- Don't brag about yourself. - Don't try to fill the silence moments with something. - Don't ask "how are you today?", if you are not feeling ready for an honest and long, detailed answer.

I've visited Estonia a few times now (will visit again in a few weeks) and while I do have some experience with 'grumpiness' by older employees at a store, most of my encounters have been positive. A lady who worked at a Prisma saw me struggle to find a certain champagne and she asked me if she could help me and I found what I was looking for. A few nice girls working at Gustav Café always made some small talk around me being from the Netherlands and I even enjoyed making the cashier of a toy store smile when I made a dumb joke. I'm aware this is all anecdotal and I certainly notice the space Estonians give people, I also welcome that over the "in your face 'kindness'" you see in many western countries. There is an honesty in it that I appreciate. I've never felt more at ease in a place than I've felt in Estonia (hence why I keep coming back to Tallinn 😋). I won't ever force friendliness on anyone, but I will be my bubbly self towards everyone I interact with. I don't need it reciprocated, but if it is, I do welcome it. Or will that be my reputation in the future? "Look, It's that bubbly Dutch guy" 😂

Estonia, like in many Northern European countries, people tend to value privacy and personal space, and they may not be as outwardly friendly as people in other cultures. This does not mean that Estonians are not friendly, but rather that they may express their friendliness in different ways.

4. Never mistake an estonian for a russian or think that Estonia is basically Russia with a different flag. That is a great insult to an estonian, because it tells them that they had failed to maintain their own culture and identity which is extremely important to them.

As you already mentioned in your video about our turbulent history, i would answer one of your question about: What not to do as a foreigner. Do not expect or demad that locals around where you live would adopt your ways and traditions and do not act like you own the place. Consequences may vary, sometimes they can also be bad. As you mentioned... reputation. Word travels and people react. All of that is tied to the history. People can be very sensitive about foreigners telling them what to do.

From a local point of view, I smile at people all the time and usually people smile back : ) Compared to Australia and certain African countries, I find customer support in Estonia to be extremely helpful and "solving problems" oriented. Be it airport, cashiers, ordering via app, hospitals, cafeterias etc. For example in Spain you get a lot of chit-chat, but then you have to wait 5 minutes in a grocery store for the cashier to show up as they are chatting with coworkers 😅In Australia -post covid-nothing is working and service can be-to say bluntly- rude(this happened every 2nd day-with different services-which is a lot). When I get bad service in Estonia, it`s a huge thing and after feedback it`s usually fixed with an apology. I guess it depends what one considers to be good service experience. I prefer fast and efficient. Smile or chit-chat doesn`t mean as much to me(The American fake smile+ "sir/maam", the same in African countries and then your coffee takes 1h to arrive). However even then I don`t find it too hard to chat up a person in Estonia. Perhaps not as easily as in extraverted cultures, but overall most people are friendly when I`m friendly to them.

I spent some time in Estonia. It is certainly true that most Estonians will not look or acknowledge a stranger on the street. In general, I did find the majority of Estonians quite helpful if I asked for help. As a solo, middle aged man, I did attract some attention to myself by the women. I found the women quite direct when it came to flirtation.. I guess I can only think of two instances in three weeks spent there where I came across grumpy individuals. One, was a middle aged cashier at a grocery store. The other, was an attendant at a gas station. I had asked if I may use the w.c. in the store. He said that it was only for customers of the store, but there was also a charge to use the w.c. in the petrol station. I also found the typical Estonian very trustworthy and honest.

As an Estonian, friendliness and random smiling part is totally on point. When i started traveling the world, at first it felt so wierd that random people just smile at you in the street. Something you do not see in Estonia.

NEVER EVER tell how other person should live his/her life. NEVER EVER insult a woman. Usually they are, who make the decision if you are acceptable for company. Do NOT say ,,how do you do". Hold your DISTANCE. LEARN and speak estonian.

