I remember it was in 1990 when I saw a postcard of the Golden Gate
Bridge and white Pacific waves breaking on the rocks underneath it.
The picture was so amazing, far and unreachable. When my best
girlfriend came to work here in 1992, I remember myself saying, I do
not think I will ever go there.
In 1997 I was maid of honor in her wedding in Orange County, CA. This
trip was like in a movie. We drove along the West Coast to San
Francisco and we were walking on the bridge. We traveled through three
states and many cities. I will never forget my first experience in the
Pacific. It was on a beautiful stretch of beach in Laguna. I was
thinking, who are these nicely tanned and joyful people living here.
Then it was time to pack our suitcases and fly back home, back to our
jobs and every day errands. I doubted I would ever be back on this
land again.
Between the years 1997-1999 I had many great trips to different
European capitals, the Alps, skiing in Scandinavia etc.
One day in 1999 was the first day of the rest of my life.I had an accicent leaving my right arm immobile for three months. My marriage ended after life spent together for eight years.
At the same time I was having tests at the university.
Life became so depressing. But when life closes a door, it opens a
window. I was back in the USA, under the hot sun of Arizona. It was
all so different. There were big cactuses, rocky mountains, red
sunsets, sky broken by thunder in August and friendly people. I worked
and studied there for a year, until I became homesick enough to go
back to my green homeland. At this time I was in Estonia for half a
year, teaching English. One day, after a lecture at a university, I
found an ad. It was a tough competition in order to get the good job.
I was lucky and successful and found myself back In AZ, in the mile
high town of Prescott. It is 100 miles to the north of Phoenix, built
on the mountains. Every house has wonderful views, even the local
grocery store had a terrific view from the parking lot. It was close
to the Grand Canyon, and the emotions are hard to describe in words.
It is a superb creation of nature with Red city Sedona, rock
climbing, and natural waterslides. I had to teach 28 teenagers, who
were in love with me and I was with them. Their smiles made me happy,
and their hugs started my day. I was living in the same house with a
lesbian couple. They were nice girls who lived downstairs, and I
lived upstairs, sharing a kitchen and living room. I did not eat at
home very often. I was very busy training every night. But one night I
came home early and had to prepare something to eat. I took a small
pan, some frozen potatoes and ground meat. As soon as the meat was in
the pan, the girl, standing and talking to me, freaked out.
I could not understand what the problem was. Well, she was a
vegetarian and I ruined her pan. I paid 50 dollars for it, which was
way too expensive for a little used pan. Besides, it was just a pan.
Not to mention, that on the beach of life, this was not even a grain
of sand. It was the end of our existence under the same roof.
The last month of my stay I spent with my very good friend, traveling
in AZ and CA. He used to joke and ask me if I was ready to become a
Californian girl. I always responded, "Yes, yes, sounds great, but
pretty impossible."
After a while I was back at home in Estonia teaching, until I started
to miss the USA. I decided to come and spend a summer holiday, and
stayed for six months. I went to New York City and spent a lot of time at
the beach in OC. Until one day I met one nice young man. The story is
classic; he liked my girlfriend. Oh well, she is married with two cute
kids. Me and him found it entertaining to rollerblade and cycle on the
beach, discuss life, and cool off in the waves. One day he decided to
ask me for dinner. I chose the place, a restaurant in Orange County,
Orange City, on top of Orange hill. Spectacular view. Breath taking.
When we reached the door, I told him that they will take your car.
Pretty blonde statement, huh? That's not all. One day on the beach I
asked if he had a car. It just occurred to me that surfers would just
have a surfboard, and besides surfing they can't hold a conversation
or anything else. Life proved opposite. After we had made plans for
dinner, he joked that he didn't have any other clothes but shorts and
t-shirts. Until I saw him in his suit and was stunned.
During those 6 months I met his family and friends. Again,
homesickness struck and I left.
