Part IV

Tallinn, Estonia
March 2-5, 2006

I knew Tallinn was very different from the other cities we have visited as soon as I walked into the airport. From right there, one could see the differences in building structures including the material used and the magnitude (or the non-existent magnitude in this case) in which this building was created. The airport was very small just like the country, but I also knew at that moment that I have misjudged the Estonians. As I was walking out from the gate into the main part of the airport, I noticed a full grown man wearing a mouse or bear costume sitting quietly on a bench by a corner. A smile grew slowly upon his face when he saw his friends walk out to greet him. Of course, his friends were surprised and laughing hysterically. And just like his friends, I, too, was surprised at Tallinn’s over all attitude. Unfortunately, there is still a small reminiscence Soviet air, but slowly and surely the Estonian youth is producing a new type of aura in Estonia. One night I went to a club and I met some locals. They were so surprised when they found out I was American. “We are so happy! We rarely see Americans here,” they told me. Is this a step closer towards globalization for Estonia?