Is there really spring in Estonia?

I finally figured out what traditional Estonian food is. It took 2 months to officially uncover the well-kept secret, but here is a typical Estonian dish: usually some type of pork, potatoes, rye bread, and slaw/salad. I've actually had several Estonians tell me that they feel Estonia doesn't have a lot to offer in food, so they don't promote food as part of their culture, like say Italy or France for example. This is why there is a Georgian, French Crepe, 2 Chinese, 3 Italian, and several other international restaurants in the town square. Many of us have picked up on the fact that Estonians like food that is very simple in taste. Especially those of us used to a lot of spices, sauces, and heat. I do really like the food here though. Especially the coffee and pastries everywhere!

We started to celebrate spring's arrival too soon. But we really did think it was coming. I mean, what else are you supposed to think when the sun comes out for almost a week and melts all of the snow and ice from the side walks while being serenaded by birds? But oh no, winter is not done yet. This past Saturday it was freezing, gray, and rainy. And Sunday morning we woke up to a view of white outside the window, with continuing sheets of snow falling all day. Thankfully today was a bit sunnier, but I am so longing for spring. When I mentioned spring coming before this weekend's blizzard, an Estonian actually laughed at me and told me I had at least through April before I could start talking like that. But I'm hoping this year is different, just this once!

I was waiting for it to come up sooner or later, but I finally got scolded for being a wasteful American yesterday. As my Georgian flatmate was washing her dishes, my Spanish roommate began to lecture her on using too much water. When the rest of us defended the Georgian for the fun of a debate, my roommate looked at Kaylee and I and said to the rest, "You know what they do in America? They flush the toilet every single time. Do you know how many liters of water they waste a year?" Of course she was just giving us a hard time. But when I started to think about it, we do use a lot more single-use items in America, which generates so much more trash than we do here. I've noticed I use less plastic bags, paper towels, and things like that here. Maybe Europe can further motivate me in effort to go Green.