A Ukranian from Lithuania: The Second and Last Month in Türkiye

 

Hello again! This is my second and last blog-post during this term, which I want to dedicate to the topic of Volunteering itself. I want to share the reflections and findings regarding that, which we were able to formulate during those two months of our experience so far. There are only 5 more days left before we depart. And you can feel that kind of atmosphere when everyone has a bit of mixed moods about saying goodbyes so soon and leaving the new discovered comfort zone, and glad at the same time for everything we got through.
Before accepting this challenging offer to go to the program abroad to be called an international ESC volunteer I knew no one, just as the majority of us. But what happened is that we created a real family. 

Group of people from completely different countries gathered for something special. From accommodation and food share to deep soul connections and common sense of humor. Two birthdays during this time. Staying overnight at somebody’s place. Traveling around the country and exploring together. Crying and laughing. Getting those unique dead jokes to be understood only between us. Creative marvelous projects with the help of collective mind, hand by hand. The way we all somehow complete each other… this is a true friendship with all its aspects. We are definitely gonna keep in contact after. “From ‘me’ to ‘we’ with Erasmus”.

Our caring boss and mentors are also to be mentioned. There are lots of things to miss…

Except for people, our chance to be here allowed me to perceive the concept of Solidarity. Now I can sincerely confess that I feel changes, particularly, there is a tangible difference. My mindset has expanded and I became even more conscious than ever before. Continuous learning activates, and your mind constantly searches for some solutions and gets ideas. Non-formal education performs its primary aim.

Volunteering turns out to be not about help only. This is a style of life. New philosophy and driving force. This is something that opens your heart… When you are making boxes in the circle of your friends and putting some foods and goods there to be supplied to families with the children who have oncology, you realize you are here for something important. In this life. This fulfills it with a higher meaning. When you give motivational speeches at the university for students who are wondering about your path and seeking some inspiration and piece of advice. Or when you just play with kids to entertain them and boost their development in intellectual games. When you prepare Speaking clubs to help people to improve their language skills and overcome fear. When you hold these precious Cultural Evenings to spread the knowledge about your countries among other foreigners in front of you, and catch that thought your presentation and its way builds the whole world, causing mindset shifts and upgrades.

Your personality transforms. You are never the same anymore you were before volunteering.

Whether you want them or not, changes come. For that reason whatever you want to get better - communicational, organizational, practical, leadership skills, adaptability and internationalization - exchange youth projects are here for that purpose. So many surprises, so many new people are yet to come to your life. Just let it happen. Apply and go.

As I mentioned in the beginning, I knew no one. It was like a step into the darkness of a cave. But some time later I already stepped inside the real caves in Cappadocia, and all expectations were met.

In addition at last, I want to advise a couple of places to visit from my own recent experience – one spot in Ankara and one city in Türkiye.

The first is the Presidential Library. It’s really grand and special. I’ve never visited anything like this before. Moreover, it is located in a very interesting area of Ankara with modern high-rise buildings in creative designs, in particular, there is a mosque nearby.

Access to the library is free, at the entrance security control will only check your passport. Going there initially I hoped to walk around for a little time and just take pictures. But seeing the place in person, I literally couldn’t get enough of it and cut admiration of the aesthetics of everything. Architecture, interior... ranging from a huge globe in the main hall and these countless vintage bookshelves on every floor, when you look up and feel an inexhaustible source of information... to paintings, stairs, elevators, up to the books I randomly selected with pictures of my beloved Istanbul. It really took my heart, and in total, I spent about three hours there. I even caught a dip in the atmosphere of kinda "Harry Potter".

So if you are impressed, take your time to visit. I recommend to go there on a sunny day at sunset, so you will see the library in the golden rays of the sun and you will be able to observe its set (the library also has numerous terraces with views to all sides), and illumination when it gets dark around and the evening lights come on.

The second is the city of Trabzon. Straight away I let you know that it’s really far, 12 hours by bus one way. I went there to meet my Erasmus friend. And never regretted. The city is located on the coastline of Black Sea, there are lots of palms and cedars. Nature there is completely different, and it’s gorgeous. We were going to places in the mountains (so high that there was snow even), riding by car on the roads literally betweens the cliffs with the numerous small rivers and waterfalls on our way, and spring flowers. Fog, rains, sun. Karadeniz region traditional head accessories with pendants. So, if you want to explore another part of Türkiye, you can go there. Absolutely lovely.

All the best!

For any questions and suggestions, you can reach me by @valeria_kushnirova in Insta. 

