Hei! And "Tere!"
I just came from the travel agency and now I have my visa for Russia! J On 30 March's going for me so for a week to Moscow and St. Petersburg! J
But first to what in the past (almost) two months since my last round mail as it all happened.
First of all: Christmas. We have four German volunteers celebrated at a woman who we met in the German church service here in Viljandi and has invited us to Christmas itself. We have eaten in the afternoon at her very badly delicious herring salad, potatoes, pork, elk sausages and, and, and ... Normally, yes you here for Christmas pudding (which I honestly am not the biggest fan). After the meal we have, as it should be for Christmas, sung, played Rummikub, and of course made mess: I'm now the proud owner of a green thermal filter coffee mug and a fair-trade organic coffee. You have to know that I started here in Estonia have to drink coffee. That is partly because, five days a week that I have to get out at 6:30. Second, because my children from any kind of fatigue on my part trying to knock out their advantage - and that usually means a severe test for my nerves. Thirdly, because the caffeine in the body so much darkness, at least from within sets out that now a new day (in December the sun sets on this fact only at 9, and under short-clock for 15 clock again). Meanwhile, we have mid-February: The cold season is almost over! J I had actually thought that this darkness suggests arg on mood, but so bad the last few weeks were not. Also, if you (like me now) late January, early February noted that there is light at once, if you go to work, you can already really looking forward to June / July. Then comes the sun here really in for only a very few hours. Late June / early July will be my parents - then invited us Ulla (a Finnish friend of ours in Viljandi, which here makes its Erasmus), come to her too high to Finland ... and there's still a lot more sun! J
first, but now back at Christmas: In the evening we went to church and then have a little more together sat. Honestly, it was a beautiful evening. A special evening. But Christmas, it was not for me completely. Christmas just feels different. Here in Estonia was indeed correct snow, but the family is simply not Christmas without Christmas. Christmas without family, I do not soon follow ... but one I noticed: The Christmas sale is a lot less aggressive than in Germany - and also begins in November / December. One thing that is overlooked is not about Christmas, are wearing red Santa hats that some Estonians on the way to work or school. The Snowmen are not snowmen here by the way, but "Snow Women" and the family Christmas is not just Santa Claus, but also from a large Christmas Father Christmas a woman, etc., and to Father Christmas and the Christmas-grandfather, of course, the greatest importance. December is for the kids something special: a Santa Claus, there is not in Estonia, but the so-called "Päkapikkud. This "Päkapikkud" are kind of "dwarfs Christmas," which put the children in December always candy and the like in the shoes - but not every day. Advent is here too, but are not nearly as popular, I think, as just this Christmas gnomes "Päkapikkud. In addition, this Christmas dwarf custom is in my opinion much more exciting and funnier, because you do not know if the dwarf has spent the Christmas night someone something in the shoes or not.
So many of the Estonian Christmas traditions. New Year's Eve is celebrated with us as well. We celebrated (in part with our visit) and several hundred residents Viljandi of the year on the large parking lot. Lo and behold, the next day, we are volunteers at the photograph of the front page of the main newspaper Viljandi! J night we then went for the frozen Viljandisee and have sparklers lit ... what has been so All this makes New Year's Eve ...
What is in the last few weeks then it all happens? Well, in mid-January, I met a woman from Viljandi, which tells me something about the history of Jews in Viljandi. In mid-December I was in fact out in the Historical Museum of Viljandi and I tried out something about Judaism in Viljandi. Then they gave me the phone number of this woman, who is herself Jewish, but described themselves as "atheist". This nearly 90-year-old woman told me then that there were only 60 Jewish families in Viljandi, but these were almost all murdered by the Nazis. A small note in the margin, the Estonians were mostly quite glad when the Germans came in 1941, because they sold in 1940, Russians invaded. The Germans granted the Estonians much cultural autonomy - and culture has had, and here in Estonia, a very special place. Also suppressed the Germans, unlike the Russians the Estonian national pride and "respected" for example, the Estonian flag. Many Estonians see therefore the German occupation certainly a lot of positive than some other European countries, although even here the Nazis have murdered Jews and persecuted political opponents. The Jewess, with whom I've now taken, survived this time because they made a few weeks before the Nazi invasion of Viljandi is pulled away and went to Tallinn. She was then but not officially registered in Tallinn and reported to the authorities and so did the Nazis sought not only - she was virtually unknown. In 1941 she went the safe side and forced to Russia (Yekaterinburg). In 1944 she was arrested by the Soviets - I unfortunately did not understand why exactly. She was taken to Magadan (in the far east of Russia, almost at Vladivostok) and worked for eleven years as Fälscherin (this is a profession between nurse and doctor) in various camps of the Soviets. That they are not in the camps had to do the "usual forced labor," she owed her commenced medical studies: When the Soviets during their arrest in 1944 saw that she studied medicine, they let her in the collective farms to work as Fälscherin. Only in 1955 she returned to Viljandi, where she then worked as Fälscherin (intermediate stage between nurse and doctor). She speaks fluent way, Russian, Estonian and German. German, they still dominated their childhood. Almost all Jews Viljandi visited at that time the German school, which existed at that time still in Viljandi, and the prayer books were bilingual, Hebrew and German. But I write back and tell too much ... well, short and sweet: It was really talking to very interesting with it! She had a lot of the Estonian Hoped for independence in 1990. But now she thinks that would be hard for the young families, the elderly, general care of the disadvantaged in society. It was really interesting to hear how the time from the Nazis, the time when the Soviets and now experiencing the post-Soviet ... but it all down beyond the scope of a round-mail that you should indeed tell a roughly what about me works and what I do.
