My name is Ruba, and I am originally from Damascus, Syria. I go to high school and I also study culinary. It holds a very special place in my heart. 

My family came to Istanbul at the end of 2013, and we haven’t been anywhere since. I left Syria when I was in fourth grade, but what I remember from life there is that it was average in the best way possible. We’d go to school, spend time with family, and do things just like everyone else. 

My family had a farm, and we’d go there to pick olives and gather other vegetables that we grew ourselves. There were new vegetables every season — in summer, it was one thing and, in winter, it’d be something else. Life was good, or so it seemed. I was too young to understand what was actually brewing or happening in the country. 

Since moving to Turkey, I can say that Karam House is where I feel this same sense of comfort. It’s my second home.

It’s not like school — it’s nothing like school. There are weeks when I would come here every day, coming and going even with no workshops or studios just to see if the mentors needed help. I would tell them I can come and help you. Just let me go to Karam House, stay there and have fun. I’ll learn new things without even trying.

On the topic of learning, It’s true that we learn a lot here, but we learn it in a new way. We solve our problems, and we do things I never thought possible. We also get to meet new friends. The atmosphere is just really warm—you feel the love and collaboration wherever you are. Everyone helps one another, and everyone likes one another. It’s amazing.

I have a lot of hopes for the future, but my biggest dream is to open my very own restaurant. The cuisine will be a fusion between Syrian food and Western food. It’s true that there are restaurants like this already, but I believe that I can create new combinations and new food fusions. 

I hope that the situation will get better in Syria. I would love to go back and have a location for my restaurant in my home country.