Blog 4: Back on the Blog:

Alright! Finally, after a protracted battle with both google passwords and my own technological incompetence, the blog is back. So much has happened in the last 2 1/2 weeks, it's hard to know what to say about it all. So, I'll just lay down whatever comes to mind when I think about my life and set of experiences so far here in Estonia. The following thoughts, observations, and lopsided opinions will appear in no particular order.

1) My school is amazing -- if only for the ratios.

          Ratio 1 - Hours Weekly in Class : Hours in Week. If you think the Canadian student loan system sucks, and it does, we still are miles ahead of the Estonian system. Students here get paltry, private bank administered loans that would literally be impossible to live on -- ergo, all the Estonian students work full time (the ones in my program at least). This means that there are no classes during working hours, which means that I usually spend less than 14 hours a week in lectures. Often, it is considerably less, as some Professors here teach simultaneously in Finland, and alternate week-for-week residences. This system is perfect for me, nocturnal by nature, and always a fan of one long lecture instead of 3 short ones. Plus, my mind is just getting fired up when the class starts, and everyone else has already punched a full day of office work. There is a lot of independent writing required, but that’s just fine for a spasmodic scribbler like me.

          Ratio 2 - People with English as a First Language : Other.  I am the only person in my year of the program who speaks English as a first language. While, as one can imagine, the ears of the others have a hard time with the Colliers brogue, it does ensure that the classes move along at a trot, not the perpetual breakneck gallop to which we are all unfortunately accustomed. It also makes it pretty easy to find partners for group work, as you can imagine. (Editor's note: There is an American guy in several of my classes; he is just not in my program. This is not only enjoyable because of a common linguistic background, but also because he is also a GIANT FAN OF THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS!! What are the odds? An American from Idaho and a maniac from Colliers, likely the only two NFL fans in Tallinn, and both being hopelessly devoted to a moribund franchise that plays on the shores of the Pacific. Small world, and it helps ease the heartbreak of San Fran's disastrous winless performance so far this season.)

       Ratio 3 (the champion of all ratios) - Male : Female. This is probably going to sound made up, but if you choose not to come see it for yourself, that’s just fine with me. I imagine the ratio is about the same as Nights Without Meteor Showers : Nights With Meteor Showers, and the attention thus given is proportionate as well. Two examples: 1) in my program there are about 28 other people starting this year, 2 of whom are male -- Bruno - a gregarious Brazilian,  and Peer (sic), a rare-to-speak Estonian, who seems to already have ladyfriend at the University. BAM. Example 2) for my birthday celebration tomorrow night, there are 22 confirmed as "attending" on the ‘book, three of whom are male-- including your pal T-Mack. Happy birthday to me. The ratio here is so skewed that apparently, back when they were having a referendum about whether or not to join the EU, there was a "Pro-EU" television commercial that said if we join the EU, there will be more "sexy guys". Fact. Scout's honour. Book your ticket now.

The list of observations and occurrences will be continued shortly, I promise.