Life in Estonia for Foreigners | Ep06: Estonian People

[@alexaaldridge6727]

Really enjoying your series! My son moved to Estonia in August 2020 to dance with the Estonian National Ballet. Your videos reflect a lot of what he has told me about his experience this past year and helps me to understand what his life is like there. Would love to see future videos where you show some nightlife, cultural events, etc. Best wishes from Texas!

[@user-he2pu4jg7o]

I am glad to see someone who cares so much. Estonia needs more people like you!

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you. This keeps me going

[@mmmariis]

Wow! Thank you for such an beautiful way of explaining our history! I think Estonia has become much richer by having you in there! I'm glad you enrich my country! ☺️

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you. It means a lot to me.

[@mmmariis]

@@carlosvazquez3678 Thank you Carlos! I'd be happy to see you living in Estonia! Every person brings something valuable and thus makes the society more richer and prettier! I can't talk for all Estonians, but I hope the majority is kind and respectful and friendly! 😊

[@amarbaha]

I am coming to Estonia for the first time on Friday. TY for giving me your insight. It is great to see someone who looks like me explaining his experiences

[@anno6964]

In Sauna is where estonians are very happy and open with other people , and relationships are easy here , love is not that complicated , emostions like u said are cold, not much big love stories with people here. Estonians like working , sauna , drinking ,and being byself at home thinking own thoughs.

[@MananAnwar]

Some Estonians really like to party. I know a few !

[@r.h.7633]

Yep, sauna. Lets have a chat in sauna. The rest of the time I have a stone face. Maybe I just don't like to be bothered :D , unless I'm in sauna, then I'll open up. Or when you have a very specific question so I can answer very directly and shortly (yes or no questions are the best 😄 ). Ahhhh, estonians. We're not that bad actually, just we're not very used to receiving kindness and being very open and maybe it's because of our history that makes us very suspicious about people.

[@kingkunta7846]

As an introvert, that sounds like heaven. Glad to be reading this 2 months before I'm moving there :) Aitäh!

[@zarvikk]

Interesting insight. Compliments on the summary of the past and no worries, Russia has also invaded this area, even if it was not called Estonia yet. Another thing to keep in mind IMHO is also the soviet times when anyone could have been a government spy - including your neighbours, teachers or friends. Anyone! People were scared as you could have been deported for small things (like having a Christmas tree) and kids could easily say too much... so it was easier not to share too much and also teach your kids the same. This is the most recent thing that made us even more quiet and introverted. I was scolded several times as a kid for sharing too much of "family stuff" with neighbours, even if the soviet times had already passed. And emotions.... well... There is even a joke about an Estonian man who once even almost said to his wife that he loved her. ;)

[@MananAnwar]

People were scared as you could have been deported for small things (like having a Christmas tree) and kids could easily say too much... so it was easier not to share too much and also teach your kids the same. This is the most recent thing that made us even more quiet and introverted. Thank you for saying that, I definitely wanted to talk about it because I had heard about it from so many of my friends, but I couldn't find any documented sources on KGB informants in Estonia. Thats why I didn't.

[@zarvikk]

@@MananAnwar Not so sure if there were actually too many... but there was fear

[@zarvikk]

@@MananAnwar I think that we are looking at it from the wrong direction. Sure, you had to be scared of KGB but not only. Anyone could report you. There was a lot of propaganda telling heroic tales of kids who reported their parents for "not soviet behaviour". You did not need a lot to be seen as enemy of the state, human life had no value, especially if you were not a true soviet. Reporting someone was praised as something heroic. And surely this was also used as a tool to get rid of people whom you did not like - almost anything could be turned into "not soviet behaviour". If you had a bit more than the rest (only a bit, because if you had too much more, you were already the enemy), like a car, you had to be especially careful. My parents had christmas tree, but also thick curtains to make sure no-one saw it. No-one! And kids had to learn very early what they could talk of and what not. Some officers could see speaking Estonian already as treason. And trial? Nah. Usually shot on sight or never seen again.

[@kimklinh]

@@zarvikk Thank you for sharing. I'm planning to move to Estonia with my wife. Getting to hear your thoughts is insightful and prepares us better once we land there.

