After 6 months spent in Izmir, my volunteering journey is already coming to an end. This experience has taught me so much across so many different fields, but above all, it allowed me to meet wonderful people who will stay in my heart forever.
At the beginning, I was a bit stressed about having to teach people who sometimes didn’t speak any English at all. But in the end, every language class and language club became a true space of joy and connection. I loved watching the participants’ levels improve over the weeks, while at the same time, I was growing more confident speaking in public and getting better at organizing and leading these workshops.
I also deeply loved the activities we did with the middle and high school students, as they focused on themes that are incredibly important to me.
I am going to miss so many things: the kindness and humor of the Turkish people, the sunsets from the bars in Karataş, the delicious food on every street corner… and of course, my life in my favorite neighborhood in the world: Buca! I absolutely loved my daily routine there—getting to know the local shopkeepers, chatting with them, or simply waving hello as I walked past their shops in the morning. These are precious memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Fortunately, this is just a goodbye, and I know I’ll be back soon 🙂