Entrepreneurs Learn How to Move Past the Startup Phase

Though most residents of Tallinn may be in the countryside, catching the final rays of summer, the startup community is continually abuzz, coding away behind their laptops or doing strategic planning into the midnight hours. US Embassy Tallinn had the unique treat this week of showing noted entrepreneur and UC Berkeley MBA Professor Naeem Zafar why this country is known as E-stonia.

Mr. Zafar visited Mektory, Skype, and the ICT demo center. He also spoke with the Estonian press.  The highlight of Professor Zafar’s visit, however, was his trip to Startup Wiseguys, where he conducted a workshop for the startup accelerators new “class” of entrepreneurs.

(Photo: Mr. Zafar's workshop at Startup Wiseguys/Will Ziesing)

Mr. Zafar quickly adapted his normal speech into an immersive conversation that fit the “students” quite perfectly. It was clear that Mr. Zafar, despite his extensive entrepreneurial bent, also possessed the unique qualities of a sophisticated collegiate professor. He addressed sales and company culture, in particular. He said “Selling is like being a doctor. It’s finding people with a problem, and then seeing if you have a solution.” Many students were quite captivated by Professor Zafar’s advice, and the directors at Startup Wiseguys were eager to plan a follow up event in the future.

As always, the team from US Embassy Tallinn that accompanied Mr. Zafar was pleased to further the link between the American and Estonian tech communities. With great mentors, ideas, and capital coming from both sides of the Atlantic, it remains exciting for the State Department to connect these two technology ecosystems. 

-Post by Will Ziesing

Estonian Youth, Activisim and the Estonian Dream

On July 23, a group from the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn visited the Estonian Youth Council’s (EYC) opening day of Summer School in Olustvere. The program hosts approximately 100 to 200 Estonian youth activists every year, representing different youth organizations from the Eesti LGTB Uhing (Estonian LGTB Society) to the Eesti Skautide Uhing (Estonian Girls Scouts).

(Photo: Amb Levine with some organizers of the Estonian Youth Council./Aylin Erdogan)

U.S. Ambassador Levine, Estonian MP Kalle Palling and President of the Youth Council Reet Sillavee were the opening day guests. And while they had interesting things to say, it was discussions from the participants about the difference between an inactive adult and an engaged young adult and why it’s important for youth to be a part of decision-making process at the local or national level that made the panel more interesting for me.

One point they raised during the session was their take on public protests. Youth activists said that Estonians are actually polite people and even if they vent their frustration on a number of issues during social gatherings, they refrain from voicing negative opinions in public. It’s a stark contrast to what we’ve seen with Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street protests. But Palling, a young politician, shared his insights on youth participation in Estonian politics, saying Estonia is doing a fair job encouraging young adults to be active in politics. They currently have six members under 30 in the parliament, something that is different from the U.S.

(Photo: Amb Levine, Estonian MP Kalle Palling and President of the Council Reet Sillavee discusses youth activism in Estonia and USA./Aylin Erdogan)

In America, we see many young people in high school or college take an active part in political campaigns. We also see those who succeed in campaigning later heading to work in Congressional offices in Washington D.C and in their districts—and indeed, nearly 60 percent of Congressional staffers are between 20-35. However, when we look at executive offices, we see that older folks have a more direct hand in the in the governmental decision-making process. 

Still, I think that youth activism has always had a positive impact on American society.  In my school, SUNY Buffalo, for instance, students’ protested an increase in college tuition and student activity fee. The action influenced State Senators to negotiate with the SUNY administration and reduce the 5 percentage increase SUNY was aiming for to 2 percentage.  We heard from our Estonian peers that the youth council in Rapla was able to raise their voice and influence the mayoral election in the city.

The second part of the event was dedicated to a smaller discussion session on the “Estonian Dream” with Ambassador Levine, Assistant Public Affairs Officer Menaka Nayyar and about 20 Estonian youth. I was looking forward to this discussion to hear what Estonian youth had to say about what the Estonian Dream is or whether it has ever existed. In the past, the Estonian dream was freedom and that one common vision united Estonians. But now that freedom has been achieved, and after the economy started to decline, with young people finding more opportunities in other countries, the Estonian youths at the meeting said they feel as if the Estonian dream doesn’t exist anymore.  Still, they added that it’s important for them not to lose their identity no matter where they are or what language they speak. Estonia is now more open to world cultures, but young adults want the world to know Estonia too. 

(Photo: Amb. Levine and APAO Menaka Nayyar discuss the Estonian Dream with EYC members./Aylin Erdogan)

Thank you to all Estonian Youth Council members for sharing their thoughtful insights with us and the Summer School organizers for giving such a talented group of young people an opportunity to get together and share their voices!

-Post by Aylin Erdogan

Estonain Hockey Sticks Go Global

While this hot July in Estonia may have everyone headed to the beach, Estonians will soon start thinking about (or maybe dreading) the return of the dark, cold nights of Estonian winters.  However, one of the bright spots of the return of colder weather is the onset of hockey season.

Estonian hockey – in a sense – is making its mark globally. At the Sochi Olympics, equipment from Frontier Hockey OÜ, Estonia’s homegrown hockey stick manufacturer, made it to the quarterfinals. It’s the favored brand of Latvian goalkeeper Kristers Gudļevskis. He made an epic 55 saves out of 57 shots to keeps the Latvians in the mix against the eventual champion Canada.

