Aysu`s last month in Ankara

Hello everyone!

I am at the end of my project and will tell you about my experience.

I couldn't get used to it at first, but now I've gotten so used to it that I don't want to go.

Let me tell you how my second month went.

In the second month, some of my friends' projects were together, and they returned to their own countries.  New volunteers came from Portugal and Azerbaijan. We started shooting videos for YouTube during our office days.

We shoot videos about ESC and volunteering on YouTube.  For everyone to easily reach the questions in their minds.

Our shooting days and office days are very productive. You can watch our videos on YouTube

Thanks to these videos, my English accent has improved, and I have become more comfortable in front of the camera.

Let me tell you more about our Culture Nights.

We gathered together one day with the Food Delivery team.  They told us about Turkish traditions and culture.  We all sang folk songs together.  It's been a fantastic night. Someone we know invited us to his mother's house so that we could prepare Mante ourselves and see Turkish culture more closely.

He taught us how to make Mante, and we made it ourselves. 
Then we set up a very nice table and ate together.  We drank tea and tasted Turkish delights and Turkish desserts.  They were such friendly people; they hosted us very well.  I have never seen Turkish culture so closely. I will never forget that day.

We also had a Portuguese culture night.  Leo, from Portugal, cooked her country's food, showed us the national dance, and explained what it was like.  As long as I was here, I got to know the cultures of so many different countries. It was beautiful.

  I learned new things, gained new experiences, and made friends from other countries.

This month we went to a few Turkish universities.  We attended several conferences, one of them for volunteer projects.  In fact, at a conference, we told university students about our experiences, how we applied to this project, and what we learned.  I loved attending such meetings because we met people from different countries and backgrounds, and I learned new things from each conference.

Eskişehir is our new city to visit this month. Before we went to Eskişehir, we had researched what to do and where to visit. We thought that 1 day was enough to visit, so we didn't stay. It was the birthday of Fidan, who is our teammate from Azerbaijan.  We pretended we didn't remember and celebrated her birthday in front of the fairy tale castle in Sazova park at her favorite place.  She was startled and happy.  She didn’t expect it.

 

Results of short-term volunteering

 Hello, beautiful people!

Are you ready to know more about my volunteering experience?
So l can`t wait to tell you about my second month in the capital of Turkey. It`s my last month of short-term volunteering. That`s why l`d like to sum up all my knowledges, insights and experience l got on this project.

First of all, l found a lot of beautiful people. Or they found me, l don`t know:)
Turkish people are so amazing. I`m impressed by their hospitality and openness to guests. Last week we were invited by our Turkish friend. His mother was teaching us how to cook mantı. As a result of good teamwork, we got a lunch.  Me and other volunteers ate mantı with different sauces prepared by ourselves and I can say that  it was really tasty. 

  Our team enjoyed not only the cooking, but also the warm atmosphere. For this three hours in this house l was feeling like at home. It reminded me family lunch with my parents and relatives. I`m very grateful for this opportunity and hope that it wasn`t the last such experience.

What about my knowledges except mantı of course? One of the biggest achievements for this month is public speech. Three times I was telling people about my volunteering experience and in general about ESC. The best part on this events with Turkish youth is that l was lucky to meet very clever and active people from different parts of Turkey. When l came here l had some goals and expectations. One of the main goals was discovering Turkish culture. Who can help better with this than citizens? That`s why every time l`m very excited about new acquaintance.

If I started talking about Turkish people, l can`t skip my friends. Once on food delivery we met volunteers, who helped us. They were so nice so that after this nice meeting we became good friends. On the weekends we spend free time together drinking tea, coffee, singing songs, watching movies and enjoying warm conversations about everything.

My experience in Turkey is also about discovering new places. Last week our volunteering team had a trip to Eskişehir. I`d like to share my impressions  shortly. I really liked this city because of beautiful nature and places. Most of all I was impressed by museum of modern art. It was pleasure to spend there two hours there. Then we were eating çığbörek. We have the same meal in Ukraine but I liked Turkish version more honestly.

So my second month in Ankara was full of new experience, knowledges and people. I explored a lot of new sides on myself and l`m happy that this place gives me inspiration for new learning and developing my skills.

Hello! My name is Aydan

Hello!