We kept emailing, telephoning, and sending postcards. I received a big
package with my favorite treats, surf sweatshirt, some books, and a
nice watch. When I was looking back at the airport the last time,
seeing him cry and thinking about an agreement to come back the next
summer. I did not think I would come. I had been here plenty, wanted
to develop my life in Estonia. I loved my job, spending time at my
farm house and with my family and friends.
Six months passed by and it was June. I was thinking, what is it that
I miss so badly. I work, work, work to pay my bills, keep the car, pay the
rent, to hold on to a convenient life. I did not have much free time
to meet someone and start a family. Teaching, especially teaching a
language is fun, but takes a lot of energy. It is eight hours of
non-stop communication.
So, what the hell? Summer is free, and I can spend my vacation in CA
while swimming and surfing in the waves among dolphins and seals.
Here I am. Banana trees, palm trees, roses, Estonian summer-like
winter. I am in love with the ocean and never get enough of it.
I now know who lives here, in Orange County, in these Pacific towns.
Living in the USA must be described on many hundreds of pages. USA is
not LA, is not NYC, and is not Florida. It is a very big country with
its interesting features, powerful, changeable nature, strange
characteristics, bad and good sides. It is like every other country.
USA is not lounging by the pool, surfing on the beach or shopping at
Fashion Island. It is not only the fun of Hollywood, Disneyland or Las Vegas.
It is a life like life everywhere else. It is life that costs money
and has to be earned.
My homeland Estonia is great, with its four seasons, fairy-tale-like
winters, blooming springs, hay smelling summers and colorful rainy
falls.
Like every nation on earth, Estonians think that they are the best,
the most important country on earth.
Everyone can have their rights. Norwegians in Norway believe that
their country is the most wonderful. Irish know that Ireland is the
greenest. Italians in Northern Italy can't comprehend Italians in the
South.
People in Orange County in South California would not believe in life
anywhere else and people living by the ocean couldn't image living
more than walking distance away.
Living here is like living in many countries and cultures at the same
time. You can meet someone who tries to explain to you something using
only three English words. You will go exercising down to the beach and
hear a religious service, two steps away young tanned people playing
volleyball wearing their bikinis.
You see Muslim ladies in their full outfits bathing in the ocean or
driving on a freeway in a fancy car talking on their cell phone.
You meet people who say things that leave your mouth open.
I like reading life stories; I have read US classis to help me
understand this society.
No one could have an opinion on anything before they haven't seen it
and felt it themselves. It would be like trying to retell a novel they
have never read. Traveling back and forth during seven years, seeing
many other countries in Europe and Africa, has made me tolerant. It
has opened my eyes.
It is not possible to describe a nation on a single sheet of paper,
let alone in an entire book. It is a mobile society. We all believe
in stereotypes. I believe you can say that Estonians are reserved and
Americans have their world famous, 'keep smiling'.
But on the other hand, what is healthier to do, to smile or to be angry?
Yes, they are superficial and shallow. Yes they are individualists and
like their privacy.
It is a part of a western culture. It is actually a mix of many
different cultures and religions.
It is essential here to be loud and ambitious in order to be
competitive and successful.
Estonians are a mixture of many cultures and religions also, many good
traits and many bad ones as well. We both come from western world.
Both our nations are a mix of many.
I can feel how big the world is. Every sunrise brings news from all
over the world. I can feel how small Estonia is, how small our nation
is, but we still have our own language.
Every time I have come here, I have half of my suitcase full of black
bread. Put it in a freezer and it lasts for months. I have now found
distributors and can buy Lithuanian black bread in one store. I know
Latvian bread was good, but now……as we say in EST, I could start
loving Lithuanians.
I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful towns on earth,
Tallinn. My favorite city is London and the neatest country in the
world is Austria.
I live in a lovely town by the Pacific Ocean.
When I was a little girl I was dreaming about living in Moscow. In a
big old building, apartment with many rooms, and looking over the busy
street……..but…
Bridge and white Pacific waves breaking on the rocks underneath it.
