Belit in Bremen // Final Report

Ten months have passed incredibly quickly. If I had known I would be staying longer, I definitely would have bought that Stray Kids ticket. Oh well, maybe next year.

Although I did not get to travel as much as I had hoped this year, it makes sense when everyone around you is busy with their own projects and everyday lives. Looking back, I do regret not traveling more often. But to be fair, if I had done that, I probably would not have had enough money to continue my journey here in Bremen. And no, we did not end up going to Paris after all </3

The good news is that I am now able to stay in Bremen for another six months, thanks to the university here. I am hoping to reach C1 in German during this time, but we will see how that goes. I am already writing this from my new home, which took forever to move into and organize, mostly because of how much stuff I have collected. It is hard to believe that I came here with just one suitcase, and now I have moved out with multiple bags over three trips. I guess this is life telling me to stop buying everything I see, but hey, you only live once, right?

The move-out process was so chaotic that I honestly just wanted to sleep for 48 hours straight afterwards. But of course, there is still so much to do. Mostly paperwork related to the project, and of course continuing to learn German. That is what we signed up for, after all. I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank my amazing roommates, and also apologize to them for my very heavy luggage(s). Carrying everything without an elevator is truly a curse.

My lovely project at the Senatskanzlei Bremen has now come to an end. I have to say, it was quite emotional for me, although I kept most of those feelings to myself. My coworkers gave me such thoughtful gifts and truly made me feel appreciated. I now realize even more clearly what a privilege it was to work with such kind and inclusive people. Every single day, I felt lucky to be part of that team. Working there has set a new standard for what I want in a future work environment.

In the final month, I was so close to finally realizing my own project. Everything started falling into place, but unfortunately, time ran out before I could finish it. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had two more months. Maybe I could have completed it. If I do not get the chance to say this in person to the next volunteer: it is never too early to start your own project. A year might sound long, but it goes by in a flash. The earlier you begin, the better. I truly wish the best of luck to both my coworkers and the next volunteer. I will really miss everyone.

As for the people I met here, including my flatmates and fellow volunteers, I am lucky to still have two or three more months to spend with them. It is sad to think about everyone eventually leaving, but it also gives us the opportunity to visit each other’s hometowns someday. I will try to make the most of the time we have left together from now on, though.

At the end of this month, I hope to visit Turkey and see my family for a few days. I am very excited to see what has changed and what has stayed the same while I was away. I am not exactly looking forward to the heat in İzmir at the end of July, but at least I will finally see our dog, cats, and birds again. Honestly, one of the hardest parts of living in Germany has been not coming across cats every single day. Luckily, someone in my new neighborhood lets their cat roam freely, so I get to pet that little devil whenever I see him. That definitely helps.

This volunteering experience has meant a lot to me. I have grown so much, met amazing people, and learned things I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am truly grateful for everything. Thank you to everyone who made this year so special; from my incredible project team to the amazing friends I’ve made along the way. I’ll carry your kindness with me wherever I go!