Ahyoon has lived in Estonia for 13 years and Youngju for five. They both teach Korean to Estonians at Tallinn King Sejong Institute, a part of Tallinn University.
Ahyoon, who came to Estonia in 2012, is excited to share the first impressions she had upon arrival. "When I came to Estonia, I liked the easy way that people here approach life. They don't involve themselves in other people's business. It was interesting." It was different from Korea, where life proceeds at a quick pace, and Ahyoon found peace and time for herself in Estonia. She especially likes its nature, which stands in contrast to Korea's densely populated areas.
Youngju also calls attention to the uniqueness of Estonian nature. "I was surprised that no matter where you look, you can see the sky. In Korea, there are a lot of high-rise buildings and it's hard to see the sky. Here you can see it everywhere," she says. The changeable weather also surprised Youngjiu. "It's hard to predict the weather day to day. I check the weather forecast every two hours because the weather can change so quickly," she says.
Both teachers had something to say about Estonian winters and summers. Ahyoon recalls how her birthday, which is usually celebrated with spring flowers and good weather in Korea, became a winter's day when she moved to Estonia, with plenty of rain and snow. "This was interesting and different for me. In Estonia, I learned to wear a raincoat, and I've gotten used to the fact that winter lasts so long." Youngjiu recalls that it once snowed on October 23, which would never happen in Korea.
Ahyoon and Youngjiu have both noticed that Estonians seem more reserved than Koreans at first glance. "People in Estonia seem cold at first, it's like they don't want to talk to anyone. But when I got to know them better, I learned that they actually are warm at heart. They are always ready to help others when asked." Youngjiu has similar observations. "When I was moving to another accomodation one weekend, my students even asked me if I needed any help. That was a pleasant surprise," she says.
Estonian cuisine has been a riveting topic for Ahyoon and Youngjiu. Ahyoon admits that the flavor palette of Estonian food is not as diverse as Korean cuisine is, but says there are some pleasant surprises. "Estonian food has less character. It's simple in nature. Korean food is full of flavor, but there are now several Korean restaurants here," Ahyoon says. Youngjiu's favorite Estonian food is black bread with spreadable cheese. She believes there's something to be said for Estonian food and it's worth experiencing these interesting and local flavors. "You just have to try the local food when you come to Estonia," she says decisively.
According to Ahyoon and Youngju, they have also contributed elements of Korean culture to Estonia. "We teach Korean and most of the students in our classes love K-pop," says Ahyoon. She adds that Korean cuisine and social entertainment are increasingly noticeable in Estonia, such as karaoke, which is very popular in Korea.
