It looks like I am the last one to make a first entry on this Blog. My name is Klara and I am from a little town in Germany not far from Stuttgart.

Last year I graduated from school and wanted do do and see something else than Germany and the everyday life I was used to. So I decided to go abroad for an EVS project. I chose this and not one of the hundred other programs we have in Germany because it allowed me to take part even though I was only 17 years old.

So I ended up here in Narva because I wanted to learn Russian, experience a proper winter with -30°C and know what it is like when the sun never really sets.

The winter has passed, the long days are to come and my Russian is a whole other topic...

But besides all of that I got the chance to travel a lot! Estonia is great because nothing is really far away, yet there are many exciting things to do and see. So I have been to the highest mountain in Estonia - which could also be named the biggest joke of a mountain - spend some days in an old German nobles manor right next to a beer brewery, seen meteorite craters, a lovely toy museum, the Christmas market in Tallinn, went canoeing on a river in Soomaa national park while the sun was out for the first time of the year, walked along the shore of the Baltic Sea with frozen puddles on the beach and so many more things and even more are to come!

Another great thing about a small country is that also the neighbouring countries are quite close. Latvia and Lithuania - countries none of my friends have ever been to, Finland, Sweden and of course: Russia! The one country that always seemed so big and far away to me is just right across the river from where I am living right now!

Here are just some impressions of where I have been and what I have seen so far - Enjoy!

Narva-Joesuu

Tallinn

Riga

Hill of Crosses

Vilnius

Mid-Term Training

Hello,
my name is Eva (19) and I am a volunteer from Germany. I work in VitaTiim and lead the English Language Cafés for youngsters and kids, the German Language Café and other things.

Today I want to write about my Mid-Term Training. It was in Leppoja, ca. 1,5 hours from Tallinn, in the middle of the forest. We, that's our two trainers, me and 10 other volunteers, arrived at the place after a long drive through the forest. There were two wooden houses. One, where we had the training and the meals and one other house, just for us volunteers. We also had our own sauna!
On the first evening we just played some games to get to know each other and, of course, we went to the sauna. We almost used this sauna every evening and every morning.

On the next day, friday, we analysed our projects: if we achieved any of the goals we wrote down in the beginning, if we had problems and what we still want to do in the last months of our EVS. For me was it really good to talk about my project, because that's how you can see what you learned and what you developed so far. And this is mainly about the 8-key-competences:
1. Digital competence
2. Interpersonal, intercultural and social competences and civic competence
3. Cultural expression
4. Entrepreneurship
5. Communication in the mother tongue
6. Communication in foreign languages
7. Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology
8. Learning to learn
To be honest, in the beginning I also couldn't imagine what this actually means. But now, after 6 months, I really know what does it mean to develop the "ability to turn ideas into action" (Entrepreneurship) or to learn something about "how to organise your own learning" (Learning to learn).
In the afternoon, we went outside for a ski-trip in the forest. I thought it would be normal cross-country-skiing, but we went really through the trees, on "trails" where nobody went before. It was difficult sometimes but it was really beautiful and relaxing to be in the nature.
After this we made "Viltimine"- felting. I made a heart and two ugly sheeps.

The next day (saturday) we talked about the youth pass, what every volunteer can get in the end of the EVS, if they fill in what they learned during the project.
In the afternoon we had the topic "our problems". Yes, I know it sounds really negative, but for me it was good to talk about the difficulties and to get some opinions from the others. We talked a lot about difficulties and challenges and how to solve them, and this was really helpful.
Ok, and now I will tell you something what people, who know me, won't believe. After this we went to the traditional estonian smoke sauna. Yes, me too and after it we didn't cool down in the snow, no, we went into the lake. The boys made a hole before in the ice and then we went into the freezing cold water for a few seconds (I was screaming the whole time) but then, when you are back in the sauna, you feel awesome. Seriously, it's such a great feeling! This was a really nice experience and I am proud that I made it :D

And on the next day we already went back home :(  It was really...sad because you get to know the other volunteers and you are one group and I wanted to spend more time together with them.
That's the great thing about this trainings (On-arrival-Training, Mid-Term-Training) : you meet so many great people, you spend an awesome time together and create unforgettable memories. Ok, this sounds kitschy but it's true. These trainings were such an important part of my EVS. They gave me so much motivation, energy, friends and memories which I will never forget.

ski-trip in the forest

What a weekend! - First post from Fruzsi

Finaly I got the time and the inner inspiration to write about my life here, in Narva. By the way, I am Fruzsi, I work here in a kindergarden as an english teacher. But no more facts about me, lets just bring feelings, events and thoughts to to world of this blog.

