Although it took a few weeks in September to settle down, I finally feel 100% comfortable and relaxed in Tartu. I have now been here four months, and the time has flown by. I have my favorite spots, including two favorite restaurants. One serves delicious crepes and the other is famous for their chocolate truffles. Estonia has given me a bad sweet tooth!
We are now in the middle of one of the coldest months in Tartu, and it snows each day. I always leave the house bundled in a thick down jacket, scarf, gloves and two or more layers. The cold makes me miss California sunshine, but other than that I have no complaints. I know my way around the town now except for the one time I got lost looking for a department store and ended up on the other side of the city! I was a little embarrassed asking for directions back.
As a visiting researcher, I have had to adjust to life in an Estonian workplace. The language of the institute is English, so luckily there have not been too many communication barriers to my participating in seminars and lectures. I love that employment here in Estonia has exposed me to a European perspective, rather than just an American one.