A Ukrainian From Lithuania

 

…just imagine, your friend suddenly sends you the description of some project in Türkiye (the country, which you have liked for a long time already) with an open call for participation. You, in turn, decide to give it a try, still between the exams in your university. You fill in the application form at night and in the very morning of the same day you receive the messages from your future boss & tutor & role model & friend at one face. Interview is completed, and a few days later, right on Christmas Day, like a present under the tree, you got accepted. Now you are a volunteer. And perfectly before New Year celebrations, you have to buy your tickets to so much desired destination after almost 3 years since the last time in Anatolia, and you do that, and you spend all your next days knowing that the coming year is about to start with an adventure and a totally new page in your life.

You pass your last exams, finish local duties in your city, spend last moments with your family and friends before the departure for two months to another land far away from home (it was about to be the longest separation ever). And Day X comes. Night again. You’re at the bus stop waiting for the first transport connection to start the long way (not only in terms of distance). You give hugs and say temporary byes to dear ones you leave here, and say hello to people you see for the first time in a life, who lately will become your new friends, “dream team”, and even family in this project.

Next morning, altogether you take the direct flight from the capital of a nearby country (reached from another capital) to the capital of Turkey, and you land in Ankara, and meet way more people from different countries entering your life to build a special story together.

Introductory days, acquaintances with the crew, excursions around the city, visiting main sightseeing spots, first evening in the office where we’re gonna to spend a lot of time after…

Old town, Ankara Castle, my first mosque, fortunate going up the minaret of the biggest mosque in Ankara with the panoramic view to the whole night city. Life in a special dormitory, adaptation, sharing duties, integration to the local Turkish community. Charming Turkish lessons to acquire a new language. Team-building meetings in the office, evaluations, sharing our thoughts and impressions. Learning responsibility, the sense of team spirit and mutual support. First common brainstorm ideas and released projects. First challenges and conflicts. First emotional shakes.

Visiting numerous Youth Centers and meeting with their heads, giving me inspiration regarding entrepreneurship skills and the direction where to strive for the future. Boosting personal leadership.

Trying the national cuisine, reaching gastronomical heaven. Celebration of the first Birthday of one of the members in our group, my roommate. Meeting our colleagues, Turkish volunteers, on the same evening.

First Cultural Evening about Lithuania with my team.

 Opportunity to visit another corner of Türkiye on the south by the Syrian border, changing own plans and accepting the offer to go there. Volunteering at the farm in Hatay, helping to collect the mandarins growing on infinite fields of the trees. It was exactly 1 year after the earthquakes in that zone.

Crazy swimming in the beloved Mediterranean Sea in Arsuz shore in the evening, catching the waves. Night volleyball. My personal departure the very next morning. One bus, second bus... Sitting at the random cafe of Adana, trying its kebab. Taxi, airport. And here is the ticket.. I’ve been dreaming about for years. It was the ticket to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines… and my flight, and those long-awaited sweet words: “Welcome to Istanbul – the meeting point of the world!” Meeting with my strongly loved people there and so much needed hugs. Next 4 days in the city of my biggest aşk, daily tears from happiness, blessing, delightment, continuous exploration and admiration.

 Way back to home in Ankara, more work, first Speaking clubs and new Cultural Evenings (Georgia, Egypt and Azerbaijan so far). Helping in Lösev (hospital complex for the children with oncology) with humanitarian aid packages.

Playing table tennis, chess, cards, musical instruments in studios and workplace (since we have a guitar right in our office, which allows me to practice whenever I want) and singing, painting each other in the art studio, board- and ice skating.

 

Opportunity to go norther, to Ilgaz, to ski in the mountains. Collecting new experiences in our real snowy fairytale after the summertime in winter just two weeks ago. Feeling the non-linearity of the timeline, when two days feel like the whole month.

More fun and parties. Less sleep. Spontaneous and risky decision to visit Cappadocia at the weekends just in a few days before the expected ride. Planning our group trip only 12 hours before the departure. Another evening of tickets purchasing. And here we go, two days in Göreme, living in caves, walking without any routes in the middle of nowhere, multiplying our collective excitement from every single landscape. Witnessing flying hot air balloons at the sunrise of the next day, and understanding that my another cherished dream just came true, way more better than I could ever draw in my mind.

And now we are at the office. Tomorrow is the Cultural Evening dedicated to my homeland, Ukraine. In a couple of days I already have the trip to another corner of Turkey more than 700 km away. And less than two weeks to stay here left…

to be continued...