The Morning After

After every big blow-out comes the morning after, where eyes are blurry, heads are aching and of course the repercussions of the night before become starkly evident. However, for me and the others participating in the last nights festivities, the next morning is reserved for pancakes. It has become a weekly ritual (if not more often) that a crowd of booze-weary students crawl from the Academic Hostel to the cafe next door in order to drown our sorrows in several varieties of stuffed crepes. This morning's version: mushroom and blue cheese for Kevin and I, honey for Marielle, and ham and cheese for Szymon.

Writer's Block

I am suffering from vicious writer's block, hence the lack of blog. I sit at the computer screen and my eyes sort of go cross eyed and then all of a sudden it's four hours later and I've written a sentence. But nevertheless, here I am about to attempt to relate to you bits and pieces of my life in the former Soviet Union. I've settled into my apartment and classes have allowed a sort of routine to settle in around me, rather like dust. I have Estonian, Russian and Constitution of the European Union which deals primarily with shared and individual competencies of government and the terms of constitutional law. You know you have problems when that is the class that I have dreamed of taking since realizing that I really like politics. Is your nerd radar working? Because it should be beeping frantically right about now. In addition to getting a bit too excited about the inner workings of the EU, I have managed to pick up most Estonian pleasantries, vowels, and a couple of verbs. The Russian is going much slower, but it would probably help if I had the text. Woops. That might be tomorrow's project, along with filling out my impossible residence permit papers that asked me a multitude of questions about my family's secret service and military history. A bitter aftertaste of Soviet dominance perhaps? In any case, it will all shake out in the end.

In other interesting news, I, who abhor all physical activity taking place in the cold, have taken up skating. There is a wonderful little outdoor skating rink about ten minutes from my front door called "Uisuplats" where you can rent skates and twirl your way around the ice with the shadow of St. Nicholas' Church behind you and twinkle lights strung in the trees. Since I haven't skated since I was maybe nine, I thought that the first time I went it would be a complete disaster. But! I either have a knack for skating or it's like riding a bike. Two times gone, two times tumble free. It was also National Sledding Day here a few days ago and most of the foreign students gathered together at "Lauluvaljak" or "Singing Square" for some good old fashioned, sitting on a garbage bag in lieu of a real sled, sledding. If I had nickel for how many times I narrowly escaped death, I wouldn't have a loan anymore. I think every person in Tallinn, sometime during the day, made an appearance at this hill, which is also on song festival grounds (incidentally how Estonians gained their freedom, during a "Singing Revolution"). It was a truly great day and for the first time in my entire life (because I loathed the cold as a child), I am enjoying outdoor winter sport. Hell just froze over. Did you hear that?

Now after the wholesome talk, we will take a moment to bow our heads for the amazing Estonian nightlife that I have come to fully partake in, which is really unlike me. I have learned thus far, that for European ERASMUS students, these exchanges are meant for a well rounded education in how to party, in addition to economics or politics. Every weekend is filled up with this or that party, and they are really worth going to. There have been a few places I wouldn't care to go back to but for the most part the clubbing is exceptional. Good music, safe environment, and open until the wee, wee hours of the morning. Also on the menu are a list of pubs that, for this East Coast Canadian, could rival any Haligonian Pub. Molly Malone's for soccer and a beer or for live music and Irish coffee. Hell Hunt for delicious pub fare including dumplings and meatballs as well as your favourite drafts. Really, for such a small city, you could find something for every one and find plenty of time to enjoy it.

But I don't just drink. I've also revived my long lost verve for cooking. That's right, I referred to cooking in a positive manner. I've attempted and been relatively successful at bruschetta, beef stew, not burning chicken, roasted vegetable and feta salad, among other things. It started as a housewarming party issue where I needed to bring something edible and now has become a way of giving the possibility of getting scurvy the finger. That's right! No scurvy for me. I can cook. Kind of.

Lastly, the temperature dipped again today so that the hairs inside your nose would have frost on them if you were here. I'm actually starting to enjoy the weather. It's becoming refreshing.

Anyway, my writer's block decided to clear at 1am and so now I can hear my bed calling to me. Until next time, keep fit and have fun.

Shopoholic Takes Tallinn

Many shopping centres= utter mayhem and excessive shoppers guilt. It's day 9 of my Estonian adventure and I, the one carrying many shopping bags, have not only seen the sights but also the inside of every available shopping centre in the city. For the most part I've been able to restrain myself. I've only purchased a few frivolities aside from any necessities, but, I nonetheless feel like I've purchased too much (presents for my family, going out clothing because I brought only casual wear which isn't my fault because that's all I own, and one rather expensive tube of toothpaste). I haven't really over spent, but since every time I spend something I go further into the negative (not to mention the stomach awash was nerves and churning with guilt), I really ought not to spend much.

The problem is, and in fact the problem always has been, that I find shopping therapeutic. There's something very comforting about the sense of uniformity and anonymity found in shopping malls that seems to calm my very soul. Which religion am I, you ask? Why, I am of course an ardent follower of the consumerist lifestyle! My places of worship are the Temples of Mammon which in Tallinn, are nicely juxtaposed with the Temples of God. And you?

The worst part is, I know what I'm doing. Each time I slide the little red card, time worn with scratches on the surface, across the gleaming black countertop to the smiling sales clerk, I can hear my father's disapproving voice as if it were coming from the shop's speakers. "Noelle, you don't NEED that!" But, alas, it's too late. I silently scrawl my signature in shame and tuck my parcel inside my giant bag of tricks otherwise known as a purse. "Too bad," I mutter to my speaker-bound father and I scuttle furtively out of the shop.

If the habit was bad in Canada, it's far worse in Estonia. New stores, handicrafts, amber, coffee, oh my! Not to mention the delicious cakes and meals available at my beck and call. But really, though, I haven't been doing that badly. In fact I might even be doing rather well. The larger items such as a mobile phone and glasses have both been necessary and budget options and everything else has been on sale. The one thing that may have been a bit excessive might be the fact that since being here I've purchased my weight in black tea. I can't live without the stuff. It's a great match to the best eclairs I've ever eaten available at Reval Cafe.

I write this as I sit in yet another shopping centre. But, it's snowing rather heavily outside so it's ok I think. Oh wait. Look! There's a sale at Zara...