I booked my plane tickets to Estonia yesterday, and so I am officially going!! On September 1, I fly from San Francisco to New York, where I will briefly stop before heading to London. Normally I would not be excited about a stopover, particularly on an international flight, but on this stopover at JFK, my sister Laura will join me, and we will travel to London together, where we will spend a week together seeing the city before I head off to Tallinn on September 8. Laura has been to London before and should prove to be an excellent tour guide and companion. I'm excited!!
In terms of preparing myself for arrival in Estonia, everything is coming together well. I have finalized with Ivar Tallo of the Estonian e-Governance Academy that I will be working with eGA (http://www.ega.ee), and I will even have my own office in their building, from what I am told! I will also travel around Estonia with Veljo Haamer of http://www.wifi.ee, and we have been in continuous touch. I am still in the process of finding an apartment, but both Ivar, his secretary Annela and Veljo have been extremely willing to help me in this process, so I am hoping it will go smoothly. I am also considering splitting the cost of an apartment with another American Fulbrighter: Mark Hood of University of Connecticut. Mark is studying Water Quality Management at Tallinn Technical University, with a man named Dr. Arvo Lital. It should be a fascinating project!!
Well, that is about all that I have for this update, but the trip is approaching, and I am getting excited!! Keep checking back for more information, which I will post as I get it. Take care, and please don't forget to email me!
Welcome to the Lair!
My tent cabin from working at the Lair in Summer 2002
Cheers,
John
