Seizing an opportunity in Estonia

Please introduce yourself. Where are you from, what are you doing in Estonia and what were you doing before you arrived?

My name is Alina and I moved to Estonia about 9 months ago after more than 6 years of living in Denmark. I am originally from Bucharest, Romania and I moved to Denmark right after I graduated high-school, in order to continue my education. After I finished both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees, I continued working full-time for a while and after that, I moved to Estonia, where I am currently working.

What brought you to Estonia? How long have you been in the country?

Simply put: love. Back in Denmark, I met my (now) husband, who is Estonian. We decided together to give Estonia a try. It started as a joke, but I wanted to test how hard it is to get a job in Estonia for a foreigner. One day, I made an account on an Estonian job portal and I applied for a job. I was invited for a Skype interview and after that I had to solve a test. A few days later, I got an offer, I accepted it and here I am. It's been 9 months, already!

What is the process to move to Estonia?

It wasn't complicated at all. When I arrived here I had to follow a very simple procedure to apply for temporary residence permit, as an EU citizen. It took a couple of days only and all my documents were ready.

How would you describe Estonia in one sentence?

A digitally-oriented society, with lots of opportunities.

What has surprised you the most about Estonia?

I was pleasantly surprised to see how much a small country like Estonia has achieved in the past 2 decades. Estonia is thriving and I believe its residents live a comfortable life, which is constantly improving.

What are the features of today's expat job market in Estonia?

From my point of view, it is quite easy to find a job in Estonia and acquire experience as a recent graduate. There are many jobs in the IT field, in particular, but I'd say that there aren't issues with finding jobs in any field.

How easy or difficult it is to find accommodation in Estonia, and what type of accommodation is available for expats?

Actually, I found it quite difficult to find accommodation in Estonia and, truth be told, I expected it to be a lot easier.

In Denmark it is incredibly difficult to find an apartment to rent, especially if you don't want a room in a shared apartment. So, after that experience, I really thought I'd meet no obstacles in Estonia. But, unfortunately, it was quite similar. The new apartments placed in good locations are either very expensive or rented out a few minutes after the announcement is published. In the end, we got lucky by being among the first ones to contact the owners of an apartment. We signed the agreement while we were still in Denmark (we've never seen the place in real life), so that taught me that Estonians are honest and trustworthy.

What are the year's biggest holidays in Estonia? What is some essential etiquette in Estonia?

Christmas is of course one of the most important holidays, but Jaanipäev (or St. John's Day) is truly special in Estonia. It's celebrated during the night between 23th and 24th of June, a few days after the summer solstice. Jaanipäev represents a change in the farming year -- the break between the end of spring sowing and the hard work of summer hay-making. Everyone gathers with their families or participates in big events to celebrate with songs and dances.

An essential etiquette is to be punctual. It's something I really love about Estonians: they are almost never late; and if they are, they have a very good reason for it. Also, don't do small talk; Estonians find it awkward and they don't really know how to act in such situations.

How do you find the lifestyle in Estonia?

I consider the lifestyle in Estonia quite comfortable. People work very hard in general, but family is paramount, and they always find time to spend with their loved ones. Prices are reasonable, healthcare is free and salaries are alright in relation to costs.

How is the transportation system in Estonia? How do you move around?

That's a very interesting question. There's free public transportation for all residents of Tallinn. I haven't heard of anything like that in other countries, so I appreciate it a lot. Personally, I travel by car. I think that there's lots of traffic compared to Denmark, but almost no traffic compared to Romania.

Have you been able to adapt to Estonia and the society there?

I think so. I got used quite fast to the system, to the work culture and I do have some Estonian friends. I am learning a lot about the culture and I think I've adapted quite well so far, but I always try to bring a little something from Romania and a little something from Denmark in my daily life, as well.

What do you do in your free time?

Besides writing for ExpatInEstonia.com, I also have an Estonian-based small business together with my husband. That takes quite a lot of our time, but we also meet up with our friends and love spending quality time together. We also like to travel around Estonia. Now that the weather will get warmer we're going to see even more of this beautiful country and I'm thrilled about it!

Are there activities for people who enjoy nightlife?

Most definitely. Tallinn might be small, but it hosts lots of interesting pubs for those who prefer a drink after work and clubs for those who want to hit the dance floor ‘till morning.

What new habits have you developed in Estonia? And what old habits have you quit in Estonia?

Not sure if I acquired a new habit, but I quit cycling. That's not necessarily a good thing, though. In Denmark I used to cycle everywhere, but here I find it more comfortable to travel by car. I try to compensate by going to the gym or running.

What is your opinion on the cost of living in Estonia? How much does a bus ticket, a beer, and a loaf of bread cost?

It is definitely more expensive than I expected, however all in all I find the cost of living in Estonia reasonable. As I mentioned earlier, there's free public transportation in Tallinn, so you don't have to pay for that. A local beer, such as Saku costs around 1 EUR and a loaf of bread about 60 cents. The reason I said it's more expensive than I expected is related to the property prices. It's not so cheap to buy an apartment or a house in Tallinn.

Share your most memorable experience in Estonia.

I'd like to go back right to the beginning. The day we landed in Tallinn, our Estonian friend from Denmark and her boyfriend waited for us in the airport with a huge sign saying “Tere tulemast koju!” (Welcome home!), candies and encouragements. On top of that, my husband's brother and his wife equipped our new apartment with flowers, fruits, snacks and a delicious home-made cake. They made sure our first day in Estonia was truly cosy. It was such a lovely start to this adventure! It made me feel safe and welcome. I'll never forget that day!               

If you could do the move to Estonia over, what would you do differently?

I'd take it easier. I think I was too worried about what will happen and too scared to leave my lovely Denmark, that I forgot to enjoy the process of moving. I'd definitely embrace the beginning of this challenge more than i did. I'd tell myself everything will be more than okay, because I am very happy here, now.

What do you think of the local cuisine? What are your favourite dishes?

Traditionally, Estonians prefer pork meat and baked/boiled/fried/mashed potatoes. They eat a lot of fish as well, but I'm not very fond of that. I can't say I have a favourite dish, but I definitely love Kohuke -- a small dessert, which is basically chocolate glazed curd. It doesn't sound great, but it tastes divine!

Have you had a moment that you almost felt like leaving from Estonia? How did you overcome that? What kept you there?

Honestly, I did feel that in the first couple of months. Everything was so new and quite different compared to Denmark and I did feel like it might have been a mistake. However, I am now sure it was all because of the stress of the change. I really like living in Estonia, now. I cannot say for sure whether we'll live here for the rest of our lives, but we'll definitely stick around for the foreseeable future.

What motivated you to write your blog 'Expat in Estonia'?

I actually started the blog as a sort of diary to keep track of my experiences here in Estonia. But when my friends heard of it, they encouraged me to make it public and transform it into a blog. I am happy I did so, and I hope my experience and tips will make other expats' lives a little bit easier.

Give us some useful tips that soon-to-be expatriates in Estonia will benefit from.

First of all, get used to little bureaucracy and solving all official matters online. Secondly, try and learn a few common expressions in Estonia. You will be just fine with English, but Estonians really appreciate if you can say “Tere” (Hello) or “Aitäh” (Thank you); it's not an easy language, but it will definitely help you! And lastly, don't worry! Estonia is a great place for expats in my view, and I'm sure you'll be happy here.

What is one thing that you will take with you from Estonia?

My husband! Jokes aside, I think one of the most valuable things I'll take with me from Estonia is patience. My Romanian roots make me quite a temperamental spirit, but Estonians taught me to look at all sides of a story, try to remain patient in different situations and to stop worrying so much.