Two Months, A Lifetime of Memories

This is my second and final month of volunteering, and I still can’t believe how quickly time has flown by. Looking back, I feel grateful, proud, and deeply happy that I had the chance to be part of this journey. It was not just about discovering new places, but also about discovering myself.

Ankara was the city where everything began for me. A place full of history, culture, and life. I had the chance to visit Anıtkabir, the resting place of Atatürk, and it left me in awe of Turkey’s history. I wandered around Hamamönü, with its old wooden houses, colorful streets, and cozy cafés, where time seemed to slow down. I stood in front of the grand Kocatepe Mosque, one of the largest in the city, admiring its beauty and peaceful atmosphere. And from the top of Atakule Tower, I looked out over Ankara, realizing just how big, vibrant, and full of stories this city really is.

One of the highlights of my time in Ankara was attending Youth Day. It was such an inspiring event, full of energy and hope. We met so many volunteers and young people from different backgrounds. It was a day of learning, exchanging ideas, and sharing joy. Together with my friends, we introduced ANDER, talked about our work, and also listened and learned a lot from others. There was laughter, music, and unforgettable conversations the kind of experience that fills your heart with motivation and positivity.

And then, there was Cappadocia. Simply magical. Waking up before sunrise, standing with my friends, and watching dozens of hot air balloons rise into the sky as the sun painted everything golden  it felt like living inside a dream. We hiked through hidden valleys, explored unique rock formations, and let ourselves be carried away by the charm of this place. Cappadocia is not just a destination, it’s a feeling, and it will forever remain my favorite place in Turkey.

Finally, Istanbul the city of two continents, where history and modern life walk hand in hand. Of course, we didn’t have enough time to see everything, but what we managed to experience was unforgettable. From the lively streets and beautiful mosques to the Bosphorus views, Istanbul was a perfect ending to this journey. Every corner had something unique, and it left me wanting to come back one day.

I’m so thankful to have been part of this experience: discovering the beauty of Turkey, learning new things, and most importantly, creating friendships that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Thank you, Ankara. Thank you, Cappadocia. Thank you, Istanbul. And most of all thank you, ANDER. These two months may be over, but the memories, the lessons, and the people

I met will always stay in my heart.

David's August Blog

 As an international volunteer in Ankara, the month of August flew by faster than I expected. Compared to July, it felt like time passed in the blink of an eye. August was filled with energy, meaningful activities, and countless learning opportunities. My main role continued to be working with children at a youth center, where each day brought something new and exciting.

Throughout the month, we engaged in a variety of activities: teaching English, participating in drama classes, playing mind games, and having fun together. One of the highlights was creating workshops on important topics such as recycling, pollution, and peer pressure: exploring whether it is good or bad and how to cope with it. These workshops helped the children express themselves and learn more about the world around them. We also spent time painting and drawing, expressing ourselves through art by illustrating our families, friends, and things that represent who we are.

Every week, we had Turkish language lessons, and I’m truly grateful for that opportunity. Thanks to these classes, I now feel more connected to the culture and can understand more of the language. August also brought with it a series of cultural days, where we learned about the traditions, food, music, and dances of countries such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania, Spain, Italy, and Ukraine. We played Kahoot games, tasted traditional dishes, and even learned a few traditional dances.

Another significant experience was participating in events for International Youth Day. It was inspiring to meet young people from countries like Mongolia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Venezuela.

They shared insights about youth issues and solutions through their information stands. This event deepened my understanding of youth representation and global cooperation. One memorable day, we went to the fields to harvest tomatoes, which we later donated to people with fewer opportunities. This small act of giving reminded me of the power of community and the importance of solidarity.

Beyond the structured activities, I truly enjoyed my daily life in Ankara. I explored many parts of the city, visiting the Prison Museum, Ankara Castle, Atatürk's Mausoleum, and historical neighborhoods. I even started going regularly to a local sports center with a friend.

These experiences enriched my understanding of the city and made me feel more at home. Now that my two-month journey is coming to an end, I feel a mix of emotions. It’s difficult to say goodbye to the children, my friends, the city, and everything I’ve been a part of. However,

I leave with a heart full of memories, knowledge, and hope for the future. This amazing experience has not only shaped my summer, it has shaped my future. I am deeply grateful for every moment I spent here. I’m leaving a part of myself and my heart here, and carrying with
me a piece of the hearts of those I’ve met.

