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 including my hosting organization - Taşev. I was introduced to all of the masters and I even decided to learn copper work with Suleyman usta (master). I have already started my activities with him and I really like it, because this work make people feel peaceful and relaxed – at least this is my feeling when I'm doing copper. The second workshop will be chosen later, I don't know yet what to do, there are so many options: the art of carving, wood painting, embroidering - but not exactly what I want to do with broider.
Gaziantep is a quite and peaceful city inspite of the fact that the population of it is 2 million people, because the territory of the city is very big: you cannot feel yourself as in a crowded place. The new buildings are very similar to each other and they are not so high. But the old places which are historical – wonderful where photographers can catch a lot of shots with its people in traditional outfits. My photogallery is already full with different views and local people because first week I was walking everywhere and taking photographs, which is one of my activities here as an EVS (European Voluntary Programme).
One interesting thing should be mentioned is that I've never seen such a driving style, maybe only once in Azerbaijan. Car-drivers are not polite to people on the streets and people on bicycles, there are not so many people driving bicycles because many of locals prefer to ride a bike, which you can see on the roads. But an interesting thing – its not only drivers break the rules passing on the red light, walkers do the same thing. They pass the road on the prohibited place on highways ignoring the traffic lights and the crosswalks which might be found very near in 10-20 meters.
During two days I rode a bicycle, which I borrowed from other volunteers here and I experienced how car-drivers act deeply impolitely to people on bicycles: they were signaling me every time when I was trying to drive on the road, of course there are none of the bicycle tracks, and on the crosswalks its impossible to bike. I had no chance except of driving on the regular road.
But still people here are very friendly and very hospitable. They invite people to their homes and suggest drinks, usually it is tea in a Turkish small glass. This aspect is very common to my culture as well. I never do the comparison of places or people, tradition, I just make the notes. I was a bit surprised when I faced the fact that those people ask many questions, like: where are you coming from? What are you doing here? For how long you're going to stay here? And final question – how is it now in Crimea? They live in a big city but still have that curiosity, and of course if you live in one apartment house, your neighbors will do the same. :)
Thus, one week passed so fast with new emotions, friends, and a place itself.
The second week is 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.
This is all news and information for now.
Stay tuned,
Nara Nariman
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 including my hosting organization - Taşev. I was introduced to all of the masters and I even decided to learn copper work with Suleyman usta (master). I have already started my activities with him and I really like it, because this work make people feel peaceful and relaxed – at least this is my feeling when I'm doing copper. The second workshop will be chosen later, I don't know yet what to do, there are so many options: the art of carving, wood painting, embroidering - but not exactly what I want to do with broider.
Gaziantep is a quite and peaceful city inspite of the fact that the population of it is 2 million people, because the territory of the city is very big: you cannot feel yourself as in a crowded place. The new buildings are very similar to each other and they are not so high. But the old places which are historical – wonderful where photographers can catch a lot of shots with its people in traditional outfits. My photogallery is already full with different views and local people because first week I was walking everywhere and taking photographs, which is one of my activities here as an EVS (European Voluntary Programme).
One interesting thing should be mentioned is that I've never seen such a driving style, maybe only once in Azerbaijan. Car-drivers are not polite to people on the streets and people on bicycles, there are not so many people driving bicycles because many of locals prefer to ride a bike, which you can see on the roads. But an interesting thing – its not only drivers break the rules passing on the red light, walkers do the same thing. They pass the road on the prohibited place on highways ignoring the traffic lights and the crosswalks which might be found very near in 10-20 meters.
During two days I rode a bicycle, which I borrowed from other volunteers here and I experienced how car-drivers act deeply impolitely to people on bicycles: they were signaling me every time when I was trying to drive on the road, of course there are none of the bicycle tracks, and on the crosswalks its impossible to bike. I had no chance except of driving on the regular road.
But still people here are very friendly and very hospitable. They invite people to their homes and suggest drinks, usually it is tea in a Turkish small glass. This aspect is very common to my culture as well. I never do the comparison of places or people, tradition, I just make the notes. I was a bit surprised when I faced the fact that those people ask many questions, like: where are you coming from? What are you doing here? For how long you're going to stay here? And final question – how is it now in Crimea? They live in a big city but still have that curiosity, and of course if you live in one apartment house, your neighbors will do the same. :)
Thus, one week passed so fast with new emotions, friends, and a place itself.
The second week is 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.
This is all news and information for now.
Stay tuned,
Nara Nariman
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