I have learned about so many diverse subjects, ranging from Swedish military history to the collaborative economy of the European Union (E.U). I work from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (a little more than the length of a school day!) at my desk in the Center for I.T. Impact Studies, and I leave every day with my brain feeling full and happy.
My research has been going well. I officially applied to become an Estonian e-resident, or a digital resident of the country who can use public services like banking. Estonia makes technology very easy and efficient, so my application only took ten minutes. I got two library cards so that I can visit the city’s library to use their books and other resources for my research. I am impressed by how much data Estonia puts in one big g-cloud (government cloud for storing information about businesses and citizens) and by how they use cybersecurity measures to protect data privacy.
Outside of work, I have been busy learning to appreciate the broader Estonian culture. One of the most prized Estonian activities is visiting the sauna, where they crank the heat up to almost 100 degrees Celsius. I made my first trip to the sauna in the fall, and after sitting in the hot air unable to breathe for almost ten minutes, I ran out and jumped in the frozen lake to cool down. I also took one afternoon to go kiiking, which is one of the Estonian national sports. It involves tying oneself to a giant swing and swinging 360 degrees around the pole at the top. Estonians are masters of winter sports, especially cross-country skiing and I spend as much time as I can in Otepää, a small town known as the winter capital of Estonia.
