An Alternative Merry Christmas

Picture by Mari-Lee

It is December again and the time to try and think up some unique new presents for everyone(if not already sorted)! If you are stuck like me then maybe here are some alternative ideas for presents.. or weekends away... or maybe something for next year. Also if you want to avoid those horrendously long queues and crazy people who use any means (and I mean any) to get the last sale item then maybe these are for you.

Of course there are plenty of online shops out there, but there are also plenty of charity shops with plenty of ideas. There are both national and international charities , so you can support the charities in your country or one of the big names whilst getting someone something special.  They sell anything from candles to cuddly toys to diaries and sweets.

Here are some alternative ideas from some randomly picked charities:

WWF - Adopt an animal. Maybe adopt a penguin (with cuddly toy) with the WWF or ein Eisbär adoption (mit DVD) with  Swiss WWF for example.

Amnesty - Maybe buy an Alpaca hat from Amnesty UK to help development in Peru or maybe Echarpe à chevrons en pashmina from Amensty France.

Oxfam - Buy a goat!!! (Well ok it is for someone who needs a goat) with Oxfam UK or Varkentje with Oxfam Nederland.



Of course if you are still stuck with ideas then maybe combine your shopping with a lovely (and maybe romantic?) trip away to a Christmas Market and explore a new place too. There are plenty to choose from  in Europe (and beyond). Here is an article from last year's Telegraph about 10 markets... including Tallinn's Christmas Market (possibly the place of the first Christmas Tree).


Or if you just want to escape from it all... what about volunteering over the Christmas period? Such as at Belvoir Castle with BTCV. Then in the new year if you still want to adventure and help out then there are plenty of countries you can go to including the Estonian trip with BTCV or with ELF.

But all in all I hope you find what you need and enjoy this time of year!

Most Estonian?

In Facebook there is a group "You know you are from Estonian when..." where Estonians and people knowing Estonians have gathered lots of great and funny observations about Estonians. Like for example:

You know you are from Estonian when...

1. You use the word ‘normal’ if something is ok.
...
24. Your best friend's girlfriend is your English teacher's daughter and they live next door to your grandparents, who were colleagues with your advisor, who is friends with your...
...
61. "Ühesõnaga" means that a really long explanation is coming
...
93. When you hear "Kristina", you think of Shmigun, not Aguilera.
...
141. You say to a foreigner "Sure! I'll help you learn the Estonian language!", and then you disappear...
...
148. As a child you went looking for a fern flower on Jaaniõhtu.


In the moment it ends with number 148 and still says "to be continued..."...
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art by 5-year-old Mari Lee "an one"

Least religious?

The BBC reported that Estonia was the least religous country... by survey.
But do Estonians believe in anything?... or thats what they ask.
You can hear the radio version here This is quite interesting radio programme and includes a lot of interesting cultural and historical points... some can be read in the written summary here.

Here are some stats from wikipedia and interestingly it seems to be the "Scandanavian" countries that seem to have a low percentage of "Religion". On this page there is an additional column that says "I believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 54% Estonians said yes to this, along with the Scandanvian countries too.

Anyway no real comment apart from that interesting comparison.
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art by 5-year-old Mari Lee "a two"

Sometimes

Sometimes
I need the rain.

The cooling shower
to stop me from wilting.
The downpour and thunderstorm
to clear the air.
Or just the cloudy parasol
shading me from the intense heat.

Yet

Sometimes
I need the sun.

The clear blue heavens
encouraging to grow.
The bright light
to awake and flower.
The warming sky-fire
then I can ripen.

But to bear fruit
Sometimes
I need both

by Ian August 2011

art by 5-year-old Mari Lee

2nd Anniversary

Ian thought it would be fitting to have an Estonian Poem on the 1st Anniversary Post.
I thought it would be fitting to have the non-poetic word-by-word translation of the 1st Anniversary Post poem here.

Korallid Emajõel
- Corals on Emajõgi

Betti Alver

Ikka meenuvad minutid
- still remember the minutes
millal
- when
viras vikerkaar
- the rainbow
üle vee.
- over the water

Me seisime raudsel sillal.
- We stood on the iron bridge
Sinu ees oli
- In front of you there was
raudne tee.
- the iron road.

Aeg raputas aardeid mu ette.
- Time shaked the treasures in front of me.
sinu ees oli
- in front of you there was
raudne tee.
- the iron road

Raudsillal
- On the iron bridge
viskasin vette
- I threw into the water
ma punakorallidest
kee.
- a necklace made of red corals.

Kõik mu aegade aarded on hallid.
- All the treasures of my times are grey
Jumet
- There is no complexion
pole ka jumalatõel.
- on the Truth of God either.

Veepõhjast
- From the bottom of the water
vaid punakorallid
- only the red corals
vahel vilavad
- sometimes shimer
Emajõel.
- on Emajõgi.

