“So where are you from?“, is the first question you normally hear after talking to a stranger for a minute. Detecting accents feels a bit like a national sport in Australia. I am Estonian. Even more so in Australia than in Estonia.
When I first arrived in Australia in 2007 it felt like a different world. English that did not sound like the English taught in school. Jokes that were not funny. People who smile all the time and immense distances beyond my imagination... A year later I left and there were tears. Will I ever see this country, my family and friends again? To date I have been here five times already.
All Estonians ask me where I work, how much I earn and if it is easy or tough to live here - probably because they already know that nature in Australia is magnificent. And the most important question – where is it better: Australia or Estonia?
Yes, the Australian lifestyle can be very pleasurable. Good climate and decent salary even for simple jobs. But at the same time the competition is fierce and there is always someone who will do the same job for less. I have seen a homeless person sitting in a street cafe drinking a flat white while writing a new sign saying why people should give him money but I have also seen students work for next to no money and live in inhuman conditions. An ad for a flat where you have to sleep on a sofa in a common area is not that uncommon.
In Estonia you don't have to think where to buy a bus ticket or how the recycling is done. Abroad you have to start all over again and also take into account that things might not work in a way you like or are used to. In Australia most people use tax-agents to fill in their tax return and being on a bus for two hours to go to work and back is considered OK. Not in Estonia.
When in Australia do as the locals do, I was told by my Australian relatives. On your birthday let others take you out and do not worry about the 3-course meal at your place. On a Saturday take a picnic basket and go to the beach to a common grill-area. Do whatever you have to do to be happy seems to be the motto in Australia. People don't like to talk about the hardships and difficulties – at least not to strangers. And being considered one oftheir own takes time.
When You meet an Australian...
A stereotypical Australian loves flip-flops, surf and beer. The female-version loves high-heels, surf and sparkling wine. Both of them love a brown paste called Vegemite – that should never be confused with Nutella. It tastes like a mixture between soy-sauce and yeast. Children grow up with it – toast with butter and the tiniest amount of the apparently amazing spread. So thousands of Australians start their days.
In reality everyone is unique and the whole country very multicultural. Especially from an Estonian perspective. An Australian can be of any race. Usually the second generation of immigrants consider themselves Australian. This is probably one of the reasons why Australia is so attractive. It is easy to call Australia your home.
You have to try hard to feel lonely here. People chat to almost everyone – bus driver, shop-keeper, a stranger at the bus stop. Everyone you share a life moment with. Hello darling, hi mate are common salutes. A bus-driver who at the last stop gives everyone a speech where he says thank you and wishes everyone a great day and that it will not rain on them is not uncommon. And soon you too end up offering to help travel guide-carrying tourists who are trying to find their way in rush-hour public-transport.
I know it sounds like you have heard it before but most of the people here really are friendly and curious. For an Estonian it is sometimes hard to understand what's behind that smile. Turning down a date can come at the last minute – not because they don't like you, just because they have other options as well and something better came up. It is easy for us to get upset with a thing like that. Promises might be said just as a sign of goodwill. For Estonians is equals betrayal. But our modesty can be boring to Australians and being straight-forward can be seen as being plain rude.
Usually Australians don't know that much about Estonia. But therefore they also don't seem to have any prejudices. You will hear often that you are the first Estonian they ever met. This means responsibility. Estonians who live abroad are very proud of their origin. Young travellers might not think about it consciously, but are not any less Estonian. Life in Estonia has moved on and we are more and more influenced by America and Europe.
I have been confused enough myself about what is Estonian. For example when my Australian cousin asked me to cook an Estonian meal. For me it is home-food. Dishes that your granny makes or that you know from the kindergarten. I don't know if mince-meat-white-sauce is classified as Estonian national cuisine but it sure tastes like home to me.
Those who know something about Estonia have normally visited Estonia (by which I mean Tallinn old town) while on a cruise, or they know Estonians who have migrated to Australia. In general it is good to be Estonian in Australia – is sets you apart.
The longer I am away from Estonia the more proud I am to be Estonian. And yes – I have told the story about the amazing e-Estonia and that Skype is basically Estonian a hundred times. And of course we are more similar to Scandinavia – based on our language and culture. But I tend to add that of course we are still an ex-Soviet Union county. Just in case something nasty should happen to people when they visit Estonia.
I am truly happy that I have had the chance to travel this country and become friends with my relatives but no – I won't stay here. And I am not coming back to Estonia. But does it really matter? Wherever I am is my home. But it is good to know that Australia is just a plane ticket away.
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