The most delicious food is what my mother cooks -
The Summer Camp of Diaspora Youth has placed a lifelong responsibility upon us
Millions of our compatriots live in different countries around the world. Through science, art, business, public activities, and cultural initiatives, they both represent themselves and promote Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijanis abroad not only become a part of the countries they live in but also act as carriers of Azerbaijani culture, language, and national identity.
The recognition of such compatriots in Azerbaijan strengthens national pride, creates a spiritual bridge between society and the diaspora, and positively impacts our country's international image.
Modern.az's “Voice of Diaspora” project serves precisely this purpose. This time, our column features Tural Aliyev, a student at Nanyang Technological University living in Singapore and working as a data analyst at Agilent Technologies Singapore.
Tural is remembered for his active participation in the VI Summer Camp of Diaspora Youth, organized in 2025 by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the State Committee on Work with Diaspora in Khankendi.
The summer camp provided an opportunity for our conversation with him.
- I was very happy to receive an invitation to the summer camp, as I have been living abroad for a long time, and such opportunities reconnect one with their roots. The selection process for the camp involved an interview and an application. Although the number of Azerbaijanis in Singapore is not large, we maintain contact with each other and strive to represent our country on various platforms. In other words, even if the number is small, the spirit is high.
Tural specifically notes that the camp, organized by the Diaspora Committee, has given a lot to him and all participants, young Azerbaijanis living all over the world:
- I always stay in touch with the young people I met at the camp. Our WhatsApp group is active. Everyone is studying or working in different countries, but our goals are the same: to represent our country abroad appropriately.
Our interlocutor states that the camp's environment had a very positive impact on him and others:
- Meeting young Azerbaijanis living abroad instills a sense of both pride and responsibility. The camp showed me that, whether in science, culture, or social activities, there are young people everywhere who represent Azerbaijan and achieve success. This was both inspiring and motivated me to be even more active in my own endeavors.
Naturally, it was no coincidence that the camp was held in Khankendi. Khankendi, now an integral part of Azerbaijan, this time embraced young people working to promote it worldwide. Our interviewee also shared his impressions regarding Karabakh and Khankendi:
- I went to Khankendi for the first time thanks to the camp, and frankly, I had very strange feelings when I set foot there. Both pride and tenderness... You could see that construction work was underway everywhere, and life was returning. The panels organized throughout the camp and the meetings with martyrs' families were also very impactful; it was as if you understood the value of everything a little more at that moment. The most important thing I learned is that we are now at a historical turning point, and every young person can play a role in this reconstruction process.
Our interviewee says that since there are no direct flights, he usually comes to Azerbaijan via transit flights, so the journey generally takes more than 15 hours:
- It's a long journey, but during that time, one thinks about many things. Every time, I have only one thought in my mind. To reach home, to see my family. Most of all, I think of my family, who greet me with a smile when I enter the door. And then there's that tea table, where everyone sits together and chats; that's what I miss the most. Moreover, meeting friends, sitting by the sea, eating qutab – when one is far away, they realize they miss the things that once seemed simple the most. In Singapore, the weather is constantly hot and humid, and there is almost no wind. But Baku has its wind, and that feeling is completely different.
Our interviewee talks about why he went to Singapore for education and about his classmates.
- I remember my school years very well. Since then, I had a great interest in science, especially physics. After school, I often stayed at school, preparing for Olympiads. Participating in international physics Olympiads and representing Azerbaijan was a great motivation for me. The Olympiads were held in different countries each time. Thanks to this, I had the chance to travel to different countries and get closely acquainted with their education systems.
My main difference from my schoolmates was that I was able to take risks and seize opportunities. To be honest, I didn't prepare much for the SEC direction and focused all my hopes on the Olympiads. I knew that both local and international universities consider this when admitting Olympiad winners. This focus and risk-taking led me towards research, innovation, and technology, ultimately earning me the opportunity to study at NTU Singapore.
I still maintain contact with my classmates today. Everyone is now in different fields; some are engaged in science, others in engineering, medicine, or business. When we talk or meet occasionally, I see that even though everyone has chosen a different path, the energy and spirit of love and support for each other from our school years still remain the same.