My name is Aydan, I came from Azerbaijan to Ankara for a short-term volunteering program. My journey started on the 1 st of June and my adventure began. I have been in Ankara for almost a month, but it feels like it was just yesterday. In the following lines I`ll try to explain my life here. During this time, we tried to help people in the dormitory where earthquake victims stayed. This experience was unforgettable for both me and the people going through this challenging period. During the time we spent together, we played games with children, helped with meal preparations, and assisted in diversifying toys and clothes. Another one of our enjoyable activities was practicing English conversation at the Keçiören Youth Center. These lessons provide young people aged 18-24 with an opportunity to improve their language skills. We believe that English is an important tool for international communication, so we think these lessons will greatly benefit the participants. By sharing our own experiences, we give students the chance to understand that learning a language is important, has maney advantages, can be fun, and is not impossible.

Furthermore, among our activities, we are also offered lessons to improve our Turkish speaking skills. We have a great teacher for teaching Turkish, who uses different teaching methods to teach the language. It not only helps us improve our language skills but also aids us in understanding Turkish culture.The cultural night events we organize here also receive considerable interest. In these events, we have the opportunity to introduce our own civilization and cuisine. I also tried to promote Azerbaijani culture and provide people with information about this unique culture. I presented our traditional sweets and dishes, aiming to reflect Azerbaijan 

cultural heritage. Through these events, we have created a wonderful environment to meet different cultures and increase our understanding. This experience I have had within the scope of the Erasmus project provides a great opportunity for me to support those in need and learn about cultural differences. Throughout my time in Ankara, I had the chance to develop myself and help others. This experience has not only enriched me personally but also provided me with an international perspective. The Erasmus project is a fantastic platform that brings people from different countries together, enabling them to understand each other and develop a sense of global citizenship. This experience continues to be an unforgettable journey for me. I have met wonderful people here, and each of them has so many stories to tell. I am glad that I participated in this project.

Hello, i’m Oumayma

 Hello, i’m Oumayma from Tunisia, i want to share with you in this blog how i spent my first three week in Ankara. it was my first trip abroad so i was so excited. Being a volunteer for me has lots of advantages. It can make our life meanful and it open up much opportunities for young peaple. It can be an achievement for them. Our activities as a volunteer were going to the dormitories and helping the earthquake victims in the kitchen and playing with theirs children. Also we had a youth speaking club where we tried to let other peaple communicate in english .And we had a social media tasks like preparing posts in instagram every week in which we share interesting opprtunities and editing video for youtube channel,..

Since i arrived to Ankara i was in a confortable stay beacause i was surrounded by an amazing peaple. Ankara, in my point of vue is a quiet city where you can enjoy its monuments. I visited the wonderful Attakuler is the only tower in Ankara i liked the panaromic view of the whole city. I visited the mosque of Kocatepe and i was fascinated by the architecture of this building. On the other hand, during our day off we enjoyed going in some trip in others cities. The most amasing moments were in our trip to Eskishehir. I was in love with this colorful city . there we went to Fairystale castle, it has a unique architecture, is composed by eight towers which were the famous historical buildings in Turkiye.. Lets talk now about food, to be honest i didn’t like the most of turkish food because when i compared it by my tunisian food i didn’t even have the desire to taste, but i tried to taste some of it like çiborek, kufte and Doner.

Ander project provide to me a such useful opportunity to explore my self first of all and to explore an other culture.
It seems to be a great experience because of the good team work atmosphere..

Experience the Spirit of Turkey: A Glimpse into Ankara

Experience the Spirit of Turkey: A Glimpse into Ankara

In this article, I aim to delve into the unique aspects I encountered during my time in Ankara, Turkey. I will share my observations from the perspective of someone living in a vastly different cultural environment, with distinct values, food preferences, and biases. Turkey, to me, embodies a fascinating mix of contrasts: a blend of restraint and modesty juxtaposed with vibrant weddings, delectable baklava, and fiery cikofta. Coffee and tea abound, which posed a challenge for someone like me who had only ever consumed green tea infused with chamomile, mint, lemon balm, or fruit. The same can be said about the cuisine.

