Izmir, October 2024.
Looking back in time, one month full of adventures and challenges already passed. How did that happen so fast?
I can remember how I landed in Izmir and waited for my luggage as if it was yesterday.
I can remember the first time I used the ferry as public transportation and how I felt a breeze of fresh air as if it was yesterday.
I can remember sitting at the promenade and enjoying the view, being surrounded by a vivid city which is adorned with the sun shimmering in the blue sea.
All of these memories have a significant place in my heart – and all of them happened in just one month.
How many more wonderful memories will make their way into my heart?
Izmir is truly a city I feel comfortable in. I catch myself appreciating every single moment most of the time! Even if it is just a little cat playing with another one.
The fact that Izmir is so vivid made me want to try out new things. I loved doing theater in Germany, so I went on a walk in Alsancak and visited different theater places. One of them was really appealing to me, which is why I decided to just go in.
The whole lesson was in Turkish and the teacher allowed me to watch and even to participate if I wanted to.
I had to read out a Turkish text and sing a Turkish song and it was so funny, because I didn’t understand anything!!
Now, one month later, I am a part of this theater group. We are working on a Turkish play and I am so excited to see how it will turn out!
Being one of the volunteers of Pi Youth Association makes me feel so lucky. Not only the group atmosphere, also the office team are becoming a family of mine.
Everyone helps out everyone, we are there for each other.
Someone lost something? We search together. Someone has issues with any application? We all try together. Need any help with paperwork? Pi Youth Association is there for us.
I cannot take all these things for granted – that is why I am truly, truly grateful for this opportunity. The intercultural exchange, the process of building new skills and especially the ability to build friendships that last forever are just some of the things I love the most.
Of course, especially in the beginning, there were some moments of being unsure, of truly feeling the language barrier… but these challenges not always have to mean something bad – on the contrary, they help me shape the person I want to be. They are the reason why I am becoming more self-confident and curious day by day. These challenges made me stronger on a personal level, but also more educated about the beautiful Turkish culture.
Looking back, the Arzu in Germany, being excited and waiting for her plane to Izmir, would never think that she is going to experience so many different and unique things in just one month. She would never think that in such a short time, she will find her second family and build a life she always dreamed of.
