There are videos that cover live concerts (including Estonian Music Week performances), improv comedy, nutrition, photography, historical research, and more. Some of the videos are in Estonian and some are in English.
Most recently, VEMU has posted two videos: the very first “Cooking with Susi” live show from 2014 and Linnea Mayfield's adventurous stories of studying in New Zealand and Estonia, from 2015.
In “Learning Vanaema's Recipes”, chef Susi Holmberg was brought in to teach the audience how to make classic homely Estonian fare such as soolalõhe (cured salmon), with a combination of sel gris (“grey salt” in French), sugar, roughly torn dill, lemon, and juniper berries, cured over 48 hours. This was followed by the preparation of hakklihakaste (minced meat sauce) with an old-fashioned meat grinder, home-style pickled cucumbers, and roosamanna (cranberry semolina mousse) for dessert. Susi and host Ellen Valter are a charismatic TV show duo and this is a friendly, approachable way to learn some new recipes that might otherwise be restricted to a visit to vanaema juures (at your grandmother's house).
Browse VEMU's YouTube channel here!
Linnea Mayfield's autobiographical talk starts with an insightful comparison of education in Estonia and Canada. Linnea attended a Waldorf high school in Tartu for many years, where hands-on creativity and well-rounded curriculum were emphasized, which she supplemented with training in rhythmic gymnastics. Her family's experience is a unique one because they've lived with strong connections to both North America and Estonia. She speaks candidly about the challenges of getting by in Estonia, with a hopeful point-of-view on where the economy and Estonian way of life will venture in the years ahead.
The latter part of her talk is a deep dive into her study of biology in Christchurch, New Zealand, which included the tagging of abalone molluscs on the Pacific coast of the South Island. Particularly interesting was her story about learning indigenous Maori methods of using tree and plant matter. This organic material could be used for toothache relief, energy drinks, shoelaces, and perfume. I won't spoil the whole video, but it's an ideal watch for anyone looking to lift their spirits up with stories of discovering new places. I'd also recommend it to anyone who wants to know what moving to Estonia and attending school there is like.
VEMU will continue posting throwback content from its extensive multimedia archives, and hopefully, it won't be too long before we can all join VEMU at Tartu College again. Make sure to subscribe to the VEMU channel on YouTube so you don't miss out! If you have a Chromecast, Apple TV, or another casting device, you can click on the casting symbol on the bottom right corner of the YouTube video screen, to project and watch this content on a larger screen, for an even better viewing experience.