One thing Estonians are correctly pointing out is that they have existed as a country since 1918, not 1991. Important to remember despite times of occupation.

estonians aren't friendly but there's a plus side to an environment like this imo - you can be the way you feel and giving people space (like we do haha, a lot of it both physically and emotionally) is first of all respectful in it's own way and secondly blocks some aspects of toxic positivity. it's fine to not try to act as sunshine 24/7 if you aren't feeling it, negative emotions are allowed too. also, just having lived in portugal for a year and met many latin people, esp from latam - while their friendliness is more genuine and different from USians, at some point it started feeling even kind of anxious to me. like, bruh, chill, why are you so afraid of 1)people not smiling 24/7; 2)this is even bigger one - silence. there can be no silence, every space of silence must be filled with something or the world will end. those are the aspects that culture shocked me the most in the end and made me really miss home. i really didn't fit in, i had a hard time and people probably had a really hard time with me as well because we express our warmth (that we do have!) differently

Love the beard, hairstyle combo, real 30s style inspiration right there.

Important to say you support Estonian’s independence and its culture!

As Estonian, I would hate American-style customer service. For me, it feels like I am under attack all the time and I lose any desire to buy anything or use any services. Maybe places that are meant for foreign tourists should be more like their taste but at least those services I use as local should be quick, clean and correct :D

Here friendlyness is earned thing, so yes it is correct we do not act friendly as it is kinda like lying. Thats good that understood it's a cultural thing, there's many reasons though.

Thank you for your information 😊

I have to admit that for the last 10 years, I have made it a game to get the older ladies at grocery store checkouts to smile. It's NOT easy. I usually get 'em by doing something over-the-top / 'stupid American'ish. I have found that the smiles are usually genuine. In general however (warning, 'generalization alert"), I 100% agree that this sort of behavior annoys most Estonians (and you won't know it because they won't tell you). And as far as Estonia being small, it is RIDICULOUS! I recently needed a referral on someone completely random, so what did I do? I went to Facebook and found a mutual friend and asked my friend. EVERYONE is like 1 to 2 friends away from everyone else. Picture High School, and you'll understand. While Manan is right about one wrong step alienating a chunk of people, this 'smallness' also has some major pluses. As an example, I find that my friends/acquaintances in Estonia, while fewer in number than the states, have a much broader span of economic statuses, occupations, ages, interests, etc... Putting it another way, the small connected nature of Estonia allows for much larger breadth in your social circles... which I find to be great plus. Overall though, great video (all very true IMO).

They are simply a very direct and reserved people. That’s also a common thing in the Nordic countries.

I think the video is generally on point. I don't completely agree with you saying people don't smile to each other - they do, just usually not to complete strangers and there are exceptions even here (bumping into each other in a queue, approaching someone on the street to ask something etc). My advice: do not alienate yourself by not trying to learn Estonian. It will be harder to blend in and make local friends if you speak no Estonian (it requires someone to translate to you all the time or everyone to speak English which is uncomfortable for many people). Besides, even if you don't manage to learn to speak the language fluently it still looks good if you at least try (people here consider it respectful to speak a language of a country where you go to live). Also I would recommend not staring at people and respecting people's personal space by not coming too close. It's especially important if you are a guy.

To sum it up: Give respect to get respect. Mind your own business. Don't be an asshole.

Very well said

I love hearing expats opinions about Estonia, thank you for sharing! Subscribed and binging your videos because you make some really good points

It took 2 years that my colleague called my name...

I’ll add a point to never get into bad credit history.

I think the second point would apply everywhere, wouldn't it?

Empty smiles and greetings mean nothing for us , if we do greet someone and smile then that means we really really mean it and i like that more than some fake barbiedoll affection.

