I first arrived as a student, spending long summer days studying, thinking, and daydreaming under the trees. Over time, I also became a volunteer — helping in the library and kitchen so the village could keep running for students to learn, grow, and discover who they are. It’s a place where I met some of the most inspiring and important people in my life. In 2018, the village’s founder Ali Nesin received the International Mathematical Union’s Leelavati Prize for his work in creating the Mathematical Village and raising public awareness of mathematics in Turkey.