My First Month of Volunteering in Turkey: Activities, Discoveries and Daily Life

I am living my first month of volunteering in Turkey and every day I realize how much this experience is expanding my horizons. Ankara, with its chaotic rhythm has become the background of the activities I do within the association that hosts me. I work together with volunteers from different countries and with Turkish university students who join our events: a dynamic, stimulating and deeply multicultural environment.

The heart of our work is made of workshops and weekly events. During coordination moments, we analyze the previous week and prepare the post for social media, so we can clearly explain the activities we carried out. During the week, we prepare materials: we create scarves for children using the knitting technique, we prepare ideas and materials for the Speaking Clubs.

A very important role is played by the Speaking Clubs, events where Turkish young people come to practice English. These moments are very enriching: we talk about different topics (culture, travel, social differences, traditions) and we learn from each other. Sometimes one simple question is enough to turn the event into a conversation full of anecdotes, laughter and reflections. Thanks to these meetings, I am getting to know more about the local mindset and the daily life of Turkish students.

Another meaningful activity is the Cultural Days, when we present aspects of our home countries: food, music, curiosities, traditions and idioms. Learning more about cultures different from our own is stimulating and OF COURSE THE TEA IS ALWAYS PRESENT! We never start an activity without a warm cup in our hands, accompanying our conversations and discoveries.

Part of the volunteering experience also includes exploring the local area. During this first month, I visited symbolic places such as the Atatürk Mausoleum, traditional markets and different neighborhoods of the city. Entering mosques, covering my head and walking barefoot on the carpets is an experience that allows me to get closer to a different way of living spirituality. These small gestures, so normal for people who live here, are moments for me to observe and respect a cultural system that is distant from mine but deeply fascinating.

My week also includes Turkish language lessons every Saturday. Even though I am learning only the basics, every small word feels like a success: sometimes just saying “Merhaba” is enough for people to start talking to me in Turkish, and I find myself smiling, nodding and trying to understand as much as I can. It is a constant challenge, but also a daily exercise in adapting.

Alongside official activities, there are many spontaneous experiences: exploring the city, trying local food and taking small trips nearby. During this first month, I also had the chance to discover other parts of Turkey, like Istanbul and Cappadocia, which are giving me an even richer and more varied image of the country.

One activity that I found particularly meaningful was the food packing. LÖSEV, the foundation we visited, supports children with leukemia and other blood diseases by offering medical, educational and material support to their families. When I arrived at the bus stop, that was our meeting point to go together to the activity, I was impressed by the number of young people there: all of them, early on a Saturday morning, ready to give their time for a genuine act of volunteering. Seeing them participate so naturally, without expecting anything in return, was truly moving. It gave me hope and reminded me how much kindness still exists in people.

Looking at everything I am experiencing, I realize that volunteering is not only about organized events and tasks, but also about encounters, stories, challenges, surprises and moments of personal growth. This first month is teaching me about the generosity of people, the importance of adaptation and the value of curiosity.

In the middle of all this, I am also starting to discover new flavors, to get closer to different ways of thinking and to let myself be surprised by a daily life that, day after day, feels more familiar and meaningful.

With one month still ahead of me, I am sure that this experience will continue to surprise me and transform me in ways I cannot imagine yet.

Dominica's First Month

I spent my first month in Ankara as part of my volunteering project with the ANDER organisation, and it was a beautiful mix of meaningful work, cultural discovery, and simple everyday pleasures.

Together with the organisation, we explored some of Ankara's most important places. We visited Anıtkabir (Atatürk's Mausoleum), which was a powerful and emotional experience, as well as the Türkiye İş Bankası Museum, and Ankara Castle, where history and daily life blend naturally.

My work with ANDER was both hands-on and interactive. I helped pack food for LÖSEV, participated in knitting and crocheting workshops. I facilitated teamwork & communication workshops and took part in human rights workshops. One of the highlights was organising cultural days, where volunteers from different countries shared traditions, food, and stories. I also facilitated weekly speaking clubs, creating a space for discussion, language practice, and connection.

