Welcome aboard on a journey that takes us back 11 years when my family and I embarked on a life-changing adventure. As I reflect on it now, it's astonishing how time can both fly by and stand still, all at once. We found ourselves in Turkey, fleeing the ongoing war in Syria, and this was the beginning of our time-traveling trip.
## Chapter 1: The Decision
It all began when the war in Syria was raging, and my entire
family was still living there. No one had left the country yet, except for one
of my uncles, who had sought refuge in Turkey. Turkey and Syria share a border,
and during his visit, he convinced my mother to consider the possibility of a
better life in Turkey. She agreed.
We started packing our belongings – clothes and personal
items. We didn't carry much, but the car's trunk was filled to the brim. I was
just a kid, blissfully unaware of the trials that lay ahead. I was excited
because I thought we were going on my first holiday, but reality quickly
shattered that illusion.
## Chapter 2: The Journey
After tearful goodbyes with family, we set out on a long
journey to Turkey. My uncle took the wheel of my mom's car, and we began the
drive, facing frequent stops due to military checkpoints. These stops were
necessary to ensure we weren't carrying any explosives. While I can't recall
the exact duration of the drive, I remember it being a lengthy and tense
journey. But we made it safely in the end.
## Chapter 3: Life in Turkey
Our new home was my uncle's rented house, which was modestly
sized but comfortable. We were fortunate to have a friendly landlord, and even
though we couldn't speak Turkish initially, we could sense the warmth of the
people we met. I didn't attend school immediately because our arrival coincided
with the second semester, and I wouldn't have understood much anyway.
Summer arrived, and my younger brother and I spent our days
at the nearby park. The gardener's two sons, close in age to my brother, became
our playmates. Language barriers disappeared as we played and connected.
## Chapter 4: Making Friends
Turkey didn't feel too foreign to me, perhaps because the
city resembled Aleppo, or maybe because many Syrian refugees had also made
their way here. We all held onto the hope that the conflict would end soon, but
little did we know that it would be an 11-year journey and counting.
## Chapter 5: Learning Turkish
Six months into our stay in Turkey, my Turkish language
skills improved dramatically. People often asked if I lived here for an extended period, and they were surprised when I revealed
it had only been six months. I even joined an Arabic school run by a Turkish
teacher and my former high school head teacher.
The last month in Turkey brought a heartwarming reunion. My grandparents and aunt managed to visit us, and the memory of that day is etched into my soul. The photo was snapped on the family's second day as we enjoyed breakfast in the shared garden of our apartment. Now, all those memories are rushing back, filling me with the fond recollection of those precious moments. Family is a priceless gift, and if you still have the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, seize it. The days will inevitably slip away, and you may come to regret not fully appreciating these cherished moments. Their visit was bittersweet, as we knew it would be challenging to see them once we left for Italy.
## Conclusion:
Our time in Turkey was filled with challenges and new
friendships. It was a significant chapter in our lives, and the hope for a
better future was our guiding light. The next part of our journey took us to
Italy, and I invite you to stay tuned for the next chapter in this incredible
journey.