Embassy staffers visited Frontier this week to check out their production line and hear about their growing export business to America. Currently, over 10 percent of their hockey sticks are exported to the United States.

(Photo: U.S. Embassy staffers meet with Mr. Imre Taveter and talk hockey sticks.)

Frontier Hockey specializes in goalie sticks—they produce standard sticks as well— and the company has supplied Gudlevskis, a former player for the Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as Finnish and other European professionals.  Company founder, Imre Taveter, grew up playing hockey and loves the sport for its team building qualities and diligent group effort. Mr. Taveter started the company to take advantage of the fine craftsmanship, superior wood, and winter sports traditions found in Estonia. The Pärnu factory churns out thousands of quality hockey sticks throughout the year.

We thank  Imre for showing us around the factory and letting us take a couple of shots with the sticks. And we wish him the best of luck as he continues to expand globally, showing the world the quality of Estonian made hockey sticks. 

-Post by Will Ziesing

Folk Music Comes Out in Force at the Viljandi Folk Festival

Play. That’s the theme of this year’s Viljandi Folk Festival, which starts on Thursday and lasts through Sunday.  It’s a fitting theme because it’s not just about playing music, but the playful feeling many get when they go to a music festival like this, including many of us at the embassy.

One appeal of the Viljandi Folk Festival is that it exposes music fans not only to traditional Estonian or regional folk music, but to a variety of styles from around the world, including the United States.  U.S. Embassy Tallinn has supported the festival regularly over the past 10 years and we are proud to help bring the Grammy-nominated U.S. group Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole to this year’s festival!

In the past, festival organizers have facilitated programs with other U.S. performers in Viljandi, including master classes from visiting U.S. experts.  The Viljandi Culture Academy has become a popular destination for U.S. Fulbright scholars and students, hosting three in recent years.  And as a sign of Viljandi’s growing partnership with the U.S. Embassy, the mayor, Ando Kiviberg hosted “Viljandi America Days” this past March.

(Photo: Performers from last year's Viljandi Folk Festival.)

Ando Kiviberg was the former artistic director of the Viljandi Folk Festival and worked for 20 years to promote the advantages of bringing a music festival to a small and quiet town.  Thanks to his efforts, Viljandi is now Estonia’s folk culture capital and over the past 22 years ago the Viljandi Folk Festival has become one of the largest and most beloved summer events in Estonia and in the Nordic region. 

Have a fun, music-filled weekend! See you in Viljandi!

A Bird's Eye View of Wind Power in Estonia

This week Ambassador Levine realized a small dream: going to the top of an 85m clean energy producing wind turbine. Along with members of the Political/Economic section of the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, the Ambassador visited the a Nelja Energia’s wind farm in Paldiski, where 18 GE Wind Energy electric turbines produce 67 gigawatt hours per year, enough to meet the needs of 20,000 Estonian families of average energy consumption.

The tour began with a scenic drive through the wind farm to meet with Martin Kruus, the Chairman of the Board of Nelja Energia, and Erkki Kallas, the Production Manager of Nelja Energia, to get more information on wind energy in Estonia and the Paldiski wind farm in particular. We were excited to learn that 6 percent of Estonia’s electricity is supplied by wind farms such as the one in Paldiski.

(Photo: Ambassador Levine at the wind farm, getting ready to climb the turbine and then at the top.)

After the meeting, we were all outfitted with a safety harness, gloves, and escorted to the top of the windmill by one of the windfarm’s mechanical maintenance specialists. The ascent was a bit more physical than expected and required us to climb a long ladder before reaching the tiny, rickety elevator that would bring us the rest of the way to the top, but the view was certainly worth the effort.

(Photo: Laura on the wind turbine.)

Those of us who got to learn about wind energy in Estonia, and travel to the top of the wind turbine wish to extend our gratitude to Sigrit, Martin, Errki and everyne else at Nelja Energia for making this trip possible. It was truly and unforgetable experience.

-Post by Laura Kincaide

Coen Brothers are in Tallinn! (In Spirit)

Rooftop Cinema at the Viru Center opened its doors (or its roof, to be more precise) to American movie fans for a Coen Brothers’ Co-Spective Program this week. It is also exciting news for us, since the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn has been a proud supporter of Rooftop Cinema’s American movie weeks for several years.

(Photo: Film fans at Rooftop Cinema./Courtesy of Aivar Lann)

“We decided to feature the Coen Brothers because their philosophy fits well with our mindset of what kind of movies we want to show here” explained Aivar Laan, the founder of the Rooftop Cinema.  “They are sharp, eccentric, not your typical Hollywood blockbuster choices and they have an excellent eye to see and reflect the black humor in life.”

Aivar Laan says showing these movies wasn’t easy. “It was challenging work to get the copyright of the movies because not only you have to have sufficient funding for these expensive movies, but also have to have good connections, as they are very selective with who to give the copyrights of these movies,” he explained. “So we were happy to work with the U.S. Embassy in this project and unite Coen Brothers with their Estonian fans.”