During my free time, I slowly fell into the rhythm of the city. I ate a lot of tavuk dürüm, usually paired with cold ayran, which quickly became almost a daily habit. Many afternoons were spent at Uluş Bazaar followed by long evening walks around the Kızılay neighbourhood. I also enjoyed watching volleyball games, playing Yüz Bir with friends, and sharing relaxed Turkish breakfasts with other volunteers one of the best ways to start the day together. On weekends, I had the chance to travel outside Ankara and visit Mardin and Gaziantep, two cities full of history, flavour, and unforgettable atmosphere.

This month in Ankara was not just about volunteering it was about learning, sharing, and growing alongside people from different backgrounds. It's an experience I'll carry with me long after it ends.

Antiga's December Blog

Last month was actually very exploratory and interesting, and this month has been just as exciting. Let’s start from the beginning. First of all, we continued going to school. The children loved us so much and got used to us so quickly that we are honestly still a bit shocked. The love and respect we received from them felt completely differentit was a very unique kind of love language for all three of us.

Our next stop was Tunalı Street. There, we visited Kuğulu Park, Botanical Park, and later Atakule. Inside Atakule, there was a small park and a simulation area. It was a really interesting place—almost everything felt like it was right under our feet.

As we are now approaching the end of our second month, which is also our final month, we decided to create memories at school. Since we had classes, we took photos with each class we taught and turned them into a video—both for them and for us as a keepsake. Our lovely teachers prepared a small surprise for us and made us blow out candles on a cake as if it were our birthday. I would like to thank them once again for everything.

After that, we finally visited Ankara Castle, which we couldn’t go to last time. The view was truly magnificent. Later, I went to eat ramen, a Japanese dish, with our debate group from school. It was really delicious.

Today, we went to the Belpa ice skating center. It was my first time skating, and it was so much fun. I didn’t expect to learn it so easily, but despite that, I fell down twice in a very funny way. Anyway, every story has a happy ending—and mine ends here. One day, I hope your path crosses places like these too, and you get to do everything you wish for.

Until the next journey—see you, bye 

Antiga's November Blog

It’s my first blog post. Actually I’m so stressed and a little bit excited . Firstly I started why I came here. Essentially I didn’t want to came here because of my parents didn’t want. but every girls have some special dream about  let them go somewhere with their friends. And I catch the chance which is came to here with my university classmates. And then I realizing I went somewhere with my by self. okay you might recognize me like this way. OKAYY I STARTED WRITING THIS STORY. It’s my first country and we started to Kizilay. Kizilay it’s our first place and Center of Ankara. And I met some new people and new friends which friends they came to here from other country. My roommate is from Tunis. The girls name is Amal. Literally she’s so cute and soooo lovely person. And then I met other girls. We lived 6 girls together and this’s so surprising because they were different countries and different cultures. But we got along really well. Our second destination is Ulus from Ankara. Ulus is so old city. There have a lot of great places for explains: A statue of Atatürk, Ankara Castle, Is banks, old National Assembly building and Ankara Palas . There so good. And i had so good chance it was Ataturk’ s death day. it was 10 November. And I went to Anitkabir which is Ataturk grave there. That’s so good impressive. I saw with my own eyes how much they loved him. Another day we went to Lösev . Lösev means hospital for children with Leukemia. It was incredibly unbelievable because we were doing something for them and their families, and that feeling made you feel really good .  Another day we went to another place called ANDA. But this was completely different . The main area here was located in Hamamonu. Hamamonu is a very beautiful settlement where many old buildings are clustered. Later, we went to Altindag Imam Hatip School. It was the first time we were real teachers to children. Because we ourselves were still students, it was very difficult for me, but actually we got used to it and we loved the children very much. We went to Istanbul, but it was around my birthday and it was wonderful. We went to many great places, including Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. After that, we took a Bosphorus tour and saw both bridges. We also saw the Maiden's Tower and the Galata Tower. This was just my one-month stay. Istanbul and Ankara left me with a very beautiful experience in just one month.  I am very happy right now and I am eagerly awaiting my second month. I send my best wishes for an even better month.

Second Month Nino

 When I was coming in Turkey, what I knew for sure was that I would see Istanbul. This month I had days off from the activities, so I used this opportunity and booked the tickets to Istanbul. I liked the city very much. The best place I visited was Topkapi Palace, which left me in awe with its beauty. It really threw me in 15 th century. The Bosporus view from the palace was so impressive.

Another place I visited this month is Cappadocia. I had not seen anything similar like that before. Landscape there is so unique and hotels in caves are so cool. I loved it, even though it was cold and there was not season for hot air balloons. I took a lot of beautiful pictures in Cappadocia.

