A taste of what could happen

Türkiye has always been a dream of mine, ever since I started studying Turkish at university in Italy. I thought about it during literature class, Ottoman history class, tasting the food that our professor would cook – künefe, sarma, and many other specialties. It was always there, not so far away from my region but so different, a mirage or something you imagine but are too scared to bring to life.

And then, after I applied to an ESC project in Ankara, and after I was actually accepted, it suddenly became real. While looking at the planes to reach the city, the thought of being in Ankara, Türkiye, for two whole months seemed at first an impulsive decision, which I hadn’t planned well enough in advance as I usually do.

On the day of my arrival, after hours and planes and time spent waiting – and overthinking, when I stepped foot outside Ankara Esenboğa Airport, everything started to make sense. And things have only been looking up since then.What I thought was a city I would only think about for remote future plans, turned into a welcoming place, lively streets, cozy cafes, colourful bazars and an office that almost feels like home. In just less than a month, so much has happened. 

I’ve learned how to knit, in order to make scarves, hats and gloves that will be donated to disadvantaged children. I’ve entered for the first time ever a radio with its recording studio, the Gençlik Radyosu at T.C. Gençlik ve Spor Bakanlığı, where our team of international volunteers has been assisted in the creation of a podcast, from the basics of standing in front of a microphone to editing the recording and hearing your own voice in such a professional context.

We’ve been in Lösev (a hospital that provides treatment and support to children sick with cancer and their families), preparing packages with food items, to deliver them to families in need, in time for Ramadan. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve been treated like a special guest. It’s a given fact that hospitality is a very serious deal here, but just now I’ve come to realise to what extent this is true. From çay to free hugs to ‘your Turkish is so good’, in every place I’ve felt like home. While walking down the streets and being amazed by what happens everywhere we laid our eyes upon, my friend said that Türkiye is not for beginners – and if two months seemed too much of a reckless decision at first, now they seem like just a tiny bit of what this place and its wonderful people can offer you.