PAMYUA at Viljandi Folk!

PAMYUA

Estonia may be pretty cold, but you still don't expect to see Inuits here!

Last Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Viljandi Folk Festival with the Ambassador and Public Affairs staff. The Viljandi Folk Festival is one of the largest folk festivals in Europe! Around 25,000 people travel to the otherwise quiet town of Viljandi, mainly drawn by the friendly atmosphere and storybook location. I couldn’t believe the setting, in the ruins of Viljandi castle, overlooking a lush lake and forest. Immediately upon entering the gates we were hearing music from all over Estonia, Europe, and the world!

The main purpose of this trip was to meet and introduce the Inuit band PAMYUA (pronounced Bum-YO-ah), whose members hail from Alaska. PAMYUA means encore in Yupik and Rolling Stones magazine has called them the ‘best Inuit band in the world.’ Over tea in the Estonian Traditional Music Centre, we learned more about their incredible background, Yupik culture, and the inspiration for their music. Ossie Kairaiuak, who composes the majority of PAMYUA’s songs, told us how he wrote the song ‘Bubble Gum’ in colorful detail, inspired by a student who was chewing it in his class. Being exposed to yet another facet of the wide range of American cultures was both fascinating and exciting. PAMYUA were keen to share their story and love of their heritage with us and their friendliness was contagious.

Ambassador Levine with PAMYUA

Next we met up with Ando Kiviberg, who founded the festival in 1993 and has been an active part of it ever since. He gave us a wonderful tour of the Estonian Traditional Music Centre, a wonderfully restored store house on the castle ruins. Every room was decorated with Estonian needlework from a different region and some stages had ‘trick elevators’ and gorgeous halls. This festival truly became ‘Estonian’ after I saw the IT guys sitting in the computer headquarters running multiple stages and numerous screens simultaneously, all the while keeping an eye on a rainstorm that was threatening to come through. They were two young Estonians working their high tech magic in a way only Estonians can. Everything was interconnected and linked to the internet; it looked like a scene from a high-tech movie. We then went to the Folk Music library, where the Ambassador presented Ando Kiviberg with a book about American Jazz, adding a different kind of folk music to the mix.

After the tour we toured the Kondas Center which held magnificent paintings from Paul Kondas and other naïve artists. Naïve art means that these artists weren’t trained formally but I would have never guessed as I saw brilliant canvases painted with vivid scenes and political commentaries.

Finally, it was time for PAMYUA to play! After the Ambassador said a few words of introduction in Estonian, the band came on for a highly traditional and interactive performance. Soon, the whole crowd was telling the story about a hunter and a seal in Yupik style, waving their hands and singing in verse. This passion of storytelling shared by PAMYUA was now radiating through the crowd and it was a great moment to be a part of.

On the long ride back to Tallinn after a great afternoon in Viljandi, I reflected on the tradition of folk music that brings people from all over the world together to sing, dance, and share their cultures with anyone and everyone. If I ever find myself in Estonia for another summer, I will definitely make it a point to spend an entire weekend in this happy, friendly, and exciting festival.

Post by PA Intern Aalia Udawala
Photo by PA Intern Oleg Remizov

Startup Central

Want to make it big with your startup?

You’ll need to attract venture capital to get your idea off the ground.

And today, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend a lecture by Dr. Ken Singer of the University of California, Berkeley, as he addressed a group of students at the European Innovation Academy and told them how to do just that. After an introduction by U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Jeff Levine (whose hometown just happens to be in what is now Silicon Valley), Ken walked the student teams through the essential steps required to win over the toughest audience of all: the men and women who control millions of dollars of venture capital that can make or break a startup with their quick decisions. Ken’s take away messages were so many, but it all comes down to distinguishing your business, product or service from a field chock full of serious competitors.

The event was hosted by the Tallinn University of Technology and brought together 200 students, pairing them with experienced mentors, successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and academics from tech hot spots all over the world. Split up into thirty international teams, these students are forming their own startup business plans and getting ready to “pitch” them as part of the three-week experience. One of the biggest groups in attendance came from UC Berkeley.

It was really thrilling to be in the room with so many bright minds – all of them intent on turning their concepts into viable businesses. One student team proposed to set up a web-based person-to-person bike rental service for people on vacation. As an avid biker and traveler, this is one business I’d use in a heartbeat. Each of these teams will be facing a mock competition in the next few days … and the best team will win €10 000! I wish them all the best of luck in the next few days and success as they pursue careers of innovation and entrepreneurship after graduation.

Post by APAO Alison Davis
Photos by Cultural Assistant Jane Susi

Chemistry Class with Molycorp and Eastman

Normally, most people rarely consider the entire process that goes into manufacturing products they use in their day-to-day lives. Yesterday’s visit to two American chemical facilities opened my eyes to the captivating and complex steps within this manufacturing process. I joined Ambassador Levine and embassy staff in touring Molycorp and Eastman factories located in the cities of Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve.