We kept going to schools this month as well. It’s fun to come up with new games and language activities for kids at school. Most of students seem to be very excited with all of this and are engaged during the process. Since this is the last week of our Turkish Experience, we had to say goodbye to them last week, which was very sad. Children wanted us to stay forever . Teachers at the school surprised us with a farewell party, which was very nice and heartwarming of them.

Last week we were in Losev. This is the Foundation for Children with Leukemia, which is providing support for children affected by leukemia together with their families. We helped them with packing food for these children’s families. I am so happy to do valuable job like this. One more highlight of the month - I tried another Turkish dish “Iskander”, which I liked a lot.

Unfortunately, our journey in Turkey is coming to an end. This was an unforgettable experience full of amazing people, great memories, and new lessons. I enjoyed every moment, learned so much, and will definitely miss this place. I’m leaving with full hearts
and lots of stories to tell.

First Month Nino

When I first decided to volunteer in Turkey my motivation was to get to know Turkish culture better, discover new places, learn about traditions, religion.

My adventure started in November, when I arrived in Ankara. I am in a team with other volunteers (the girls, also, I share an apartment with) and we participate in lots of activities:

We go to schools and teach english, we help packing food for people in need, we attend meetings to promote Erasmus Solidarity Corps projects ect.

Children at school are adorable. They are nice and lovely and give us so much love from the first time we met. You can always feel it despite of language barriers. I always ask them if they know something about my country (usually all they know is that Turkey beat Georgia in football.

Monthly blog (December)

 Hei, hei

This is my second and last blog. I cannot believe that time flew by so fastly. It feels like I came here just a week ago. But now it is time to sum up my experience. 

This month I already felt like I am local, Turkish. I always drank tea, asked for an indirim (discount), crossed the streets like native and listened to a lot of Turkish music. 

I had a chance to discover Ankara more: we visited Ankara Castle, Ataküle, did some Ice-skating and a lot of shopping. For me exploring those places with other volunteers will always be a core memory. 

This month we had to say a lot of goodbyes and the hardest ones were with school children. Teaching them English, playing with them, answering their questions… We bonded so much with them. They loved us, we loved them. My biggest hope is that we motivated them to learn more English and also to do volunteering in the future. 

My Turkish got better with each day and with that helped Duolingo, Turkish songs and of course Turkish environment. This combination is the best for learning language. I believe that when I come back to Estonia, I will continue with learning it. 

I will lie if I say that I did not miss my home. Actually the second month was much harder for me than the first one. But what really helped me to overcome my home-sickness was staying in contact with my family and friends, listen to my native music and watching beloved films. Like that I always had a way to connect with my regular, before project, life. 

The Christmas of this year was not as I expected, because Turkish people do not celebrate it, and there was no snow, to which I am very used to  and which is for me the biggest christmas identifier, we still celebrated it by watching ‘’Home alone’’ in a cozy atmosphere. Definitely a different experience, but definitely not a bad experience. 

When I came here, I did not have big goals, my goal was just to experience. And I did! Living in a new country, far away from home and family, learning about other cultures (which are very different from mine), meeting all those delightful people… It is an extraordinary experience, which is very important for me. 

When I will be home, I will miss a lot of stuff: Baklava, other volunteers, people I met in Turkey, school children… But at least I will have those happy memories and if something, I can always come back.

Görüşürüz, Türkey - Hello, home!

Monthly Blog (November)

 Hei, hei

My name is Jaanika and I come from Estonia.

After I graduated High School I wanted to experience something new and ESC Volunteering was just the right thing for me.  So I packed my suitcase, said ‘’Bye’’ to my cat and ‘’Hello’’ to Turkey. 

My first month passed unbelievably fast, but at the same time it was full of new people, new surroundings, and new knowledge.

We had done a lot: discovered Ankara, taught in schools, led an English speaking club, packaged food and did a lot of social media.

Some days were busy, some were chaotic, but all of them were meaningful.

Every single one of these experiences was new to me.  Sometimes I felt nervous, sometimes excited… but it all is a mandatory part of the process, you just need to trust it. 

Getting used to Turkey was not easy as well. The randomized traffic and street crossing is still leaving me in shock, but all you need to do is pretend that you know how it works.

