TOP 5 most surprising facts about Estonia for the foreigners / TOP 5 faktidest Eesti kohta, mis üllatavad välismaalasi

Now there is around 40 more people in the world who know how great is my small country called Estonia :) I did a country-presentation for local AIESEC members and other foreign trainees. I showed a nice PowerPoint, played music from Estonia, we drank some Estonian beverages, ate Estonian chocolate and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening. Me too, as I like to talk about Estonia. Do you want to know TOP5 of facts about Estonia which are most surprising for foreigners (maybe for you too) :)

#1 The highest point of Estonia is 318 meters. The best reaction I got to it: "It is like a swamp!"

#2 There are white nights in Estonia. This seems to be unbelievable for people from the South that there are nights in June-July, when there is never getting completely dark.

#3 Estonian girls are sooooo beautiful! Some of the people who have been to Estonia and others who took a look on my photos with some female friends, were surprised about how nice they are. I should agree ;)

#4 Internet-phone Skype was originally created in Estonia. This and other facts like e-government, e-elections and other wide-spread advancements in technology are surprising for foreigners.

#5 There are 1,4 Million inhabitants in Estonia. Typical reaction: "But it is 3/4/6/10 times less than in my city!" Yes we are little :)

One of the biggest surprises for me was to hear from the Southern foreigners (I go out here a lot with people from Greece, Turkey, Arabic countries) something like that: "Deniss, you should know that guy! He looks the same blond like you!" Me and blond?!! In Estonia I am considered to be quite dark - I tried to explain - but nothing helped! :)

"Blond" me in the front of castle in Potsdam / "Blond" mina lossi ees Potsdamis

Last weekend we were to the Nazi concentration camp museum near Berlin. Very interesting, but quite sad place to visit. Nazis killed more than 100.000 people in this single place...

Two of my former classmates from the university stayed at my place this week. They travelled around Europe by hitch-hiking and I offered them to make a stop in Berlin. They agreed and we all were very happy. They - because they got some place to stay for free. Me - because I was happy to get a visit from some great Estonians. One friend of mine booked two nights at my place for the next week already. And after her one more couple from Estonia is coming. I am functioning like a youth hostel and it is great :)

I won't be telling any stories this week, but you can share my compassion toward misused bicycles in Berlin. For me, a big fan of a bicycle, it has been a very sad picture... You can take a look on the gallery of them and my other newer pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/deniss

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[EST] Nüüd on maailmas umbes 40 inimese v6rra rohkem, kes teavad, kuiv6rd lahe riik on Eesti :) Ma tegin siin kohaliku AIESECi ja teiste välispraktikantide jaoks presentatsiooni Eestist. Toreda powerpoindi, kena muusika, Viru Valge+6unamahla kokteili ja mu esinemise abil :) Tahate teada, mis on top 5 faktidest Eesti kohta, mis teisi üllatavad?

#1 Eesti k6ige k6rgem koht on 318 meetrit. Parim reaktsioon sellele: "See on ju nagu soo!" Olge uhked, Eesti soo-armastajad!

#2 Eestis on valged ööd. L6unamaalaste jaoks tundub uskumatu, et juunis-juulis on ööd, mil ei lähegi täiesti pimedaks. Olge uhked, Eesti romantikud!

#3 Eestis on niiiiiiii ilusad naised! M6ned meeskodanikest välismaalased on Eestit külastanud ja oli näha, kuiv6rd hakkasid nende silmad särama kui nad rääkisid oma muljetest Tallinna/Tartu ööklubidest. Sama reaktsioon on järgnenud sellele, kui näitasin pilte minust ja mu naissoost tuttavatest-s6pradest Eestis. Olge uhked, Eesti naised :)

#4 Skype'i on välja arendatud Eestis. See ja sellised faktid nagu e-valimised, e-valitsus jne, pakuvad inimestele alati üllatuse. Olge uhked, Eesti tehnokraadid!

#5 Eestis on 1,4 miljonit elanikku. Tüüpiline reaktsioon: "See on ju 4/5/6/10 korda vähem kui mu linnas!". Olge uhked, Eesti maaelu patrioodid!

Ja mind ennast on üllatanud, kui l6unamaade inimesed (ma suhtlen siin palju praktikantidega Kreekast, Türgist, Araabia maade esindajatega jne) ütlevad mulle midagi sellist: "Noh, tead ju seda tüüpi! Tal on sama blondpea nagu sinulgi". Mina ja blond?!!!

Eelmisel nädalavahetusel käisime ekskursioonil endises natsi-konts.laagris. Nüüd on seal muuseum. Huvitav, aga kurb. Ainuüksi selles kohas tapsid natsid ligi 100.000 inimest...

A story of the bicycle in Berlin - the part of my gallery / Berliini jalgratta lugu - mu gallerii osa

Sel nädalal käisid mu juures külas kaks endist kursa6de Eestist - Maarja ja Kadri-Liis! Nad ööbisid mu juures kaks ööd ja mul oli väga hea meel selle üle. Järgmisel nädalal broneeris mu toa veel üks tuttav neiu ja pärast veel üks paar Eestist. "Zum Deniss" hotelli uksed on lahti k6ikide jaoks!

Sel nädalal ei hakka lugusid rääkima, sest tegelikult on praegu reedene 6htu ja k6ik kolleegid on töölt ammu lahkunud ja mina üksi istun kontoris nagu loll, sest varem ei olnudki aega midagi kirjutada.

Huvilised v6ivad aga jagada minu kurbust mahajäetud jalgrataste suhtes (mulle kui jalgratta suure s6bra jaoks on see vaatepilt eriti nukker olnud) siin: www.flickr.com/photos/deniss Seal saab nautida ka muid värskemaid pilte.