Photo by Jacques Bopp on Unsplash
Dynamic economy, digital society, most efficient and transparent tax system in the world, startup factory, and free public transportation.
After living in seven different countries, I was tired and wanted a place where I could find a girl, have kids, and stay for at least 10 years.
Estonia also happens to have the best primary and secondary education in Europe, excellent sports and cultural infrastructure for kids, and lots of thermal baths.
The capital (Tallinn) is safe, and religious ideologism is not tolerated.
And their recent communist path ensures against any socialist/woke revolution for at least the next 20 years.
Don’t say more, I am moving!
And I did.
A year later, the picture is much gloomier than what I expected.
Here’s why.
1. No Cultural Affinity Whatsoever
I wanted to title this section “people are awful”, but the truth is that they’re just different — too different.
I am from Belgium, where politeness is of the *utmost* importance.
Estonians don’t say hi, bye, thank you, or please. Actually, they don’t say much in general.
A year after I have moved in, I have zero Estonian friends.
Finding a cafe to work in is a chore. The waiters angrily look at you if you enter.
Buying anything is a chore. I have sent emails to dozens of companies basically saying “just take my money”. Most didn’t answer. And the few that did said “we do not do this” or “we no longer have what you want”.
One night, I felt my heart was beating weirdly, and since everyone around me was having myocarditis, I checked into the hospital. It was late, 23h00.
When I asked the nurse for an electrocardiogram, he looked at me, filled up his cheeks with air, and sighed loudly.
2 hours later, at 02h00 (in the morning), I went to ask where the doctor was.
“There won’t be any doctor before 8h00”.
People don’t smile, don’t laugh, and don’t talk. And when there’s something important you should know, they don’t tell you.
The loneliness I have experienced here is unlike any I felt anywhere else.
Full article: https://medium.com/the-expat-c...
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