I love the tradition of drinking çay (tea) every second. No matter how late you are, there is always time to drink tea. 

Beside everything I had a chance to start learning a new language. Is Turkish easy for me? No! But at least I know the most important word for surviving- ‘’Indirim’’.  

This month we discovered Ankara. We visited Anıtkabir, Ulus, Hamamönü, Millet Kütüphanesi. But my favourite place so far is Altınköy. ‘’Golden Village’’ was a real gold and treasure for me: calm nature, old houses, animals and this peaceful atmosphere that makes you want to stay there forever.

And the most important part- people.

Within this month I met a lot of kind, funny, bright and inspiring humans. 

People about whom, when thinking back to my volunteering, I will definitely let some tear drops. 

With school children, for whom we gave English lessons, my goal was to leave some impact on them, but in the end, I think they are the ones who impacted me. And this experience is impossible to describe.

If the first month was already this emotional, exciting, and unforgettable… I can’t imagine what the next one will bring, but for now I will just wait with Turkish Tea in my one hand and Simit in the other… 

P.S. Quote of this month: ‘’As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.’’

My December Blog

 Hellooo!!!

This blog is about my second month with the Ander organization. December, 2025. I didn’t even realize how quickly time passed here; it feels like just yesterday was my first day in Ankara… Being a part of the Ander family and collecting beautiful, unforgettable memories is such an emotional and incredible feeling. There is very little time left until I return to my homeland, Azerbaijan, and I spent my second month in Ankara so, so beautifully.

Together with my fellow volunteers, we traveled around, visited amazing places in Ankara that we hadn’t seen or discovered before, had so much fun, and returned home with unforgettable and lovely memories. Let me share with you where I went in December and what kind of impressions stayed with me  Let’s gooo 

At the beginning of December, I started by visiting Ankara’s wonderful parks. One of them was Kuğulu Park. It was incredibly beautiful and fascinating. I could never get enough of watching the scenery—especially the swans. I fell in love with their beauty and elegance. Seeing people quietly sitting and watching the view and the swans was so peaceful. Even the cleanliness of Kuğulu Park impressed me. Autumn suits Kuğulu Park perfectly  The sounds of nature, the colors, the falling leaves… In short, I was deeply touched by the park; it was truly delightful.

Then I went to the Botanical Park. Even just being there felt very special. The cleanliness of the park, Ankara’s wonderful air, the silence… Since the Botanical Park is located on higher ground, the view is amazing, and watching Ankara from there is truly enjoyable. For those who want to go, I recommend visiting either at sunset or sunrise—the view is absolutely beautiful 

We also visited the botanical area itself; seeing the plants up close, feeling them with the crackling sound of the fire, and experiencing the elegance of the place in the moment was very special. In short, every part of the Botanical Park is meaningful 

Atakule… How magnificent you are!!!!! In one word: perfect. I went there together with my volunteer friends. Since we visited close to New Year’s, the decorations were breathtaking. Atakule is very tall, and watching the view from the very top floor is unbelievable  We also visited another high floor to enjoy the view again from above, and there is a beautiful park there where you can walk around and admire the scenery. Additionally, there are simulation games you can play, and we didn’t miss the chance to enjoy them  Everything was perfect.

Ankara Castle… 

Everyone who comes to Ankara must visit this place. It is located very high, and the view is magnificent. It feels as if you can sense all of Ankara up close—so close to the clouds. Every stone of the castle carries history. You are so beautiful and special, dear castle.

Ice skating…

Together with my fellow volunteers, we went ice skating. It was such a wonderful feeling. Having friends with experience teach you how to skate, falling and laughing together, and enjoying the moment—it was amazing. My dear friends, having my first ice-skating experience with you was truly special, and I will never forget it.

Dear Ankara, thank you for welcoming me with a beautiful family, friends, and memories. I will never forget you; you will always remain in the most beautiful corner of my heart.

With love,

Gülsüm 

My November Blog

 Hey! My name is Gülsüm!

This is my November blog.

Currently, I am continuing my volunteering journey in Ankara, Türkiye. Yes, finally, I am an ANDER volunteer! I am extremely happy that I was accepted by the ANDER organization and that I completed such an amazing month here.

