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.

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.