish saying: "?ok ya?ayan bilmez, ?ok gezen bilir." Translated: "Not the one who lives long, but the one who has traveled has a lot of knowledge." The meaning expresses that a person's knowledge cannot be measured by their age. The knowledge of people who live long lives but never leave their surroundings is also limited. With that in mind, get out of the comfort zone, have fun, and make new experiences.

Thanks to all who made this experience possible, this journey through Türkiye left me with memories I'll cherish forever.