At the beginning of the two weeks (after
the end of year seminar) Iris, the exchange student from Belgium,
came over for a few nights again. Iris was asked to speak in a radio
interview with some other exchange students in Tartu, so I took a two
and a half hour bus ride down to Tartu with her, we spent the day
there then came back home to Tallinn. The next day we spent taking a
bit of a tour around Tallinn, me being the tour guide. It was nice to
take time to just wonder around my city and take some photos.
This is one of many photos I got of Tallinn on our walk around |
The pavlova I made |
After
this I had a good bye party with the homegroup that I have been going
to for half a year now. As it is such an international group with
people from all over the world, there were quite a few people leaving
back to their countries, including me. So yet another goodbye come
and gone.
I was then asked by YFU to prepare some
kind of New Zealand food for a press conference about YFU. I decided
to make a pavlova and decorated it with some kiwifruit and strawberries, to be honest the first pavlova I've made before.
It turned out quite well and was set out with some other food at the
conference. Some other students also brought food from their
countries, like a girl from Tia land and another from Uruguay. We have
a pretty multicultural group!
After this
first week my family and I took a trip to Finland for a couple of
nights. We rented an apartment right in the city center of Tampere. We
started our trip early Thursday morning the 20th, catching a ferry which took
us and our car across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. We spent most of
the day driving to Tampere from there, stopping on the way at a
medieval castle called Häme Castle. We went for a
tour around the castle then continued our drive. Once we arrived at
our apartment we walked around the streets for a bit getting a look
at the city and some shops. The next day we went out again and to my
surprise the streets were empty. Shops were closed and most of the
people were gone. “Where is everyone?” Mari explained that it was
some kind of holiday in Finland, the longest day of the year. In
Estonia this is called 'Jaanipäev'
and is around the 23rd
or 24th of
June. Usually at this time people get together with family and
friends and have large bonfires all through the 'night'. So all the
people in Tampere had left the city to celebrate Jaanipäev.
On this day though, Epp, Piret, Mari and I were going to Tamperes
amusement park, 'Särkänniemi' We were up early to be among the first people at the
park, we excitedly got our tickets and our day had began. We did the
same thing the next day, up eary and to the amusement park. On both
days the weather was sunny and warm, we tried different rides, watched a dolphin show, went to a planetarium, up a super tall tower to look around the city. We each had our favourite rides,
Mari and Piret liked the 'half pipe' where the ride spins a lot while
going high up then dropping quickly back down. I liked a different
roller coaster, which was where you sit on top of a motorbike and they rushed
around in the air. Epp prefered the 'hurricane' which swung side to
side and back and forth. We had a great time together, something I
won't forget, being with my sisters and having some fun.
One of the dolphin shows |
Piret, Mari and I coming down the log ride! |
The four of us swimming |
On the 26th however
we went for one last long swim then drove back down to Helsinki just
in time to catch our ferry back to Tallinn. On the ferry back we were
lucky enough to see the large, round sun go down over the water in a
splash of bright orange.
We
arrived home that night at one (still slightly light outside) and all went straight to bed!
Piret, Epp, Mari, Jaak, Külliki |
Me and my three Estonian sisters :) |
The 27th came and went and all to quickly the 28th came, I was up at 3 in the morning and got a taxi to the airport. The time had come to say a final good bye to most of the other students who were all heading back home after their year in Estonia. It's hard to explain the feeling exactly as we were saying good bye. I was saying good bye to so many good friends who would be going back to their homes all over the world. No more running into them on the streets of Tallinn or meeting up for some kind of trip in Estonia. This was the final good bye. For me I was relieved that I wasn't getting on a plane then too, I still have an extra month, but at the same time I couldn't help thinking that the next time I'm at the airport will be for me leaving. Although a bit later, my turn is still coming . . .
To
end the week we went to a place called 'Neli järve' meaning four lakes,
for my host grandfathers 75th
birthday! We went to the families summer cottage tucked away in the
middle of a Forrest. After helping prepare food and getting things
set up, the guests started to arrive. I'm sure you can guess by the
name of the area (four lakes) there was a lake nearby and so after Lunch,
Piret, Epp, Mari and I obviously went for a swim. We went at a good
time because late that afternoon it started pouring with rain as we
drove home again.
Then
today I had a friend come over. Her, Mari and I went for a
long bike ride just there and back to see how far it is. Epp went for
her first day to her new job at a sushi place in the city and again
this evening she is back there and again tomorrow morning she has work
bright and early.
Also
another exciting thing about today . . my host parents celebrate
their anniversary for 21 years together! Mari and I were up nice and
early to make breakfast and set up the presents we had all got to
give to them before they went to work for the day. The rest of my
week has now been booked up with meeting friends for a final good bye
and then before I know it I'll be heading off to visit my sister in
Norway!! See you soon Gyps :)