5 things I'll miss about Butterfly Valley

mulberries, dance lessons, a film of sea salt

Spending a full month in any one place gives it a strange kind of familiarity, almost like it becomes a temporary home. I know that one day, when I look back, all of these places and all of the people I met here will feel like home, or at the very least give me a deep sense of nostalgia. But before that moment comes, I’m writing down a few things I hope I never forget about my time staying in Butterfly Valley.

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1. The fruit trees. There were so many fruit trees. When I had just gotten there, the loquats were nearing the end of their season and the fruits were so unbelievably sweet. I had them in Morocco and liked them, but nothing compares to picking and eating it right off the tree. Once the loquats were done, the mulberries started to ripen. For three full weeks, every day more and more mulberries turned dark purple and juicy. I picked and ate them like it was my job. After some marathon sessions with the other volunteers, we thought we might actually be sick from eating too many. We never were, and so we made the same mistake again ay after day, staining our hands for the remainder of the day.

2. My friends. I love volunteering so much. I feel like every time I do it I make such good friends. There’s just something about being dropped into a remote, unfamiliar place with strangers for a month that bonds you instantly. And I mean really together. We went swimming together. Taught and took dance lessons. Stayed up all night talking. Did the full Cotton-Eyed Joe (multiple times) at the bar in front of all the Turkish workers. We became a nice little family after all of these small things.

3. Blue waters. I’ve swam in some pretty blue waters. And I don’t know if these waters necessarily take the cake. But they’re pretty damn blue. Not to mention incredibly refreshing. So refreshing that if it wasn’t a warm day, I wouldn’t even consider getting in the water. The water was so salty that if you air-dried, a soft white powder would coat your skin. This made it really nice to float in. Sometimes the water was glassy and calm, perfect for paddleboarding. Other days, the waves would be so choppy I’d feel seasick sitting still. But every day, the sea was breathtaking. From the cliffs above, the color of the water was unreal.

4. The culture. The best way to learn about a culture is to be in the thick of it. And I was. Even though the valleys is technically a tourist destination, all of the people who work there are Turkish, and a lot don’t even speak English. Even though there was a language barrier, I feel like I got to know a bit of Turkish culture. Especially through dancing. After dinner, some of us would head over to the bar where there was music playing, and we would stand in a circle where everyone would be doing Turkish dancing.

5. Taking photos. I think this is something that I will actually take with me for the rest of my travels. While staying here, I was in charge of creating content for social media, which meant I was taking a lot of photos and videos. By the end of the month, I ended up with probably close to a thousand, which I can now use for anything I want to. I am usually pretty bad about taking photos, and even worse about taking videos. But hopefully being forced to document everything has created the habit, and I can take more photos and videos in the future!

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Even though my experience was overwhelmingly positive, there are some things that made me feel good despite a sad departure from all of my friends. Here are a few things I will not be missing about the valley

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1. The food. I am not made for Mediterranean cuisine, it’s as simple as that. I am allergic to bell peppers (capsicum) and the same argument could be made for cucumbers except I eat them anyways. Almost every single dish of Türkiye has peppers in it, even chopped up tiny or in the sauce. It’s almost unavoidable. I tried taking pills to prevent the heartburn, but eventually I had to stop eating them. I talked with the chefs and asked if they could make me something else, and sometimes they did. times I was given a sad plate of rice, bread, and yogurt. I will miss the fact that food was free though.

2. Sleeping in a tent. I feel like I don’t need to say too much about this one. It was fun to camp for a week or two, the fresh air was always welcome, but near the end of the month I started to experience a type of filth that wouldn’t come off with a lukewarm shower.

3. Lack of organization. Given that I was working in Butterfly Valley, I came into contact with the management once or twice. I think they had the classic problem here of too many cooks in the kitchen. There were constant miscommunications that involved the volunteers, so I can’t even imagine how many there were about the actual staff (considering there were easily over 50 members of staff). It got pretty frustrating being told one thing and then another, and realizing that nobody sharing the management title actually talked to each other.

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Writing this, I have been out of the valley for three days and already the negatives are fading. What sticks are the good things: the friends I made, the peace and tranquility I experienced, the quiet mornings and sweet mulberries.

If I could, I’d plant a mulberry tree everywhere I go. Maybe I will.

xx abby