I think this week has been one of the most exciting, and definitely one of my favorites, here in Tartu. Since this past Monday Tartu has been celebrating the coming of Spring with festivals, concerts, square markets, beer in the park, and tons of events. The whole town seems to have come awake, and ready for a party. Student Days began with a 6am wake-up call Monday morning as a van pulled up outside of Raatuse and blasted music to jump-start the celebration. Monday night everyone gathered in the town square for a traditional Estonian concert. After this part of the evening we all paraded through town to an open area with a stage and band set up to lead the next part of the song festival. There were people everywhere. I didn't even know that many people lived in Tartu.
The international students also had the opportunity to help out the community this week by building dog houses for the local animal shelter. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up, but I like making things and I like animals, so I was excited about it. It turned out that ESN had partnered up with this event through a Catholic church/school in town, so we got to work with kids on the project and meet a lot of locals. To be honest, I had expected some kind of assembly kit project that we easily put together and paint. But when we walked up to the yard there was wood, saws, hammers, and nails. We built these things from scratch. The plan was that we were going to build 3 houses by dividing everyone into groups. Each group was assigned a wall or floor, and was to build 3 of the same thing. My group volunteered to make the floor. It seemed simple enough. Cut and nail the support beams together, then cut and nail the floor planks on top. After one hour on the first floor, however, we decided differently. Finally we got the carpenters, who were there to over-see things, to help us out with the sawing and measuring. After lunch and the first practice run, everyone felt a little better and kind of knew what they were supposed to do the next time. So the next two came together much more efficiently. It was hard work, but we had so much fun doing it.
The festivities in town picked up again Friday, as it was the first of May and a major holiday here. There was a large market in the town square, concerts, plays, and an extreme sport competition that took over the whole middle of Tartu.
Last night I got to take part in my first Estonian dance festival. There were tons of people crowded on one of the main roads by the river dancing and singing. We learned traditional folk dances, and had a blast trying to figure out what and where we were supposed to go. I think each group ended up making their own rules to the songs.
I am really looking forward to the last events today. This afternoon we will go to the river to watch participants try to fly across to the other side with home-made airplanes/boats. I've heard that no one ever makes it over, but that's really the fun of it. I think there are some last concerts and things tonight too to end the week of celebration.
I wish Tartu was always this energized and festive, but I guess it's back to work tomorrow.
The international students also had the opportunity to help out the community this week by building dog houses for the local animal shelter. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up, but I like making things and I like animals, so I was excited about it. It turned out that ESN had partnered up with this event through a Catholic church/school in town, so we got to work with kids on the project and meet a lot of locals. To be honest, I had expected some kind of assembly kit project that we easily put together and paint. But when we walked up to the yard there was wood, saws, hammers, and nails. We built these things from scratch. The plan was that we were going to build 3 houses by dividing everyone into groups. Each group was assigned a wall or floor, and was to build 3 of the same thing. My group volunteered to make the floor. It seemed simple enough. Cut and nail the support beams together, then cut and nail the floor planks on top. After one hour on the first floor, however, we decided differently. Finally we got the carpenters, who were there to over-see things, to help us out with the sawing and measuring. After lunch and the first practice run, everyone felt a little better and kind of knew what they were supposed to do the next time. So the next two came together much more efficiently. It was hard work, but we had so much fun doing it.
The festivities in town picked up again Friday, as it was the first of May and a major holiday here. There was a large market in the town square, concerts, plays, and an extreme sport competition that took over the whole middle of Tartu.
Last night I got to take part in my first Estonian dance festival. There were tons of people crowded on one of the main roads by the river dancing and singing. We learned traditional folk dances, and had a blast trying to figure out what and where we were supposed to go. I think each group ended up making their own rules to the songs.
I am really looking forward to the last events today. This afternoon we will go to the river to watch participants try to fly across to the other side with home-made airplanes/boats. I've heard that no one ever makes it over, but that's really the fun of it. I think there are some last concerts and things tonight too to end the week of celebration.
I wish Tartu was always this energized and festive, but I guess it's back to work tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment