As soon as December began, the Christmas atmosphere was already strong in the air. One of the events that made me happy and at the same time surprised me was the presence of Santa Claus at the kindergarten, where he brought gifts for all the children with his joy and cheerfulness.

In Estonia, the Christmas atmosphere is particularly felt: the characteristic Christmas market in the city center, the lights, and decorations turn Tallinn into a magical city.
I had the opportunity to visit, with my volunteer friends, two European capitals: Riga and Helsinki.

It was my first time visiting them, and I liked them a lot; with the snow, they were even more beautiful.
To reach Riga, we took the bus and spent the whole day exploring the city. For Helsinki, we took the ferry. Both cities were stunning, despite the cold.

Also, before returning to Italy for Christmas and New Year, my kindergarten teachers and I organized a traditional Estonian Christmas lunch, with dishes I had never tasted before, and they were a real delight.
When I returned from Italy, the cold was noticeable, and the snow covered everything.

In mid-January, we celebrated my birthday at school, preparing pizza, celebrating, and playing with the children. They gave me unexpected gifts, and of course, the birthday cards made by the children were wonderful. In the evening, we celebrated with my friends.
In February, I participated in the last mid-term training in a forest near the town of Paide, in the heart of Estonia.

I had the chance to meet new volunteers and, most importantly, we went hiking in the forest one day to explore the Estonian nature. We also enjoyed the traditional Estonian sauna, and it was a really special experience.
A week later, with my German volunteer friend, we went to Italy for a short vacation before returning to Estonia, waiting for the arrival of spring…