In my brief stay, I had the opportunity to savor Turkish delicacies such as simit, cikofte, döner, and even was a part of a street performance involving ice cream. During our visit to Eskisehir, I tried Turkish çibörek and was enveloped in a wave of nostalgia. Turkish cuisine, to me, represents an entirely different culinary realm brimming with spicy flavors. For instance, while indulging in home-cooked meals, I discovered novel methods of preparing couscous, pasta adorned with yogurt and a sauce crafted

 from sun-dried tomatoes and spices. Soups were another revelation, markedly distinct from the liquid concoctions I was accustomed to in Ukraine, where potatoes or some form of porridge typically feature in traditional soup dishes. In Ankara, restaurants primarily cater to traditional cuisine, so venturing out to sample Italian pasta or croissants requires a concerted effort.What captivated me most was not the architecture of this region, but its breathtaking nature. During our leisure time, we seized the opportunity to travel and explore captivating destinations. On our initial weekend, we visited the vibrant city of Eskisehir, where we meandered through a plethora of intriguing sites, ranging from the Museum of Modern Art to a park reminiscent of Disneyland. However, if asked where I would yearn to return or recommend to others, my unequivocal choice would be Eymir gölü. There, I experienced the sheer majesty of Turkey—its landscapes, nature, and freedom. In a city teeming with grey skyscrapers and mundane edifices, one craves a respite amidst something natural.

Another aspect of Eastern culture that deeply fascinated me during my time in Ankara was the fashion sense and style of young women elegantly donning hijabs. Turkey showcaseda unique amalgamation of modesty and trendiness in their sartorial choices. These individuals effortlessly exhibited their personal style while adhering to their religious beliefs.The hijab styles I encountered displayed remarkable creativity and versatility. These fashionable women paired vibrant and colorful scarves with trendy clothing, resulting in eye-catching and sophisticated ensembles. Whether adorned with floral prints or geometric patterns, they seamlessly integrated their hijabs into their overall look, adding a touch of elegance to their attire. What struck me most was their meticulous attention to detail when it came to accessorizing—thoughtfully combining stylish handbags, shoes, and jewelry to complement their outfits. It was evident that they took pride in their appearance and viewed fashion as a form of self-expression.Attending a Turkish wedding proved to be a delightful revelation for me. Initially, we merely heard the distant sounds of music permeating the streets. As we followed the crowd, we found ourselves unexpectedly invited to join in the festivities. Despite being complete strangers in a foreign land, the locals greeted us with warm smiles and friendliness. Witnessing the traditional folk dances and hearing the lively folk music was a stark departure from our own customary wedding traditions.Overall, this month has been a whirlwind of discovery, immersing me in an entirely different world—the captivating realm of Eastern culture.

End of a journey

I have now come to the end of this experience and the time has come to evaluate these wonderful two months. I arrived in Ankara with no expectations, only with a great desire to do and to put myself out there, and I am taking home amazing memories. I went from feeling totally lost, in a place where I did not know the language or the customs to feeling extremely comfortable living here, as I know how to navigate through the necessities of daily life, how to have basic conversations with people, how to act properly. I went from having no idea how to behave around children to finding out that I am totally comfortable and happy spending time and organizing activities with them. I also become more outspoken and willing to leadership positions. 

 

I am definitely leaving Ankara as a more confident and passionat umanitarian e woman, fearless, and, most importantly, with a renewed desire to work in the field. For sure, the month’s highlight was the interview we recorded on Turkish radio, where we were interviewed about our experience here in Turkey in the European Solidarity Corps. It was a special moment, where we recalled the most beautiful moments of this experience and where we realized, that this journey has sadly come to an end. It was such a special moment,

where I felt closer than ever to my team, and where I discovered a new passion of mine that I will bring back home, and hopefully transform into something concrete: the experience at the radio made me find out how much I love that kind of field and, hence, I would like to have a podcast of my own.I would like to conclude with an invitation to future volunteers: don’t think twice and apply!

 

Do not be afraid of new challenges, because at the end of the road is all worth it! Be bold, beactive, and don’t be afraid to follow your passions! Be kind, and generous to each other and our planet: we are a generation that can change things for the better, and shape a better future.You never know what your help can mean for someone else and, besides, it is an occasion to gain new skills and to grow into a better person.

I am definitely leaving Ankara as a more confident and passionat umanitarian e woman, fearless, and, most importantly, with a renewed desire to work in the field. For sure, the month’s highlight was the interview we recorded on Turkish radio, where we were interviewed about our experience here in Turkey in the European Solidarity Corps. It was a special moment, where we recalled the most beautiful moments of this experience and where we realized, that this journey has sadly come to an end. It was such a special moment.

I am definitely leaving Ankara as a more confident and passionat umanitarian e woman, fearless, and, most importantly, with a renewed desire to work in the field. For sure, the month’s highlight was the interview we recorded on Turkish radio, where we were interviewed about our experience here in Turkey in the European Solidarity Corps. It was a special moment, where we recalled the most beautiful moments of this experience and where we realized, that this journey has sadly come to an end. It was such a special moment.