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.