More Than a Study Destination: Häli’s Journey from Canada to Estonia

Where are you originally from, and what inspired you to study abroad?

I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, and I’m Estonian-Canadian. My parents immersed me in Estonian culture throughout my childhood. I attended Estonian school every Tuesday and Estonian summer camps, and we spoke Estonian as much as we could at home.

Although I belong to a large Estonian community in Canada, I had always wondered what it would be like to live in Estonia long-term, where my great-grandparents spent their early lives. So I thought, “Why not discover my heritage and earn my degree at the same time?” And now, here I am.

What made you choose Tallinn University and your study programme?

I chose Tallinn University because of its Liberal Arts in Social Sciences programme. The programme has been perfect for me because I have many different interests and found it difficult to choose just one subject to study. It allows me to explore different fields rather than restricting me to a single area, which suits me because I love learning about society, culture, history, politics and people.

I also knew that Tallinn University had a large international student community, and I was excited to meet people from around the world who share similar interests.

Why did Estonia stand out to you as a study destination?

Estonia stood out because I have had a deep connection with the country since early childhood. My great-grandparents escaped during the Second World War, so I have always felt drawn to return and see where they grew up. A few short summertime visits were not quite enough for me!

Moving here felt like more than simply choosing a foreign country in which to study. It gave me the opportunity to experience the culture and language I grew up with from the perspective of someone living here every day.

I also love Tallinn as a city. Its combination of digital innovation and beautiful historic surroundings makes it a very unique place to live.

What was it like to move to a new country?

It was mostly exciting, but it was also a big adjustment. I went from living an hour’s drive from my mother and siblings, which is quite close by Canadian standards! to suddenly being more than 6,000 kilometres away and having to wait until at least 3 p.m. Tallinn time before texting or calling them without waking them up.

One of the biggest adjustments was realising that visiting a country and actually living there are completely different experiences. It was easy to say that I wanted to live here when I had only visited every few years during the warmest weeks of summer.

Now I have learned the importance of taking vitamin D every day and making sure not to isolate myself during the winter months. But even through the dark winters, I have no regrets about coming here and making memories I would never have made otherwise.

What does a typical day as a student at Tallinn University look like for you?

There isn’t really one “typical day”, which is something I like about university life. On days when I have classes, I usually eat breakfast (as long as I haven’t slept in too late) and take the bus to the university.

Between lectures, I study in cafés or at the university library, buy snacks from the Selver supermarket down the street, or walk around and catch up with friends.

I also try to maintain a good balance between studying and my personal life. I enjoy going to the gym, meeting friends, attending international student events and social gatherings, and discovering new places around the city.

What advice would you give to a new international student arriving in Tallinn?

My biggest piece of advice would be to put yourself out there, especially in the beginning. Tallinn has an amazing international student network, ESN Tallinn, which organises events and activities throughout the year. Attending these events is one of the best ways to make new friends.

It can be easy to stay in your room or socialise only with people from your own country. But once you put yourself out there, you will have much more fun and meet people you would probably never have encountered in your home country.

I would also encourage international students to explore more than just the tourist attractions. Find your favourite café, walk around different neighbourhoods, visit museums, try local food (I recommend lihapirukad and kohuke) and learn some Estonian!

Estonian can be difficult and most locals speak English, but knowing even a few basic words or phrases will definitely impress people. I get far too excited when someone who is not Estonian even knows what “tere” means.

Most importantly, enjoy the experience. The time goes by much faster than you might expect!

Learn more about the Liberal Arts in Social Sciences programme at Tallinn University