Arrival in Tartu

I hadn’t expected to come to Tartu. I study Russian, but when the war started, SSEES quickly found us alternative placements. Tartu is Estonia’s second largest city – 100,000 people. I arrived before term started, and the town felt empty, since 20% of the population are students. I got orientated while it was quiet, and it didn’t take long. They say nothing in Tartu is more than 10 minutes away. Although it’s hilly, so on Monday mornings it’s at least 15…

Bikes and electric scooters are everywhere but for those less athletic, a bus pass is great. An Estonian ID number gets you some discounts, and it’s worth getting. Just bring your passport to the Welcome Centre, fill out a form, and it’s ready by the afternoon. The under-26 three-month pass was 40 Euros, and I probably got my money’s worth within a week, shuttling up and down the big hill.

International students seem to arrive earlier, and Tartu’s a popular Erasmus destination. For the first few weeks, the pubs felt like backstage at Eurovision. I’m not an Erasmus student, but still got the membership card (mainly for RyanAir discounts). The ESN is really active here, doing weekend trips, club nights, karaoke, and quizzes. Membership isn’t required, but it makes ticketed events cheaper. My friends studying in Prague and Leiden didn’t know about it, so I sent them the Instagram for their chapters. Whether it’s yoga or pub crawls, it’s a great resource. 

I’m in a flat, but I recommend the uni dormitories if you’re coming alone. Raatuse 22 is the international dorm (don’t ask me about pronunciation...) I came with some UCL classmates, and our one friend staying there deserves some kind of award for inviting us to pre-drinks, introducing us to his friends, and telling us which bar to go to each night. So if you don’t have a friend to be the UCL diplomatic coordinator, get your accom application in early!

Freedom Monument, Riga

There’s so many travel opportunities here. We went to Latvia to visit friends, and the direct bus to Riga was cheap but very bougie, with free WiFi and coffee. Riga’s beautiful, and had me missing London, but I missed Tartu’s familiarity too. We went to Helsinki last weekend, on the 2-hour ferry from Tallinn. The buses go all the way to Lithuania and Poland, and there’s an overnight ferry to Stockholm, which I’ve heard is a booze cruise if you feel up for it. But go early, before the days get too short!

Jury’s still out on how effective it is to learn Russian here. Riga had more speaking opportunities, but my classes here are great. Tartu’s a perfect University Town™ for study abroad.  It’s cute, and a nice change from London, with all the novelty and excitement of being somewhere you never would’ve gone to otherwise. And it’s more ‘edgy’, as my mum would say, than I expected. I’m still deciding whether the vibes are more Scandinavian or Eastern European, but either way, I’m a fan.