Greete Go-Go: September 2010

27 September 2010

Summer in Estonia

Here are some pictures showing a bit of my summer in Estonia.

My mum moved to the countryside, so there we lived the country life. :) Woke up at the dawn, had porridge for breakfast, went swimming, played with my little sisters, had lunch, cycled to the village, went swimming, played some more, went swimming again, had dinner, sang and played piano, went to bed and slept like a log.

It was hot. I loved it, though. One of the reasons why we were going swimming all the time. But also a cause for raging summer storms. I actually liked that, too. Being inside, warm and safe when outside the wind was blowing on the windows, rain was drumming the roof and lightning drawing shapes on the sky.

However the storms did do a lot of damage to peoples' houses, yards, roofs and whatever... That was horrible of course. But it was still pretty cool when we were driving to my uncle's place. We came right after the storm, and it felt like we had been driving in Jurassic Park. Huge trees had fallen on the road and dust was still flying in the air. Anyways, let's get to the pictures. :)

My hunnybunnies.

Doing the laundry.

My girlies. :)

Friend.

Afternoon activities.

Camilla's drawings.

Another friend.

Barbecue.

On a ride to the town.

At a public sauna.

Taking cover from heavy rain.

Big sister and little sisters.

Camilla.

Talu.

Camilla and Vikki. Picture by Armin Mitt.

Jump!

Fall...

And splash. It was fun! :D

Three sisters. Picture by Armin Mitt.

Cousin.

Uncle with his tree after a storm.

Night at Grandpa's place.

Grandpa's place.

Laundry.

Sisters.

Mum and honeys in Pärnu.

Tädi Moonika! :)

Family portrait. :)

Visiting our oldest relative.

Honeys at Munamägi. :)

This was a lot of pictures... I just wanted to let you picture my time in Estonia. Well, you get the picture! :)

15 September 2010

Estonia

Where am I from? I'm from Estonia. My parents are Estonian, their parents and grand parents, and so on, were Estonian. So, so was I born Estonian in the year 1987. I lived my first years in Tallinn. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union a job opportunity in Finland opened up for my father. My parents decided to move to Finland. And we moved into a town on the west coast, called Rauma, the third oldest city in Finland founded in 1442. There I grew up, surrounded by culture and history.

As a little child I learned the language in an instant, and I never really felt anyhow less capable at functioning in the Finnish culture as any other kids. Nevertheless I did live in a fully bilingual and bi-cultural surrounding. My home and my family were Estonian, and everything else - school, friends, hobbies, culture - was Finnish. Looking back at it I'd say it was the highest form of integration: belonging to the new culture and keeping, not forgetting the old culture. Though it should be noted that Finnish and Estonian cultures don't clash that easily.

When I was little, we used to spend our summer and winter vacations in Estonia, visiting our relatives. However when I grew older, my parents didn't drag me with them anymore. Therefore I didn't visit Estonia that often anymore. And if I did visit it, it was with my Finnish friends, as tourists. Because of that, I kind of grew apart from the place where I was from. I sort of forgot what it was like, how it was over there and how it felt to be part of it. I didn't feel like part of it anymore. I felt like it was a culture and a place I didn't belong in anymore. I'm not joking, I kind of felt I wasn't welcome there as a common Estonian anymore.

Therefore I considered myself Finnish, nothing else. But I went to Estonia this summer. I was coming from Prague and Berlin, alone, without a permanent address, only with my backpack. And it changed it all.

I went to my mum's place in Southeast Estonia. She had moved to the countryside. There I lived without a need to know what time it was nor what day it was. Simple. Stress free. Altogether a very lovely way of being. We drove to different cities and places, met family and friends. And in the middle of this I, in a rather romantic way, started developing my national identity as Estonian.

I speak the language! I know how to act in the culture! I know how to behave in social situations! I am a fucking citizen of the country! Why would I ever think I wasn't welcome there??

I have to say, that... I'm happy. I'm very, very happy that I realized and experienced this. I still consider myself Finnish. But now I also consider myself Estonian. I know, it's complicated. But that's often the case with life. Things are not black and white. I don't feel like I wasn't complete or have less than others. I feel like I've been given more.

There are lots of people like me in the world. People, who cannot quite answer where they're from. But that doesn't have to be a weakness. I wish you'd all enjoy the best parts of the life you've been given.

Life is good. :)

Summer, oh summer

Summer. As you might have noticed, I love summer. (Not that I wouldn't love other seasons...) And last summer was one of the best summers in my life. I know, I'm young and I have everything yet to come, but I'm sure I will remember this summer as the summer of no worries, no boundaries and lots of good times and happiness.

Here are some frames about what my summer was like when I was in Finland.

Summer cottage.

Archipelago in Rymättylä.

Summer heat.

Midday.

Midnight.

Afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea. :P

Summer wedding.

Girls in their dresses, ready for the wedding.

Anna.

Liisa.

Jenni.

Me.

Pyhän Ristin Kirkko, the church. This is the church in the town where I grew up, Rauma. This is the church where we came to every Christmas, had concerts in, had our church confirmation in...