I spent this weekend alone in town, because my flatmate was in his mid-term training, The truth is that you don't get a lot of time all by yourself, when living with another volunteer. But that's fine like that. You have a special experience after such a long time, that you can spend by yourself. I think when we are alone, truly we never are. You may have no company at home or a specific person to go to a program with, but you are all the time surrounded by others. The same happened with me during last weekend. On Saturday I cooked myself a meal, went to the shop before, washed the dishes, nothing special. But when you are alone, somehow you ( or at least me) start to think differently, you sense your surroundings differently, you just hear better your own thoughts. The more intersting event took place on Sunday. But before I let you know about it, I need to tell the story behind this Sunday morning.

A few month ago I went to sliding with my mentor to a big hill in the near forest. We met there one of her friend, who borrowed us her sledge and we had a lot of fun. Soon we met another friends of this friend. One of them – all of a sudden – started to sing in russian some beautiful folk-song. In a few seconds two other women joined her and they kept singing for 15 minutes. Later they perezented some dance too and got us involved as well. It was a remarkable happening, the power of the songs on the top of the snowy hill, and the sliding with this friend's sledge became so far the best memori of mine. It was completely unexpected and I was in the middle of culture- shock, where I could admire some traditional singing and the beauty of simple human nature.

Later on I found out that this women belong to a group, called Suprjadki (Супрядки ). They collect russian and estonian folk-songs and perform on different occasions. I liked them so much that I decided: I want to join them. I tried to make a contact with one of them, with no result. Time gone by, but I did not want to give up. I wrote to their official e-mail address, and soon I got an answer. I visited a concert in Rugodiv ( house of culture), where they also performed. At the end I had to call the leader, from whom I got the answer to my e-mail. I tolked to her on the phone in Russian, though in our letter we talked in English. She took me to back-stage and kept talking in Russian. Somehow I was abble to follow the main plot of her words, which said it would be very hard for me to join, because they have about 500 songs in thei repertoire, and they learn all of them only after listening, plus all is in old dialect. But I can try and meet them next time. I was so excited about this positive attitude, which did not close doors in front of me, but opened one. So at this Sunday I could visit their rehearsal, which was held in Narva castle. I went to the main desk of the museum, where a lady took me to the room, where I was supposed to meet the group. I had to go down in a narrow and dark stairs, and it seemed quite hopeless to find anybody donw there, where everything just got darker and darker. But I heard noise from the steps above, turned back and find the gate to the room. We had a small chat ( I love to say this, that I had a conversation with people,because it is soo cool to think I could make in in a foreign language. Usually I just laugh on myself when I think of therse few sentence talks as a real conversation, but then I need to admit it, they were real one, and I need to accept the fact, that somewhat I am abble to communicate in Russian and I shall be proud of myself). Later all the members arrived, I took part in the warp-up excercises, listened them to learn new songs incredibly fast, and at the end, when the male members arrived and gave flowers to the women, in the occasion of the following day, international women's day, I recived one too, from the leader, who gave me hers. I said a big thank you and sang a hungarian folk-song to them. They felt sorry I have to leave, but I had to prepare a cake for my mentor's birthday, join the celebration later on, and today another week has started, which who knows what will bring to the sky of Narva.

Ps.: I am sorry, if there is any spelling mistake, or some words does not make sense at all. But today I walked thorough the whole city twice. Once personal issue, the second time to help a dear friend. I also went to work, and after that I went to see a free movie screening at the library. I had a long day. A life of a voulunteer in Narva can be unexpectidly chaotic and happy. Don't miss the chance to read along, and find out more about us!

Thansk for your time, folks!

Fruzsi

Greetings, beloved readers!