We first visited Molycorp, where we donned lab coats and goggles as Managing Director David O’Brock led us around the facility. This Molycorp plant is one of Europe’s largest producers of rare earth metals and rare metals. These are fundamental in creating specific parts within items used in everyday life, from cell phones to magnets. Molycorp is the largest company in Sillamäe, and has played a vital role in not only rebuilding the town, but in helping to sustain it for the future.

In our tour of Molycorp’s facilities, we witnessed how rare earth metals were both separated and then manufactured. While the facility and machinery lacked aesthetical appeal, it made up for this by being absolutely fascinating. For me, the best piece of machinery we saw was a giant electron gun. We also toured Molycorp’s pristine lab, where all the glass beakers and bottles were very reminiscent of a chemistry class. David was an amazing tour guide, and even gave us CDs of his band following the tour’s end!

Our next stop was Eastman. With company headquarters in Kingsport, Tennessee, the facility in Kohtla-Järve is one of several worldwide. This plant’s production is centered on benzoic acid. It’s a key component in many normal parts of life, one example being food preservation. Site Manager Gadylsha Gismatullin gave us an informative presentation about the company and facility, and then it was onto the tour! The biggest surprise of the tour was seeing how Eastman still uses a bit of technology installed during Soviet times. In one particular room, older, massive machines with a complicated system of buttons, levers, and graphs surrounded a group of workers sitting at modern computers.

Visiting these chemical facilities and witnessing how American companies operate globally with local partners was such a treat. Prior to these visits, I found chemistry boring, but these tours taught me otherwise. Best of luck to Molycorp and Eastman in the future!

Post by RSO Intern Genevieve Shapiro

Improvisation in Viljandi

Ever walk into a room and be stunned to find a group of ordinary people simultaneously dancing, shouting, hiding behind curtains, crawling on the floor, or running in circles?

If that’s the case, you may have just stumbled onto an intensive action theater workshop. On Monday, I traveled to Vilijandi, where Embassy staff and interns visited Notafe 2103, a festival dedicated to the art of Action Theater. We were there to watch a master class and listen in on a talk by American theater specialists. At this festival, artists travel from around the globe to come and dedicate their time to practicing, learning, and watching Action Theater performances. Some attendees come simply because it’s a hobby, while others were using experiences gained during this festival for professional development. All the performers were greatly energized, and were clearly excited to be there, strengthening their craft.

After arriving, we first sat in on the advanced class. Having no prior exposure to Action Theater, watching the workshop was a great opportunity to understand it. By the time it was over, I was almost ready to try the process myself!

Action Theater uses physical and vocal improvisation as a method of expressing oneself. At the workshop, performers divided up into small groups or pairs and then began shifting and transforming the “world” they were in, all while uniquely contorting their bodies and voices. This might involve a pair going from a world in which they were babbling nonsense together, to then angrily stomping around the room, and to then gleefully hugging one another. As a casual observer, the challenge the artists appeared to face centered on how to simultaneously tap into a primal side of themselves, while also constantly remaining aware of their partner’s performance.

Following the workshop, we then attended a discussion of Action Theater by two American experts, Cassie and Heather. Their passion for Action Theater was obvious from the moment they began the talk. In their discussion, they explained the philosophy behind Action Theater, which was much different than what I had expected. Essentially, one must train their body to be an imaginative reflection for personal experiences, emotions, and sensations. To do this, an artist must tap deeply into their self-awareness, and force this consciousness to explore new territory in their improvisation. The pair also talked about specialized techniques, and the story of how they became involved with Action Theater.

It was incredibly fascinating to learn about an art form that I had previously known nothing about, and I was excited that I had gotten the opportunity to watch such a unique form of theater. Enjoy the rest of Notafe, performers!

Post by RSO Intern Genevieve Shapiro
Photo by U.S. Embassy Tallinn

Ben Franklin Fellows in Purdue

One of the programs that the State Department has that I find particularly exciting is the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows program.

The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative gives students aged 16-18 from Europe and the U.S. a chance to foster relationships in order to advance links and awareness of shared values, encounter principles of freedom and cooperation as challenges of the global 21st Century. The inspiration for the program is American statesman and diplomat, Benjamin Franklin, who prized religious tolerance over intolerance, social mobility over class privilege, and was a firm believer in free speech. The program works to create an environment that encourages individual expression, communications, and information sharing in an effort to advance positive relationships among the various ethnic, religious, and national groups.

Each year, Embassy Tallinn tries to send two of Estonia's top students to the U.S. for this program, and this year we sent two really impressive young women, Elis and Pille-Riin.

And from the sound of Elis' blog, To The Other Side of the World, they are getting the most from their adventure!

