![\"\"](\"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/havighurst\/files\/2017\/02\/heidi1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe author’s Russian class at the Winter School International night<\/p>\n
This past J-term, I had a wonderful opportunity to improve my Russian language skills by attending the Tallinn Winter School program.\u00a0 While I was apprehensive at first about attending the program because of the fact that I was the only Miami student who enrolled, I could not be happier with my decision to go.\u00a0 While there, I improved my Russian skills, immersed myself in the post-Soviet culture that exists in Estonia, and was able to make several new international friends.<\/p>\n
The program itself was fantastic, and I strongly encourage other students to attend either the winter school or the summer school program the university offers.\u00a0 Every day, I went to class for 3 \u00bd hours and intensely practiced Russian.\u00a0\u00a0 The course improved my grammar skills, broadened my vocabulary, and challenged me to speak and listen to Russian.<\/p>\n
In addition to my classes, I did a lot of exploring.\u00a0 My dorm was located only 5 minutes away from the Old Town, so I was able to visit as often as I wanted and ended up spending the majority of my free time walking around, marveling at the beautiful medieval architecture.\u00a0 My favorite place to relax was in a small caf\u00e9 that had a fantastic view of my favorite building in Tallinn: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.\u00a0 There, I enjoyed Estonian mulled wine, known as gl\u00f6gg and other traditional Estonian snacks.<\/p>\n
While I had plenty of time to familiarize myself with Tallinn and Estonia\u2019s second largest city, Tartu, I was also able to take weekend trips to Helsinki, Finland and Riga, Latvia.\u00a0 Having the chance to see these different cities proved to be very interesting because it was still evident how much Russian influence was still placed upon this part of Europe.<\/p>\n
Suomenlinna, an island off the coast of Helsinki<\/p>\n Helsinki Cathedral and Statue to Tsar Alexander II<\/p>\n Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn<\/p>\n View of Tallinn from the medieval wall<\/p>\n Tallinn Christmas Market in the center of Old Town<\/p>\n View of the frozen Daugava River as the sun sets (at 4pm)<\/p>\n The Freedom Monument in Riga that was erected after the Latvian War of Independence.\u00a0 Thankfully the Soviets did not destroy it.<\/p>\n Ready for take off! Bobsledding at Riga\u2019s national luge and bobsledding track<\/p>\n Tubing in Tartu with the other Winter school participants.<\/p>\n Heidi Hetterscheidt is a senior majoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Heidi Hetterscheidt The author’s Russian class at the Winter School International night This past J-term, I had a wonderful opportunity to improve my Russian language skills by attending the Tallinn Winter School program.\u00a0 While I was apprehensive at first … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n