Two months ago, I made a fast decision and applied for EVS, and it turned out to be my best decision this year. I arrived here on the first of April and will leave on the first of June. So, I had 8 weeks to spend here. I was thinking that the time would not be enough to do something remarkable, but I was wrong. I have attended some intercultural nights, some charity events, and some workshops where I learned a lot. Living in a different cultural atmosphere widens my worldview. Understanding another culture is not an easy task, but I think I am doing OK. I am struggling to learn Macedonian because I believe the best way to understand each other is to communicate. And verbal communication takes the biggest slice of the cake when you are trying to understand another culture. I can’t describe Macedonian culture as “another one” because, after 5 weeks, I feel like I belong here. [Well, actually, my great-grandfather was born in Skopje, so that kind of has something to do with this feeling.]

Here in Bitola, we are carrying out projects, most of them environmental. My main project is titled “Clean Up Your Mess.” I and Arzu came up with the idea to build a fence with used plastic bottles. Every Wednesday, we visited Kliment Ohridski Primary School and worked with students. And this Wednesday, we finished it. You can see it in the school garden. Sometimes we talked about some environmental facts, and the students were interested. Later I found out that they are students of the Eco-class. I also found out that in every Macedonian school, there is an Eco-Class. I am amazed by this fact.

I also carry out some other workshops. I am teaching Turkish at beginner and advanced levels. It is my first time teaching Turkish to a room of people, but I never had a hard time. Because of my very precious and clever students! They are really into Turkish culture. (Thanks to Kara Sevda, Yaprak Dökümü, Süleyman The Magnificent, and DÖNER) By the end of my Bitola adventure, I am sure they will be able to express themselves clearly in Turkish.

Also, we had a great time apart from workshops and volunteering. We have been to “a couple of parties.” If you have ever seen some people dancing in the front row in Kamarite, it was probably me and other volunteers. Every day, I’ve been to Sirok Sokak. I wanted to discover every single cafe on Sirok Sokak, but it looks like I will fail. But still, I have been in most of them. If I ever come back, I will try to finish this task.