Arts Lab 7.0: Beyza Aksu | My First Month Here - How Did It Go So Fast?

My first month here… wow. I still can’t believe how quickly it passed. Honestly, it feels like I arrived yesterday. Because I joined the program later than the others, my first days felt a bit like being a fish taken out of a fishbowl... Everyone already had shared memories, inside jokes, routines… and there I was, trying to catch up while also starting from zero.

At the beginning, it felt strange. Not bad — just unfamiliar. I was observing more than talking, listening more than acting. My first week was mostly about the on-arrival training, and I treated it as a kind of “adaptation week.” I stayed at home a lot, tried to understand the rhythm of the house, the people, and the project, and slowly let myself breathe into this new life.

And somewhere during this adjustment period, I found my biggest supporter: the house cat, Haşmet. Whenever things felt overwhelming, Haşmet was there — quietly sleeping next to me, judging everyone equally, or simply existing in the most comforting way possible. Sometimes all you really need is a cat who doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t rush you, and reminds you to slow down. In many ways, Haşmet became my emotional anchor during this first month.

Then the JEMOM residency started, and everything became much deeper. Working with children, preparing workshops, and being part of an exhibition connected to memory, history, and loss was emotionally intense. It wasn’t an easy topic, but it was a meaningful one. Even when it felt heavy, it also felt honest and necessary. Creating together, listening to the children, and seeing how art can open space for expression reminded me why I love what I do.

Somewhere in between all of this, friendships started to grow. That’s probably one of the most beautiful parts of this first month. I’m genuinely happy about the people I’ve met here — the conversations, the laughter, the small everyday moments. They made everything feel lighter and warmer.

I also had the chance to explore a bit. I visited Iași, Pașcani, and Suceava, and each trip helped me connect more with Romania beyond the project itself. Walking around new cities, seeing different places, and just being there as myself made me feel more grounded.

When I look back, it’s hard to believe all of this happened in just one month. It was only four weeks, but it feels like so much more. I learned how to adapt, how to enter an already-moving environment without forcing myself, and how to trust that belonging doesn’t happen instantly — it grows quietly, day by day.

This first month wasn’t perfect or easy, but it was real. And somehow, that made it beautiful.

This monthly report was written by Beyza Aksu, our Turkish volunteer taking part in a six-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.