2nd Week

So I have just completed my second week on Tallinn. Last night I moved from my temp flat to my new one and it is one nice flat - probably the best place I have ever lived in. There will be another teacher who will be joining with me but until now - I have this nice, beautiful place to myself. The kitchen is absolutely perfect. The area of the city is an exiting one (tons of shops and pubs) and I am about a 15 minute walk from the old city. Every other ESL assignment that I will have in the future in whatever city - will pale in comparison to this. I really lucked out - it is just a perfect situation. There are nine new teachers, including me, so we're all in the same boat. The group is getting along terrifically and I feel that this will be a very special year for all of us. So I´m the token Canadian in the group, there´s an American, a Welch, 3 from England, 1 from Ireland, 1 from Australia and 1 from New Zealand. My Estonian is coming in very handy in these early days. Everyone is very nice and loves to explore the pubs and this gorgeous old city.

We all ease into the school year with light schedules, which is great as we are all unsure of our new environment and students. The in-company business classes don´t start until late September or early October. My classes as with civil servants and an open class of upper intermediate students. I´m looking forward to start teaching...

Last night after I moved, I went into the old city to grab a pint and sausages & sauerkraut for dinner at a downstairs Estonian pub. As I was sitting there, a group asked me if they could join me as the pub was quite full. I said no problem. Well these four, 2 couples, were Estonian and we ended up having a great time. They kept buying me beers and shots (that you set on fire) and ended up buying my dinner and all the drinks. I took it that the 2 men were quite well off. I believe we got along so well because of my Estonian background and adds further to what I heard that the Estonians are quite distant and private, but not with their own kind. I wonder if I was a Brit or an American if they would have opened up so much with me? Anyways, it was a fun and unexpected night. I have their business cards...

It´s very interesting to walk down the street and see the differences between the Estonians and the Russians. You can, almost 99% of the time, tall who is Estonian and who is Russian. These two peoples are not similar in any way, shape or form. I had the opportunity to ask one of the founders of my school (an Estonian lady who grew up here) about the relationship between the two sets of people. She is it is quite complex. The Russians who walk around Estonia today are not really to blame for their governmet's policies. They do what they have to do - but at the same time - there are not too many Russians who have made any effort to learn the Estonian language - they feel like there´s no need. That says something too. This is a complex relationship in many ways and what I continue to find interesting is how different they are. I´m curious about the dynamics between them in the classroom, too.

Tonight, in world cup soccer qualifying, Latvia plays Estonia here in Tallinn. We´re all planning on being in the pubs rooting for team Esto. I have already saw the Lativians parading around town in their uniforms - acting very obnoxious. Go Esto!!!

The Bridget Eklund-like women continue to make me smile. There are so many of these statuesque blondes and they really starting to get on my nerves!!!

The beat goes on...