Laan, who lived as an expat for several years, got the idea of opening a summer rooftop cinema in Tallinn when he was in Australia. Tallinn’s unpredictable summer weather did made him think twice about the venture, but the enthusiasm of bringing a new project to Estonia pushed him forward. Since 2010, the Rooftop Cinema has brought true cinema classics and variety of independent movies to about 30,000 local cinema enthusiasts in Tallinn every summer. (And thanks to some construction work and good weather, they haven’t had to cancel more than five or six screenings since 2010, Laan said.)

Coen Brothers’ Co-Spective Program already started this week and it will continue till July 21 with screenings of  Fargo (Thursday), The Big Lebowski (Friday), Burn After Reading (Saturday), O, Brother; Where, Art, Thou? (Sunday) And No Country For Old Men (Monday). Check the cinema’s website for more information on current and upcoming movie schedule. 

And if you can’t make it this week, don’t worry. The Coen Brothers will return to the Rooftop Cinema in mid-August and all the movies will be screened once again for a week.

Happy Viewing!

Post by Aylin Erdogan

Talking Tolerance & Foreign Policy in Narva

On July 3, a team from U.S. Embassy Tallinn visited Narva to meet with a group of American students taking Russian language classes at Narva College, and to attend the opening of the Letters from Sala Holocaust exhibition.

When we arrived in Narva, Ambassador Levine gave a presentation about U.S-Estonian relations to the students and held a Q&A session on current political issues. The group of 38 students from different college and universities in the U.S. arrived at Narva College a few weeks ago for an 8-week intensive Russian language class. When we asked what they like about Narva, they said that the city of Narva provides them with a unique opportunity of learning Russian, as well as insight on the Estonian language and culture, too.

(Photo: Amb. Levine giving a presentation to American students on U.S.-Estonian relations. Social Media Assistant/U.S. Embassy Tallinn)

After Narva College, the students and the Embassy team made their way to Narva Castle for the opening of the “Letters to Sala” exhibition, which looks at one girl’s experience of the Holocaust.

There was a large turnout at Narva Castle Museum, which is hosting the exhibit.  Besides the Polish and American Ambassadors, members of the Narva Society of Concentration Camp Survivors were the honored guests of the event and it was a pleasure to hear some personal insights from the chairman of the Society during his opening remarks.

(Photo: Amb Levine with the chairman and a member of the Narva Society of Concentration Camp Survivors. Social Media Assistant/U.S. Embassy Tallinn)

"Letters to Sala: A Young Woman's Life in Nazi Labor Camps" reflects on the power of resilience through the written word during a dark time in the history. The exhibit features diary excerpts, approximately 100 handwritten postcards, letters, photographs and official documents, which were saved at great personal risk by Sala Garncarz from the time she entered a Nazi labor camp in 1940 until her liberation in 1945.  The 350 items that Sala Garncarz collected was donated to the New York Public Library in 2005 by her and her family. The exhibition is currently on loan from the Galicia Museum in Krakow, Poland. Narva Castle Museum is the fourth site in Estonia to host the exhibition. The collection has also been shown in Tallinn, Pärnu and Tartu.

(Photo: Amb. Levine with Polish Ambassador Poznański and Narva Mayor Eduard East. Social Media Assistant/U.S. Embassy Tallinn)

We left Narva with more insight on tolerance and resilience and how important it is to learn lessons from history. Besides this meaningful historic journey, it was great to meet with our fellow American students. The U.S. Embassy Tallinn sincerely hopes that we were able to make a small contribution to their learning experience.

-Post by Aylin Erdogan

Baltic Teachers Prepare for Summer Camp on Tolerance

Early this week, seven English Language teachers gathered in the seaside town of Parnu, Estonia to prepare for summer camp, one that teaches about tolerance.

The teachers — two from Estonia, two from Latvia, two from Lithuania, as well as a camp director — mapped out the week long camp that will teach 6th graders about tolerance using subjects like human rights, similarities and dispelling stereotypes and all in the common language of English.

(Photo: Getting ready for August's Tolerance Camp.)

This is the third time that about 30 children from small towns in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, through the support of U.S. embassies in the three Baltic countries, will come together to practice English, build friendships and learn about diversity.

Bursting with energy and ideas, the teachers bounced lesson ideas and activities off one another with the goal of developing the best week possible for students. This is the first time they’d met and will be the only time they come together to work out the plan before the camp in August.

And just what did they plan? Check back here in August to find out.

A Trip to the Estonian Parliament

One of the interesting parts of the internship experience here is getting a firsthand look at how and where Estonian policy is made. On Thursday, we were lucky to get a tour to the Estonian parliament.

The Parliament of Estonia (a.k.a Riigikogu) is an important institution in Estonia: all important state-related questions pass through it. Not only does the Parliament approve legislation, it also appoints high officials, including the prime minister, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the president. The parliament is located in Toompea Castle in the Old Town. By structure it has 101 seats, made up of opposition and coalition party members.

(Photo: A bird's eye view of the Parliament Room. Dmitri Lipovski/U.S. Embassy Tallinn)

The castle where the Parliament is located is very unique in both symbolic and historical perspectives. According to legend,the whole hill of Toompea was made by the Linda (Kalev’s wife), who built it boulder-by-boulder with her own hands. The ancient stronghold was probably one of the first inhabited areas of what later became Tallinn. The internal design is also interesting, as there is a mixture of classicism and expressionism. For example, the hall chandelier was imported from Belgium in 1935; oak tables were made ​​in Estonia in the same period, and in the hall carpet was woven in the Soviet period in Tajikistan.