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poem by Betti Alver, found by Ian, translation here by Katrin
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - the coral fish

Lood ja laulud

Sinugi lood on Sinu sees
- Your stories are inside You
ja piiluvad vahel välja.
- and peek out sometimes.
Kuigi kannad neid eneses,
- Although you carry them inside yourself,
saad nendega vahel nalja.
- sometimes some fun happens with them.

Sinu laulud on Sinu sees ja murravad vahel välja.
- Your songs are inside You and break out sometimes.
Räägivad Sinust enesest ja teevad Su kulul nalja.
- Talk about Yourself and make fun of You.

Sinu elu on Sinu ees. Alati ei tule välja.
- Your life is in front of You. Always it does not work out.
Hoolimata Su teenetest Sinustki teeb keegi nalja.
- Regardless of Your favors, someone makes fun of You, too.

Sinu hetked on Sinu sees. Keegi ei võta neid välja.
- Your moments are inside You. Nobody takes them out.
Parimates Su hetkedes ikka on killuke nalja.
- In the best of Your moments there alaways is a chip of fun.

Sinu naljad on Sinu sees. Kuidas küll saada nad välja?
- Your funny jokes are inside You. How to get them out?
Sügavamalgi südames juurdunud kurbuse viljad...
- In the deepest part of the heart the fruits of sadness have taken root...

Sinu kurbus on Sinu ees. Kes küll siit lasi ta välja?
- Your sadness is in front of You. Who on earth did let it out from here?
Tühjusetunne südames igatseb killukest nalja.
- Feeling of emptyness in the heart yearns for a chip of fun.

Sinu viljad on Sinu sees. Lase nad ometi välja!
- Your fruits are inside You. Let them yet out!
Oma laule Sa imetle kurbuses, tänus ja naljas!
- Your own songs do admire in sadness, in thanksgiving and in fun!
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by Katrin in June 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee 'a sea, a sunset and a sunrise'

Raha ... mõttes

Raha. Aeg. Suhted.
- Money. Time. Relationships.
Raskused. Edu. Uhkus.
- Difficulties. Success. Pride.
Tänu. Alandlikkus. Austus.
- Gratitude. Humility. Respect.
Truudus. Püüdlused. Sihid.
- Loyalty. Aspirations. Goals.
Õnn. Elu. Surm.
- Happyness. Life. Death.
Ise. Vaba. Üksi.
- Self. Free. Alone.
Alati. Iialgi. Mis mõttes?
- Always. Never. In what sense?
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by Katrin in May 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee 'a house'

Morning Story

Hommikujutt
- Morning Story

neljapäev 6. märts 2008
- Thursday, March 6, 2008

mees astus karusselli pealt maha ja vaatas enda ümber.
- the man stepped down from the carousel and looked around himself.
maailm kõikus veidike, kuid jäi vähehaaval pidama.
- the world wavered a bit, but little by little it stopped.
mees toetas jalad tugevalt maha ja vaatas ettevaatlikult karusselli poole.
- the man put his feet intensely on the ground and looked carefully towards the carousel.
see tundus imelikult kirju ja lärmakas.
- it seemed weirdly colourful and loud.
inimesed vihisesid kiiresti-kiiresti mööda, naersid ja hõikusid omavahel.
- the people swished by fast-fast, laughed and shouted to each other.
nad paistsid ennast hästi tundvat.
- they seemed to feel themselves good.
vahepeal mõni oksendas üle karusselliääre, pühkis suu puhtaks ja naeris ja hõikus edasi.
- now and then some of them vomited over the edge of the carousel, sweeped his mouth clean and laughed and shouted on.

inimestele karussellil paistis mees ... veider.
- to the people on the carousel the man looked ... weird.
selline ... ebastabiilne.
- such ... unstable.
kord on, kord pole.
- once he is there, then he is not.
kuidagi ... väljaspool.
- somehow ... outside.
teisel pool.
- on the other side.
lihtsam oli teda mitte vaadata ja tema olemasolu unustada.
- it was easier to not look at him and forget about his presence.
seal.
- there.

karussellil vihises mööda Suur Mees.
- on the carousel  swished by the Big Man.
Habemega.
- with Beard.
Mees ei olnud teda varem märganud.
- the Man had not noticed him before.
karussellil olles.
- being on the carousel.
nüüd aga jõudsid temani Suure Mehe Sõnad.
- but now the Words of the Big Man reached him.
Suur Mees vihises mööda kiiresti, aga jõudis selle lühikese hetkega öelda Palju.
- the Big Man swished by fast, but could by that short moment say a Lot.

naudi seda aega. selliseid võimalusi antakse harva. see on suurepärane aeg Loomiseks.
- enjoy this time. such possibilities are given rarely. it is a wonderful time for Creation.

mees vaatas enda ümber. Maailm oli Loodud. mida on enam Luua ühel väikesel Mehel.
- the man looked around himself. the World had been Created. what else can be Created by a little Man.

