TeekoTalks

Spoiler Alert : I did not faint. ( This underwent no preparation or post-editing so give me a pass if the audio isn't that great or the language isn't as refined)

The duplicate Lukman, who also happens to spell his name very wrong, takes us through his train journey from the better city of Colombo to the slightly less better city of Kandy ( I love Kandy #nohate) through the 4.30 pm train. Entertaining is a mild way to describe this episode. Enjoy😂

Thnx to all of y'all that participated! Special thnx to our Guest-host NC, for filling in for me😌

Sorry bout the audio quality tho. And thank tou to all my interviewees😊

In the eleventh episode of Season 2B of TeekoTalks, we are joined by Reyhan Hamit, a fifth year medical student from Dalian Medical University in China, as we discuss various aspects of life in china such as the food, the people, the finances and so much more! Join us as we embark on this hour-long experience into the interesting world of Chinese culture!***ABOUT THE PODCASTWelcome to TeekoTalks!Hosted by Luqmaan Rauff, we talk to guests from countries around the world, both natives and Sri Lankans living there, and listen to their stories of walking the streets everyday. Not what you see as a tourist, not what you see on TV, but what is, as is.No sugar-coating or beating round the bush, just facts.If you're interested in coming on as a guest on the show, drop a DM on Instagram to @teekotalks (https://www.instagram.com/teekotalks/) or hit me up on teekotalks@gmail.com***Recorded on 07/08/2024 via Zoom.

In the tenth episode of Season 2B of TeekoTalks, we are joined by Sandil Kodikara, my batchmate, who spent a great part of his childhood inthe colourful nation of South Africa! Join us as we talk about various aspects about life in South Africa, including the food, managing finances, safety and security issues, the people and the very rich culture as well as travel destinations and so much more! *** ABOUT THE PODCAST Welcome to TeekoTalks! Hosted by Luqmaan Rauff, we talk to guests from countries around the world, both natives and Sri Lankans living there, and listen to their stories of walking the streets everyday. Not what you see as a tourist, not what you see on TV, but what is, as is. No sugar-coating or beating round the bush, just facts. If you're interested in coming on as a guest on the show, drop a DM on Instagram to @teekotalks (https://www.instagram.com/teekotalks/) or hit me up on teekotalks@gmail.com *** Recorded on 18/11/2023 in the UCFM Library Novel Section

#SaudiArabia #podcast #teekotalks [The audio quality is a bit bad ONLY in the middle 30 minutes due to some technical faults- sorry about that 🥺🙏] In the Ninth episode of Season 2B of TeekoTalks, we are joined by Raashid Nazeer, a third year medical student from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, who was born and brought up in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Join us as we discover an all-new insider view of Saudi Arabia, beyond stereotypes and media perception! So drop a like if you enjoy this, let me know your feedback in the comments, what was it that surprised you the most about Saudi culture, and SUBSCRIBE to not miss out on the upcoming episodes! *** Available on YouTube - https://youtu.be/lJ2pXrf5qp8?si=1wDrPeqC3SsZSVT4 Other Platforms - https://linktr.ee/teeko_ *** ABOUT THE PODCAST Welcome to TeekoTalks! Hosted by Luqmaan Rauff, we talk to guests from countries around the world, both natives and Sri Lankans living there, and listen to their stories of walking the streets everyday. Not what you see as a tourist, not what you see on TV, but what is, as is. No sugar-coating or beating round the bush, just fax. If you're interested in coming on as a guest in the show, drop a DM on Instagram to @teekotalks ( https://www.instagram.com/teekotalks/ ) or hit me up on teekotalks@gmail.com *** Recorded on ../10/2023 on-site in the UCFM Tower.

