#11 Englishman In Estonia - An Update!
It's been awhile since I last posted a blog, and in fairness, that's because I've been extremely busy. However, another reason I have not posted here for so long is due to the fact that I did not know what to write about. But here goes, here's an update on how things are going for me, living and working in Estonia.
Working in Estonia
I realised recently that, save for a brief return to the UK in May/June of 2018 (about a month), I have been in Estonia continuously for nearly a year now. Before that I'd only ever come to Estonia for a month, or three months at a maximum. But this time it's been much longer. The last time I posted here, I was still looking for work in Estonia, and I can happily say that I finally found full-time work with Admiral Markets AS - a financial services company, as a full-time copywriter. I did also have a brief experience with Rost Traffic OÜ - a digital agency, as a copywriter as well, but I was made redundant after four months.
I love my job. I get to be creative all the time, my ideas are taken into account (and often implemented), and I get to be autonomous. I like managing my work without interruption or micro-management, as it allows me the space to get my work done effectively. This is exactly the type of work I was looking for when I graduated, but I could not find a position in the UK, because I lacked the experience. It would appear that the majority of entry level marketing positions from the creative side (i.e. copywriting) require 3-5 years experience (although occasionally some will only require one year of experience).
I was very lucky to get the job I have in Estonia, as this position requires a year of experience. They took a chance on me, and it seems as though everything is going very well, and that it was a risk worth taking. Another excellent part of all this is that I have been able to engage in things that I previously had no professional experience with, such as, creating social media content, developing weekly newsletters, optimising content for SEO, keyword research, and much more!
See on väga raske, aga see on oluline! (it is very hard, but it is important!)
I'm trying to learn as much as I possibly can every day. It's a lot of fun, and I understand more and more everyday. I'm actually able to converse fairly well with people in stores, and with very basic topics (nowhere near proper conversation, although sometimes I am able to). Occasionally I'm able to speak completely in Estonian, without uttering a single word of English, and that's when it's truly exciting, especially when the person you're speaking to understands you too!
There was one memorable instance recently where I was riding in a taxi and the driver did not know any English. This was so much fun, as I could understand what he was saying (or at least the gist of it) and was able to confidently reply to everything he was saying. I think learning a language is an ongoing process (even learning one's own native language), and you're really never really ''done'', you just reach higher and higher levels of comprehension. This is my perspective anyway.
Living in Estonia
I have experienced Estonia in all four seasons, and have taken part in activities such as sledging and eating tasty buns on Vastlapäev, to swimming in beaches throughout Tallinn and Estonia. I've seen countless concerts here that have showcased the talent of Estonian musicians (ranging from pop, to rock, to folk music), and have even taken part in the festivities for national holidays such as Jaanipäev. I'm currently living in Tallinn, however, I have been lucky enough to have lived in and visited various parts of Estonia.
I think one of the best things about Tallinn is the fact that you are so close to nature (it's only a short journey out of the city to reach such places) but you're still in the city. Tallinn is a pretty cool place, with plenty of excellent cafes, restaurants, bars, museums, culture, and history! If you have never lived in a foreign country before, I would highly recommend it. Since coming here, I feel that I have learnt a lot, and that I continue to learn every single day. It feels different for me, living here, then it does back in the UK. I cannot really explain it, it's just different, but it's a good feeling.
Hi there, thank you for reading this article. If you enjoy my work and would like to help me out, you can do so by donating to my Paypal via the following link: paypal.me/ChristianReeve. I don't earn revenue for what I write, I purely do this for the fun of writing and providing people with something interesting to read. Anything you donate is a major help to me, and will contribute towards me turning this passion of mine into a future career. Thank you for your support, and all the best!