This is my first addition to the Narva volunteer blogosphere. I would like to share a unique Estonian experience with you. I got up at 6:30, which is quite early for my schedule and I headed towards the castle, at which you can marvel next to the border with Russia. I enjoyed the pleasant chill caressing my eyes, cheeks and nostrils. That woke me up and I was fully attentive at my destination, where soldiers and police officers were getting to start the ceremony. What kind of ceremony, you ask? An excellent question. You see, 24th February is the Estonian Independence Day (Eesti Vabariigi aastapäev), which was declared for the first time almost a century ago. The main spectacle of the ceremony was the flag raising. It was accompanied by the Estonian anthem. By the way, the Estonian anthem "stole" the melody from the Finnish one, they just updated the lyrics. Anyhow, after this our ears enjoyed two short speeches and two short prayers, the latter delivered by a Lutheran and an Orthodox priest. We liked the talking times, because it is not pleasant to stand still outside in Estonia for a long time. Following the official part, the party moved from the main courtyard to the inside of the castle, where some catering awaited us. It was nothing too special or fancy, pastry with different fillings, but it was free and you cannot complain about it, can you? We lingered there for 15 minutes when Eva, a local girl, inquired if we were interested in trying out an alternative type of cuisine. Sure, we replied. Lead the way. We walked for a few minutes and stopped at Peter's square. In front of us stood a "field kitchen". In Russian it is called полевая кухня. We ate some meat soup and fish soup and it tasted delicious. Again, the cold did not spare us and we were slightly shivering, so our party dispersed and left to the warm apartments.

Yours sincerely,

Luka

My first impressions of Narva

15 of October of 2015. This was the day I arrived to Narva, Estonia. After 3 hours of trip by bus, i just arrived late on that day. The bus station was not as i expected for a 53 000 population city, just an open space with a small "ticket shop" at the side of the train station. Can't say it was a good first impression, cause that moment just made me think about the possibility of an empty city. The city seemed realy different from my home place in Portugal (and glad it did, otherwise i wouldn't come here) low buildings, all with the same caracteristics (im not very good describing architecture). After 4 months naturally it didnt change. This was just my first quick impression. Why quick? because at my arrival i had 3 people receiving me, giving an amazing welcome to Narva. Julia, with whom i had the chance to meet in Iceland in my previous experience and the person who told me about this oportunity and my supervisor, Vassily, who i meet in Iceland too, and my EVS coordinator, Natasha. From that moment i felt i was going to have the most amazing support here, and after 4 months here, i can say i was not wrong at all. Arrived to my flat, which seemed a cosy place to live and meet my flatmate Teresa from Italy. After a time we moved to another flat (realy like it!), but thats a detail. On the first Monday, 3 days after arriving, started to know my organization and my working project place, meet new amazing people, and from the first moment i felt it was going to be a good experience. And again, after 4 months here i was not wrong. As expected, the most dificult was the russian language, and the way i needed to build bridges in communication with locals, and after 4 months its realy in a good level (at least i think so :)), thanks not only to our Russian Language Teacher but also to everyone who makes an effort to talk and try to understand when you try to speak russian.

What am I doing in Narva? What i am working on? Thats for a next post :)

Miguel

Hello! Welcome to our EVS volunteering experience in Narva, Estonia

Hello everyone! We are 7 volunteers doing our European Voluntary Service program in Narva, Estonia. We are Daniele and Teresa from Italy, Eva and Klara from Germany, Fruzsi from Hungary, Luka from Slovenia and Miguel from Portugal. With this blog we pretend to share our experiences here in Narva and in Estonia. Photos, stories, opinions, perspectives, philosofical ideas, questioning the meaning of life... everything!! :) So if you are interested about how is it to live in Estonia as a foreigner... then you came to the right place!

If you came across this page, then you know about the European Voluntary Service program. If you came across this page and you dont know about it, then you are the lucky one, cause we are going to tell you about this program! (how cool we are!).

The European Voluntary Service, and without copying any definition from any other source in the internet (you thought I would do it, right? haha), is basically an opportunity for young people from 17 to 30 years old to take part on a volunteering program abroad. So we decided to come to Estonia. If you want to know more about how to take part on this EVS program aswell, you can ask us! Also there are some usefull links in the right side of the page for you to consult about it. Saying no more, and because this blog is all about our experience living in Estonia as foreigners, lets give the stage to us, volunteers!