In the Eighth episode of Season 2B of TeekoTalks, we are joined by Mandrika Fernando and Ashwinsai Ameelan, all the way from Georgia. They are currently doing Medicine in Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) and share with us their experiences on what life has been like in the last few years, in Georgia. A lot of interesting and fun stories to listen to! BONUS SEGMENT - What to expect as a medical student in TSMU @01:22:00 *** ABOUT THE PODCAST Welcome to TeekoTalks! Hosted by Luqmaan Rauff, we talk to guests from countries around the world, both natives and Sri Lankans living there, and listen to their stories of walking the streets everyday. Not what you see as a tourist, not what you see on TV, but what is, as is. No sugar-coating or beating round the bush, just facts. If you're interested in coming on as a guest on the show, drop a DM on Instagram to @teekotalks ( https://www.instagram.com/teekotalks/ ) or hit me up on teekotalks@gmail.com *** Recorded on 07/10/2023 via Zoom

[ Also available on YouTube ]  KONICHIWA!  This episode catch Teeko talking to Ranul Kotuwegoda, joining us all the way from JAPAN!  Ranul is a third year student at the Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan; majoring in Strategic Management. A prolific basketball player and avid traveler, Ranul had plenty of experiences to share with us from his three years in 'Nippon'.  Did you know that you could greet a person at 10pm in the night with a "Good Morning"? BET you didn't! But no worries! By the end of this episode, you will know more than you will ever need to know, about the Land of the Rising Sun!  This episode, we talk about how Ranul had to spend six months learning the basics of Japanese, given how very few people could communicate in English, and the three different alphabets in the language. There are also three distinct reasons for people that migrate into Japan (he feels), and we go on to discuss the lifestyle differences of Beppu, the city he lives in, and Tokyo, the capital.  In terms of cultural shocks, the way the Japanese followed rules to the letter left him flabbergasted, and listen on to see why!  Another thing that blew him away was the price of food, costing almost 10X the amount in SL (although yes, the pay is proportionate!).  In fact, the pay is MORE than proportionate, with Ranul earning MORE than his DAD back in SL, while working just three days a week, part time!!! So far so good. But I, the Host, was left buffering when he mentioned that horsemeat was common out there- not judging- just shocked.  As usual, we also dont forget to tackle the BIG QUESTIONS.  In terms of Racism, it's subtle. The Japanese are a very nice, helpful and respectful people, but when they do discriminate, which is ...not so common... it's...subtle. But considering how everyone follows rules except the int'ls, maybe it's justified😂😂(jk).  Japan is a very safe country, bar a few occasions of psychotic murderers and petty pickpockets. Mental Health is a big issue among the Japanese tho. Just saying. A culture of overworking and company loyalty, leading to 'Karoshi' and stress. Did I mention the pay is good? Also, I didn't forget to ask some of the questions YOU wanted me to, which ya'll dropped through IG, so 🤗... Listen to to the entire episode, for more on why they call their Mac, the Kollupitiya McDonalds, how some villages have never seen foreigners, how common are earthquakes, and how anything- and I mean ANYTHING- can be bought through vending machines (which is everywhere btw)... SO GO AHEAD, what are you waiting for? Happy Listening!  To learn more about Japan, and the study opportunities in APU, you can connect with Ranul on his Instagram here.  Also, if you're listening to this on Spotify, don't forget to answer the question!  ***  Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Have fun folks!  (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