[@zarvikk]

​@@kimklinh You are welcome, though it might not be relevant at all :) Let me share a story Some years back, when I joined a new startup, a new colleague reached out to me. He had done a hobby in the US but had not found a group interested in it in Estonia. It was sort of a subculture thing and I am/was a bit part of it. I asked him to explain what were his expectations and 5 minutes later made a summary Me:"So, you would like to have a group of people who have the same hobby and who just have good time and drink together?" Colleague: "Exactly." Me: "I know just the right people." So I contacted the group I knew, asked around a bit and then, after finding the person who was managing it actively (and whom I also knew from events) reached out to him directly and told him I have a new recruit for them. He was fine with it and assured me that while they do speak a lot of Estonian they already have a few foreigners in the group and often talk in english. So I went back to my colleague and told him that I found him a group that in my opinion should work the best. However, a small warning that In know the guy who is leading it and he is nice but as classical estonian as they come. Colleague: "That is so awesome. No worries, I know Estionians." So, I made a small group chat with the 2 of them, made a one sentence into for both and left it unattended - being sure they can talk things out. about an hour later the colleague comes to me, worried. "I feel I did something wrong. The guy hates me." Me: "What? I don't believe so." Colleague: "Go check the chat. He has said nothing" So I go to check the chat and what do I see. The colleague from US has written a huge long text of how he loved the hobbie and how he wants to do that here and... well half of A4 of text. And the estonian guy just replied with "OK" I laughed and explained that all is fine and normal and urged him to ask about the next meetup and join them there. "So he does not hate me?" "No. OK means good. He has aknowledged your information." "But he has not shared anything ..." "Why should he? He does not know you" I laugh. "If you are not sure, ask directly and you will get a straightforward reply. There is no subtext hidden in any of it." "Are you sure?" "Yes. Just go for it mate." And he went to the group and already some months later they were on an event together and he even learned some Estonian from them an were great friends :D :D :D And this colleague had been in Estonia for 3 or so years already, but only with startup people - so his experience with Estonias was different.

[@kamranshaukat6024]

Very well narrated . You are doing a fantastic job ! And a great ambassador for Pakistan

[@vladimirskala]

"majority of their closest friends are from their kindergarten" that rings true for Slovakia too. People are conservative when making new friends but once you're a friend it tends to be a lifetime commitment.

[@andruspuusta4230]

This Corona and distance joke is so true! ;) Somehow it takes a long time to make friends. As I have worked and lived in other countries - I can tell that I have tried to use the local habbits. In some reason is to have a small talk in English for me a lot easier than in Estonian... :) Customer service is bad! You are lucky You did not experience it in soviet time! :) I like You are honest and I do believe You are. That is the best way You say as You really think! Respect that! Books! I love them! As I was born in 1978, I did not have fancy tv, video and so on at home! Books where the best way to get entertainment and information! I read every day many hours!

[@mongolmees]

So first. If you come here do not try to force your customs on us or expect us to follow your customs. Do that and we Will hate you. If you are here you do things as they are done here. Whatever you do in your own home is your buisness ofc. Second. Customer service here is not bad, its just for Estonians. Estonians in general do not like when people come up to them and start trying to sell them something or talk to them for no reason. If you need something ask for it, dont expect someone to constantly come asking If you maybe need something. Third. Estonia is one of the least religious countries in the world. So definetly leave your god or whatever at home. Fourth. If you live here LEARN ESTONIAN. We have a huge issue with russians here who have lived here for generations and still do not speak our language. Even If you are bad at it its fine. The most important thing is that you are trying.

[@watchyourowndreams]

Customer service in Estonia seems to be crap unfortunately. It seems that many haven´t had relevent training. I have had so many experiences where customer service has been very rude and I consider myself a polite person. It has got better over the year though I think. And I am Estonian myself. I have lived in many different countries and have experienced different approaches. But indeed...one should learn Estonian once they live here. Estonians have never been privilaged to just speak Estonian while living in another country. For example: I move to Germany. I learn to speak German. One moves to Estonia and learns to speak Estonian. It is simple as this. I have met people moving to Estonia and learning to speak on a basic level within 2-6 months.

[@DarjaSafronova]

Your videos are so cool, keep it going!

