Questo post è disponibile anche in: Italian
Amazing: surprising, astonishing, stunning, astounding.
Was it waiting for me? Who are the people I am supposed to share this trip with? Will I find anything good to eat? Should I actually share my room with a stranger? And a bathroom with 25 people who I don’t know? Will I be able to communicate? These are questions we started our trip with.
When are we going? This was the only question on our minds before the trip.
A thing that happened in the middle is a wonderful story, and we thank Youmore Morcelli Giovani for promoting projects addressing young people in the field of the ErasmusPlus community programme completely funded by European Commission.
Departed from Italy like 5 strangers, we enjoyed the first day of visit in the city of Tallinn, a beautiful city of medieval features, like a moment of combination, building the Italian team. Once back in the airport, where there was a bus waiting for to take us to the boat that will lead us to the Hiiumaa island, headquarters of the youth exchange, as being the first group, we met the Turkish group first, then Slovak group, and Greek group at the end, and we departed; Estonian guys, we met the next day. After the next and confusing impact with guys different than we are, we let some space to the meeting, breaking completely the barriers of our project.
Arrived in a hotel, located in the dark night of the island, cold wind waited to welcome us, and immediately we discovered and learned that when in Estonia, the first thing you should do when entering into a house is to take off your shoes.
The morning after opening the windows we discovered one village, by sun illuminated, that looked like all of a sudden, all together in the morning.
A topic of the exchange is an entrepreneurship: during the day we are working in groups dealing with special topics, such as youth unemployment or searching for fundamental characteristics to define an entrepreneur and finishing with one very engaging and passionate discussion.
Since the first day we learn about how punctual the Estonian people are, and the penalty for being late is 25 push-ups!
Days were ending with evenings that were reserved for presentation of different countries; the Italian presentation evening was a huge success: gnocchi with basil and tomatoes, pesto pasta, Grana Padano samples, wine, the music of the years 80’s and 90’s, pandoro with mascarpone cream; one original Italian celebration. Other nights were reserved for tasting other countries’ dishes, flavors, and perfumes of different countries, we have shared our habits, we have learned dances and listened to traditional songs: we were in Estonia but few moments we felt like Slovak, Greek, or Turkish people.
Initial fears left some space for beautiful memories, difficult to understand for those who haven’t lived through these moments. The heat from the fire in the garden. Lightning stars can be seen only a few times. The leather couch that we used to sit and spend every evening on it. Home-made gnocchi and appreciation of all those who ever tasted it. The pleasure of having a conversation half in English and half in sign language. The dreams.
Laughing euphoria, those strong ones, the honest ones. The sauna. Glances between strangers. Feeling alive and happy, playing kids game. Every single face. Songs that we used to listen every evening. New friendships, more honest than many others. Pile of shoes in the entrance. Cups of the hot tea in the common room. The Arabic coffee.
Overcome Shyness. To prove them. Airplane trip in a vehicle of 18 places. An enthusiasm of the Greek girls when they saw a snow for the first time in their life. A look of those who seem to know you for a life and of those who are looking at you with a desire to know you till the rest of life. To find out that Eiffel 65 is being sung in the whole Europe. Confirmation that there are no unbridgeable differences. Satisfaction to discover other cultures and different habits. Go out of your comfort zone. Understand that, after all, a smile is always the best answer, even though you actually didn’t get the question.
Erasmus is difficult to describe. You need to try it. You need to live it.
Written by Marco G. Sara C. Maura M. Sara Z. Filippo G.
Translated by Biljana Dajic