[ Also available on YouTube ] This episode catch Teeko talking to Hemaka Goonetilleke, joining us all the way from Finland! Hemaka is currently studying a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering in Tampere, Finland, but was born and raised in Colombo. He is an avid Nature lover and amateur conservationist. He also takes craaazy good film photographs. This episode, we delve into the snowy shallows and darker depths of life in Finland. What is life like as a foreign student? What are the Finns like as a population, what are they like as people? Is the food any good? Do they follow any aspects of Viking culture? Is Finnish a difficult language to learn? How harsh are the winters and how kind are the summers? How expensive is it to live there, as a student, and as a worker? BIG questions. These are BIG questions that we discuss. BUT we don't forget the details either.  Apparently elkmeat and pork blood is a huge thing there (LOL). Also, it's called the land of a thousand lakes, and there's no need to adapt to toilet paper (Asians with the big sigh?). There's no Uber if you were looking for some quick transport, get ready to walk. If you are excited to listen to this just as much as I was to record this, TRUST ME, it will NOT disappoint! SO GO AHEAD, what are you waiting for? Happy Listening! To learn more about Finland, you can connect with Hemaka on his Instagram here. Also, if you're listening to this on Spotify, don't forget to answer the question! *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Have fun folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Amadeus joining us all the way from Botswana! Amadeus is a 20-year-old Motswana, studying Pharmacy at the University of Botswana, in Gaborone, the Capital. He was born and raised in Botswana and is passionate about health improvement, the environment as well as community development. He comes on the show to talk to us about life, in Botswana. This is Part three of the episode, where Amadeus talks to us school, the sweetest days in life. He couldn't digest the fact that some Sri Lankans finish their entire schooling in one institution, and absolutely lost it when he realised that we don't get beaten here 😂😂.  We stroll down memory lane as he recalls his mates getting beaten (topless) in the assembly, and how even across oceans, bag checking in the morning is a thing. Curious about how they celebrate weddings and commemorate funerals? Answers right here! (Prepare yourself, you're in for a shock...). We wrap things up with our flags and his claim that we live in a paradise, a statement true enough, but well...I leave the rest unsaid. To learn more about Botswana, you can connect with Amadeus on his Instagram here. Also, if you're listening to this on Spotify, don't forget to take part in the poll and answer the question! *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening and have fun folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Amadeus joining us all the way from Botswana! Amadeus is a 20-year-old Motswana, studying Pharmacy at the University of Botswana, in Gaborone, the Capital. He was born and raised in Botswana and is passionate about health improvement, the environment as well as community development. He comes on the show to talk to us about life, in Botswana. The Southern region of Africa is more connected that you could imagine, with territorial borders similar to the walls inside the same house. And yet diverse in so many unique ways. This is Part one of the episode, where Amadeus talks to us about the people, who contrary to popular opinion are not called Botswanian, but rather as Motswana (singular) and Batswana (plural), the language (Setswana), the food such as Shakalaka, Mophane worms and Moroghosetswana, a bit about the political system and a lot about the entertainment (ft. Vee). On the flipside, I taught him some Sinhala and Tamil, and emphasized on the wonder of Biryani, pol sambol and curry leaves while b****ing about our very own people-of-power. To learn more about Botswana, you can connect with Amadeus on his Instagram here. Also, if you're listening to this on Spotify, don't forget to take part in the poll and answer the question! *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening and have fun folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Amadeus joining us all the way from Botswana! Amadeus is a 20-year-old Motswana, studying Pharmacy at the University of Botswana, in Gaborone, the Capital. He was born and raised in Botswana and is passionate about health improvement, the environment as well as community development. He comes on the show to talk to us about life, in Botswana. This is Part two of the episode, where Amadeus talks to us about the Botswanan Pula and the beauty behind its meaning. He leaves me in shock over the cost of living, with transport ridiculously cheap and salaries fairly high. Buses, trains, comvees, flights, all about transport, right here. Did I say diamonds? YES, Botswana=Diamonds.  (I also managed to leave him in shock with the exorbitant cost for transport alone in this beautiful island nation) To learn more about Botswana, you can connect with Amadeus on his Instagram here. Also, if you're listening to this on Spotify, don't forget to take part in the poll and answer the question! *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening and have fun folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Aaqib Raneez, an old friend.  Aaqib was the Head Prefect of Royal Institute for the years 2016/17, and is currently in his final year of Medicine, in Vitebsk State University, Belarus. He joins us here to share his stories from the last sixty months.  You may know Belarus as the only European country still under a dictatorship. Or as the insignificant little brother of Russia. Or you may not know Belarus at all. And in that case, what better way to keep yourself informed than listening to an hour of an amazingly entertaining episode filled with an insider's experience on the snowy streets of Vitebsk.  This is Part one of the episode, where Aaqib talks to us about the people and the potatoes, the Russian and Belarussian, the lake and the language, and some stuff about the weather and whether it's better to sweat or swelter.  To learn more about Belarus, you can connect with Aaqib on his Instagram here (You can also check out the cool street art, that's just...cool)  ***  Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on.  Happy listening folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Aaqib Raneez, an old friend.  Aaqib was the Head Prefect of Royal Institute for the years 2016/17, and is currently in his final year of Medicine, in Vitebsk State University, Belarus. He joins us here to share his stories from the last sixty months.  This Bonus episode is all for you. If you are studying biology and looking to pursue a career in Medicine, especially in a university outside Sri Lanka, with special respect to Vitebsk in Belarus, hit on play and listen to Aaquib impart some priceless insight into what to expect and what NOT to expect. Really, really, really invaluable.  To learn more about Belarus, you can connect with Aaqib on his Instagram here (You can also check out the cool street art, that's just...cool)  ***  Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on.  Happy listening folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Aaqib Raneez, an old friend.  Aaqib was the Head Prefect of Royal Institute for the years 2016/17, and is currently in his final year of Medicine, in Vitebsk State University, Belarus. He joins us here to share his stories from the last sixty months.  You may know Belarus as the only European country still under a dictatorship. Or as the insignificant little brother of Russia. Or you may not know Belarus at all. And in that case, what better way to keep yourself informed than listening to an hour of an amazingly entertaining episode filled with an insider's experience on the snowy streets of Vitebsk.  This is Part two of the entire episode, where Aaqib talks to us about the trams, the trolley buses, the soccer and the street art (I know it's football, just did it for the alliteration). Also some K-pop. Ever wondered about the pets and pests in Belarus?  The geckos and cockroaches? Me neither. But you'll find out at the end of this episode!  To learn more about Belarus, you can connect with Aaqib on his Instagram here (You can also check out the cool street art, that's just...cool)  ***  Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on.  Happy listening folks! (The opinions of the guests do not reflect the views of Teekotalks or the host)

