Hello! I’m Asmar!
I came to Ankara from Azerbaijan as a
short-term volunteer, and I have now completed my first month here. It was my
first time visiting Türkiye, and I must admit that the emotions I felt a month
ago were intense and beautiful. Of course, I can’t say that I wasn’t nervous at
all, but those feelings quickly faded, replaced by excitement and warmth.
From the very first day, I started
building beautiful friendships with the people I met. Fortunately, I get along
very well with my roommates too; spending time together has made me fall in
love with Ankara even more. The fact that Türkiye is a brother country to
Azerbaijan has helped me feel much more at home. The people I meet outside are
always warm, sincere, and friendly, constantly reinforcing this wonderful
feeling.
With every new piece of knowledge I
gain, I discover how close our cultures are, and finding so many similarities
bring me a special kind of happiness.
The first place I visited in Ankara
was Anıtkabir. From the moment I stepped onto the grounds, I could feel the
special and powerful emotions the site carries. Witnessing the ceremonial
change of guards particularly moved me; their discipline and the seriousness in
their posture left a strong impression on me. Walking through the museum
dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and learning more about his life and
struggle deeply touched me. I’ve actually visited Anıtkabir twice already!
Later on, we visited Tulumtaş Cave.
The natural beauty carved over time, illuminated with soft lights, made it feel
like stepping into a fairytale world. Walking among the pillars and
stalactites, I completely lost track of time.
But that was just the beginning; I
also strolled through the historical streets of Ankara Castle, felt the spirit
of traditional architecture in Hamamönü, found peace in the serene nature of
Gölbaşı, and had a wonderful time in Gençlik Park.
We even had the chance to go ice
skating with other volunteer friends! Although I was a little hesitant at
first, we ended up having an unforgettable day filled with laughter.
I also visited Kuğulu Park — with its
elegant swans and lush greenery, it felt like a small escape within the city.
This project has not only given me
the chance to explore new places but has also helped me grow personally. One of
the most touching experiences has been visiting village schools. Spending time
with the children, capturing their innocent smiles through my camera, and
playing with them has rekindled the childlike spirit within me. Their pure joy
and affection left a deep mark on my heart and created some of the most
precious memories of my life.
In addition, the many workshops we
participated in and organized have made every day here even more colorful and
meaningful.
Seeing the smiles on their faces and
sharing a piece of my country with them brought me an indescribable joy.
As I wrap up my first month, I feel
the excitement of learning something new every day, meeting new people, and
sharing the same emotions with people from different cultures.
There is still so much left for me to
discover on the streets of Ankara, and I can't wait to continue this adventure!