My story with Narva began in June 2022, when I was visiting a friend. I don't know how I ended up collaborating with VitaTiim to organise a rock concert in the garden. Those were unforgettable days and nights that changed my perception of Estonia.
I returned to Spain, but I always wanted to go back to Estonia. I never imagined that three years later I would be living here. When I got off the plane, I felt the humidity, the green of the trees and the charming cold atmosphere of the Baltic. Three months later, I am still trying to understand this place.
As a historian and teacher, I collaborate with Vannalina Narva Pöhikool, and in my interactions with colleagues and students, I am gradually discovering the cultural richness and diversity of the Ida Viru region. In three months, I have been able to travel around Estonia and Latvia. In this part of the world, I have discovered another way of life. Estonia is a small country, without mountains, full of forests and swamps, very dark and white in winter and very bright in summer. It is a country of contrasts.
When we (the volunteers) arrived, we did not know how to feel. We still don't. Every week there are unexpected adventures, conversations that teach us to see the world through different eyes, and exotic meals to try. No matter how small Narva is, there is always a new place to discover. Estonia is transforming us into a more open-minded and adaptable version of ourselves.
Narva is a unique place in Europe. You have to spend several months here and participate in the social and cultural life of the city to enjoy its essence and variety. Volunteering in Narva is an intense experience that opens your mind and allows you to discover other ways of life. It is not only the project, but also the friends we make along the way that contribute to our process of personal development. They may be from different parts of Europe, or perhaps from Estonia, but one thing is clear: this city definitely brings us closer together as people.