mees vaatas karusselli ja tundis, kuidas maailm hakkab vaikselt jälle ringi käima.
- the man looked the carousel and felt, how the world slowly starts to go around again.
mees sirutas käe karusselli poole ja sai mööduva pulgaga valusalt mööda sõrmi.
- the man reached his hand toward the carousel and got a painful hit from the passing stick.
mees pistis sõrme suhu ja jäi mõttesse.
- the man put his finger in his mouth and stayed thinking.

mees heitis pikali ja vaatas kõikuvaid oksi ja mööduvaid pilvi.
- the man laid down and looked at the swaying branches and passing clouds.
Rahu oli Maa peal.
- the Peace was on the Earth.
mees jäi vaikselt magama.
- the man fell quietly asleep.
mees nägi unes, et ta on väike tüdruk, kes istub öösärgis arvuti ees ja kirjutab "Mees astus karussellilt maha..."
- the man dreamed that he was a little girl sitting in a nightgown in front of a computer and writing "the Man stepped down from the carousel..."

mehe silmist voolasid pisarad ja nendest tärkasid tema ümber maailma kõige ilusamad lilled.
- from the eyes of the man flowed tears and sprouted around him the most beautiful flowers of the world.




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Short Story by Katrin in 2008
art by 6-year-old Mari Lee 'Egg and Mother' or 'Mother of the Egg'

Armastus #3

Ma armastan inimesi ja olukordi
- I love people and situations
(ja iseennast)
- (and myself)
koos nende vigadega.
- with all their errors.
See ei takista mind soovimast
- That does not prevent me either from wishing
(ja palvetamast),
- (and praying),
et nad paremaks muutuksid
- for them to beocome better
(ega neid selles aitamast),
- (nor helping them with it),
kuid mu armastus ei sõltu
- but my love does not depend on
nende (ega minu)
- whether they (or myself)
paremaks saamisest.
- become better.
Ma armastan neid (ja ennast)
- I love them (and myself)
ka siis, kui nad ei saa paremaks.
- also when they will not become better.
Ja kui nad paremaks saavad,
- And if they become better,
ei armasta ma neid sellepärast rohkem.
- I will not love them more for that.
Meil on lihtsalt kõigil parem.
- I'll just all be better off.
Aga me armastame üksteist ikka samapalju.
- But we love each other still the same.
Tingimusteta
- With no conditions
ja igavesti.
- and forever.
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by Katrin in november 2010, translation in February 2011
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - A Cave
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ps. Happy Valentine Day to everyone! ... Especially the Special Ones :)

things ... what

things happen
life goes
people wonder
sometimes souls
are happy
sometimes not
no matter
what
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by Katrin in October 2010
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee - nine tunnels

Armastus #1

After searching and listening a lot of ancient Estonian folk songs (regilaul) made one myself.
Left it be for a year or so and then decided to try and translate:

Armastus tuleb arutades
- Love comes considering
arutades arvestades
- considering figuring
arglikult ja aegamööda
- timidly and slowly
astub aia ääri mööda
- steps by the edges of the fence
 
Eile eelmine eemaldus
- yesterday the previous withdrew
et ei ehmuks hellakene
- for the brownie would not be startled
ise ihkab ihaleda
- oneself craves to desire

ilma ilut imesteda
- to admire the beauty of the world (or weather)

Ootus lootus ohkab ihkab
- Expectation hope sighs craves
oivalisi ootamisi
- marvelous waitings
unes näeb ulmas unistab
- sees in dreams daydreams in a vision

uusi uhkeid ulakusi
- new proud naughties

Õde õhkab venda vihkab
- Sister sighs hates the brother
ämma äiutab väetit
- the mother-in-law lulls the puny

öösel ööbikul ööjutud
- in the night the nightingale's night chats
üle kõige armastus
- above all the love

the point in the Estonian version is the alphabethical alliteration - the words in rows start with A, E, I, O, U, Õ, Ä, Ö, Ü...

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in Estonian and translation by Katrin
art by 5-year-old Mari Lee

Misserfolg

I was told
how she was failure in life
Miss Erfolg
The receptionist at the local hospital
How her mother was upset that she wouldn't be a proud grandmother
no child to continue her line
no grandkid to coo over
How her father was disappointed
that she wasn't a doctor
a daughter with a great career
and something to boast about
How her colleagues looked down on her
saying that she must know so little
being in the position she is
her thoughts can be just dismissed out of hand

But all the names
they wanted to give her
and all the sections
they wanted to place her
did not mean they defined her

As Whilst others earnt more and in large debt
she saved so had more money then them

Whilst others had kids
she knew this was not for her

Whilst work colleagues ignored her
she stood up and spoke her heart to willing audiences

Whilst others stayed inside blocking out neighbours
She volunteered and helped society

Whilst others were to judge everything
she was willing to listen

Whilst some people called her Miss Erfolg
I know her name was Erma Erfolg

As she was not a failure
She was herself

by ian
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picture by 5-year-old Mari Lee