Luckily I was chosen to be part in an EVS partnership building activity which took place 11.07-21.07 in Vardi, Estonia. EVS is a cherished topic for me. I couldn't imagine before that my EVS experience in Bulgaria would change my life so deeply. I became more active in social and political life in my community. I am really proud that I took the risk and moved to a strange land. Now my mission is to help future volunteers in their path. That's why I participated in that mobility of youth workers, to learn new methods how to promote EVS. 11 of July Before the official start to our project I had a task to check everyone's presence before departure by bus from Tallinn. For my surprise they all were in our meeting place before me. And you know, Estonians are always earlier in the appointment, so it really was a delighted surprise for me. I think that participants at that point had already adopted the Estonian culture. At least it made my life so much easier and our journey to Kivi Turismitalu started without problems. I shared Estonian candies with everybody because it is so important to show the best part of Estonia to foreigners, our sweet factory Kalev's products are good examples. In the bus Ibrahim came to talk with me which was nice because I was sitting alone and reading a book. From that point I started to communicate with other participants more openly. When we arrived to Vardi our supporting team was already waiting for us. Actually Heleri gave us a biggest surprise during that project, she was pregnant. Obviously she was carrying a baby last time when I saw her in spring as well, but then I couldn't suspect anything. So, we had an extra participant in this project as well 😊 We were divided into rooms, my roommates were Lidia from Portugal and Nefeli from Greece. In that evening we discovered amazing nature around our house with Lidia, so many small froggies and a precipitous cat. Later we made social games to get to know each other more. It was a good start for a project. 12 of July We started another day with more name games and teamwork activities. We had to do mission impossible with lots of tasks. Even though they seemed pretty hard ones, we managed to do almost all of them. There were also task to put a lot of T-shirts and socks on you. I don't know why but I agreed to take this task. I swear that this sock task seemed impossible, but at final I handled it, 30 socks and no blood running in my veins anymore. My personal favourite task was the one when guys had to polish their nails. Vincenzo looked really fancy. We got a lot of visual materials about our daily program and project aims. Kristjan and Helen made an informative timetable for us. We made blog, reflection and feedback groups. All those groups in general helped us to develop the project itself. In the afternoon we made a poster about our organization and we introduced it to others. It was a really special project because it included so many different countries. I am pretty sure that I have never met people from Jordan or Lebanon before. Project countries were Portugal, Romania, Spain, Morocco, Jordan, Ukraine, Georgia, Greece, France, Poland, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Italy, Tunisia and United Kingdom (Wales). I am so glad that this project gave me an opportunity to met all this people. It was a really good foundation to a project building networking. In the first evening we had already intercultural nights: Estonia, France, Egypt and Wales. I went to a local shop to buy needed products for this evening. Our way to shop was really funny, we went with bigger group and they all wanted to take pictures surrounded by Estonian nature. Because there wasn't a special road for pedestrians we had to walk on the main road. But it wasn't a problem because there wasn't too many cars. Because people had an opportunity to eat Estonian food every day I struggled what to prepare for them. But I offered some more candies, kvass, Vana Tallinn and kama. I taught them useful Estonian words and phrases and demonstrated how to dance Kaerajaan. Billy's presentation about Wales was nice, he really knows how to make fun. France sweets tasted good as always and I was positively surprised when I tasted Ibrahim's banana dessert. It was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating it. In that evening group of Polish people arrived as well. They came here by car which sounds like an insane act. 13 of July
On Thursday we had even bigger mission impossible task. We went canoeing. It was totally insane, I was scared and most of all Taline, she was totally frightened. Two more Estonians joined us. Fun fact is that I knew Uku before thanks to his blog. So, Uku and Kadri wasn't completely strangers for me. And they both were friends of Helen. On our way to the canoeing start point we passed by a village where is my summer cottage. I was so happy because this region is my second home. But back to the canoe trip. We got instructions and headed into water. Navesti river wasn't too difficult but still, for beginners, it is still a task. At first it took time to get used to how to lead that boat. And I kind of hate nature, actually people. If branches are in the river why they don't clean them. I know it sounds ridiculous when you are on the shore but you have a new perspective on the river. Next Clean Up day I probably organize an event to clean Estonian rivers 🤣 On the other hand, all those natural obstacles make the canoe trip interesting. We got stuck with Almontaser and Nika for several times but those moments make you communicate with each other more. Distance was quite long if you have no idea of time and the distance you have passed through already. It was cloudy and at some point chilliness hit us. I sang in Estonian to calm down all those Estonian fairies and other creatures who live in the forest. Everyone in my canoe contributed and fairies heard pretty multilingual performances. I don't know did it help or not, but at least we finished our journey without getting wet. Tho, water was quite deep on some points. It was such a relief to walk on the land again. It is uncomfortable to be immobile on the same position about 2 hours. We were lucky, but Billy's, Morgan's and Eugenia's canoe tipped over. They were soaking wet and even though that we didn't have direct contact with river water, nature's wish was to make everybody wet. It started raining and our way back to the bus was pretty quick. We planned to have a picnic at riverside but because of the weather we ate our wraps in the bus. Pretty rational decision and quite Estonian. Just eating without any extra activities while enjoying the nature from the window. While we were eating Youssef showed us funny videos they made during their canoe trip. It was such a pity that nobody from our canoe didn't bring a phone or a camera to capture this adventure. But no reason to be sorry actually, others got amazing shots and it is a risky business after all. After bus-picnic we headed to Soomaa wetland. Rain was even heavier and most of the people didn't want to join to this walk and talk activity we had planned. We tried to reach the observation tower. We just followed one path and hoped to see the building, but nothing. So, we turned around and walked back while enjoying Estonian wonderful summer-shower. Back at our accommodation place, we ate kringel and enjoyed hot coffee and tea. Moreover, warm sauna was waiting for us. Uhh, this sauna experience was so needed. All middle-east guys visited sauna for the first time, it is such a pleasure to introduce your culture to foreigners. I guess they kind of liked sauna. We also have another blog about our project as well.
