On-Arrival EVS Training – Day 5

    For the last day, Kasia, Siiri and Kristina, our trainers left us with another person who explained us project management. I think this last workshop will be the most essential part to help us with the majority of the 8 key competencies of the Youthpass. Project Management is not only related to the working world but to any kind of activities that need to be planned. Anna, our trainer, showed us the different steps with an orientation towards the characteristics of our projects which could involve working with difficult population. We bounced back on the different steps she was talking about using our own experience. We managed to see some videos made by current or former volunteers. What I would remember from all this is the will we have to go through our projects is the keystone to our success. Even if we don’t know exactly how to achieve our project (two Ukrainian volunteers decided to renovate a room for their youth center even though they never did anything close to that, including in their spare time), our enthusiasm will give or help us find the means to complete our projects. 

    After that, the least pleasant moment of the week: going back to Parnu and leave those people, those friends. We were very close to each others. We all had lots of fun and promised to see each other again in a near future, why not organising some short trips around Estonia or even to Saint Petersburg. Our suitcases were done in a surprisingly short amount of time, in about 20 minutes. I pushed everybody a little since I was the first one with Katerina to leave and wanted to eat before taking my bus. And I found nothing to eat, except some weird hot dogs at the bus station newsagent. Of course, Heli reminded me our deal and I won’t be able to pass on this lunch I owe her. We were told students wouldn’t go as early as 2pm back home but unfortunately for me, it wasn’t true for our bus. It was packed and we had the last remaining seats in the back, of course not next to the window where it is easier to sleep after a short night. 

Au revoir la France, Tere Eesti !! (2)

Upon arrival at Charle-de-Gaulle, I went directly to leave my registred luggage at the counter to be more free to wander in the airport. As I suspected, the stewart asked me to weigh both of my luggages which was a first time for my hand luggage. Even when I was travelling with other low cost companies, they never did that !! so I feared to pay for those 3 extra kilos. He asked me to take away enough things to put in my registered suitcase to finally « offering » me those 3kgs. He told me he won't make me pay this time but I should be careful next time. My flights went ok, except the lay-over in Riga. We were all waiting for the plane to take off but we heard several times the pilot telling us not to worry as they were waiting for the control tower to give the green light. I still don't know why we left the airport when we were supposed to arrived as I didn't understand the reasons for that. 

After we landed, I rushed to the luggage claim to take my suitcase and join my tutor, Uudo, and the other volunteer, Katerina from the Former Yougoslavian Republic of Macedonia who arrived 5h earlier than me. I couldn't make her wait more time as we were all tired and wanted to crash in our beds in Parnu. Uudo directly took us to our guest house where we will be spending all our night while in the city. After quickly connecting to the Internet to leave a message to the parents (very important!!), I went straight to the arms of Morpheus zzzzzzz

Au revoir la France, Tere Eesti !! (1)

Going to Estonia wasn't that easy to prepare at home and thanks to the different transport companies, tt would have been even « better ».

Preparing my suitcase wasn't an easy task. I could only take 20kg/44lbs in my registered luggage and 8kg/17.6lbs in my hand luggage. This is not very much when you're supposed to travel an stay in the same place for 8 months. I didn't know how this company, Air baltic would do with my suitaces, if they will be very strict or not about the weight. I finally ended with 20,2kg/44lbs and 11kg/22lbs which was still ok I thought. I haven't counted my laptop and kept my finger crossed for the check-in not to weigh this and make me pay for some extra kilos.

So I woke up on Thursday at 5am (ouch!) to get prepared to go to the train station for my train to arrive at Paris Airport Charles de Gaulle around 10.45am. Until my first change, it was ok but from there until a lay-over near Paris and the airport, I got delayed. Usually the french TGV (High speed train) is going very fast and on time but that day, other trains had problems and we had to wait for them. In the end I was about 45 min late at the airport. It's for those kind of events I prefer to arrive early at the airport as I don't want to rush to the registring gate.