Our tour ended at the Conference Hall, which was a well-lit and well decorated room: after renovation in 1935, the walls are now left with smooth slabs of artificial marble. At the right corner you can see four Estonian flags displayed. When we asked why the display did not include a coat of arms and/or Navy/Army flags, our guide explained that it is illegal to display the Estonian coat of arms and the flag in the Parliament building at the same. Until the summer of 2000, the Government of the Republic of Estonia met in the Conference Hall.


It was also fun to guess why the Estonian Parliament has 101 seats. Rumor has it that that because the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) has 100 seats, Estonia wanted to be a little bit better and as a result created 101 seats for the parliament.

All in all, it was a great, educational trip, which we would recommend to everyone who visits Estonia!

-Post by Aylin Erdogan and Dmitri Lipovski

Taking a Peek Inside the Kitchen

We spent a fun afternoon with Tarmo Randes, the U.S. Ambassador’s Chef. He spoke to us about the 4th of July reception preparations Wednesday afternoon. It takes a lot of work to prepare for this event. Chef Randes said that it took his team of six chefs three months to plan the event and about three days (16hrs per day) to prepare the meals.

The menu will include burgers (best in town!), hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches and, potato salad, as well as sandwiches, chips and pizza, provided by local sponsors.

The cooking team used about 120 kg of beef, 80kg pulled pork, 100kg potatoes and 60 kg of mayonnaise, which should feed about 1,000 guests.

We were fascinated by what life in the kitchen looks like when preparing for such a big event. The staff was working happily without any stress, which, we thought, is rare for a big scale event like this.

Also, Tarmo showed us a simple way to make a very tasty burger and cheered our afternoon with his enthusiastic spirit!

Best of luck to Chef Tarmo and his team with this event! We have many things to look forward to this evening: the reception, the company of great people and food, and the USA vs Germany World Cup game. For both instances, we say: GO TEAM USA!!!

Post & Video by Aylin Erdogan & Dmitri Lipovski

World Refugee Day

There are over 51 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and they need your help. The UNHCR and other NGOs provide lifesaving assistance and protection to 34 million refugees. But even with that aid, one fact remains important:

• 1 refugee family without sehlter is too many

The number of asylum seekers in Estonia has been quite low compared to other EU countries. That might be the reason why studies show that the general public is not aware of this issue and that the subject has not been a priority. However, Estonia has worked on issues related to refugees.
Activities of the Estonian Refugee Council can be divided into three broad categories:

• assistance with cultural, social and labor market integration of refugees;
• raising public awareness on refugee issues in Estonia;
• Advocacy work and representation of refugee interest.

Don’t be indifferent. There are many ways you can get involved and spread the word about refugees on World Refugee Day (June 20) and beyond. Choose the ones that are right for you!

Post by Dmitri Lipovski

The U.S. Flag: Oh, Say Do You Know?

(Photo: By JeromeG111)

On Monday, 16 June, the American Space at Tallinn Technical University opens an exhibition about the American Flag.

How much do you know about the America’s “Stars and Stripes”?  Take our quiz, leave your answers here (in the comments section) and the winner gets a prize. (It's a book, but the title is a suprise.)

1) The white in the Estonian flag represents snow or freedom. What does the white in the American flag represent? 

2) How many stars did the “Betsy Ross” flag have?

3) The U.S. flag served as an inspiration for Francis Scott Key. What did he write?  

4) Which state was the last one to join? What year did it happen?

5) How many stars are on the current flag and what do they represent?

Bonus: Do you know what the stripes on the flag represent? 

If these questions stumped you, stop by the exhibit to learn more about the history and meaning of the U.S. flag.

Post by Dmitri Lipovski

Freedom and Song in Pictures: Take 2

This year’s Embassy photo contest is in honor of U.S. Independence Day and Estonia’s Song Festival. We’re asking people what music, America and Estonia mean to them. It’s a question we posed to one of our summer interns Aylin Erdogan. 

Freedom + Music = The Boss

When I think about freedom, music, America and Estonia; the initial word that flashes is “people”. And the initial thought is imagining Bruce Springsteen playing his guitar with an American flag in the background, but on the stage of Song Festival and not the Jersey Shore.

The dictionary defines music as “the art of ordering sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.” We can change a couple of words in this definition and use it to describe what freedom means for people, regardless of their nationality. Unity and continuity in a group has always been the path towards freedom. People need to be united whether to sing in a chorus, speaking out against injustice or chanting at a march— to have their voices heard or to gain their freedom. Estonians initiated their freedom movement by assembling choirs, sang until their voices were strong enough to be heard and initiated a unique freedom movement.

As for why Bruce Springsteen, I see him as one of the singers whose songs represent American values. He understands America’s struggle and successes with freedom, feels it in his heart and relays these feelings through his music. The Rising (9/11), Born in the USA (Vietnam War), Streets of Philadelphia (AIDS epidemic) were reflections of American resilience. Americans come from different backgrounds, look differently, speak various languages but represent one united feeling towards freedom.

No matter who you are in America, you are passionate about your freedom. And Bruce Springsteen reflects these values for people across the globe.

