Europe in Brussels: Estonia

As featured in the Bulletin here.

Friday 24 February marks the 99th year of Estonia’s independence. With a growing population ahead of the EU Council presidency, we spend time with some Estonian expats to ask them about their culture and their experience of Belgium.

The Republic of Estonia became independent back in 1918, though it officially took two years for it to be properly recognised through the Tartu Peace Treaty. During the second world war, it was annexed by Nazi Germany. Following this, Estonia remained a part of the Soviet Union until its downfall in 1991, when it regained its independence.

Today, the Baltic state has a modest population of 1.3 million. It is estimated that 2,000 Estonian expats live in Belgium. “The biggest reason to come here was 12 years ago, when Estonia joined the European Union,” says Aivar Paidla, an Estonian translator who has been in Brussels since 2009. Many Estonians now work for the EU institutions, living in and around the capital. The number is expected to grow and possibly even double this year with the EU Council presidency beginning in July.

Aivar is also involved with the Estonian Association in Belgium which puts on many events all year round. These include the latest film screenings, a children’s choir and theatre troupe performances in Charleroi. An important day on the cultural calendar is Jaanipäev, or St John’s Day. This midsummer festival takes place on the night between 23-24 June, a few days after the summer solstice. Traditionally, these are farming festivities celebrating the fertile land and they usually involve a night of drinking and dancing.

The national day also holds some big celebrations. With next year’s centenary of independence, several events are being planned. “The Estonian Embassy and Estonian Representation have a very nice cultural program,” says Paidla. “There will be concerts with very prominent orchestras and soloists from Estonia. These will take place in Bozar, Flagey, and other nice venues.”

Estonians on Belgium

Another expat living in Brussels is Katri Varikmaa. Originally from the capital, Tallinn, she moved here about a year ago to do a six-month internship in the European Parliament. She liked it so much that she decided to stay.

“It’s very multicultural,” she says. “People are always so friendly and open to people from other countries. Even if you go out and you don’t know anyone, which was my case when I came here, everyone was really friendly and you can make new contacts very easily.”

For first-time visitors, she suggests going to the Ardennes as well as the city of Dinant, to explore the castle and walk by the river. Meanwhile, Paidla says that he often shows visitors around the caves of Han-Sur-Lesse, the old town of Ghent, as well as the Japanese garden in Hasselt.

It goes without saying that Belgium is very different to Estonia, particularly in terms of landscape. Varikmaa says that if you travel southwards in Belgium, it doesn’t take long before you stumble upon some mountains. This is not the case with the flat Estonian landscape. “We don’t have any mountains. We have one hill that we call a mountain but it’s actually only 316 metres.” This is Suur Munamägi, which comically translates as Big Egg Mountain.

Paidla’s experience of growing up in Tartu is also different to the more compact city of Brussels. Estonia has an average of 28 people by square kilometre, compared to Belgium’s 374 (and Brussels’ 7,000).

The Estonian outlook

Both expats feel there are subtle differences between the Belgian and Estonian character. Varikmaa says she was struck by the greetings in Belgium. “When people greet each other, they kiss. That’s something we don’t do. We keep our distance, shake hands maybe. But, here, people are very open. They always come and kiss you and ask: ‘how are you?’. And then you say: ‘I’m fine, how are you?’. In Estonia, if you ask people ‘how are you?’, you actually expect detailed answers like how their life is going.”

Paidla says that Estonians are very practical. “We don’t want to spend time for small talk.” However, he says his favourite thing about Belgians is their politeness: “It’s something which gives you a very good start and a good end to the day.”

Europe in Brussels: Lithuania

As featured in The Bulletin here.

Lithuania celebrates its national day on 16 February. We speak to the ambassador and an expat about their history and the cultural events taking place in Belgium.

Lithuania has a long-standing relationship with Belgium. There are approximately 3,000 Lithuanians living here today. The country’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Gediminas Varvuolis, explains the waves of emigration from Lithuania.

“At the beginning of the 20th century, Lithuania was under Tsarist Russia,” he says. “There were already some economic migrants coming to Western Europe. During the Lithuanian independence period between the two world wars, Lithuanian students were studying in various Belgian universities. After the second world war, there was another exodus when people were fleeing the Soviet occupation. Some of them came to Belgium and worked around Liège in the coal mines.”

Lithuanians are very proud of their history and celebrating their independence is of great importance to them. “The 16 February is our main national day because, in 1918, our statehood was restored,” says Varvuolis. “If you look at the declaration of independence, the word that is being used is not ‘proclamation’ but ‘restoration’.”

Back in the 14th century until the end of the 18th century stood the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later united with Poland to form a joint commonwealth. It stood as one of the biggest states in Europe. However, it progressively disappeared when it was occupied by neighbouring empires.

For the 16 February, the celebrations are quite traditional. The Lithuanian Embassy, Representation to the EU and Representation to Nato organise a diplomatic reception.

“We tend to orientate the celebrations towards our diaspora,” says Varvuolis. “We traditionally invite them to the Embassy and we organise a cultural performance. Then we have a very informal Lithuanian get-together and national party. We hear some testimonials.”

Importance of sports

There are several Lithuanian cultural events taking place across the year, including a cinema club as well as a yearly 12-year-old tradition: “We organise the sports games of Lithuanians living in Benelux countries. Traditionally, we take a sports centre for the whole weekend. During two days, we play all sorts of sports from basketball, to individual sports, like running and swimming. It can get quite competitive.”

Basketball is often the sport of choice. “Every Lithuanian takes pride in it. We have basketball teams in Belgium playing in the sports games. The sport is part of our national character.”

Lithuania has firm roots in Europe, being one of the oldest languages. “The Lithuanian language is considered by linguists to be one of the languages which is closest to Sanskrit, one of the Indian languages,” Varvuolis says. “Sometimes there are curious coincidences in the words. The linguist historians say Lithuanian is the closest to the initial Indo-European language people used to speak.”

Culture

Recently, a Lithuanian cultural centre opened in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert (Chaussée de Roodebeek 302). It offers classes for children and adults wishing to learn the language.

Lithuanian expat Rasa Raudaite says: “It is a place for seminars and lectures. This centre is propagating the language. This is important for me and for other mixed families. My family is mixed: I’m married to a French citizen and we have kids speaking both languages. Thanks to this centre, my kids can attend Lithuanian language courses.”

Raudaite is from a small village in the middle of Lithuania called Sidabravas and she has been in Belgium for eight years. Currently working for the European Commission, she often participates in the organisation of Lithuanian events.

Compared to the abundance of forests and lakes back home, she enjoys the architecture of Belgium and walking down old, historical streets. She does say Brussels is confusing to navigate around, even with a GPS or a map. “It’s not annoying if you’re not stressed by time,” she says.

“I like little places in Brussels. For example, I discovered the Laurent Gerbaud chocolaterie – very good chocolate, very nice and friendly staff working there.” She also likes the city of Mons.

“As a Lithuanian, I don’t feel homesick because I really like the international spirit, not only in Brussels, but in Belgium,” Raudaite concludes.