Each year, the Interlex team participates in a teambuilding event and takes trips. In the past we have travelled to India, where we set up a pop-up office, with our path last year having taken us to Kihnu. This year, we made the collective decision to visit another small island in Estonia and discover the charms of Naissaar.
We chose the last weekend of the astronomical summer to hold our teambuilding event. By then, our team members had already returned from their summer holidays and the time was right to get the autumn season going. The event itself began on Friday evening at Telliskivi Creative City, where we visited the exciting exhibits of Fotografiska Tallinn and later dined at the eponymous restaurant.
After eating we drove to the Kakumäe Marina to spend the night in the cosy little houses of Hetke Living. Opened in 2019, the rooms of Hetke Living Kakumäe provide marvellous views of the sea and marina. For us, the location of the accommodation facilities was perfect, as we had scheduled a sea voyage to Naissaar the next day.
So, we set off early on Saturday morning. Our means of transport included the yacht ZUXU and the legendary OLYMPIC. Although there was already a hint of autumn in the air, the weather was sunny and rather breezy – perfect for sailing and spending time outdoors. As the saying goes, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes’.
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Since our group included sailing enthusiasts as well as those who had never been out on a sailing boat before, the higher waves proved to be both nerve wracking and refreshing at the same time. In addition, those who were interested could try their hand at trimming the sail and even steering the boat.
Once on Naissaar, we were welcomed by a friendly guide who took us on a fascinating tour around the island in order to show us the main sights and tell us stories about the island’s history and traditions. Particularly memorable were the breath-taking views from the lighthouse located at the northern tip of the island. Riding in the back of a military truck intended for off-road driving was also a one of a kind experience.
At dusk, we sailed back to the Haven Kakumäe Marina, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Café Ankur. After an active day spent on the island of Naissaar and at sea, we were able to relax and unwind in the saunas and hot tubs of the unique sauna centre of Hetke Sauna, as well as enjoy life in the sunset bar by the sea. Those who were more adventurous could take a dip directly in the refreshing waters of the sea. Conversations, jokes, and laughter continued until the early hours of the morning.
According to our translator Siret, such events are definitely necessary to allow team members to interact more with each other: ‘As large-scale translation jobs often require the utmost concentration, it is not uncommon for people to only greet each other and say nothing else in the office during the day. The programme of activities was excellent: the first day we explored the depths of photography and art at Fotografiska Tallinn, later enjoying dinner in the eponymous restaurant – which felt formal in a good way – while on the second day, we were able to put on our sportswear and spend the day in nature.’
The feedback from the team included the keywords ‘great’, ‘adventurous’, ‘playful’, and ‘lively’. There was unanimous agreement that such open-air team building days are definitely needed to maintain a better connection between our offices in Tallinn and Tartu, as well as between in-house and remotely working colleagues.
Now everyone has more energy to face the fast-paced autumn season.
We would like to thank those who helped us organise the event: Zuxu Sailing, Tactical Foodpack / Jaguar Sailing Team, Hetke Living, Café Ankur, Mari Seger / The Gardens of Joy, Kert Media.
See the team event gallery on Facebook.
Watch a video summary of the team event:
