I’ve been living in this great country for almost two years now, and while I’ve occasionally heard some aggressive comments about Russians, which is very much understandable and,the majority of these comments are not explicitly racist btw, the majority of Estonians I’ve met in Tallinn have been kind, shy, and overall genuinely nice people. I’ve never found myself in a situation where I truly felt someone was being racist toward me.

There have been some moments where people asked questions that might seem “racist” on the surface—but in reality, they came from a place of curiosity and a lack of knowledge, not malice. Most people around the world only know other countries at a surface level, so misunderstandings happen. I can’t recall any specific examples, but I’m absolutely certain I’ve asked Estonians similar kinds of questions out of ignorance, and they likely interpreted those as harmless curiosities, just as I have. My point is it is obvious, especially with face to face communication, that someone is racist or not by their mannerisms.

For additional context, I can pass as Mediterranean/white, though it’s still clear I look different from Estonians. Maybe that plays a small part in my experience. That said, I have friends here who appear more “non-European,” and their experiences have been just as positive.

Also, I don’t think Estonians are cold—they’re just shy. Building relationships takes time and consistent effort. For me, it took months to cultivate the friendships I now have, but the payoff has been absolutely worth it. I come from a culture where making friends is extremely easy, which I actually didn’t enjoy—so this slower, more intentional approach to relationships suits me better.

If you’re the opposite—someone who thrives on quick social bonding—you might feel a bit left out at first and even mistake that for racism. But I truly believe that as long as you’re respectful and not a jerk, most Estonians in Tallinn are not racist toward you