To celebrate the 4th of July and Song Festival the U.S Embassy in Tallinn, has launched an online photo contest. Let us know what comes to mind when you hear the words freedom, song and Estonia. Photograph that image (we want to see how creative you are) and enter the contest.

Post by Aylin Erdogan

Freedom and Song in Pictures

This year’s Embassy photo contest is in honor of U.S. Independence Day and Estonia’s Song Festival. We’re asking people what music, America and Estonia mean to them. It’s a question we posed to one of our summer interns Dmitri Lipovski.

“The Song Festival”

What does freedom and song bring to mind? Song festival.

What I picture when I think of the song festival are smiles. For Estonians the “Song Festival” holds a deep symbolic meaning: the culmination of the national awakening of Estonians, which started back in 1860.

It can be seen in their happy and proud faces when they go to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds in their traditional clothing, waving flags. 

 

(Photo: AP Photo/Timur Nisametdinov, NIPA)

This happiness and joy transmits to other people very fast, so it is only a matter of time before you start smiling as happily as Estonians do. Honestly, it is a rare thing when you see people attending a celebration with so much happiness. For some people it’s more than a simple celebration with songs and dances, which takes place by tradition every five years. But for many Estonians it is much more than that. It is actually a moment that’s hard to describe, it has to be felt and experienced, like a smile.

What do you picture when you think of freedom and song in Estonia? Snap a photo and enter our photo competition. The deadline is 23:59 on June 24, 2014.

Post by Dmitri Lipovski

Enter the Embassy's Photo Contest! Deadline is 23:59 on June 24!

Enter the Embassy Photo Contest

"Celebrating Freedom's Song!"
and Win a Nokia Lumia 625
Windows Phone

The Embassy of the United States of America and Microsoft are proud to announce a photo contest entitled "Celebrating Freedom's Song!"

To celebrate American Independence Day and Estonian Song Festival, we want you to take a picture of something in Estonia that you believe has to do with freedom and song. It could be anything you think represents both the U.S. and Estonia and has to do with music.

When you have taken your picture, go to our Facebook page and post your picture along with your name and age to our wall. Then get as many of your friends as possible to "like" your picture both on the wall and the contest photo album. (Send your photo to us via e-mail, too, at usembassytallinn@gmail.com.) The top five pictures from each category will then be considered to win a Nokia Lumia 625 Windows phone.

The contest is open to all residents of Estonia (except employees of the U.S. Embassy and their families...sorry!) and is divided into three age categories for contestants: 15 and under, 16-21, and 22 and older. Post your photo, complete with your age, to our Facebook wall BY 23:59 ON JUNE 24. (Your photo resolution should be good enough for an A2 print, so a minimum of 1,500 x 2,400 pixels). The winner of each category will receive a Nokia Lumia 625 Windows phone! The winner and the runner-up in each category will be invited to Ambassador Levine's home for our Independence Day party, where the winners will be announced and will receive their prizes!

So post your photo, complete with your age, to our Facebook wall. And maybe you will be the proud owner of a Nokia Lumia 625 Windows phone!

Estonian residents are invited to enter the U.S. Embassy's photo competition to win one of three Nokia Lumia 625 Windows phones.

Information is on the U.S. Embassy Tallinn's Facebook page under the contest tab. The theme of the photo must be "Celebrating Freedom's Song!" Finalists will be determined by the number of "likes" a photo receives on Facebook (both on the wall and the contest photo album) with the winners selected by the Embassy from the top five finalists. Just post your photo directly onto our U.S. Embassy Tallinn Facebook wall along with your age. Please share this with all who may be interested, and encourage your friends to "like" your photo! Contest deadline is 23:59 on June 24.

The Pull of Kumu Art Museum’s Newest Exhibit

Paris. London. New York. These are the cities that come to mind when people think about modern art. But Kumu Art Museum in Tallinn is doing its part to shine a light on early 20th century art from Scandinavia and the Baltic States through its latest exhibit “Electromagnetic: Modern Art in Northern Europe, 1918-1931.”

Recently, The New York Times wrote about the exhibit, which features artists in the region who sought to make their own mark during Modernism phase.

The article stated that “focusing on their inspiration, travels and originality, the exhibition is a rare display of creativity and mutual influence in Scandinavia and the Baltic states from a time when collaboration across borders was not taken for granted.”

The exhibit features more than a hundred works from Northern European artists such as Otto G. Carlsund, Mart Laarman and Gustav Klutsis, as well as the artists that influenced them.

The curator of the exhibit, Gladys C. Fabre, who is based out of Brussels, thinks that the” originality of Nordic artists came in their pursuit of an autonomous form of art, one that took from surrounding movements but that also rejected them.”

The article states “Whether abroad or at home, Nordic artists left a lasting mark on European Modernism.”

The Embassy is familiar with the great exhibits and programs that Kumu puts on. It’s been the site of the “Telling the American Story” film series, which showcases movies that reflect American society and values. Additionally, the Embassy has given support to Kumu’s documentary series this year.

So, if you go to see the exhibit, you should stay for one of the possible films that could be shown as well.

Post by APAO Caitlyn Kim

U.S. Embassy Tallinn in #UnitedForUkraine

All of us at U.S. Embassy Tallinn wanted to find a way to send a message to the people of Ukraine that we support them at this difficult time.