The picture was so amazing, far and unreachable. When my best
girlfriend came to work here in 1992, I remember myself saying, I do
not think I will ever go there.
In 1997 I was maid of honor in her wedding in Orange County, CA. This
trip was like in a movie. We drove along the West Coast to San
Francisco and we were walking on the bridge. We traveled through three
states and many cities. I will never forget my first experience in the
Pacific. It was on a beautiful stretch of beach in Laguna. I was
thinking, who are these nicely tanned and joyful people living here.
Then it was time to pack our suitcases and fly back home, back to our
jobs and every day errands. I doubted I would ever be back on this
land again.
Between the years 1997-1999 I had many great trips to different
European capitals, the Alps, skiing in Scandinavia etc.
One day in 1999 was the first day of the rest of my life.I had an accicent leaving my right arm immobile for three months. My marriage ended after life spent together for eight years.
At the same time I was having tests at the university.
Life became so depressing. But when life closes a door, it opens a
window. I was back in the USA, under the hot sun of Arizona. It was
all so different. There were big cactuses, rocky mountains, red
sunsets, sky broken by thunder in August and friendly people. I worked
and studied there for a year, until I became homesick enough to go
back to my green homeland. At this time I was in Estonia for half a
year, teaching English. One day, after a lecture at a university, I
found an ad. It was a tough competition in order to get the good job.
I was lucky and successful and found myself back In AZ, in the mile
high town of Prescott. It is 100 miles to the north of Phoenix, built
on the mountains. Every house has wonderful views, even the local
grocery store had a terrific view from the parking lot. It was close
to the Grand Canyon, and the emotions are hard to describe in words.
It is a superb creation of nature with Red city Sedona, rock
climbing, and natural waterslides. I had to teach 28 teenagers, who
were in love with me and I was with them. Their smiles made me happy,
and their hugs started my day. I was living in the same house with a
lesbian couple. They were nice girls who lived downstairs, and I
lived upstairs, sharing a kitchen and living room. I did not eat at
home very often. I was very busy training every night. But one night I
came home early and had to prepare something to eat. I took a small
pan, some frozen potatoes and ground meat. As soon as the meat was in
the pan, the girl, standing and talking to me, freaked out.
I could not understand what the problem was. Well, she was a
vegetarian and I ruined her pan. I paid 50 dollars for it, which was
way too expensive for a little used pan. Besides, it was just a pan.
Not to mention, that on the beach of life, this was not even a grain
of sand. It was the end of our existence under the same roof.
The last month of my stay I spent with my very good friend, traveling
in AZ and CA. He used to joke and ask me if I was ready to become a
Californian girl. I always responded, "Yes, yes, sounds great, but
pretty impossible."
After a while I was back at home in Estonia teaching, until I started
to miss the USA. I decided to come and spend a summer holiday, and
stayed for six months. I went to New York City and spent a lot of time at
the beach in OC. Until one day I met one nice young man. The story is
classic; he liked my girlfriend. Oh well, she is married with two cute
kids. Me and him found it entertaining to rollerblade and cycle on the
beach, discuss life, and cool off in the waves. One day he decided to
ask me for dinner. I chose the place, a restaurant in Orange County,
Orange City, on top of Orange hill. Spectacular view. Breath taking.
When we reached the door, I told him that they will take your car.
Pretty blonde statement, huh? That's not all. One day on the beach I
asked if he had a car. It just occurred to me that surfers would just
have a surfboard, and besides surfing they can't hold a conversation
or anything else. Life proved opposite. After we had made plans for
dinner, he joked that he didn't have any other clothes but shorts and
t-shirts. Until I saw him in his suit and was stunned.
During those 6 months I met his family and friends. Again,
homesickness struck and I left.
