This story was published on September 6th 2019. It was written by the IMAESC students (2018–2020 Cohort)
Time just doesn’t stop flying!
We have now started our second year of the IMAESC programme and, after a summer apart, all our paths cross again here in Tallinn, Estonia. Is it really already one year since we began our journey together in Glasgow? And is it really only another four months until we won’t be all in the same place anymore, but split up, with some of us staying in Estonia, some moving back to Malta, and some returning to Glasgow?
The contrast of Estonia — with its thousands of birches and pine trees, its endless forests and skies, and the long, sandy beaches — to Malta will surely come out in the following pictures we have collected as our first impressions of this country.
But not only our eyes collect impressions: Something that many of us have noticed is the quiet. There is so little noise in Estonia that several of us have used the word ‘peaceful’ to describe it. Connectedness to nature seems to be very high among even the people living in the city, and, who knows, maybe we also can recharge and find new energy between the trees before winter comes.
However, we also already have witnessed and observed social and societal issues. Estonia has, as every place, multiple layers and sides, and we will see how many of these we can uncover. We have interesting times ahead of us and we hope you will continue to experience part of our journey with us!
Abi — “I don’t know but I just have a word to describe Estonia so far; peaceful. Especially after my last rough months”
Maricarmen
Kathrin — “So. Much. Space!”
Molly
Maricarmen — “Mexico presente”
Katya
Miranda
Abi
Anna — “The view from the watch tower. Viru bogs, Estonia.”
Karolina
Bouna — “Room of secrets”
Milton
Ngoc
Katya
Rida
Maricarmen — “Tallinn’s love”
Molly
Molly — “IMAESC beach day at Stroomi beach”
Rida
Miranda
Anyela — “Finding ways…”
Anyela — “… to shorten the distance”
Molly
Kathrin — “Vormsi Island. The perfect place to hide from everything and everyone so it’s just you, the sea, and a lighthouse for a while”
Aneyla
Anna — “Even in the capital city Tallinn you can find yourself in the fairy tale forest just 800 meters away from the busy University Street. Somewhere in Kadriorg Park, Tallinn”
Kate — “Making friends…”
Kate — “… and playing with Estonian babies on the beach…”
Kate — “… featuring Ngoc”
Miranda
Kate
Kathrin — “Hidden behind the trees, this is the most magical pitch I have ever seen… I wonder which fairytale creatures play here…”
Milton
Miranda
Karolina
Aneyla
Solace-Rose
Abi — “People smile! And they are always willing to help you!”
Solace-Rose — “There is so much peace hidden in nature. Find it and preserve it!”
Christina — “food for soul”
Solace-Rose — “Through the eyes of culture, much can be revealed”
Bouna — “When Tallinn is still green”
Karolina
Solace-Rose — “Choco and caramel flavoured fun”
A nna — “An amazing sunset in Alaste waterfalls”
Ngoc
Karolina
Solace-Roce — “Soul siblings!”
Jue — “I married a tree today”
Jue — “Newly married couple are having a little secret conversation.”
Jue — “Stuck on this one, this one doesn’t like me”
Meerim
Meerim
Katya
Rida
Katya
Miranda
Bouna — “Out of town, super quiet”
Christina — “road to wilderness”
Anna — “You can walk through Jagala waterfalls to the other side if you are not afraid of ice cold quick shower. Jagala waterfalls, Estonia”
Meerim — “Estonia is all about nature, and the sunset makes it extra special.
Katya
Christina — “Watching over the forest”
Jue
Anna — “The most creative usage of ols boots I have even seen. Old Town, Tallinn.”
Jue
Rida
Milton — “A mushroom dropped by a suspicious plumber on a green dinosaur”
Miranda
Bouna — “Sunset on a ferry”
Ngoc — “The best view from our flat”
Katya
Anna — “The Old Town of Tallinn will never make you feel bored. Every time you can find something new to see there.”
Christina — “Storyteller of the past”
Milton — “I engraved my own coin while listening to Estonian history”
Ngoc — “lovely housies”
Kathrin — “Estonian pickles are fantastic and mix well with everything, so they became the new main aliment for some of us ;)”