So like many others, we made a large sign featuring the Ukrainian flag and the twitter handle #UnitedForUkraine. Then a bunch of us from the embassy went to Tallinn's Vabaduse Valjak (Freedom Square) and posed with the sign in front of Estonia's Freedom Monument.

We also wanted to share this wonderful video with you.

Me oleme Ukrainaga.

We are United For Ukraine.

We hope you are too.

America Days in Viljandi – Day 2

On the second day of U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s visit to the America Days celebrations in Viljandi, Embassy staff members were first greeted by famed Estonian textile artist Anu Raud at the museum at Kääriku Farm, which showcased prime examples of Estonian handicrafts and artifact. Professor Raud then invited the Embassy delegation into her home, which also serves as her studio. There she explained the significance of the Estonian handicraft tradition and the steps she takes to preserve it. Every summer, students from around the country visit her farm and learn the techniques she uses to weave intricate tapestries and knit fun and functional woolen goods for the coming winter.

After saying goodbye to Prof. Raud, the Embassy team visited Olustvere Service and Agricultural School. Housed on the grounds of a 19^th Century manor, the school blends old traditions with new facilities and training techniques to help young Estonians maintain their cultural heritage and turn it into a rewarding career. Embassy staff members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the manor house and then toured other historic sites on the campus. At the grain storage building, they sampled Estonian barley bread, which reminded many American staff members of the corn bread they eat back home. They also visited a number of art exhibitions featuring various media, including blown glass, ceramic and wood. One display housed hundreds of horse figurines depicting various scenes from Estonian history and culture; they were all created by a single artisan Voldemar Luht in rural Estonia.

While the main Embassy delegation was touring the manor grounds, other Embassy staff members were busy teaching students how to make classic American Chili at the school for culinary arts. The whole team then reconvened in the school’s dining room to taste the students’ delectable creations. The apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and blueberry-lemon tart were definite crowd pleasers. Hopefully some of those students will feel inspired to travel to the United States to learn more about America’s culinary traditions!

To complete the Embassy’s trip to Viljandi America Days, the team visited Pastor Hermann Kalmus at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Pilistvere. His congregation has established a museum commemorating the tragedy of the Soviet annexation of Estonia, and just down the road from the church stands the Stones of Sorrow memorial. Erected in 1988, the monument pays tribute to those who perished under Soviet subjugation and deportation. Each year, thousands of Estonians visit the monument to remember loved ones and fellow countrymen lost. Despite the sorrow the museum and memorial invoke, the Embassy team was impressed by the Estonians’ continued efforts to preserve their patriots’ legacies.

At the end of the day, the Embassy team left Viljandi for Tallinn with a strengthened appreciation for the Estonian-American partnership that extends throughout all of Estonia. We look forward to our next trip to Viljandi, where we hope to greet the many new friends we made during the two-day America Days celebration!

America Days in Viljandi – Day 1

Happy America Days from Viljandi, Estonia! As part of a two-day event, sixteen U.S. Embassy staff members gathered together in Viljandi yesterday to celebrate the bond between Estonians and Americans.

On the first day of festivities, Ambassador Levine and embassy staff were first met with a warm welcome from the Mayor of Viljandi, Ando Kiviberg, Krista Kull, Head of the Department of Public Relations and Tourism and officials from local schools.  After the meeting, our embassy team split up to visit Viljandi schools and even a local animal shelter. During our school visits we gave presentations about the U.S. and got the chance to meet and chat with students there.

One of the most important stops of the day came up next: the American Corner at Viljandi Library, which just celebrated its 10^th anniversary of sharing the United States with the citizens of Viljandi!  After warm remarks from the Mayor and the Ambassador and a look back through the Corner’s accomplishments, we all enjoyed a delicious birthday cake. 

Then, most of us set out for a walking tour of Viljandi – we learned about its nearly 800 years of history and visited beautiful buildings, a ruined castle and the newly renovated Cultural Center.  Meanwhile, a smaller group which included the Ambassador, visited local businesses, including a factory that makes one million candles a day!

To wrap up a wonderful day, America Days guests were treated to a reception at the Sakala Center, where local youth musicians (including American Fulbright Scholar Katherine Marsen) put their talents on display.

What a wonderful start to this year’s America Days in Viljandi!

Post by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson
Photos by Social Media Assistant, U.S. Embassy Tallinn

Did we just meet the next Edward R. Murrow?

What is America’s next generation of journalists interested in?  For a group of 20 media students from Kent State University, the answer was definitely: Estonia!  This is what we learned when they came to visit us and chat with U.S. Ambassador Jeff Levine at the U.S. Embassy on Thursday. 

These students – who are studying photojournalism, multimedia, electronic media, traditional broadcast and print media, magazine journalism and a host of other topics – have come to Estonia for a 10 day trip to meet and speak with Estonia’s movers and shakers.   Along the way they are publishing stories on a website called http://www.datelinebaltics.org/.  So far they have met with the Ukrainian ambassador to Estonia, visited the Museum of the Occupations, and sometime soon they’ll be meeting with President Ilves  - who, funny enough, was once a journalist too!

Ambassador Levine with journalism students from Kent State University

At the Ambassador’s meeting with the students he gave them a brief overview of the U.S.-Estonian bilateral relationship and highlighted a lot of the successes Estonia has achieved since re-independence.  Estonia has become so successful, the Ambassador emphasized, that the U.S. and Estonia now work together as partners in other countries, including Moldova, to encourage the growth of democracy.

