No doubt I have had a fabulous week and a half of visiting great cities like Budapest, Bratislava, Warsaw, Krakow, and Copenhagen, but despite all the fun, it is bittersweet because I won't be returning to my dear Tallinn. Already I miss a number of things about my old life, the following especially:
* All the friends I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with representing countries from Japan to South America. They all made my time in Tallinn one of the most fun and educational experiences of my life.
* A Le Coq, fried garlic bread, blinis, Russian dumplings, beet salad, juust salat, Vana Tallinn (thank god I have some stored in my suitcase), and, of course, vodka shots with pickles and honey.
* Old Town and the Christmas Market (fortunately I have seen heaps of Christmas Markets in the past week so the gravity of this has not fully hit yet).
* My awesome company, Apprise. And not just because my boss regularly insisted on Jaeger shots at work...
* Krister-ster...one of the most entertaining people to sit across from for 8 hours each day.
* Hearing and reading Russian every day and feeling cool when I can actually understand it.
* Laughing at drunk Brits and Finnish bachelors roaming loudly through the streets of Old Town.
* Easy access to Europe.
* Loads of vacation time.
* Being in an ¨up and coming¨country that recently gained it´s indendence, joined the EU, and became a worldwide technology center. There is a great entrepreneurial spirit among the young people that I don´t often see in my peers at home and a greater appreciation for their country´s culture and history.
* Seeing the amusing ways that Estonians interpret American culture. My favorite is the bar called Woodstock that has a Confederate flag hanging in the front window and AC DC posters on the walls. It made me chuckle each day when walking by...
It is strange to think I will be back in the US after 8 months in only a few weeks. Of course I look forward to seeing family and friends and starting the next chapter in my life. But Estonia was a special experience and the things I learned and the wonderful memories I have will be with me forever. I am sure when I return people will get sick of my saying: ¨When I was in Estonia...¨
