In this blog post, I’ll do a quick summary of what has happened over the last three months.
January
January was a month full of culinary discoveries. I tried a traditional Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) for the first time, and I absolutely loved it. More than just a meal, it’s a cultural experience, a moment of sharing and connection. However, I also tried kumpir and have to admit that I wasn’t a fan.
I celebrated my 21st birthday over three days with all the volunteers, and my amazing roommates even made me a cake! I’m so grateful to everyone who took the time to celebrate with me; you truly feel like a second family.
Work-wise, I spent a lot of time with very young children. Initially, it wasn’t my strength, but I’m slowly getting used to it. Even though it’s exhausting, I try to enjoy the moments as much as possible.
February
This was the month of adventure! I started with a personal challenge: walking along the seaside from my house to the other side of the bay, in Alsancak. My roommates and I took on the challenge together, and after four hours of walking, we rewarded ourselves with a giant ice cream.
My friends from France also visited me in Türkiye! We met in Istanbul before heading to Izmir, and I’m so grateful for that trip. Istanbul was even more beautiful than I had imagined, and the snowy weather made everything even more magical. Seeing my friends again after almost a year apart was the best feeling.
February was also full of celebrations: Ida’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, and many other little events that made the month special.
March
I can’t believe I’ve already been here for six months! Time is flying, and I have only three months left. Workshops have become more interesting, as I now work more with adults. I love it! Seeing them improve makes me proud. It’s funny to be on the other side of the classroom, as the “teacher” while they are the students.
This month also marked the beginning of Ramadan. For the first time, I took part in organizing food distributions for iftar, which was a new and rewarding experience for me.
With the arrival of spring, everything feels even more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
Over the past three months, I’ve learned a lot, experienced so many new things, and, most importantly, laughed a lot. Every day, I feel grateful for everything I’m living here: the people around me, the opportunities that come my way, and the memories I’m making.