Ambassador Levine discusses Estonian-U.S. bilateral relationship.  

The Ambassador (himself a former journalist and one of the founding staff at USA Today) then fielded questions from the students, who were very interested in Estonia’s security position with regard to the critical events playing out in Ukraine.  He explained about NATO’s recent decision to beef up Baltic Air Policing and how important this is to our Baltic allies.

Our one hour meeting went very quickly and the Ambassador was pretty impressed with the caliber of questions and background knowledge these budding journalists brought to the table.  Who knows, maybe among them is the next Edward R. Murrow?  They certainly came further than the last three feet!     

Blogpost by: APAO Alison Davis
Photo by: Social Media Assistant, U.S. Embassy Tallinn 

Castles and (American) Corners

A couple of my colleagues and I had the opportunity yesterday to visit the northeastern Estonian cities of Sillamäe and Narva.

While we were there, we got to visit Narva castle, and we could see Ivangorod Castle just across the Narva River in Russia.

But of course, seeing cool tourist sites was not the purpose of our trip (just an added bonus!) So in each city, APAO Menaka Nayyar and I visited students and discussed U.S. higher education opportunities. In Sillamäe, we visited Sillamäe High School and in Narva, we stopped by the American Corner at the Narva City Library, which is the first-ever established American Corner in Estonia at 10 years old.  

Also on hand were Eha Teder and Epp Kirss from EducationUSA at Tallinn Technical University, who spoke about the practical side of applying for a U.S. university, including financial aid, exams, etc.  True to their reputation, the students tended not to ask questions from the group, but rather one-on-one after the presentations. They were curious about life in a U.S. college, the different ways to pay for school and what they would need in order to be successful.

I am hopeful that some of them will take the leap and choose to study in the United States!

Post by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson
Photos by Social Media Assistant, U.S. Embassy Tallinn

Back To School Too!

While Ali was visiting Pelgulinna Gymnasium in Tallinn, I was with our Political/Economic Chief Mary Glantz at Tallinna Linnamäe Vene Lütseum!

Tallinna Linnamäe Vene Lütseum is the largest Russian school in Estonia and one of the top schools in the country. The school is celebrating their annual "Language Week," so Mary and I went out to serve as guinea pigs, I mean native English speakers, for the school's English Conversation Club.

Since there was no predetermined topic, we just let the conversation flow where it wanted. So we talked about American movies, Ellen DeGeneres' selfie at the Oscars, how we liked Estonian food.

And of course, study in the United States.

I was really impressed with this group of students...one of the more enthusiastic questioners made a comment about her English being bad...but boy does she speak it better than I speak Estonian! (And of course, far better than my, oh, five words of Russian!)

We spent an hour with the students, after which we made pictures, including an Ellen-like selfie which the student promised to send me. I will share it when he does!

Post by PAO J. Michelle Schohn
Photo by Social Media Assistant, U.S. Embassy Tallinn

Back to school!

Today I got the chance to visit the Pelgulinna Gymnasium in Tallinn, where I spoke with high school students about current events in the U.S.  I had a fantastic time talking with the students and also enjoyed learning a bit about their school. 

Pelgulinna Gymnasium is known for its enhanced arts programs, and some of Estonia’s most famous contemporary artists and musicians attended here, as well as Estonia’s very own Mart Laar!  I heard about this from local teacher Kristi Saare who participated in the local program Noored Kooli which is a lot like the U.S.’ Teach for America program.  (I first met her a year ago when we invited the new group of Noored Kooli teachers and mentors to the Embassy to meet Ambassador Levine and was delighted that she invited us to visit her class).



Talking about current events with students at Pelgulinna Gymnasium

 

And speaking of that class … it was a challenging task for me to decide what to talk about with the students with so many current events to choose from.   In the end I decided to talk about marriage equality in the U.S., climate change policy and, of course, the recent events in Ukraine.  



Marriage equality is a heavily debated issue in the U.S.

Since gay marriage has become legal in some U.S. states a number of famous American LGBT people have gotten married, including of course, Ellen Degeneres!  But beyond the celebrity weddings, people in the U.S. have a range of opinions and feelings about it.  Many people are against it because of their religious beliefs, while others strongly support it because they believe the right to marry who you love is a human right.  So far 17 states in the U.S. have legalized same-sex marriage and many others are considering moving in that direction.  President Obama, himself, supports it and has taken steps to support it on the federal level. 

Is it getting warm in here?  Our classroom, which was on the top floor with tons of windows on a very sunny day, was perfect for the next current issue I tackled: climate change!  This is an issue that is close to my own heart as I worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for seven years prior to joining the U.S. diplomatic corps.  Climate change is happening and mankind is the cause according to 97% of climate scientists, however in the U.S. a political debate is still underway as to what should be done about it – and many people are afraid of the economic impacts of reducing carbon emissions.