It has been a month full of unforgettable and beautiful memories, new friends, new places, cities, and valuable experiences. My project period will end on December 30, and I will return to my home country, Azerbaijan. To be honest, saying “I don’t want to go back” would be more accurate. Saying goodbye to Ankara, its people, its air, the delicious and unique food I enjoyed so much, and most importantly to ANDER and its wonderful family will be very difficult for me.

ANDER, you are simply perfect!!

Let’s take a look together at how my November experience went 

During the first week, we had our wonderful orientation sessions. I would like to sincerely thank the ANDER family for being so thoughtful and supportive during our first days and for always being by our side. Thanks to the orientation, my fellow volunteers and I had the chance to get to know each other better, improve our communication, work together, and exchange ideas. As a result, we became much closer 

Every week, we had a “Discover Ankara” day. My fellow volunteers and I truly valued these moments and enjoyed visiting the must-see places of Ankara. One of the first places I visited was Hacı Bayram-ı Veli Mosque. It was impossible not to admire this mosque. It was so beautiful and historical that I enjoyed every moment of looking at it. There were many people there, some praying and others visiting—just like me. Every stone and every fine detail seemed to whisper, “I am history. Look at me. I still have many hidden stories for you to discover.” 

I completely fell in love with the atmosphere of the mosque and its surroundings. It was such a meaningful and peaceful place, where even with many people around, the silence during prayers brought a deep sense of calm and serenity.

One of our most unforgettable memories was the time we spent at LÖSEV. For me, LÖSEV was a place where I felt proud, happy, fulfilled, and truly enjoyed working. The team’s endless motivation, support, guidance, and enthusiasm inspired us even more. Even though the workload was heavy, working together made everything feel easier. Everyone shared the same goal: helping people in need.

The staff valued us volunteers greatly; they provided us with delicious meals and even played our favorite songs by request to make the work more enjoyable. We worked while dancing  and often lost track of time. Everything was simply wonderful.

Altınköy Open Air Museum amazed me with its nature, beauty, fresh air, cleanliness, and peaceful atmosphere. I honestly wanted to live there  It is impossible not to fall in love with the people, village life, and the museums inside. When I entered the museums, I fell in love with the handmade crafts and didn’t want to leave. Time passed without me realizing it.

And finally, I would like to talk about the place that touched my heart, life, and emotions the most, leaving deep and unforgettable memories: Anıtkabir.

Anıtkabir, how beautiful and meaningful you are. Every detail carries a purpose. It is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye. Seeing people’s respect, appreciation, and constant visits to honor the Great Leader was deeply moving. Standing silently during the National Anthem, feeling its power, and witnessing the soldier march and the changing of the guard was absolutely breathtaking. Everything was perfect—you can’t help but admire it more and more as you watch.

I am extremely excited for the new experiences that await me next month.

With love,

Gülsüm 

My 2nd month in Ankara (December)

December went by fast, but somehow it managed to be full of everything: experiences, emotions… and shopping. A lot of shopping. Apparently, every time I try something new, I have to buy something after. No exceptions.

I started the month in Istanbul, and honestly, it was beautiful. Walking around, discovering the city, enjoying the views… and of course, doing some “light” shopping (which was supposed to be light, but Istanbul had other plans). Coming back to Ankara, I thought life would calm down — it didn’t.

I tried künefe for the first time and loved it. Naturally, the next step was shopping. New experience? New purchase. That’s the rule. Then I went to Gölbaşı, enjoyed the peaceful lake, relaxed a bit… and somehow still ended up shopping. At this point, I stopped asking why.

I discovered pottery, which was calming, creative, and very aesthetic. Right after that? Shopping again. Because how can you try something artistic and not reward yourself? Exactly.

There were fun days too — bowling, lots of laughter, great vibes… followed by shopping. Karting was my first time, it was raining, my heart was racing, adrenaline everywhere — and yes, shopping after, to emotionally recover. Ice skating? Slipping, laughing, surviving… and shopping, because I deserved it.

The most meaningful moments were at school. During World Arabic Language Day, I watched Turkish students present in Arabic with so much effort and passion. I felt incredibly proud, especially of the students I taught for two months. Teaching was never something I thought I would love, but this experience changed me. Working with children was beautiful. Every time I went to school, they ran to hug me and called me “Teacher.” Those moments filled me with pride and love.

(And yes… sometimes, after school… shopping. For emotional balance.)