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you

[@moemenelkholy1114]

nice video ma man ;D good use of the blinders on the window to fix the exposure issue from previous videos still i would recommend trying to film at the nigh using fully controllable lights

[@MananAnwar]

Ha, I thought nobody noticed. Good eye ;)

[@moemenelkholy1114]

@@MananAnwar well i wanna go to film school .. and i make videos myself ..so yeah maybe that's why :D

[@hfairy5450]

wow, as a history student in estonia I am really amazed by you, you really have done your research and it seems that you really respect estonian culture:) its soo cool to see, everything you say in this video is spot on:) I think that a lot of estonians are depressed and dont open up very much because they are soo preoccupied with their everyday problems.

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you for your words.

[@Jeweliedear]

Very wise words; i always tell people to sift what i say like wheat and take what is useful,& discard what is not. :)

[@mominhasib7518]

Salam Manan i watched your whole series ( 7 ep based ) its great 👌🏻

[@Jeweliedear]

I just realized that what you described is part of a movie "a man called Ove"-- swedish film with elderly man and sweet, warm new neighbor who is Persian.

[@MananAnwar]

I have read the book, its beautiful

[@Jeweliedear]

@@MananAnwar i did not know there was a book. Thank you

[@MananAnwar]

@@Jeweliedear Very good book, you will love it I am sure

[@arehya4567]

How interesting...! Even taking your experience into account, I'd probably be in heavy shock and think nobody likes me if I get those reactions... Such a mental effort to get over it hahaha

[@MananAnwar]

Takes time but it is worth it.

[@KohaAlbert]

What reactions? Wasn't this the whole point of the video?

[@arehya4567]

@@KohaAlbert The reactions of unreacting

[@ravit1336]

Yes sir Can we survive supervisor job in Estonia with current cost of living there

[@MananAnwar]

Depends on what kind of supervisor.

[@Margit-qj2uo]

Thank you Manan, your videos are very good and your way speaking about our history is just super! Sadly yes alcohol opens up us, but I am clad we have persons who our more open witheout it :)

[@Jeweliedear]

Truth customary how i grew up with bringing cookies with nice note etc. Looking after elderly neighbors especially.

[@moemenelkholy1114]

what programs do u recommend to take in Estonia i am planning to get a bachelor's degree there u said IT felid ... but which program ! coz there is not much English taught ones !

[@MananAnwar]

Have you checked the university websites. There are IT programs in English. Especially in university of Tartu.

[@kapsaline]

Also u can check TalTech.

[@mominhasib7518]

I just Love your series

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you. Appreciate that

[@toomasargel8503]

02:24 Why You let in stranger peopol ? . Only police and then with courth sertificat and police certificat. Do not stranges in Your home. Your home is You castle ! If some one want contact -let send e-mail. If You not intersting this themes what he /she but in e-mail . You not must contact with him. Simpel like that. Yes I am estoninan

[@MananAnwar]

Thanks for your comment Toomas !

[@KJ_bluebird]

I'd say you missed the point of the story. Ta kirjelda Eesti kogemust erinevate okupatsioonivõimude all, mis on põhjus selleks, miks eestlased on nagu nad on - kinnised ning võõraste suhtes umbuslikud.

[@sulevturnpuu5491]

By Russia too. Tsar Peter I took Estonia over from Sweden in 18th century.

[@MananAnwar]

Thank you. That would be the Kingdom of Russia right ?

[@sulevturnpuu5491]

@@MananAnwar Basicly kigndom, but russian title was Tsar and Peter I was first claim title of Emporor. So it would be russian empire.

[@moemenelkholy1114]

fun fact : my new neighbours just moved in and just came to say hi :D PS i live in Egypt

[@MananAnwar]

Well that's how our cultures are.

[@nirvanawellness3619]

I have to discourage my brother from moving to Estonia. It's strikingly different from his background and life would be depressing and detrimental to his mental health. He would think they're racists.

[@MananAnwar]

Racist people are everywhere, its just a matter of finding the people who like you for who you are.

[@ahtot298]

Question from 'darker side' of things: How's your personal experience with racism? Do you experience that a lot?

[@MananAnwar]

I’ve thought about making a video on that topic. But it’s a difficult topic and I don’t know how people will take it.

[@prapa5521]

and that friend part is true also most of my friends i know since i was small kid

[@MananAnwar]

Yes thats what I have heard from most of my friends as well.