"If somebody's definitely smiling at you then it probably means that they're crazy or they really really really like you or they're probably interested in you." I not only disagree with this statement but also find it harmful to the evolving culture of Tallinn as a European capital. There are many Estonians who like to smile at others, just to be that way. I don't think all Estonians in Tallinn like and accept the "this is how Estonians are" rhetoric. Especially the younger generations. We cannot deny the fact that Tallinn is not a Mediterranean city where you can loudly say hola and smile all the time. It's true that it's way more difficult to stay positive without a particular reason. And also the fact that people smile way less than such places. However, when I think about the reasons, I don't think people don't smile because they don't like smiling or people who smile. This sounds like "Estonians don't like sun" to me. It's not that they don't like it, it's just something they don't see often and they are not used to it. I believe it is a habit that can and will look different in time. On a personal level: I do smile at people when I think it makes sense. Probably at least half the time people smile back. I'm not talking about walking on the sidewalk and smiling at random people. You know, occasions like; the groceries checkout, or bumping into each other in a store entrance, arriving to a queue at the same, seeing your neighbour in the morning etc. That's actually why I found your comment on this discouraging. Perhaps it triggered me because I'm actively trying the opposite. I am specifically talking about Tallinn because it's the only city I spent enough time to have opinions. Also because I believe in our times capitals and big cities develop their blended culture which I see as a mix of the nation's traditional & capital's international cultural elements. Tallinn is capable of that too, therefore, I would like to tell everyone: Please do make the first mistake. Say "tere", "tervist", "tsau", "nägemist", and "head aega". Don't be shy, smile! 😊 ps. Hey Manan, I know you mean no harm. You even speak Estonian. Keep up the good work, we appreciate it.

I'd like to challenge Your second point. While closed judgements are not good (I agree with You) - The open questions are always welcome. Like What if? Or 'It seems to me.. ..what do You think?".

Estonian here: "automatic American style smile and 'hello, how are you?' are big NO-NO. It feels like a you are hitting on us. Women including.Especially combined with very tiny 'personal bubble' Arabs and many ppl from warmer climates habitually have. You are Arab male, trying to 'swim' under our face, you might get kicked into teeth for just trying to talk (from your pov). God forbid you try to hold hand or smth. Thats violent reaction guaranteed. Do not try it, even tho it might be normal in Afghanistan. How to behave not to alienate yourself? Keep about 1-1.5m away, dont try smalltalk for the sake of it, silence is okay after initial 'hello'. When dealing with total strangers in public setting (bus stop, bus) keep your quiet distance, we'll do same. When strangers are sharing a car, entire car full of ppl quiet for hours is normal for us after 'hello'-s. Dry humor sarcastic of yourself is as nonoffensive as it gets. If you can speak Estonian even badly, show it - it does lot to break ice. We are willing to look past your origin, skin and whatnot when you show you respect us enough to learn the language and behave generally like we do. Muslims arent new - we've had Turkic Azeris among us for decades - but they've learned to mostly assimilate, in return we dont really care what their religion is. Religion: We are mostly atheists. Except for some Christian Protestants and Eastern Orthodox. DO NOT TRY TO PREACH. All sorts of Christian sects doing it on street are annoying enough - and they are 'our own', you, obviously foreigner trying to 'explain how we should live' will not be appreciated. But by the same token, we wont be judging you when you do smth your own people would consider 'haram'. Here you can 'reinvent' yourself without having to think what your 'community' would think. We wont care when your newfound love is weekend pork barbeque with a case of beer. Considering all of that, Estonia might work out for you when you are introvert by nature and do not feel need for a "community from your own culture". Otherwise, it will get depressing as fuck - I know for a fact many refugees (more than 50%) have left the country because they could not tolerate lack of community from their own culture. By the same token, community they missed would have limited their options (haram/halal judgments) If you think you can adapt on your own - more power to you. Easiest way to build local contacts/life networks would be through work - if you have any Estonians you work with, thats one path. Volunteering for things - animal rescue and so forth would be next quick path for creating friendly contacts among locals very fast. my 2c

Estonian history is complex and slso saddly outside of Estonia some of it is so messed and mixed to haze what was. There has been lots of suffering and anyone not understanding can get put in place, hopefully with words, so yeah please everyone do not state anything about Estonian heratige or history.

