When the heart calls to Estonia; the story of the return of a family
As a child, Liam spent a lot of time with his grandparents. In the winter of 2020, when he had a lot of free time in the evenings due to the pandemic, Liam decided to learn the language of his forefathers – the very beautiful, albeit not the easiest, Estonian language.
When Liam visited Estonia for the first time in 2022, he felt at home right away. Having made the decision to settle here, he applied to TalTech in the spring of 2023, so he now studies cybersecurity technology there.
‘Estonia is my home and I will stay here,’ Liam states with conviction. ‘Before making the final decision, I stayed in Estonia for three months. Life here suited me so well that I already missed Estonia while still sitting at Tallinn Airport, waiting for my flight to the USA. After this, I knew in my heart that I wanted to move to Estonia.’
In the beginning, Liam came here alone, but later, his mother Lisa and father John also moved to Estonia. ‘We were also ready for a new chapter in our lives here in Estonia. Me and John are very close with our son. John also loves Estonia. So, we made a joint decision to move to Estonia,’ Liam’s mother explains.
Their return to Estonia closed a circle started by Liam’s grandfather who left his homeland during WWII when he was only 20 years old. In Germany, he met Liam’s grandmother, who was from Latvia, and together, they emigrated to the USA. Liam was born and grew up there, but the young man felt a pull in his heart to return to his roots in Estonia.
Why return to Estonia?
Liam: ‘Listen to your heart! If your heart leads you back to Estonia, then you should follow it.’
Lisa: ‘When your children have grown up and you can return as a family, as we did, it is simply wonderful. As a parent, it is a great joy to see how our adult son is growing as a person in Estonia and is establishing his own life here. It was the right time for us to make this big change and relocate to Estonia and we are extremely happy with this decision.’
Nice surprises
Liam: ‘Estonians are much friendlier than I thought based on stereotypes. They are relatively guarded, but once you have a chat with them, particularly in Estonian, you will make new friends quite quickly. Bureaucracy and obtaining documents was easy.’
Lisa: ‘If you communicate with kindness and openness and are prepared to learn and speak in the language you are learning, then Estonians are extremely friendly and helpful. You should not expect people to come up to you, but make the first move yourself. For example, I have found many new acquaintances by asking for recommendations and tips – it doesn’t matter whether I need a plumber or advice on gardening in a new climate. I really love to bake and I have won over the hearts of my neighbours by stopping by with my baked goods based on American recipes.’
Challenges
Liam: ‘American and Estonian cultures are very different, so ordinary activities, products, and habits are also poles apart. In a new country, any activity, even purchasing bedding, is a new adventure that will require a lot more time than you would think. When discussing this with other people returning to Estonia, it becomes clear that this is a common issue for all. Moreover – many Estonians have found their friends during their time at school or university, but when you settle in Estonia as an adult, finding a circle of friends might take time.’
Lisa: ‘I started to learn Estonian when I was 57. Apps, such as Google Translate, and Liam, who speaks Estonian, have really helped me. I took an A1 level online course at Integration Foundation before relocating, and now I practice daily by talking with other language learners online. I am learning to be patient with myself because learning Estonian takes time.’
Recommendations
Liam: ‘Learning to speak and understand Estonian is important; particularly, if you want to meet local Estonians quickly. Language immersion helps develop language skills well. I understand that it is quite scary at first, but I definitely recommend taking part in various events or organisations, for example as a volunteer.
Moreover, it does not matter how much you prepare, you will always encounter problems that you would not expect – it is natural. You can do it!’
Lisa: ‘Think carefully where you would like to live and what kind of people and environments suit you the best. We picked Häädemeeste because we are from the countryside and wanted to be close to the sea.
Getting settled takes some time, but you should have a sense of humour and be patient when faced with challenges. Some things (casting a vote, using public transport) are easier here than in the country from which we came. Online services are also more efficient in Estonia. However, some things are more complicated, such as finding a family doctor and learning the language. Nevertheless, all challenges are worth it because I feel that we are in the right place’.