President Obama has launched a new campaign to address carbon emissions through more efficient vehicle standards, greater energy efficiency in buildings and new regulations for new and existing power plants.  And did you know that China is now the world’s #1 producer of carbon emissions?  This fact points to why we need international, multi-country initiatives to combat climate change and that is the final part of the President’s initiative – an international climate change agreement worked through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Finally, I spoke with the students about the current crisis in Ukraine and shared a video clip of the President talking about the U.S. response to the situation.  President Obama has repeatedly stated his hope that a diplomatic solution – including both the government of Ukraine and that of Russia – can be found and that, in the short term, the situation can be de-escalated.  I was 14 in 1989 when the Berlin Wall came down and remember watching – with relief! - relations warm between the west and the east.  I only hope that some of the goodwill and friendship we have developed since then will get us through this difficult time. 

All and all, I really enjoyed my visit to Pelgulinna Gymnasium, meeting its students, and sharing what Americans are talking about.  It was a great time and reinforced how bright Estonian students are and how well they speak and understand English!     

Blog post by Alison Davis, Assistant Public Affairs Officer
Photos by Tiiu Vitsut, Cultural Assistant

Breaking down the Virtual Wall: USS Tallinn Facebook Party!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a bunch of Facebook friends over for a party? 

Ambassador Levine did and he decided to make that idea a reality! 

Yesterday, he hosted his Facebook Friends Party, designed to “break down the virtual wall.” 

The Ambassador, hundreds of his friends and embassy staff were on hand at the Seaplane Harbor for a night of fun. There was music from a local band, "Jats," that the Ambassador first met through Facebook, a live Instagram feed for guests to post their #usstallinn photos, and the world-famous Titanic Exhibition, which was in part sponsored by the embassy.  

Even the nametages had a Facebook theme! Everyone wore a name tag with space for their "status," and they were invited to "Share" their status at the end of the night on a poster to commemorate the event. 

All this took place in the cavernous space that is the Seaplane Harbor museum, which boasts hundreds of maritime pieces and ships. Those of us from the embassy had a great time at this unique event and we hope you did too!

Post by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson
Photos by Social Media Assistant, U.S. Embassy Tallinn

How American Diversity Leads to American Innovation

On any given day, I walk into an R-Kiosk or supermarket and see lots of familiar sights, from Coca Cola, to blue jeans, to Apple Products, etc. Many of our nation’s landmark innovations have found themselves traveling around the world to be loved and enjoyed. 

But I never gave it much thought until yesterday, when I spoke to a full high school classroom at Juri Gymnasium, located just outside of Tallinn. This week was their English language week, so I hope I provided a worthy specimen of a native English speaker! And my topic for the day was how the diversity of America has led to major innovations. 

For instance, did you know that blue jeans were co-designed by Latvian Jacob Youphes? Or that Google Inc. was founded by Russian-born Sergey Brin? Or that The White House, arguably the most well-known American building, was designed by Irishman James Hoban? After I finished, a surprisingly lively discussion followed, spreading across various topics. In fact, I ended up giving the students an impromptu (and PowerPoint-less) presentation on studying at universities in the U.S. Students were also curious about why I’m in Estonia, where I’ve been in Estonia and if I like the food (yes). 

I liked this particular visit because of the intimate atmosphere of the classroom.  It was also the most engaged I have seen Estonian students with a guest speaker. That’s a trend that I hope to keep rolling on during my future school visits. Until next time!

Post by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson

Nothing Stops The Pärnu Ice Festival!

Happy early spring!

The unseasonably warm weather we've had certainly didn't deter local ice sculptors in Pärnu!

On Saturday, several U.S. Embassy Tallinn staff members and I were among several international delegations to travel to the southern coastal city of Pärnu to participate in the annual Pärnu Ice Festival. 

The annual festival brings as many as 20,000 visitors to what is considered the summer capital of Estonia! And despite this year's warm weather, the crowds and delegations were treated to an imaginative array of creations by everyone from professional artists to local school children. Some were up to a story high! 

The theme of this year's festival was "Ice Music," so we all got to enjoy dancing, singing, food, ice skating, sauna, sledding and other forms of good fun! Inside a giant igloo, school children performed a puppet show amid fish frozen in ice blocks.

And despite the recent above freezing temperaturs in Pärnu, the sculptures stubbornly refused to melt as they were enjoyed by all in attendance. Hopefully next year, that won’t be of any concern! 

Story by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson
Photos by Cultural Assistant Tiiu Vitsut

Study In the U.S.!

It’s college application season! 

So Tuesday, I spoke to three levels of high school students in Kuusalu about opportunities for international students to study at U.S. universites. 

In a packed auditorium, students from sophomore to senior levels learned about how to find funding for school, picking the right school, the American college atmosphere and what they need to apply.  I also briefly discussed the Fulbright program, Estonia’s American corners, and the benefits of studying at U.S. universities. 

As a proud University of Utah Ute, I included my school’s promotion video.

 

With another brief presentation, I introduced the students and their teachers to the State Department’s Trace Effects English-language computer game. After that came questions from the audience. Since Estonian students are notoriously shy about speaking up, I was given a written list of questions to answer. Most wanted to know how I had made my way to Estonia or what I thought about Estonia (which is an awesome country by the way). After the presentations, my colleagues and I had a lovely discussion about education with the school administrator over tea and coffee.

Personally, going to local schools and giving these presentations, particularly about American colleges, to Estonian students is one of my favorite parts of my internship. As a current college student, that is a great fit for me because it is fresh in my memory. I’ll be doing a few more of these events soon and am looking forward to it!

Post by PAS Intern Kirsten Anderson