Introduction
In August 2024, I moved from Toronto to Tallinn with two suitcases and a student visa. Estonia, with its small size, tight-knit communities, and vibrant startup scene, has become a landing place for people from around the world. For many who move abroad in adulthood, joy and opportunity are paired with longing, and new beginnings are shadowed by lingering ties to what was left behind.
One year later, here are my reflections on settling in Tallinn, navigating life as a foreigner, and the unexpected ways it has changed how I see both Canada and what it means to be at home.
Initial Thoughts
My biggest culture shock when moving here was that there was not much of a culture shock. Tallinn is a cozy, compact city, full of history and charm that has a way of making you feel settled. I had been to Tallinn as a visitor a handful of times and, in a practical sense, I felt familiar with its streets. But living here meant walking the streets differently, navigating on my own, finding my own shortcuts and favourite corners, until I had carved out the paths of my own little version of Tallinn.