Already, Elis is figuring out some of the "major and minor differences between Estonia and US":

She writes:

* The food. Everybody knows that Americans eat a lot of unhealthy food, but it's still weird to see all 10-year olds eat Fench Fries, hamburgers and a lot of other greasy stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

*The rules. They are very conservative. I'm supposed to be staying in the land of Freedom and Liberty, but the rules here are over the top ridiculous. A boy and a girl can't go somewhere (even in public) just by themselves. If there are only 2 people going somewhere, they have to be both girls or both boys. Also, girls can't go to the boys side of the dorms and vice versa, but in the US people our age can get married.

* Politeness. Everybody is so polite. In the stores, there's always someone who comes to ask if you need any help finding something. Then they sometime start a conversation with you and ask where you come from. After hearing the word "Estonia" they nodd with "what-are-you-saying" faces and go on with their talking. Also, everybody's always holding doors open for everybody and you definitely have to remember to say "Thank you".

* Religion. Everything revolves around the church. They have so many different types of religon and churches on campus.

* Sororities and fraternities. You can see the Greek houses everywhere and although it's summer, some of them have quite a lot of people living in them right now. Basically, they were supposed to be all about the parties.
You can follow Elis' continuing adventures here.

Celebrating July 4th, Embassy Tallinn style!

Have you ever wondered what goes into throwing a birthday bash with more than 1,000 guests?

Well we here at Embassy Tallinn can tell you, because that is just how large our Independence Day celebration on July 4th!

Of course the day of the event is filled with preparations...decorations to be hung, tons of food to be made, hundreds of bottles of Coke and Pepsi to bring in, hundreds of glasses, plates and utensils to set out. Security has to be checked and cars, motorcycles and wind turbines have to be brought in!

But the preparations the day of are the end, not the beginning, of the planning. It isn't much of an exaggeration to say the planning for our July 4th Independence Day celebration begins on July 5th. Months before the actual event, we are sorting out costs, themes, and logistics. Guest lists are made, invitations created and sent. And even that far in advance, there are meetings. Lots and lots of meetings. In the beginning, the meetings happen maybe once a month. But as the event draws closer, so do the meetings, from bi-weekly, to weekly, and finally nearly daily. No detail is too small or too large.

In May, we select the cars for display at the event, and then there is our really big tent. We put that up a week in advance. In June, we start social media promotions, including running a photo contest on Facebook advertising this year's theme, California cool, honoring Ambassador Levine's home state.

And California Cool it definitely was! You could see it from the surf boards lining the tent entrance to the rock stars in the audience (Ewert and one of the two Dragons!) to the giant Hollywood sign in the back corner.

You could also see it in the photos taken by our photo contest winners: Martin Trofimov (ages 15 and under), Emil Salulaid (ages 16-21) and Aile Kaasik (ages 22 and up).

Ambassador Levine hoped to make the event more like we celebrate the 4th in the states. So he lost the suit and tie and encouraged others to as well. We swapped our traditional band for the upbeat tunes of Eesti Otsib Superstaari (Estonian Idol) winner Liis Lemsalu. And we swapped the hamburgers for...

No, wait, there were still hamburgers. There was just a lot more than just hamburgers! So much food! Going with our California theme, we had Cal-Mex quesadillas and healthy salads (and watermelon, because what 4th is complete without watermelon!).

We also had a drive in with pulled pork sandwiches. And of course, we also had McDonald's and the newest addition to the Estonian fast-food scene, Subway.

Am I forgetting something? Oh yes, dessert. We had cake. And not just any cake. THE CAKE. Which takes folks at the Radisson Blu days to make and must be seen to be appreciated.

Ambassador Levine, Estonian Prime Minister Ansip, and DCM Gilchrist watch chef Dmitrieva cut the cake

And of course we had the standard July 4th fare: our Marines presented the colors and the National anthem was sung.

And the scene was awash in red, white and blue.

And while we didn't have fireworks, we did have Segways! Luckily, there were no crashes!

Ambassador Levine on a Segway

And if that all wasn't enough, when this party was over, we had ANOTHER one, this one sponsored with the American Chamber of Commerce in Estonia for a MERE 450 guests!

If you were at the event this year, thanks for joining us! And if you missed it, check out these photo galleries and news coverage!

U.S. Embassy Tallinn's Flickr Page

FOTOD: Vaata, kuidas valmistuti USA iseseisvuspäevaks suursaadiku residentsis!

USA saatkonna peol pakuti üle tuhande hamburgeri

Täna on Ameerika Ühendriikide iseseisvuspäev

Galerii: USA suursaadiku uhke vastuvõtt

Галерея: прием американского посла по случаю дня независимости США

USA iseseisvuspäeva tähistati traditsioonilise vastuvõtuga

USA iseseisvuspäeva tähistati traditsioonilise vastuvõtuga (video)

День независимости США отметили не только за Атлантикой, но и в Эстонии

Post by: PAO J. Michelle Schohn
Photos by: Michael Avina and U.S. Embassy Tallinn