My First Month with ESC:

 

My First Month with ESC:

I came to Ankara with the ESC volunteer program. It was a very interesting decision for me. I studied and worked before, but I never did volunteering in another country. My sister was a volunteer in Ankara some months before me. Her stories made me excited. I said, "Why not?"

I arrived in Ankara in the evening. I saw the city from the plane. It was between mountains. It looked beautiful. People met us in Kızılay. I remember the steep streets and clean roads. One thing surprised me: supermarkets close at 9 PM. In my country, they close later.
I live in a house with other volunteers. We clean the house together. We cook food and plan our money. I learned that living together is not only sharing a house. It needs teamwork, respect, and care.

We also visited other places. We went to Istanbul, Büyükada, and Cappadocia. I liked Istanbul. It was big, busy, and full of history. I enjoyed the ferry. Büyükada was quiet and peaceful. The streets were colorful and the food was good. In Cappadocia, I saw hot air balloons in the sky early in the morning. It felt like a dream. The nature was amazing.

We ate at a restaurant called Aspava in Ankara. I liked many Turkish foods, but Aspava was special. The food and service were great.
This month, I learned many things. I became more responsible. I learned how to plan. I also learned how to live in new situations. I started to understand myself better.

I have a small tip for new volunteers:
Before you come, make a plan. Read about Ankara and Turkey. Write the places you want to see, the food you want to try, and the things you want to do. A small list will help you. It will save your time and make your experience better.
This was my first month, but it felt very full and special. Coming here with ESC changed me a lot.