Fadime Özen – Teacher, Translator, Interpreter

Fadime is the absolutely fabulous, always effervescent, and highly energetic young lady who acted as the Pleasant Hill delegation's principal interpreter during our stay in Merzifon.  

Fadime was born in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, in 1970.  Because her father's job demanded it, she and her family moved to Germany when she was two years old.  During the 13 years she lived in Nürnberg, she attended local primary and secondary schools.  She returned to Istanbul, Turkey, at the age of 15.

Fadime graduated from an academically selective high school in one of Istanbul's suburbs.  In 1996, she completed a course of studies in English Language Teaching at Bogaziçi University, at one time known as Robert College, the first American school established outside the United States.  She taught English at several private high schools before joining the faculty of Anatolian High School in Merzifon four years ago.  Anatolian High School (Anadolu Lisesi) is Merzifon's academically selective high school where much of the curriculum is taught in English and where Fadime is now the Head of the English Department.  

Fadime says that the Pleasant Hill delegation's visit to Merzifon did wonders for her students.  They are now highly motivated and far more interested in their English courses since they look forward to communicating with their friends in Pleasant Hill.

Fadime's husband, Bülent, is a civil engineer.  They have been married six years.  They have two children: a son, Kerem, five years old, and a daughter, Selin, born May 15, 2002.