We kept emailing, telephoning, and sending postcards. I received a big
package with my favorite treats, surf sweatshirt, some books, and a
nice watch. When I was looking back at the airport the last time,
seeing him cry and thinking about an agreement to come back the next
summer. I did not think I would come. I had been here plenty, wanted
to develop my life in Estonia. I loved my job, spending time at my
farm house and with my family and friends.
Six months passed by and it was June. I was thinking, what is it that
I miss so badly. I work, work, work to pay my bills, keep the car, pay the
rent, to hold on to a convenient life. I did not have much free time
to meet someone and start a family. Teaching, especially teaching a
language is fun, but takes a lot of energy. It is eight hours of
non-stop communication.
So, what the hell? Summer is free, and I can spend my vacation in CA
while swimming and surfing in the waves among dolphins and seals.
Here I am. Banana trees, palm trees, roses, Estonian summer-like
winter. I am in love with the ocean and never get enough of it.
I now know who lives here, in Orange County, in these Pacific towns.
Living in the USA must be described on many hundreds of pages. USA is
not LA, is not NYC, and is not Florida. It is a very big country with
its interesting features, powerful, changeable nature, strange
characteristics, bad and good sides. It is like every other country.
USA is not lounging by the pool, surfing on the beach or shopping at
Fashion Island. It is not only the fun of Hollywood, Disneyland or Las Vegas.
It is a life like life everywhere else. It is life that costs money
and has to be earned.
My homeland Estonia is great, with its four seasons, fairy-tale-like
winters, blooming springs, hay smelling summers and colorful rainy
falls.
Like every nation on earth, Estonians think that they are the best,
the most important country on earth.
Everyone can have their rights. Norwegians in Norway believe that
their country is the most wonderful. Irish know that Ireland is the
greenest. Italians in Northern Italy can't comprehend Italians in the
South.
People in Orange County in South California would not believe in life
anywhere else and people living by the ocean couldn't image living
more than walking distance away.
Living here is like living in many countries and cultures at the same
time. You can meet someone who tries to explain to you something using
only three English words. You will go exercising down to the beach and
hear a religious service, two steps away young tanned people playing
volleyball wearing their bikinis.
You see Muslim ladies in their full outfits bathing in the ocean or
driving on a freeway in a fancy car talking on their cell phone.
You meet people who say things that leave your mouth open.
I like reading life stories; I have read US classis to help me
understand this society.
No one could have an opinion on anything before they haven't seen it
and felt it themselves. It would be like trying to retell a novel they
have never read. Traveling back and forth during seven years, seeing
many other countries in Europe and Africa, has made me tolerant. It
has opened my eyes.
It is not possible to describe a nation on a single sheet of paper,
let alone in an entire book. It is a mobile society. We all believe
in stereotypes. I believe you can say that Estonians are reserved and
Americans have their world famous, 'keep smiling'.
But on the other hand, what is healthier to do, to smile or to be angry?
Yes, they are superficial and shallow. Yes they are individualists and
like their privacy.
It is a part of a western culture. It is actually a mix of many
different cultures and religions.
It is essential here to be loud and ambitious in order to be
competitive and successful.
Estonians are a mixture of many cultures and religions also, many good
traits and many bad ones as well. We both come from western world.
Both our nations are a mix of many.
I can feel how big the world is. Every sunrise brings news from all
over the world. I can feel how small Estonia is, how small our nation
is, but we still have our own language.
Every time I have come here, I have half of my suitcase full of black
bread. Put it in a freezer and it lasts for months. I have now found
distributors and can buy Lithuanian black bread in one store. I know
Latvian bread was good, but now……as we say in EST, I could start
loving Lithuanians.
I was born and raised in one of the most beautiful towns on earth,
Tallinn. My favorite city is London and the neatest country in the
world is Austria.
I live in a lovely town by the Pacific Ocean.
When I was a little girl I was dreaming about living in Moscow. In a
big old building, apartment with many rooms, and looking over the busy
street……..but…
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