Almost unbelievably, magically, it is February once again. While the weather seems to remain the same; drizzly, cold but not too bitter, things begin to change. Classes will begin again on the 10th, and the Maitsev Tartu (“Tasty Tartu”) campaign promises us “three-course special menus in restaurants in Tartu…at friendly prices,” made by chefs who will “do their very best to surprise…with special appetising and savoury treats” (read more here and click on the participating restaurants to see their offers here). Perhaps spring really will be visible on the horizon soon?
Of course, February also brings with it St.Valentine’s Day, and the real subject of today’s post: love. What is there more to say about love? What is love? A special person, a trusting relationship, an indescribable feeling? Something in the super cute blogs we’ve written before about love in Tartu, like this one, this one, or this one? Something sad and sweet, perhaps an outlook or even a way of living? I am certainly not the only one to believe in multiple kinds of love, and I think about my love for my friends day-to-day. In fact, in Estonia, Valentine’s Day is also called Sõbrapäev, or “friends’ day.”
I won’t be writing here about how to make friends when you come to Tartu; you will find your own way. Instead, I’d like to reflect on the joys of the bittersweet friendship between international students who share time for one or two fleeting semesters. Although my program is full time for two years, I plan to be studying abroad next year, and with this plan in mind the spring semester is starting to look shorter and shorter. So anyways, these friendships. I hate to call them “temporary.” When you are part of the international community here which grows and shrinks every few months, what other way is there? Not “temporary” per-se, but shorter. And so what?



Trying an Estonian village swing in Viljandi, enjoying (now sorely missed) Käkk café, visiting the University of Tartu Botanical Garden
The wonderful and lovely thing about living in a place for a short time is that you try harder to make memories there. It is only natural to take people up on a trip to Tallinn, Viljandi, or Riga, or to go to as many museums as you can when you are a temporary (short-term) resident of Tartu. On a gloomy day at home, maybe you would put that trip off to another day. But you’re here! In Tartu, the City of Good Thoughts! This is your chance, and those German exchange students will only be here for 2 more weeks! And so you go. Might as well get some pizza from Metsik afterwards, while you’re at it. And all this makes for a much more memorable semester. Perhaps we should always live like this, saying yes more often?

Mattias, me, and Nora exploring Tallinn :~)
Then some people move away, and your friend group changes. You can’t blame them because sooner than you might want, you’ll be the one saying goodbye, with best wishes for everyone you met along the way. It is so bittersweet, but of course you wouldn’t want it any other way.

Outside ERM, the Estonian National Museum
The other special, sparkly aspect of being an international student here is that, for the first time, simply that is enough to form a connection with someone. There aren’t so many Americans here, so I find myself bonding with people from France, Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Ukraine, Poland…people who are also from elsewhere. I’ve met people through classes, clubs, teaching swim lessons in English (anything in English is bound to be a good start), and then there are those people that everyone seems to know somehow. Tartu is small enough that connections start to criss cross naturally, and in the international community even more so. This is my first time really living abroad and the more connections I make, the more I appreciate how being in Tartu not only encourages saying yes to more experiences, but also saying yes to more friendships.



At Aura swimming centre, a traditional Estonian feast among international friends, and visiting the Christmas market in Tallinn
So, love. For my part, I really think love is a way of being, of seeing, of doing. Just like how someone you love becomes more and more beautiful in your eyes over time, let yourself fall in love with Tartu (or wherever you are). Seek out the special and unique. Embrace the ephemeral bittersweetness (I write this so easily about the crux of the human condition…just do your best). This Valentine’s Day I encourage you to go see a film at the Elektriteater (which is celebrating friendship this month. Student tickets are now 5 euros!), do the thing you’ve been saving for a more special occasion, invite someone to a 3-course meal downtown, finally go to the bogs and read that book. ~Love, Elsa
(all photos author’s own)
Leave a Reply