This month, Natural Selections features Doruk Golcu, Graduate Fellow in the Gilbert Laboratory
Country of Origin: Turkey

1. How long have you been living in New York?

Three and a half years.

2. Where do you live?

Graduate Students Residence at RU.

3. Which is your favorite neighborhood?

Union Square.

4. What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?

The most overrated is the arts. There is a lot of art in the city, but most of it is low quality and/or pretentious. I like how many bookstores there are, which is not mentioned often anywhere.

5. What do you miss most when you are out of town?

The variety of food that you can find here.

6. If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?

Make New Yorkers realize that they are not the center of the universe.

7. Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.

I am a homebody, so weekends when I don’t have to do anything much are my favorites. I usually spend most of the day at home—reading, watching movies, or surfing the Internet (yes, I am boring). Having bagels at Bagelworks (66th Street and First Avenue) is part of my weekend ritual. Those weekends when I do feel like leaving home, my favorite destination is the American Museum of Natural History. In the evenings, I go to the movies, or dancing.

8. What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?

I met my wife here, so I think that would be it. Plus, she would kill me if I said anything else.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

I lived in big cities most of my life, so if I could choose, I would like to live somewhere quieter and with more nature.

10. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?

I don’t think I am really a New Yorker. I still feel more at home in Istanbul. I like New York, but I am not sure I would like to stay.