So: What do I do to? Well, I started to sing in a gospel choir and get singing lessons even now! J I think the I need to ... but oh well ... that's good when one years abroad is that somehow I trust me try a few more things here than in Germany. Sunday before last we had the church choir from a very large sample with other choirs from Viljandi. The whole thing was a laboratory test for the big song festival "Laulupidu" in July ... Also in July, but then more. Besides singing, I'm now twice a week, badminton and of course travel around a lot.
other day we went to the cross-country skiing World Cup in Otepää ... and I felt half of Estonia was on its feet. Honestly: So many Estonians I have never seen at once. It seems so to the 13,000 Estonians have been there, even when I least twice as many Estonian flags 've seen. Yes because it was a cross-country skiing World Cup but were also a few German cross-country skiers as Evi Sachenbacher and Axel Teichmann. Besides Otepää (the winter capital of Estonia) I was again in Tallinn and Viljandi was a woman of (the city I live in Estonia) made that has worked during the Expo 2000 in Hanover in the Estonian pavilion! J so fast we meet again ... J And Julia Thiemann has taken in Australia so even the son of my boss! The times you have to imagine: Julia Thiemann In Australia an Estonian ... an Estonian from Viljandi (the town where I live) ... and then nor the son of my boss in the Lasteabi Keskus (the project where I work)! J
As for me then the last part of my round brings mail: my work. As I have already written to the Christmas Card: I now work not only in kindergarten, but also in the school of "Lasteabi Keskus (Centre for disabled children and young people). In this center there are four different classes, which are usually collected on the degree of disability. To 5 students, at least two helpers and teachers. Real lessons are, however, actually take place. In the class in which I now, for example, help craft and we bring the children color or animals at. One of the children in my class is being made very difficult: it is 13 years old and sits in a wheelchair. You can not move their arms or their legs on their own and do not talk too. Sometimes it gets so severe cramps that she has to vomit. Where possible, we move her legs and arms or sing or read something to her before. She looks forward to fully bad if we with her teddy bears, or any something soft caress on the cheek and talk to her. In addition to this I have a child, especially with a second child, a boy to do a lot, which is an absolute car fan. Whenever a car drives past, it shows on the car and says "Auto" or on buses "Buff". The other day I have with him a made little trip: the bus stop, which is 2 minutes away from the main entrance of the center. For him it was a really small day trip ... and then he had to first go to sleep. J He was happy anyway. I have also recently tinkered with it a small car racing game. What strikes me when I talk to others about my work is that outsiders think first about the particular disabilities of the children. But when you work even for a time with the children, we notice above all, despite what the children (!) Of their disabilities can do anything. That may now perhaps sound a bit strange, but we are happy about it every time, For example, when the boy (13 years) of which I'm told grad recognizes that the car "blue" and not "green." Even if a child in kindergarten a toy another child is (which is quite a lot!), Which is a real step forward and just in kindergarten these kids quite a lot of progress. One of the children has now learned his plate after eating alone can bring to the table to the sink - if a little bumpy, but it is now up just to break a dish gone! is J What you notice in any case, that the teachers put everything to encourage the children best and it makes me crazy fun to play with the children or explain to one hundred seventy times that the banana is not yellow and blue. Say: I really enjoy my work ... and just to watch the children - why I did not have much time - well worthwhile. Sometimes it is but then again hands clean and linen change if a child has again made the bed.
So ... now I do but once concluded. I think you're reasonably well-informed, what have I done in recent weeks and that I am here still very, very well, I collect a lot of experience here and still very much have a lot of fun. Next week, Estonia will celebrate its Independence, then must hang on every house at least an Estonian flag - it is at least set in. Until then, it gets warmer but hopefully first: we are in fact the coldest month of the year in Estonia. Though it was already -24 degrees, but is actually here in February this year, quite warm with -8 to -12 degrees. Our large lake here in Viljandi is frozen in any case ... how about some pictures with us at the moment looks like you can on Friday on my blog www.binbaldwiederda.blogspot.com look (which I unfortunately very, very long time not updated) .
Incidentally, the Russian visa I applied for a travel agency in Estonian. But we are still all very, very far from reading a novel or the like to Estonian. To this end it will come no more. Nevertheless, I come across in everyday life now along well, with my kiddies can talk and chat with the staff ...
now but for now all best wishes from Estonia, we see already in 5 ½ months later (which is next week ! half-time),
Fabian
PS: I had a little fever this week (both my roommates are sick). The Estonians have colds, fever and cough a very unconventional medicine. In addition to the Council, the garlic to put in the nose, is the panacea Number 1: vodka! An Estonian proverb says "Kui an ole surmatöbi, siis saab ikka viinast abi." So, "If it is not a fatal illness, then you get certain of vodka help."
And last but not least: had recently our church community here in Viljandi visit six deacons from the Norwegian partner community. The Deacons have made a small workshop. After the workshop last evening we all (Norwegians, Estonians and we) have been invited to a Estin the country ... and we have up in the night really nicely done Sauna - including subsequent jump in the snow (which can sometimes be quite hard).
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