Job Discussion Forums

[Roger]

Good and readable post, prplfairy, thank you!
I don't speak Russian but trato Estonia with a Russian girl who certainly didn't know a word in any Baltic language; we had no trouble finding what we were looking for.
But I suppose you are right about the older generation of Estonians not liking to speak the lingo imposed on them by invaders; Balts live in the Western diaspora too, and many a Balt told me before about their feelings for the Russians.

My previous comment on Americans being hated was a trifle misleading; I didn't mean at all they are hated by Balts - far, far from it! I meant elsewhere, and I should have phrased that sentence more carefully.
In fact, English speakers enjoy good rapport with Balts. What I found so amazing is that in just one decade these tiny nations have changed over to teaching English so successfully that you can easily find local English speakers.

[Ludwig]

I speak, read, and write some Russian, I studied it to advanced level at university along with my (language) major, German, and I certainly used it a lot when I was in Tallinn on weekend trips from Finland (great trips, though I will leave that for another thread!) I also used a great deal of English, though. I did not meet any teachers outside of university circles, though I can imagine it would be an outstanding place to live and work (this was in the late 90s and private language schools were a very rare - and Russian owned - thing). If it is at all germane, if you are a western guy you will have a stunning - and intelligent and worldly - polyglot Estonian on your arms in, well, it is up to you. Anyone who has been there will testify to that fact (I only mention it in passing as it has come up on another thread).

However, I can not give any realistic estimate as to usage since I was with a Finn and she did most of the talking! (Finnish and Estonian are mutually intelligible, though this may not necessarily be the reason for her dominance on the verbal front.) Anyway, the city itself is outstanding. I particularly liked the old city wall structure, the battlements and buttresses, the medieval-style streets, the old city square (with, I seem to recall, an Estonian name very similar to that of the German 'Platz') and the cafe culture. You have to be on your guard in that place, however, as anyone who has been there will tell you! If you go from Helsinki, go in summer - do not attempt a winter crossing of the Baltic as I once was foolish enough to do (it was truly horrific and an experience I feel lucky to have walked away from) - and make sure you are the first off the boat! You will see why when you observe Estonian customs!

In fact, Michael Palin captures the essence of the city - and the trip there from Helsinki - very well in his TV production (I think, BBC) 'Pole to Pole'.

I have some funny recollections of Tallinn. There was, for example, a young Estonian/Finnish/Russian/English/Latvian/German-speaking lad (around 14 years old) selling (genuine) heavy old ex-Soviet Union military hardware (such as night vision telescopic lenses - I kid you not) right outside the ferry terminus.

[Roger]

What a stunning story, Ludwig; truly enthralling. It transported me right back to Tallinn! Well done! Keep posting on this topic!

[LithuanianRaven]

Greetings everybody,

Can anyone offer me any insight to finding jobs in Lithuania? Ill be moving out there in about 4 weeks. My girlfriend got a consulting gig out there and I need to find something to pay MY bills (namely car note for now, student loans, and credit card).

I have three years of patent experience working a paralegal and I have a history degree but would love to be able to teach in Lithuania much less here in the states.

I will be relocating to Kaunas which also narrows the amount of lawfirms available because most of them are in Vilnius. Id be willing to commute but the cost might cancel out my salary!

Any help or suggestions or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help.

LR

[Ludwig]

Why, thank you, Roger. I am glad you enjoyed the ride.