2019 - Oversea Student from Turkey

我的第一位海外學員

一開始Ozgur透過Instagram聯絡我的時候，以為應該是問問資訊，沒想到他開始跟我確認日期，我才知道他是來真的，還是從土耳其來。

本來有點擔心語言溝通問題，我還為此熬夜準備英文講義，所幸在開始上課之後一切都很順利，有些東西就算不知道怎麼說，還可以直接操作，或是透過畫圖都能表達，我認為畫圖甚至比說話更重要，另一方面，英語都不是我們的母語，所以其實我們都講得算慢，只要單字跟形容詞用對都能聽懂，開玩笑地說，我們也像上了兩天的英文課，我也學到很多。

這兩天我們製作了一個鈔票夾，我也分享了許多皮革、工具相關的知識還有技巧，希望有限的時間裡可以盡可能地與學員分享所知的一切，也才了解到許多國家其實很難取得這方面的資訊，或是說這樣的事物在他們國家並不興盛，但在台灣或是在亞洲，除了容易入門，資訊也真的非常多，只能說我們很方便又幸福。

我們也有很多生活上的交流，他是個熱愛自由的大叔，他的名字Ozgur意思就是自由，他是個工程師，才剛離職並搬到Dacta，一個靠海的城市，很少人，面對Mediterranean Sea（地中海），後面幾公里就是是Aegean Sea，我說Aegean 的中文「愛琴」是非常美麗的詞彙，令人充滿遐想.....講到這裡我已經想要買機票了....

最後Ozgur完成課程作品時，突然有種畢業旅行要結束的感覺，他感動得眼眶泛紅，我們互相擁抱道別，說這是他有過最棒的經驗之一，對我來說也是，很高興Ozgur來台灣與我度過愉快的兩天，下次就換我去土耳其了！

-

I am an engineer and 44 years old. After i quit my job I moved from Istanbul to a small town near seaside. In my new life I have decided to work with leather. After I began I realized that I need to learn some necessary technics in order to produce high quality products, because the difference of the works of masters and my own was huge and I really didn't know how to close that gap.

For sure, the tools used also have a significant effect on the quality. So I began my search, especially on Instagram. I followed the masters from Japan and I found also Steven, whose works are drew my attention. After some correspondence we decided the date, duration and the wallet, which we were going to make. First I visited Japan, bought some tools and visited some masters, then i went to Taiwan to meet Steven.

We worked 2 days to make a money clip. In these 2 days Steven not only taught me the required technics of this money clip, also he gave me many infos about every topic, which came up during our nice conversations. He is a generous man in every aspect.

English is a second language of both of us, however our communication was more than enough. My experience in those 2 days was very satisfying and fruitful.

While we were making the wallet I just felt that I am in safe hands. His mastery is almost complete and consistent in itself. I say "almost", because everyone has a room for improvement. His mastery at his relatively young age is admirable. He is a talented young man with a lovely, generous, disciplined, kind and elegant soul.

I also bought some tools from Steve, which he arranged before the lessons according to his advices and my needs.

Thank you again Steven for your guidance. I highly recommend to people who consider to improve their skills and see how a true master works, they should visit Steven.

Özgür Ocak