People, Human Rights, Lifestyle, Travel, Activities

Last week was very exciting for me. I met new people and had a wonderful trip around Gaziantep, and outside of it. We went to Nizip, Zeugma town, Birecik, Karkamış, Ekinveren, and back to the city, totally we drove 200 kilometers. While driving we made a lot of stops with the purpose of photographing. People in the villages are very rich in the meaning of their inner richness and wellness. They work on fields and have every time a piece of bread. They make a five time prayer just on the field while watching their sheep and cows. Wellness of their hearts is when you take a picture of them – they smile and give you a package of fruits, because I was talking to them with an accent in Turkish, at least I do it, and I understand them. Sometimes you meet people who are not happy when I photograph them, they protest and watch at you with curiosity, but every time smile. In my daily life I face to unfamiliarity in the kindergarten. My colleagues, other teachers, make jokes on me about my a...

The second week started very actively by new activities in the kindergarten. On Monday I went there and was introduced to the kids aged 1,5 – 5. They are really small I could say, and I didn't have experience on working with big groups of little children. I really tired that day as I never was before: kids take a lot of energy. The second day was much better than the first, because I already new groups and I started to teach English for the children, and the methods are very different from the secondary school where I have good experience. Inspite of all difficulties those kids are wonderful and beautiful. Now I can say that I used to these little kids, who have so great energy. I sometimes even think why when people grow up and become alder they are so mercantile, they never do things just to see the person's smile, or just for nothing. Everything people do is for something, for their better future and etc. And why people actually do have that artificial smile, or they smile...

06.04.14 – 15.04.14 Finally after all difficulties I had in Crimea and then in Odessa, I arrived in Gaziantep. It is the first time I'm here, concerning other cities of Turkey I visited them many times, and I didn't have a culture shock. From the other hand I'm Crimean Tatar and my culture, cuisine and many other aspects of life are similar to the Turkish lifestyle. However I can notice that this city is quite conservative, if you would compare it to Istanbul. Hosting organization and its representatives are very nice people and they helped me a lot in order to integrate into the local society, and still helping me. First week was about getting to know each other and discover the city. Lucky me, I have two mentors who help me every time, walk with me in the city showing historical places and explaining me everything. Millet Hani is a very wonderful place where you can find different masters doing different handcrafts, among them there are some offices of NGOs includi...