What do expats find most challenging?

We asked expats and digital nomads what they find the most challenging about the local culture in Tartu. They wrote...

"Expats in Tartu often find the language barrier to be the most challenging aspect of the local culture. As the majority of the population speaks Estonian, it can be difficult for expats to communicate with locals and to access services. Additionally, the local culture is quite different from many other countries, and expats may find it difficult to adjust to the customs and traditions of the area. Furthermore, the winter months can be particularly challenging for expats, as the temperatures can drop to below freezing and the days are much shorter," mentioned another expat when asked about moving to Tartu, Estonia.

"1. There was tension surrounding the language and I was harrassed a couple of times because I didn't speak Estonian. The worst part about this is that they were medical professionals. The situation with the language has changed and I haven't had a bad experience for awhile but it was the most challenging part. 2. There's tension between Estonians of Russian decent and Estonians that are not of Russian decent. This could also play into the language being made out to be something to hold over others who don't speak the language. It's not everyone though. It's just loud by a small few and it has gotten better. Estonia is a place of improvement and progression at a rapid speed. So this and the above challenge might not even exist anymore. 3. The quality of medical care is below westernized standards. It's not just with equipment but also with the professionalism and the education of some of the medical staff. I'm also going to include customer service in general with this one. The customer service has gotten better and in the bigger cities it's great but the more rural areas could still use some changing. I heard it was so much worse in the soviet times. I am looking forward to this aspect to continue getting better and just as rapidly as everything else," commented one expat who made the move to Tartu, Estonia.

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