0 Comments
It was a few weeks after our Cyprus project when Heleri told me that Stelios is coming to Tallinn. It is a rare moment, because usually people don't find their way to Estonia. So, via Instagram story I followed his trip closer and closer to Tallinn. And on 25 of October he arrived. I had university lecture in the morning and after that I met with my friends from Bulgarian EVS project with Heleri as well. But on my way to meet with Anna and Mustafa I saw a guy who really looked like Stelios. I wasn't sure and it all happened so fast that I didn't have a time to react. His face expression reflected coldness and tiredness. So, I wrote to him and yep, it was Stelios who I saw. Anyway, after few hours spent with other guests and few hours studied for my exam. I met again with Heleri and Stelios. It was dark already but we still took a city walk. Main buildings were lighted so actually everything was beautiful. We visited some sight platforms but because it was super windy we decided to go inside a room. It was kind of too early for the bars, so, we visited a shop bought some stuff and went to my university while we were in old town anyway. After few minutes walk we were there in warm environment. Heleri and Stelios were facinated by my university chilling room. An old iMac made a real buzz. Heleri turned it on with her static electricity and we were a little bit concerned about the situaton, but after few minutes computer went to sleep mode again. Stelios had an opportunity to taste gingerbreads, yes Chistmas season has already started in Estonia. Actually, the most important thing was that Saku drinks were represented. We listened to music, chit-chatted until Laura arrived back from her lecture. She didn't find the right place at the first place, but somehow she still managed at the end. When I waited outside for Laura it was snowing. Grazy stuff but it was Stelios secret dream to see snow here. After making my uni more Cypriot (Stelios wrote to the blackboard "Cyprus loves you Agros") we left the house. Actually I also bought a piece of Cyprus to this room after my trip. I put a cruciform figure magnet on the fridge. Anyway, then we went to Hell Hunt to eat something and talk more. Because it was snowing the topic was snow in Cyprus. Yes, it is snowing in Cyprus as well time to time. Because Laura moved to Tallinn and we hadn't met after the trip we had a lot to discuss about. Heleri's and Laura's conversation went pretty passionate at some point, and yeah they talked in Estonian, so, Stelios was pretty confused. I have been in the same situation in Spain, but it is a good language lessen tho 😄 When we went outside again there wad already a lot of snow. So, we definately had a fun in the snow throwing snowballs and screaming like children in the old town. Only Heleri wasn't so excited, she hates snow. Me too in general but first snow is enjoyable. Me and Laura went to a bus to drive home. Heleri and Stelios continued their pub crawl, actually I guess they visited only one bar. One thing that seemed odd to Stelios was Estonians habit to pay only with a card on the shop. On Thursday I met with Stelios and Heleri right before their leaving. I recommended an eating place for them and also went there. They had walked a lot in the city with that weird weather during the day. I accompanied them to the bus/tram stops and said goodbye. Heleri had to take a car ride back home and Stelios had to reach the bus station to go to Lithuania. It was nice to have a guest from other country visiting us here in Estonia. Maybe the season wasn't the best but at least Stelios got an overview of life in Estonia and a lot of cool memories. Hope to meet you again 😊 |
AuthorMy connection with Erasmus+ projects. Youth exchanges and training courses. Archives
January 2020
Categories
All
|