Blogs from Tartu, Estonia, Europe - page 4
September 8th 2007
Today was not a bad day. Nothing too adventuresome (sp?) happened. Cassie and I went to the main square for pictures today and received a pleasent little surprise. The whole square was turned into a market. They had everything you would need there. There was everything from fruits and vegetables to hats and scarves to even large rabbits. Cassie and I hoped that they were for pets and not for eating, but let's be honest. . . We picked up a rug for the room, Lord knows it needs some form of color in here besides our bedding. When we came back we had the idea of going to the supermarket for some much needed food, like the beloved Qwex cereal - seriously, one of the best things ever. But that never happened because Cassie was ... read more
Day 12 (I don't know what I'm supposed to call it)
Published: September 7th 2007Europe » Estonia » TartuSeptember 7th 2007
Today started off well. Now that we have internet, that means I now have Skype. So, I thought I would try it out with my phone card that Sarah got me (I'm glad it finally came in handy). I called Mom and Dad this morning when I knew they would be awake, because they're nuts and wake up at 5:30. ; ) Mom answered because for some reason she knew it had to be me. It was great to hear their voices! Not going to lie, cried like a little baby. Whatever, I'm thousands of miles away. Do the same thing, then you can mock me. : ) So Skype is officially my new best friend. It's pretty darn cool and free between users - hint, hint to anyone with a headset and free time. After ... read more
Another day in Estonia (I'm running out of titles)
Published: September 6th 2007Europe » Estonia » Tartu
September 6th 2007
So let's see. . . I still don't have any courses. I went and spoke with the woman in charge of the ISEP students to see if she could help me at all. She's a sweet woman, but not very much help at all. She told me that I would have to go to my faculty's dean's office. Ugh. It looks like I'll be heading there tomorrow after I get my picture taken in town (which I need for my UT card that I have to also get in the dean's office). One plus with Bellarmine is that they know how to get people settled away. These people are more for the "fend for yourself" philosophy, or maybe it's just a not-so-subtle way of making us independent. Every day I am meeting someone new as well ... read more
September 4th 2007
So, let's see. . . Last night we went to a "mixer" at the lower level of a nearby club. It was a chance for the internationals to meet some Estonians as well as each other. There were a few people there that I knew and met a few new ones. I was very proud for actually being the one to introduce myself. While there, I talked with Bret (States) who shares the same tutor as me. He had told me that he was having a bad day, and being myself I had to ask "Why?" He explained that his grandmother was evidently not doing well and of course he's stuck here. Say hello to my biggest fear. He started tearing up and had to leave. When he came back he still had tears in his ... read more
September 3rd 2007
I've stolen Anna's (sp?) computer for a short bit, so I thought I would update this again. Can you believe I've done this twice in two days? I've met some more people in the past few days. Vlad (Romania) gave Cassie and I dinner the other night. He was cooking when we knocked on his door (Cassie already knew one of his flatmates) and insisted on us eating with him. We both refused over and over again, but he refused to let us just sit there. So we ate with him and Paulius (Lithuania) and then played a card game called "the fool" (it sounds cooler in Russian). It's pretty fun, so I'll have to teach you all when I get home. And if I understand it, than it must be easy, right? I've seen a ... read more
September 2nd 2007
Hello all! I know that it has been a while since I left and I apologize for only being able to send bits and pieces of information to you over the past few days. The internet is good here; it’s just the fact of getting it up and running. Cassie and I are going to split the internet costs and get it for the room, which I think is the best plan. So, let’s recap the past week. My flights coming here were really not bad at all. I will say, though, that the international part of O’Hare really needs to be updated. The place looks (and smells) like a small Ellis Island. Once I got through security there, everything was a breeze. There was a small issue of scanning my passport, like in Louisville, but ... read more
August 29th 2007
I'm sorry to have waited so long to write, but I literally had no other choice. I finally made it, and I just wanted you to know that I am fine, I am in the flat and have great flat-mates. School is keeping me busy and I don't have an account to use the email just yet. I have to wait until Monday to get that. My wonderful roomate, Cassie, is allowing me to use her computer, so hopefully I will be in contact more often. I promise I will be in contact more promise often, I promise. I will be putting pictures on here as soon as I can, as well as getting Skype. I love and miss you all so much!!!... read more
Thongs in the Snow...or Lumi (snow), liquor (vodka) and love (???) in a cold climate.
Published: January 13th 2007Europe » Estonia » Tartu
December 31st 2006
Häid Pühi (Happy Holidays) from Tartu, Estonia!!! Well it certainly has been a while since I’ve been in touch with most of you, and as you can see I'm still in in the Baltics in the beautiful little country of Estonia. I’ve been here since the start of September so I’ve had a real opportunity to get to know what life is like here. Now that I think back on the last four months I really have done a lot of cool stuff. It really too hard to capture it all here but some of the things which stand out for me include walking and mushroom picking in marshlands, canoeing recently on an icy river (and during the post canoeing sauna sliding naked on my stomach across a frozen pond :) ). I've also eaten lots ... read more
September 3rd 2006
Today began with a hangover… Again. This seems to be becoming a pattern here in Tallinn. I was aiming to meet the Aussie girls at the bus station at about quarter to nine, but by the time I had been on an anti-hangover mission to Mc Donald's for a “Big Tasty” and made it back to the hostel to get a cab, the 10 o clock bus we had agreed to catch had already left. Never mind! I caught a taxi from the hostel and chatted with the driver in Russian about how Russian language is used in the Baltics these days. It turns out that because Estonian is not a Slavic language (but a Finno-Hungarian one), it bears zero resemblance to either Latvian or Lithuanian and even they don’t understand each other. Thus, Russian often ... read more
May 5th 2004
Here I am with Roger in the small university town of Tartu in central Estonia. It is a very pretty place, not unlike cambridge but a bit smaller. it is also a very very cheap place to live, eat and drink! However, if you like sun it is probably not for you. In winter the sun often never rises and even in summer the weather can best be described as freezing! Although there are no pictures, I have also been to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It is very beautiful (incredibly well preserved medieval European city) - strongly recommended for a weekend break from London (cheap flights from STN with easyJet). P.S. The statue I am on is of someone famous, but i can't remember who! Sorry!... read more