This episode catch Teeko talking to Insaf, a very, very old friend, living in the city of love, Paris.  It's been ten long years since he moved to France, in which he's finished his schooling and is now pursuing his undergraduate in mechanical engineering while working part time as an assistant badminton coach. You might know France as the home of the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and the birthplace of the Guillotine, but what do you know about the correct way to greet a lady in L'Hexagone? Or the intricacies of the Français ? In a while you will :) This is Part two of the entire episode, where we talk about the French as a people, what it's like as an immigrant, what the culture is like, school and university life, safety, security, how to manage finances as a student, the music, the movies and the sauce To learn more about France you can connect with Insaf on his Instagram here. *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening folks!

This episode catch Teeko talking to Insaf, a very, very old friend, living in the city of love, Paris. It's been ten long years since he moved to France, in which he's finished his schooling and is now pursuing his undergraduate in mechanical engineering while working part time as an assistant badminton coach. You might know France as the home of the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and the birthplace of the Guillotine, but what do you know about the correct way to greet a lady in L'Hexagone? Or the intricacies of the Français ? In a while you will :) This is Part one of the entire episode, where we talk about his initial experience moving in and the cultural shocks he encountered, the language, and the food, and more about the food, and yet some more. We also talk about the weather a bit, lol. To learn more about France you can connect with Insaf on his Instagram here. *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram here, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening folks!

This episode catch Teeko talking to Hari, currently residing in Riga, Latvia. Three years ago, he moved to Latvia following his Alevels to pursue higher education and is currently in his final year studying computer engineering and animation, while travelling around the country and continent in his free time.  Despite his busy schedule, he was able to drop in on the show to share with us all the exciting stories from his time there, with his charisma and humor making me lose track of time. This is Part two, where Hari tells us what life is like as a foreigner, how the finances work over there and what safety and security means to them. On a lighter note we discuss the music and movies in Latvia, the beauty of the buildings in Riga, and the greenery outside the capital. Did you know that it's a hikers' haven? Well. now you do. Anyways, enjoy! *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on.  Happy listening folks!

This episode catch Teeko talking to a good friend, Hariharan, currently residing in Riga, Latvia. Three years ago, he moved to Latvia following his Alevels to pursue higher education and is currently in his final year studying computer engineering and animation, while travelling around the country and continent in his free time. Despite his busy schedule, he was able to drop in on the show to share with us all the exciting stories from his time there, with his charisma and humor making me lose track of time. This is part one, where we discuss his experience moving to Riga, the cultural shocks, the language, the food, the weather and the tea that's same across miles. *** Feel free to drop your feedback via DMs on Instagram, email to Luqmaanra@gmail.com, the voice note option on Anchor or the review option on whichever podcasting platform you're listening to this on. Happy listening folks!