It is interesting to know in which country our compatriot, who continuously participates in Olympiads, wishes to continue his activities in the future. Wherever we are, we must represent our Azerbaijan with dignity. The Summer Camp in Khankendi has placed a great responsibility upon us. We will always feel this responsibility. This responsibility is to represent victorious Azerbaijan everywhere with our pride and honorable service.
Currently, I am gaining experience in Singapore, but in the future, I would like to use this knowledge, regardless of the environment, for both my personal development and the benefit of our country.
We discuss with our interviewee the challenges posed by the country he currently lives in. He says that initially, the different climate created difficulties.
- It's summer all year round here. Also, everything is very systematic; sometimes this strict planning can be a bit stifling. But you get used to it over time; now, living a planned life has become second nature to me.
Tural also talks about the difficulties of living away from his family.
- My family is always interested; they often ask how the food is, how work is going, how I spend my time after work... The first question in every call is “What did you eat today?” Sometimes they jokingly say, “Come back, where will you live when you get married?” Mainly, they are interested in everything and supportive, respecting my choices.
I have been living alone abroad since I was 18, so I have to cook occasionally. I can say I'm good at cooking, but in Singapore, food is available almost everywhere, and the culture is mainly focused on eating street food. There are people from all over the world here, so it's possible to find various cuisines and different dishes 24/7. Cooking at home is usually rare. I often cook for fun on weekends when I have time. But the most delicious food is still what my mother cooks.
Although Azerbaijani families may not normally approve of their children marrying foreign citizens, this has not been a problem for me. My family is also supportive; they respect my choices, saying, “what's important is that they understand you and their character suits you.”
I haven't married yet, let's see what time will show, maybe there will be surprises in the future.
It is felt that Tural has a foreign admirer. He is simply expressing this subtly for now.
He adds that the main difference between Azerbaijan and Singapore lies in culture and lifestyle.
- Here, everything is very orderly, fast, and neat; people take their work seriously, and everything operates in a planned manner. In Azerbaijan, however, life is more relaxed, social, and family-centered. The main thing that motivates me in Singapore is the opportunities and different perspectives. There is much to learn here in the fields of technology, research, and innovation, there is an opportunity to work with people from various nationalities, and this creates an opportunity for daily self-development.
Tural notes that when he talks about Azerbaijan to his friends, he mainly speaks about its nature, hospitality, humanity, and cuisine.
- I tell them that Baku is called the "city of winds" due to its strong winds, and that the weather is cooler and less humid compared to Singapore. I show them pictures and talk about the many places to see in Baku, interesting sites like the Gobustan rock carvings, Yanardag, and mud volcanoes. Singaporeans usually go to Europe to see historical architecture, but in Baku, both historical sites and a modern city are found together. Singaporeans are most surprised that Baku is both a historical and a modern city, full of tall buildings.
It's the age of the internet now. In that sense, I provide guiding information about different aspects of our country, and they themselves send me YouTube videos. They show grandmothers cooking large portions of food in village courtyards. Then they always ask, “Do you always cook such large portions? Is this normal?” And I jokingly say, our families are large.
After Tural's recommendation, Singaporeans who visited Baku were surprised by our tea culture.
- A colleague of mine went on a trip to Baku and upon returning said: “Your city has too much tea!” (laughs). But he had fallen in love with the city's beauty, its people, and its food.
Our interviewee, who mentioned at the beginning of our conversation that very few Azerbaijanis live in Singapore, also talks about the positive and negative aspects of this.
- Sometimes, when I'm alone, there's a slight feeling of strangeness, but at the same time, this gives me the opportunity to represent my country. Everyone asks “Where is Azerbaijan?” - and I take the opportunity to introduce our culture and promote ourselves.
Both countries are very family-oriented. People value family values and hospitality. Moreover, the food culture is very strong in both and in both countries, food is usually ordered to the table and shared by everyone.
Today, Azerbaijani youth proudly represent their country all over the world. The gathering and unity of our compatriots present a strong and capable Azerbaijani diaspora to the world.
This time, we told you about Tural, who has become the voice and representative of Azerbaijan in Singapore.
Wherever the voice of Azerbaijan comes from, we will bring you news from there. Follow us and continue to get to know our compatriots abroad.