[@toomasargel8503]

08:18 now is pandemic and law say 2 +2 = 2meters and not more then 2 person = If You break that law = penalty 800 euros. Second respect other private zone.

[@MananAnwar]

Thanks for commenting !

[@watchyourowndreams]

I dont´t know where in Estonia you live...probably in Tallinn? Tallinn does not represent what people and life is like in reality. People tend to be friendlier in the countryside and smaller towns there seem to be more "community vibe" there.

[@mominhasib7518]

kindly make some other video like this

[@MananAnwar]

I will make another series soon, but on a completely different topic

[@mominhasib7518]

@@MananAnwar I'm have decided to study Estonia (Masters in Graphic Designing) I'm working on my portfolio and IELTS preparation and other stuff. Hope so every thing will gonna fine. Your videos inspires me alot you discuss mostly rare topics in depth. Kindly discuss the job scenarios, wages, residency in Estonia after Post Graduation, PR, Scope of Graphic designing in Estonia, living standards, Quality life there as compare to Pakistan and blah blah.

[@mominhasib7518]

Others thing like Study tough to ni hai, Job kr ky sab manage ho jata mtlb yr ap behtr smjhty ky ik bnda kahi na gya ho or foreign study ka sochy usky man my hazar swal hoty to cover kr do to boht achaw hoga 😍

[@Dewfantasy]

How is the coronavirus situation there? 🤔

[@MananAnwar]

As of today. Pretty bad. Highest in the world.

[@martinkoitmae6655]

Absolutely terrible, constantly 1-2 in the entire world (per capita)

[@elgasalme9331]

...not only Soviet Russia, before that we were part of Russian Empire also. But all these conquerors during long history looked quite same like us. So Estonians are not used with exotic look at all 😊 and they get confused.

[@toomasargel8503]

01:03 Six years =must now Estonian language minimum A2 level but average can learn B1 level.

[@MananAnwar]

Sadly I am nowhere near that level. :(

[@Neleakulin]

Beautiful video :)

[@hawktherock2731]

Is there any Estonian institute can teach the language with a reasonable price to an Arabic man plz? 🤔

[@wonderfullymadecreature]

Thank you very much for such inspirational videos! I am curious, what kind of food do people share with their new neighbours in Pakistan? And would you do anything different to meet your new neighbours now, after getting 6-7 years of experience living in Estonia?

[@MananAnwar]

Hello Alena. Firstly thanks for watching and commenting. Generally people in pakistan share sweet rice or any other similar dish to their neighbours. If I have to meet new Neighbors now ? Well I think I would do exactly the same.

[@wonderfullymadecreature]

@@MananAnwar Many thanks for answering Manan! :)

[@DarjaSafronova]

Wow, you are wise

[@unitrx5535]

Finns are like us, externally cold, stand-offish - thus your perspectiv its to do with history is probably incorrect. Observation itself is spot-on tho. (im Finn by father, Estonian by mother, been living in both countries) Service: tbh, deeply hate "Western good service" where sales person is hello'ing as soon as I get into store, expecting me order smth before I even had chance to look around. Or shit like gas stations: service ppl are "forcefully friendly" trying to always sell you always smth extra. My pov: briefl hello is enough, lemme figure out what I want - dont actively bug me..I'll ask if I need further info. Friendships: glad you managed to break ice with ppl, gotta be extra hard for foreigner.

[@rajamehmood2878]

Asslamualykum manan hope you are fine How is taxi driver jobs In Estonia I like to move from Cyprus Walykumasslam

[@HiPh0Plover1]

I would think more than twice before moving there

[@jesschee3329]

Great video

[@toomasargel8503]

10:44 not only pagans but Taara maausk , Taara nature and agrocultural and weather belivers. Yes now they calendar 10.224 Year.

[@marguskiis7711]

Taara stuff an artificial pseudopagan religion, from 1930s.

[@MananAnwar]

Never knew about people other than pagans.

[@toomasargel8503]

@@marguskiis7711 Taara religion is more then 10.000 years old now is in Taara calendar 10231 year.

[@blasterxt9]

Yo man estonia people are friendly.?

[@MananAnwar]

Yep

[@HiPh0Plover1]

I'm curious why you actually stayed there even after 6 years

[@louloulou4108]

mind yur bisnss fl

[@jorgepezzuol1088]

Hello, keep with the great videos. I'd like to ask if you know any estonian professor for private skype lessons 🙂

[@MananAnwar]

Google Opus Lingua language school in Tallinn.

