Hungary

The programme in Tallinn started on the morning of 6 October at the Tallinna Vanalinna Upper Secondary School for Adults where Sirje Paks introduced the agenda and gave some background on Andras. Sirje was followed by Lehte Tuuling, the former regional coordinator of ALW, who gave the organisers' perspective of ALW in Lääne-Viru County. We then heard a presentation from Ene Käpp, Chairman of Board of Andras, who talked about Adult Learners' Week in Estonia. Marika Kaasik then talked about the Adult Learners' Forum. This was followed by talks by Egon Erkmann and Hille Schaffrik who are the Estonian learner of the year 2010, and Learner of Harju County 2008 respectively, who explained a little about how important recognition of their learning has been to them. Egon's talk was especially interesting as he didn't utter a single word. He had his laptop do the work for him!
 
The next part of the workshop was group work that focused on brainstorming different ways of disseminating learners' experiences, and what kind of support they might need to tell their stories. This session was very participative and all four groups came up with interesting ideas.
 
After a rest we all met up and jumped on the learning tram, which is just a regular tram, talking people from A to B but with dressed up for Adult Learners Week with lots or information about adult learning, space for travellers to write about and share their own experiences and even poetry readings.
 
We had dinner at a huge mediaeval restaurant in the Tallinn old town. The waiters and waitresses were all very young but exceptionally hospitable, and three of the girls played traditional music and sang, which really added to the unique atmosphere.
 
On the next morning the whole group got on a coach and travelled about an hour to Rapla, where we would watch the presentation ceremony for the Estonian learner of the year awards. The ceremony was hosted by a famous Estonian actor and musician, who was incredibly charismatic and funny; qualities which came across even to those who didn't speak Estonian. In between the awards being handed out we were treated to musical interludes from students at the school where the event was talking place.
 
In the afternoon we visited a local library and learning centre and then got on the coach again and visited a another learning centre where adults can learn arts and crafts. We spent time watching some local women weaving rugs, which was really interesting, and we persuaded a group of singers to give us an impromptu recital. They were a bit reluctant and first but when they agreed we all agreed that they sang beautifully. They looked the part too, as they were dressed in Estonian folk costume. There was more music at dinner, which we enjoyed at a very rustic eatery some way out of Rapla town. After a few glasses of wine everyone got in the mood and had a little turn on the dancefloor. We spent the night in a wood cabin guesthouse, which was a bit like going back in time.
 
In the morning we went to craft fair in Rapla before heading back to Tallinn. In the afternoon there was another recognition awards ceremony, this time in the beautifully preserved old town hall. Among the awards, there was more music and singing. In the evening we went out for drinks at one of Tallinn's most notoriously strange bars, where in keeping with its reputation we encountered some unusual locals. We moved on quite quickly, but not before we had heard some more music, this time was a duo on double bass and accordion.
 
My overall picture of Estonia is of a country that is passionate about culture, especially music, and that takes lifelong learning very seriously.

Tom Hunter, Hungary