MY EVS LİFE

Dear sisters, brothers, uncles, aunties, cats, dogs and all kind of behaviors,

My name is Khrystyna, and I am a short-term EVS volunteer in Turkey/Karaman. I am 21 years old and I am from Ukraine. I want to tell you why I am here, what I am doing in EVS, about my new experience, cultural shock, adventures and general feeling.

Ok, I think that is enough for introduction and you are already interested. let’s start J

What is EVS about?

It’s a program founded by the European Union. The goal of the program is cultural exchange and acquisition of new skills. Participants can get new skills working in organizations abroad. Cultural exchange is a two-way process. Volunteer opens a new culture because they live in another country and local people have the same chance if they watch, talk and spend time with the volunteer as behavior, customs, traditions, of volunteer is be different from those of local people.

Moreover, the volunteer receives free accommodation, meals, tickets, insurance, a card to visit museums, course of local language and pocket money.

I read all this and decided to try. I took me 10 minutes to make decision when I saw an announcement on Facebook.

What I am doing on my EVS?

As I said I do EVS in Turkey. I do it in Karaman. Yes, Karaman, it’s not Kahramanmaraş, which is located in East of Turkey, it’s KARAMAN, which is 1.5 hours by train to Konya. People often ask my why I chose this city, not Istanbul or other big city. Important thing for me was what I will do during the project, not where, because you can live in the best city of the world and do job that you do not like and you will hate this city.

I work for Karaman Youth Club NGO. Estefania (volunteer from the Canary Islands) and me promote Erasmus and EVS among local youth. By our example, we show that it is possible to discover the world and learn sth new in that way, without spending own money (which young people usually do not have). Also we learn how to work in office, write our own projects, also attend local schools, the University, English lessons at the club for people of all ages. It helps us to establish communication and understand how these people live and how they think.

After almost two months I can say that:

• I like what I do here;

• I meet a lot of nice people: my neighbors, local young people, people in hosting organization, other volunteers from different countries who do EVS in Turkey and people from some countries whose names I have never even heard of (it was interesting to listen about those distant unknown countries and how life goes there)

• Hospitality of some people just impressed me;

• Customs and traditions of Turkey are worth your attention, if you have seen at least one Turkish film, then you'll feel like in the movie for the first two weeks;

• I could write another article about Turkish food, but instead of this I will just say that Turkish food = LOVE, big LOVE♥ You have to understand why by yourself.

• Here I did, tried and saw a lot of new things: played bowling, tabla, OK, visited Asia and lived in Asia, went to travel in winter, walked in sports shoes in the winter, ate ice cream on street in winter (yes, it’s a big deal for me because at that day in my country was -20 outside), first saw the sea in winter, dined in Starbucks with a view at the sea, slept at the airport, because my flight was canceled, ate halal meat and a lot of other small but really impressive and new things for me.

• Prices for food and cloths are affordable even if you only have pocket money;

• I met the refugees, it was interesting, because the refugee problem before for me was just the news on the TV and nothing more;

Tamam, I said a lot nice things. It’s time to say what I do not like here:

• Road traffic rules do not work here. Traffic lights and other road signs are here for beauty or as a decoration J So, take care!

But this one minus will not cure all the above listed pluses.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about a very important thing that happened here with me. Of course, it’s traveling.

During this time I visited Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Pamukkale. Each of these places was special. I will not tell you about my impressions and emotions, I think that my smile in this pictures will tell you much more than my words in this article.

Thank you for attention! Do not be afraid to take part in the adventure titled EVS!

Khrystyna Koretska

8.2.2018, Karaman, TURKEY