“We had a meeting with Quan and Zecheng, who are studying in the US, and Vitor, who is ​studying in Brazil. At the beginning of the meeting, we introduced ourselves and quickly ​talked about our daily lives. Our discussion centered around various topics but we ​particularly talked about the differences in weather between the three different countries. ​We learned that we use different temperature units compared to the US and even within ​our discussion, we saw different reviews for the same air temperature. The meeting was so ​fun and filled with interesting and different perspectives. One topic that mentioned us was ​the natural beauties that may seem extraordinary to us but as we learned from Vitor, they ​are considered normal in Brazil and people see them as part of daily life. Quan and ​Zecheng remarked that -10 degrees Celsius is usual cold weather for them, although such ​temperatures are difficult to conceive in Istanbul. They even told us how wet hair can ​freeze in those conditions, which is interesting for us. We also mentioned the variations in ​how weather affects our daily lives. For example, our house architecture differs ​significantly. We learned that, in the US, houses are built with wood and better insulation ​against the cold, whereas in Brazil and Istanbul, such insulation against extreme cold ​weather is less common. Overall, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience. We are ​pleased with the meeting we had with our group members and look forward to future ​meetings.”

“We recently held a highly engaging and informative virtual meeting via Google Meets with ​university students from Brazil, China, Turkey, and the United States to discuss various topics ​including traditions, weather conditions, climate change, and cultural aspects in each country. ​Despite facing some technical issues like internet disruptions and power outages, the discussion ​was enriching and enlightening.

One of the highlights was hearing from Andréa in Brazil, who shared how locals adapt to the ​unpredictable weather, often experiencing what feels like all four seasons in a single day. This ​leads many to carry jackets regardless of the forecast. We also delved into the effects of climate ​on lifestyle, such as how it influences food, clothing, and architectural styles. For instance, we ​showcased photographs of buildings from Safranbolu and Adana in Turkey, illustrating how ​historical and climatic factors shape architectural design. Further, we discussed the agricultural ​impact of climate on the growth of tropical fruits in Brazil, such as bananas, papayas, and ​mangos, which thrive under specific climatic conditions, contrasting with local fruits like jabuticaba ​and atemoya, which have different growing periods.

Our partner from China described living in a large city with soaring high-rises, where temperatures ​are typically high, and the coldest it gets is around 10 degrees Celsius. This contrasted sharply ​with experiences in other regions, like Wisconsin, where some students encounter snow for the ​first time. We further discussed the seasonal extremes in various regions. For instance, our ​partners noted that summers can be quite hot and humid, while winters are bitterly cold and dry, ​lasting from mid-November to early April, with summer typically starting in mid-May and lasting ​until the end of September.

These climate conditions profoundly impact daily living, cultural practices, and agricultural ​patterns. This multicultural exchange not only broadened our understanding of how weather and ​climate affect daily life and cultural heritage but also allowed us to appreciate the diversity and ​common challenges we share globally. It was a delightful conversation that highlighted the ​importance of cultural exchange and mutual understanding, and showed how even the cultivation ​of fruit can be a lens through which to view the broader impacts of climate.”

First of all, everyone mentioned that the weather in countries is changing very quickly. ​Also, there is a lot of rainy weather in Brazil and America. Unlike these, Turkey ​experiences hot weather instead of constant rainfall. It is seen by the government in all ​three countries that importance is given to afforestation to prevent this climate change. At ​the same time, not only the government but also people are taking some precautions. ​People are encouraged to take precautions not through education but through social ​media. Because of these measures, people's awareness will increase and climate change ​can be resolved.

“Climate change has significant effects on all three of the countries we are talking about, ​some of which are the shifting of seasons, hot and unpredictable temperatures, and the ​reason for these are human activities. To give an example, clothing and tofu production in ​Brazil is damaging a serious part of the rainforest. Too much use of private vehicles in ​America and too much waste of resources in Turkey are similar examples. Even though the ​global impact of climate change manifests itself in many ways, such as temperature ​increases, melting of glaciers, unpredictable weather conditions, and so on, many people ​ignore it because it does not affect their daily lives. Even if they are aware of it, they ​continue their lives by saying "what can I change as the only person?" and this fact is ​something we talk about in many ways. It was common in all three countries.”