Sunday and Monday- experiences underground and up! Farewell party (Day 7 & 8)

The day started ordinary with Pedro saying "Good morning in the morning!" and us all having our usual breakfast. After that we had to catch our bus wich took us to the most exciting museum in the region - The Kohtla Mining Park!(CLICK) We were firstly divided into two groups, had a small intro about the place itself and the history. During the guided tour, we as visitors became miners as we put on helmets and coats and were descended to mining gears up to 8 m under the ground. We had a unique chance to walk in the footsteps of real miners, experience their daily work in moist and dusky conditions, which helped to understand the background and the development of oil shale mining and the functioning of the industry. During the tour we got to see many (still working) underground technical equipment and got to ride the underground train, used back when the mining area was still working! Boy what an exciting trip! When we got back up, we had lunch and and a chance to enjoy the beautiful day.
Since the weather was so hot and sunny, we decided to stop by at the beach and the beautiful Saka Manor(CLICK). It is a place high up on the limestone bank and there's a hiking road leading down to the beach. We also climed up the watchtower where we saw the amazing view over Estonian forests and the blue sea. It was really relaxing to sit on the beach and listen to the waves. Some crazy people even went swimming haha!
When we got back home, the preperations for the farewell party started. The Estonian group had their hands full with preparing the workshop place and printing out Youth Passes. Since others had free time, they decided to do a harlem shake wich turned out hilarious and great thanks to the crazy minds of our youngsters and our camera man Jose! When it was time, everybody gathered to the "party place" where Marilin and Jaanika handed out the youth passes to every one of us and where we all said a big THANK YOU to eachother. We watched a video about all previous exchanges made by Angela and Marilin and the final video about this years exchange followed by a beautiful performance by our very own - Kelli! After all the crying and sobbing, we danced and hugged the whole night.  The night was crazy emotional and just when we thought it couldn't get any sader, it was time for the French group to leave.. The bus was waiting for them at 02:22. We promised to see each other again in the future, hugged and cried and cried.. It was very painful to watch the bus leave and knowing we might never see again. The following night we talked a lot and few of us wanted to sleep.


The next morning we got to sleep until 10, then had a breakfast and packed our things..It was so surreal i think non of us really thought of it being the last time of everything.. When we got our stuff together, we said goodbye to the hostel and the beautiful surroundings as the bus drowe us to Tallinn. The farewell was horrible knowing there's no quarantee of  seeing your family the next summer. It broke our (the Estonian group, as we had to watch them all leave) hearts, seeing the Spanish and Finnish group leaving.

 I'm sure we will try to see each other again and will defenetly keep in touch. 

I'm sure I speak for everyone, who took part of the project, when I say this is one of the best thing that has ever happened to us. Knowing that you have friends, whom you are welcome to visit anytime, all over Europe, knowing there are people who will never forget you, knowing how blessed you have been to get to experience friendship and the meaning of family in a whole new level. It is hard to explain the feeling, that you get with this project, to a stranger. 


Until we see again, Family! :)



Good morning in the morning!! - Maidla, Estonia. July 2013 from AJ Intercambia on Vimeo.
Last night video - Youth Exchange in Maidla, Estonia. July 2013 from AJ Intercambia on Vimeo.

The project was funded by the Youth in Action Programme