Kristine and Argenaz are Armenians who have tied their lives and their hearts to Estonia. The women met in an Armenian Sunday school where Kristine works as the director and Argenaz teaches Armenian language and culture.
For Kristine, Estonia has always been home. She was born in Estonia. "I like everything here, barring the weather. Estonia is peaceful, the people are extremely kind, and each time I return to Estonia, I always feel I’ve come home," she says. For her, it's especially heartwarming when she lands in Estonia and receives a text message on her phone that reads, "Welcome home. We missed you!"
Argenaz holds similar feelings for Estonia. Her first impression was connected to its peaceful forests. "When I came to Estonia for the first time, I associated Estonians with forest spirits, because there are so many forests here, Estonians don't care much for conversation, and they tend to keep their distance from foreigners," she says.
According to Aregnaz, Estonians have a certain magical energy. "But when you win their trust, they'll share their enchanted forests with you, and you can become good friends," Aregnaz continues.
Both Estonian and Armenian cultures are dear to Kristine and Argenaz. Aregnaz was surprised at first by the Estonians' private, silent demeanor, especially in public transport. "In Armenia, people like to talk on buses, but in Estonia it's the other way around – people value their personal space," she explains. Even though it was odd for her, she has learned to respect it, and now she even enjoys the same peace of mind that Estonia offers.
In terms of Estonian cuisine, both ladies are quick to note how much they love the famous vastlakukkel, a kind of sweet bun with whipped cream served in Northern Europe, especially on Shrove Tuesday. "I really love them a lot. I start calling my favourite cafe already in January to ask if they already sell the Shrove buns," says Kristine. "I also love bread soup and blood sausages at Christmas, too. I like Estonian cuisine."
According to Aregnaz, Armenians in Estonia offer the country plenty of warmth and joie de vivre. Her favorite Armenian word, džan, which means "dear," best describes this Armenian outlook. "We add it to our names, so that you might say 'Aregnazdžan, or Kristinedžan, which means Dear Aregnaz or Dear Kristine," she explains. It's customary in Armenian culture to add it not only to the names of friends or relatives, but also to the names of complete strangers. "This gives everyone a warm and homey feeling," says Kristine.
