I left Hungary with one suitcase and never looked back

I never liked Debrecen. Sorry, but it's true.

I borned there,raised,studied,lived there ,but....

It's a city in the middle of nowhere. The Great Hungarian Plain - Alföld. Flat. No hills,no sea,no river,no lake . Nothing.

If you want to go hiking, you have to drive for hours. There is no sea, no lake where you can just sit. For me, it felt like I was stuck.

I never feel well there. But I have family,friends,job there, but something missing for my wellbeing.

I thought so much,what can I make,how can I can I find my happiness.

Where can I find my new home?

I opened a map,starting to wandering. I travelled a lot ,which place was exited,interested and friendly for foreigners.

My eyes stoped on Türkiye.

YESSS

I have good memory ,how were the holidays there.

I made a decission, I just packed one suitcase. 23kg. That's all.

What was inside? Not clothes. I mean, some clothes, but mostly personal things. Printed photos of my family. Two books that I love - old, with notes inside. Small pictures , earings from my grandmother.

And I remember my last week in Debrecen. It was strange. I was happy but also sad. I packed slowly. Every day I put one more thing in the suitcase. Then I took it out. I was not sure. My friends said: are you crazy? You leave everything? I said yes. I need sun. I need sea.Need new life.

The flight was early morning. Debrecen has a small airport . I was sitting there with my 23kg suitcase and I was thinking: what am I doing? But I was not scared. I was excited. When the plane took off, I looked down. Flat. Everything flat. Brown and green fields. No mountains. I said bye in my head.

First morning in Alanya I woke up at 6. Too early. But light was everywhere. In Debrecen light is grey in winter. Here light is white and strong. I opened the window. I saw palm tree. And I heard sea. I went out. I bought bread and olives from a small shop. The man smiled. He did not speak English, I speak Turkish,but not perfectly of course,not so much. But we understood each other.

Slowly,slowly I started to built my life,had hard moments and happy moments.

Now I live here 5 months. My life is simple. Morning I go for walk. To the sea or to the mountain. Yes, mountain! In Alanya you have both. Sea and mountain in same day. In Debrecen you have nothing like this. In afternoon I drink tea on balcony. I read my books that I brought.

Sunset in evening,how is marvelous and different in everytime. Long walks on the seaside.

People here are kind,helpful.So many people came from different country,background,what with same hope.

Life is slow. Not like in Hungary where everyone is in a hurry and angry.

I don't have big house. I don't have car. I have small apartment with sea view. And I am happy. For me happiness is light, warm air, and freedom to go hiking when I want.

Debrecen was my past. Alanya is my present. 23kg was enough to start new life.

You don't need more,only decision and courage.

Alanya gave me what Debrecen never could. Mountains. Sea. And light. So much light.

I came with 23kg. Now I have a whole life here.