Şefika BÜYÜKYILMAZ

Hello everyone,

I am Şefika Büyükyılmaz. It has been about two weeks since I came back from Bulgaria, but I still feel as though I am there. Madan in particular enchanted me with its nature. As someone in love with every shade of green, there was no way I would not love Madan.

Seeing Erasmus+ as a Participant

This Erasmus+ project was a genuinely wonderful and different experience for me. For the past year at work I have always been behind the scenes of projects, involved in organising them. In Bulgaria, this time, I was the participant.

My only job was to take part in the activities, meet new people, learn and enjoy myself. That change of role did me a lot of good. I experienced first-hand how transformative a project can be not only on the preparation side but on the participant side too.

Daily Life in Madan

Life in Madan was very enjoyable. We would wake up and have breakfast. Of course, since the tea was no substitute for Turkish tea, I drank cappuccino the whole time :)

Then Mr. P. would start our day with energiser activities and go on to run sessions on democracy. He explained things so well that even when there were many words I did not know, I tried to understand and learn. You could feel he genuinely put effort into teaching.

One of the things I enjoyed most was the conversations with Vladi and Emily, the project managers. Talking with them made me really happy. I saw that I could express myself in English, and the advice they gave me was very valuable.

Socialising and New Bonds

In between we always talked and got to know each other. Mealtimes in particular were our social time. Each time I tried to sit at a table with different people and talk. I think that is exactly the best part of Erasmus+ projects: being able to connect with different people.

Sharing a space with participants from other countries, listening to their thoughts and telling them about my own experience gave me a great deal. Getting used to each other so quickly, laughing together and collecting shared memories made the whole thing far more meaningful.

Madan’s Enchanting Nature

After the sessions I would usually go for a walk and explore Madan’s nature. It is genuinely hard to describe that beauty in words. Lush green landscapes, clean air and a peaceful atmosphere made me feel wonderful.

Madan’s calm, its nature and its warm atmosphere gave me the chance both to rest and to rethink. Perhaps I cannot fully convey what it made me feel, but the photographs I took there will show a little of that beauty.

What the Project Gave Me

The project taught me that different ethnicities, religions and languages can live together with respect. More than that, it showed me we can understand and care for each other. The good times we spent in harmony became unforgettable memories for all of us.

I also understood far better what it means to be a “citizen of the world”. Sharing a space with people from other cultures gave me a new perspective. I came to see how rich a whole people can form together with all their differences.

Final Word

I am so glad I went to Madan. I am genuinely happy to have had this experience. It gave me both a new perspective and one wonderful memory after another. It was an Erasmus+ experience I will never forget.

My sincere thanks to KOZ-DER for making it possible and to everyone who contributed. Madan, with its nature, its people and the feelings it left in me, will always hold a special place.