I explored Ankara Castle, enjoyed the breathtaking view, walked through streets that felt strangely familiar — almost like home. I took it all in… then did a little shopping. Tradition is tradition.

I also volunteered with LÖSEV, packing food for others. It was a simple but deeply meaningful day, reminding me that giving is just as important as receiving. (No shopping this time… growth )

December was not just a month. It was experiences, emotions, lessons, laughter — and a very strong shopping habit. Ankara taught me many things, but one lesson stands out: wherever I go, whatever I try, I will probably end up buying something. And honestly? I’m okay with that. 

Now all that’s left is to pray I’ll find space in my suitcase for everything I bought… because apparently every experience came with a shopping bag.

One Month in Ankara: Small Details, Big Lessons

 I arrived in Ankara with two suitcases, mixed emotions, and no clear idea of how much this experience would change me. I came to volunteer, but very quickly I found myself learning from everything around me ,people, places, habits, and even silence.

One of the first things I noticed about Ankara was how calm and organized everything is. Life has a rhythm here. Public transport is on time, days are structured, and there’s a sense of quiet discipline that I wasn’t used to. At first it felt strange, but slowly it became comforting.

Culturally, many small details caught my attention. One of them was how people take off their shoes before entering the house , something I had only seen before in Turkish series. Living it in real life made me understand how much respect they give to cleanliness and to the home as a private, peaceful space. Tea is also everywhere , in offices, homes, activities, breaks. It’s not just a drink; it’s part of daily life, a moment to pause, talk, and connect. And the food… simple but incredibly delicious. I tried new dishes and discovered flavors that made me feel close to the culture instantly.

And visiting the National Library of Turkey was unforgettable. It was huge, calm, and inspiring. Standing there, I felt like I was inside another world, surrounded by knowledge and focus.

Throughout this month, I constantly stepped out of my comfort zone ,new language, new habits, new ways of communicating. I learned teamwork, adaptability, cultural awareness, and patience. But more importantly, I discovered confidence I didn’t know I had.

This first month in Ankara didn’t change my life dramatically.

It changed it quietly, deeply, and honestly.

And this is only the beginning.

My Last Month of Volunteering in Ankara: People, Experiences, and Little Joys

    As I entered the final month of my volunteering program in Ankara, I carried a strange mix of emotions: a little disbelief at how fast time had passed, and a big sense of gratitude for everything I had experienced. This month turned out to be the most colorful, lively, and unforgettable period of my stay.

One of the highlights of this month was definitely meeting many new people. Each person brought a different story, a new perspective, and fresh energy into my days. Especially the new volunteer who came from Tunisia we connected so easily from the very first moment. Exploring the city, working on projects together, sharing tea breaks… even introducing Ankara to her became something I really enjoyed.

Spending time with the students at the school and the course was another joyful part of this month. Teaching them, making learning fun with games, and sometimes laughing so hard together in the classroom… Every lesson felt like a chance not just to teach, but to grow together. Their curiosity and warm energy made this whole experience even more meaningful for me.

Another beautiful aspect of this month was that I spent the entire month in Ankara. Staying here allowed me to truly settle into the rhythm of the city. I explored new streets, discovered my favorite coffee spots, and even the paths I walked every day started to feel familiar. Ankara’s calm but cozy spirit was exactly what I needed.

And of course… the food adventures! One of the iconic moments of the month was definitely trying tantuni for the first time. That warm, juicy, incredibly delicious wrap was enough to make me say, “Yes, this was absolutely worth it.” Sometimes the little flavors make the biggest memories.

We also had the chance to visit several universities this month. Among them, Hacettepe stood out the most for me. The campus, the atmosphere, the energy of the students… Walking around there made me wonder what it would be like to study at such a place. The other universities were beautiful too, but Hacettepe definitely left a special impression.

And maybe the most special moment of all: being in Ankara during Republic Day . The lights across the city, the celebrations in the streets, the pride on people’s faces… The atmosphere was unforgettable. It felt as if 29 October is celebrated with a different warmth and intensity in Ankara. I felt like I was living inside a moment of history.

With such a full and meaningful final month, this volunteering experience has taken an even more valuable place in my heart. The memories I carry aren’t just about the tasks I completed—they are about the people I met, the flavors I tasted, the places I visited, and the emotions I felt. Ankara is no longer just a city for me; it has become a chapter, a story, and a warm memory.