I’d love to come back one day

 Unfortunately, I started my last month here a bit under the weather. I can say that the only thing I still haven’t gotten used to in Ankara is the cold. This month has been a truly fulfilling one, full of wonderful experiences and valuable life lessons.

One of the new volunteers was from Tunisia. We got along very well from the very first day and had a lot of fun together. Thanks to her, my perspective on Tunisia has broadened, and I’ve learned many beautiful things about their culture. Moreover, being the first Azerbaijani she had ever met held a special meaning for me.

I’ve completed most of the items on my “Things to Do in Ankara” list. During this time, I had both relaxing and enjoyable experiences. I finally found and read that book I’d been searching for so long—it made me feel incredibly good. And tasting my favorite Turkish dish, Iskender, again was a separate joy on its own.

One of the most meaningful moments of this month was our visit to a school. Spending time with the children made me feel like I’d gone back to my own childhood. Their warm hearts and kind words touched me so deeply that I can honestly say I forgot all my tiredness.

One evening, while walking with other volunteers, we passed by a restaurant in Hamamönü. Seeing the Azerbaijani and Turkish flags hanging side by side on its wall filled my heart with emotion. I hadn’t seen the Azerbaijani flag that often in Turkey, so that moment was truly special for me. When the café owner learned that we were from Azerbaijan, he had a sincere and friendly chat with us, which made our night even more memorable.

This month, I wanted to live not as a tourist, but as someone from Ankara — and I think I succeeded. I realized that I now know Ankara almost as well as I know Baku, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I noticed that I even knew things some locals didn’t.  

Walking through the streets with my camera in hand, listening to my favorite songs, while the setting sun painted everything in shades of orange… Capturing memories, getting lost in those moments… These became my small but precious hobbies that filled me with energy again.

This month, I went to Gazi University for the first time and revisited Hacettepe University. Being in a university environment, surrounded by young people, is such a unique feeling. Observing student life outside my own country made me reflect and bring small but meaningful changes to my future plans.

As the month slowly came to an end, I began to feel homesick. Yet even before leaving, I knew I would also miss Ankara. I think I’ve developed a special bond with this city. Although I was born in Baku, Ankara has been the place that pushed me to grow and truly discover myself.

I’d love to come back one day… I don’t know when or how, but I have a feeling I definitely will.

See you, Ankara.

Goodbye, Ander family. 

Exploring Ankara More

 My Second Month with ESC: Exploring Ankara More

In my first month, everything was new: the city, people, the environment. But in the second month, I got more used to the city, the people, and our projects. Daily life felt more familiar and I felt more comfortable.

This month was very colorful for me. A new volunteer came from Tunisia. She became my roommate. I am very happy to meet her because I learned about a new culture and made a new friend. She told me many interesting things about Tunisia – their traditions, music, and food. One day, we decided to cook something from Azerbaijan for her. We made Qaralı plov, and she really liked it. She even said she would try to cook it in Tunisia Amal also loved our Azerbaijani tea. Every evening, we had a “tea time” with the volunteers. We all sat at a table, drank tea, and had long, interesting talks. Sometimes we talked about our cultures, sometimes about our plans, and sometimes about daily life. These moments are some of my most precious memories.

This month, we visited many schools – both public and private. We played games with children and presented Azerbaijan. The children were curious and full of energy. At the private school, the staff welcomed us very warmly. Both the teachers and children enjoyed spending time with us.

I also explored more places. We went to the Central Library of Ankara. It was quiet and beautiful. I also tried different Turkish foods – each one was special. I liked Hamamonu and Kurtuluş Park. Hamamonu has historic, colorful streets. Kurtuluş Park is peaceful and full of nature.

One day, we went to Tulumtaş Cave. It was far, but very beautiful. Nature there was amazing. Later, we visited Mogan Lake in Gölbaşı. The view was wonderful – the silence, nature, and sunset looked like a scene from a movie.

One of my favorite places in Ankara was the Botanical Park. Being in nature there and having a calm day gave me peace and energy.

This month, I also visited universities. We went to Hacettepe and Gazi University. We talked about the ESC program and met students. I shared my experiences. It was interesting and motivating for me.

The second month showed me that every city has its own rhythm and beauty. Every day I learned more and grew a little more.

These two months were very valuable for me. I am glad I joined the ESC program, I am glad I came here. I met wonderful people, and most importantly, I made a friend and roommate, Amal from Tunisia. This experience will stay in my memory for a long time.