[@Jeweliedear]

Wow!!! That is scary awful so far. I am only to the part with 2nd person trying to bully in.

[@Jeweliedear]

It is true it seems that most Estonians are slow to trust strangers. I noticed they dont always say thank you with customer service. 😂 but i understand now. I guess I an different. I try to make everyone's life better after having walked away from me bc there are people who don't have families, are widows or orphans or outcast from family, who feel alone as new immigrants etc.

[@MananAnwar]

Very slow and very cautious.

[@Jeweliedear]

@@MananAnwar i guess i can understand some of that after so many occupations maybe

[@Jeweliedear]

The alcohol part is sad :(

[@marguskiis7711]

Estonians are usually getting very angry and aggressive when they drink alcohol. I really suggest to avoid drunken Estonians.

[@MananAnwar]

I feel the same.

[@silvaraspel7183]

Thats a bit wrong info there abt the christianity. Doubt any estonian will agree that we are christians. We are still pagans and proud about it. 3 to 7% of religious people here and they are russian mainly, not estonian

[@ingelkringel]

I am an Estonian Christian and there are actually many of us. :) According to the last census, 29% of the population consider themselves religious, and most of these, like 93% are Christians. Yes, Orthodox Christians are the biggest group, but there are also others. However, if you look at Estonian history, despite the violence of the Crusades, which were politically motivated and hardly represented the faith, we still have a strong Christian heritage and Christianity has played an important role in our cultural and national development. Now, I want to give you some interesting info, which you probably have not heard before. God (the Christian God of the Bible) has had His hand on this nation for a long time. I don't know many stories of Christians' lives before the 1st independence, apart from the fact that likely the Jesuit missionaries arrived long before the Crusades. However, here is just an example. Johannes Matvei-Kaarep is known as Estonia's most well-known writing prophet, although there were others, like Karl Reits, who prophesied the coming destruction and occupation of the Soviet Union. The prophesies were fulfilled since the leaders, including Konstantin Päts as well as most church leaders, did not hear what God had to say. Books have been published about both. I have also read an incredible account of Estonian women who did incredible things with God, one who built a hospital in Egypt as a missionary even during the Soviet times. Now fast forward a few decades, in the deep of the Soviet time, in the 70ies, when most people did not believe independence was possible, Christians knew what was about to come (God spoke). As an early sign, a huge spiritual awakening started in the 70ies, known as the Effataa Awakening, at St Olav's church, where people started flocking into the church from all over the Soviet Union. Miraculous healings and transformation of lives took place. See an account by pastor Ülo Niinemägi who was a young hippie at the time it started: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHK5i5hua9-ko5Y I can also tell you, God is not finished with Estonia and Estonians! I believe we are standing at the crossroads as a nation and we have a choice to make. Like during the first independence, God is calling our people to repentance and He is asking us to turn to Him! As is written in 2 Chronicles: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." And now I want to say to you this: God is not only concerned with our nation, but He has a plan for each person. He is not a distant God. He is the "God with us" - Immanuel. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will not perish" John 3:16 Will you accept Jesus today? Will you hear and believe what He said? He said He is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father apart from Him. He said we are the branches and He is the true vine, that truly we cannot do anything apart from Him. I was an Atheist who found God through astro- and particle physics - I was not even looking for God, but had simply made the most sincere decision of my life to find out if truth even existed and if my life has any meaning. He has saved me and has shown me love like nothing and no one else can. I know He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. I encourage you to hear the testimonies and stories of people who have found God. Many on TV7 (also on KZbin), many from the Village of Hope (Lootuse küla), and many many from abroad.

[@prapa5521]

this neighbour :D made me laugh :D but yes we are like that :D it dosent mean anything bad actually :D

[@MananAnwar]

We are good friends now, just took 4 years

[@Jeweliedear]

Hahaa thats how i feel when i go to some european deli's 😂 like you are bothering somebody doing a job they are being paid to do 😂

[@MananAnwar]

Yes it was strange for me when I went to the US and people there asked me how I was

[@Datacorrupter234]

aww bro wth i wanted an estonian to tell me about it not as sexy this way