Good and correct. Only missing i would say is never try speaking Russian specialy if you are a tourist also not try to sugest Estonia is Russian or has ties to it as we only have been forced to live under their rule (we never have wanted to) where a lot of us d 1 3 d. Same reason why rest of the word does not understand that Russia has no chanse against Estonia in a war, as every able man, women, child and elder will fight against them (yes even disabled like me, cant walt or sho0t due to health issues but have other things that are needed like medical abilities/equipment and strategic knowlage, everyone will give what they got that will and can be needed). Russia saw that when they tried to insight unrest, instead all over the coumtried over hundred thousand men and women volenteered for police to held back the unrest. Puudi was unsecsesful and was we will sand together and has not tried anything similar since.

They say, that almost always in conversations touching religion or politics may not ending well. Religion in Estonia is a different case then in most places, but still there is a danger to offend the person coming to visit us as here are lots of ateists and they dont care any religion that matter. And religious people for sure feel offended as they dont understand it is not personal against their believs but overall statment.

I havent seen you in estonia what city do you live in? And tere

Hello sir, i really was thinking about moving to Estonia in my future, but I would have to learn the language. Is it that hard? How long it takes to catch the basics? Did u learn Estonian after moving there? Also did u speak fluent english before moving to Estonia?

How r u janab

I don't agree with everything, but with a lot But of course the problem with me is that I was born here. Good luck 👍

Seems less like adapting to a culture and more like you're trying to entice a wild dog to be calm and not bite you.

After living in Germany and then moving to Canada, i can totally relate to the difficulties/ challenges that we face on a daily basis as a brown person in Europe. It’s a lot work to get into the society specially when you are coming alone. I would not blame it on the native people but I do request people to be kind and welcoming towards foreigners. The biggest fear that I had while living in Germany was that even if i would scream so loud at a public place, even then nobody will come to you. Because of the “personal space”. But after years of living you get accustomed to the behaviors of people. Now i feel people are intruding into my personal space if someone asks me beyond how I am doing. Everyone needs to give themselves some time to get to know the place. Every country has some good things and bad things. There are millions of things that i really like about Estonia and Germany, but at the same time I would not deny the fact that its very hard for people like us to get permanently settled there.

Shyness is one thing, bad service is another. Unfortunately, you will get better service in a cheap hotel in Helsinki than in an expensive one in Estonia. Just my own experience.

I am utterly incapable of not bashing Russia and the USSR

can we convert Pakistani driving license into Estonian?

English 50percent ho to chal sakta hy insan

Still soviet influence

I’ll just avoid it by not going to Estonia, still thank u bro!

When the Estonian official (PM?) was interviewed on Wion (Indian news channel), I notice she kept saying -- "when Estonia regained our independence from the Soviet Union"...in multiple sentences. Its almost as if she wanted the audience to know that Estonia is not some breakaway region of Russia soon to be reclaimed. I surmised they are insecure about their independence, and worried that it will one day be taken away from them by Russia. They are between a rock and a hard place. NATO exists solely to contain and diminish the power of Russia. By joining NATO, Estonia has brought NATO to the doorstep of Russia. It thus cannot expect anything but hostility from Russia as Russia aims to push back NATO from its door step. Absent NATO, Estonia would be "reclaimed" by Russia or at the very least, turned into a neutral buffer state. I feel Russia will eventually start demanding Estonia exit NATO and assume neutrality to demonstrate non-hostile intent. If that does not happen, conflict at some level will inevitably follow.

imo estonia is closer to romania than finland, mu kallasemaa, mu õnn ja rõõm

lack of friendliness is not culture. We should demand and should set example. Acceding to this is a defeat.