Selamlar!
Now it’s February, and I have reached almost the halfway point of my—stay in Türkiye. A few days of sunshine and warm temperatures tricked us into believing that winter was coming to an end, only for the rain and cold to return once again.
December was a strange time for many of us volunteers. The Christmas season wasn’t as present as we were used to, and for those who didn’t go home for the celebrations, it was probably the most memorable and unique Christmas we have ever experienced. Every week, we held workshops at the Kültürpark Christmas market, and we also visited the one organized by the French lnstitute in Alsancak. New Vear’s was a highlight. Friends from Gaziantep came to visit us in lzmir, and we celebrated together. 1 was quite surprised that there were almost no fireworks -something that is an essential part of New Year’s Eve in Germany. Now, 1 am even more convinced that they are not actually not that necessary.
üne of the most fun cultural experiences was the Polish Cultural Night, organized by lrmina and Ruben. We made pierogi, tried Polish delicacies, and even danced. As for work life, our workshops have become more relaxed and a certain nonchalance started defining our attitude. Maybe because we developped a stronger bond with the participants and we are familliar with the places now.
January was filled with adventures. We visited the Ancient City of Ephesus, where the grand library stood out as the most impressive ruin of all. Later that day, we explored Şirince, doing the famous wine tasting and visiting the old, empty churches. Our journey ended with a delicious chocolate waffle in Karşıyaka. Çok güzel gün!
Being exhausted of city life we went hiking in Balçova. We covered 17 kilometers, surrounded by breathtaking nature. By the end, with shaking legs, we made our way down again, completely exhausted but absolutely fulfilled.
Another unexpected yet fascinating experience was attending a herse race in Buca. Apparently, races are held there every Sunday. 1 had never been to a herse race before, and the atmosphere was electric. The jockeys and horses, surprisingly small, wore colorful saddles and outfits. As they galloped toward the finish line, betting men shouted and cheered, hoping to make a profit. While the energy was thrilling, 1 couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the animals.
We also took a biking trip to Mavişehir. it had been a long time since I had ridden a bike, and I was thrilled to get back to it. Back home in Germany, cycling was part of my daily routine, and this ride brought back that familiar joy. The long bicycle iane along the lzmir Gulf provided a stunning setting, and with some friends, we made our way to Mavişehir, where we even got to see flamingos.
Thank you for reading my blogpost
Görüşürüzzz
lda <3