Thing

These swings. SO DANGEROUS. My friend Alicia from Ontario always said, "this would NEVER happen in Canada" regarding the lack of safety in European jungle gyms and playgrounds. I thought that maybe northern Europe would be a little different... but no. Same danger factor here too. Makes for fun photo ops eh? In these photos: Martin (61) and son, Rein (27) on swings, alongside 2 esto boys.

Thing: Laulupidu

This is an amazing event that takes place every 5 years in Tallinn, Estonia. Consisting of about 30,000 singers and at least 200,000 audience members, this song festival is one of the largest in the world.
Throughout Estonia's nearly 50-year occupation, Estonia’s national identity was entirely suppressed: it was even illegal to own an Estonian flag, Russian became the country’s official language, resistors were sent to Siberia. Endurance, patience, and hope were all Estonias had while their customs and traditions had been taken away from them.
However, the Estonians were allowed to maintain the tradition of their song festival, Laulupidu – which, since 1869, had attracted up to 30,000 participants every five years.
The song, had become the link to the country’s national heritage, and acted as a beacon of hope for the restoration of its independence.
I was able to experience this last weekend with my sister and our dear family friends from Toronto. Kaja and I had watched the "Singing Revolution", a documentary of the song festival, a few nights before the big weekend. Wow... rent it!!! It was great to get that kind of history lesson and actually be in the thick of all the Esto-pride and celebration.
My favorite part of the festival was walking alongside the parade towards the festival grounds. I had been sick during the day, so I stayed behind at our hostel while my travelling mates had gone ahead to see the beginnings of the parade. I pushed myself out of bed and made my way to the town centre. There the parade was STILL going on (after 4 hours), the 30,000 choral singers paraded their way to the Laulupidu. And I got to see the tail end of it. I walked with the beautiful Estos in Rahvariided (traditional Estonian dress) while they cheered and sang. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever experienced.
I spent about 2 hours sitting and waiting under a tree along with a few other thousand people doing the same thing probably, waiting and looking for their friends or family that were supposed to "meet near the thingy, the statue thing...". Amazingly though, I spotted Kaja a few metres away and soon enough, we were all sitting under the big tree, safe from the pouring rain and drinking Saku beer in our blue, black and white.
I had seen the Laulupidu 5 years ago when I was Kaja's age, but I neither fully understood the importance behind it, nor appreciated the feeling of hearing 30,000 people singing all at once, like I did this time around.
I'll be back in another 5 years, but next time, I'll be one of those 30,000.

BELOW: I've tried TWICE to make that photo vertical. but no dice. SORRY, guess it's more EXTREEEEME in that way. lol

Thing

The word: EXTREME

Anthony liked to say EXTREME a lot during his stay. But it also can be used to describe the state of my last day in Barcelona.
The morning consisted of packing, organizing and making food. Then Kaja and I went to Barceloneta to meet up with Anthony . The boy suggested we bring olive oil to tan with (sorry! it's bad I know. but i put spf 45 underneath!). So when Kaja and Ant were in the water, a EXTREME olive oil spill occured in my beach bag (which was supposed to be my carry-on bag). Sopping up the spillage with my towel and trying to not waste it, I carried on slathering the oil all over me (not as sexy as you may imagine)... dirty sand, damp bathing suit, oil... you do the math.
Anyways, when we got back to the apartment I put it in the wash. Kaja and I then carried on to Jade and Gary's for a farewell dinner (yummy comfort food). They also gave me a sweet card with a panda on it (like Longey... i'll explain who Longey is later), with a little bottle of wine and a sweet-ass corkscrew (I had been using a horrible one in my apartment for too long). So that was really sweet. Then we carried on to the festivities on the beach for the yearly midsummer night's fest (can't remember the name! gahh) debauchery. It was a bitter sweet night, saying goodbye to these lovely people (although I may be going back sooner than expected) and saying bye to Ant.
Then after walking 45 minutes back to the apartment, I realised I didn't have my keys!! EXTREME STUPID! bah! So kaja and I had to wait my neighbourhood until my roomies came home. Finally at 4:00, we got in. BUT...

I went in to the kitchen to get my bag which I had assumed would be drying up in the machiene. And when I opened the little door... WOOOSSHHHH gallons of cold water emptied out onto the kitchen floor and hallway. I was there trying to the close the stupid door and prevent more water from coming out, while standing in 3 inches of cold water. My sister and roomies were in hysterics. Kaja took pictures while my Urania and Marga mopped and helped me out of my mess. It was funny. EXTREME!!!!!!!!!!!!




Anyways, when it comes down to goodbyes, I am quite literally a mess (reminder for next time: avoid washing clothes, or using olive oil in any way).

I will try and write up another post about my adventures with the Tammemagis in Estonia soon! Sorry for the delay. x

Kaja!

Here for a visit :)

Person

This morning I am a very happy girl.

-I didn't wake up with my mouthguard on the floor, but actually still in my mouth this time! (yay no jaw pain today!)
-my neighbours weren't the ones who woke me up, but by the smell of toast or just me naturally getting up at 10:30 (magical time, when I ALWAYS wake up after a night out, even if I come home at 4).
-Remembering last night. Alicia had us all for pica-picas (delicious finger foods and salads). But before we had our "graduation" party with our teachers. So fun! Then Jade, Gary, Alicia and I went to this bar/club in Gotico where they played all old school funk and soul music. There, I managed to actually flirt in SPANISH with a very good-looking Spaniard (thanks to wing-woman, party-pro Alicia). haha

I feel like I put a lot of work into learning this language and going to school every day, it's probably one of the hardest thing I've done. But it was finally the kind of hard work that you really like to do, because you know by the end you've really got something cool and useful out of it. I don't really know if my teachers will ever know how much we students appreciate them. Carolina was a ball of sunshine every morning who was so patient and helpfull. I'll really miss her! And Irkus... he's just something else. I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard in any type of class! (i'll post up some pictures later of our class and the funny present we gave to Irkus at the end of class).
My French teacher in high school, Ms Gatti helped start of my studies in languages (even though at that point I couldn't care less about learning French or any stupid language other than English). She worked (and works) so hard to get her students to understand, but during high school, kids don't say thank you and don't get how lucky they have it, with a teacher like Gatti. Well, Ms Gatti your French helped me out a lot in Spanish and I hope you know how much my friends and I love you!
It takes a real gem to teach any language. It's a thankless job in some senses (especially if you teach a bunch of snot-nosed teenagers), and you aren't being paid what you should be (same case for all teachers I assume).

So MUCHAS GRACIAS!

uh.. and people don't read this as I've graduated my Spanish classes, and now I am fluent. HA! far from it. Now I can start practicing in the real world :) ... and hopefully with a hot Barcelonian. ;)

Hasta luego x

Thing

Going to Jade and Gary's last weekend.

hip-hop + hungry hippos + jade's cooking + education on cockney rhyming =
FUN