Studying and Interning Abroad in Tallinn: A Reflection on International Cooperation

This blog post comes from our Spring 2025 student, Chloe who had the opportunity to intern at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's largest business network dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and fostering a favorable economic environment in Estonia.

Here’s Chloe’s experience!

Introduction

Reflecting on my time studying abroad in Tallinn, Estonia this semester, what sticks out to me the most is the lessons I have learned and will carry with me long past this experience about international relations. No, I do not mean what I learned in my classes (although I have gained a lot of new insights into the European Union). Instead, the lessons I have learned outside of class, through my internship and adventures I have had throughout the city and rest of the country, have profoundly shaped my view of the world. It has strengthened my commitment to international cooperation and being a force in the world pushing for increased cooperation between states – both in business and in relationships.

Studying Abroad in Estonia

Estonia is a country of 1.37 million people (for reference, that slightly less than the population of Maine or 3% of the population of California). It is a small nation located in the very corner of Europe that most Americans cannot place on a map. When I told people I was studying abroad here, the most common response was why? Even in Estonia, the most frequent question people ask me is why here?

After being in Estonia, I could very easily answer that question. I would talk about all the cool and unique experiences I had here. The rich history and culture that constantly surrounds me. The great food (there will always be a place in my heart for vastlakuklid). The reliable public transportation. All the amazing people I have been able to meet and interact with here. So many things make Estonia unique and a perfect place to study abroad. Some fun facts you quickly learn when you arrive include:

• Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world (often referred to e-Estonia)
• It has the most start-ups, unicorns, and investments per capita in Europe
• There are 2,317 islands and over 50% of Estonia is covered by forests
• Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe
• Estonia gained its independence from the Soviet Union peacefully through an event called the Singing Revolution in 1991

However, I struggled to answer that question before arriving in Estonia. The simple answer I often gave was that my home university required I study abroad somewhere I could continue to learn Russian. While that is true, there were other places that I could have gone that I would have been able to achieve that goal. I chose Estonia because I wanted my study abroad experience to be defined by something other than language learning. I wanted to be able to explore another country, its culture, and its history while also being able to explore questions and uncertainties about myself and my future. 

In Estonia, I was able to participate in an internship with a local Estonian organization while also taking classes, which was the biggest draw for me to this location for my semester abroad. With an internship, I could have the opportunity to explore my interests in a professional setting while also gaining a unique perspective on global relations and business, which is very important to me as an International Politics major. I achieved that and more in my time in Tallinn. 

My Tallinn Internship Experience

Through previous classes I have found myself most interested in international trade, so I decided I wanted to intern somewhere I could explore that field more. I was given the chance to intern at the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is the oldest and largest representative organization of business in Estonia. Its goal is to support business development, growth, and entrepreneurship in Estonia through its business services. Before this internship, most of my experience in international trade was on the government policy and legal side. I was excited to gain more knowledge and skills of how businesses navigate this field and learn how international cooperation can help expand business and trade. 

At the Chamber, I have been able to gain a unique perspective of the Estonian business environment. I have been able to assist Estonian businesses with finding business partners abroad and assist them in understanding how to expand their business to foreign markets, navigating customs and other regulatory barriers. Additionally, I have seen the work the Estonian government has done to make business and entrepreneurship accessible.

Not only have I been able to learn more about the Estonian business environment, but I have gotten a chance to see how different countries can work together to achieve economic cooperation and expansion. I have had a chance to see what goes into so many different European Union projects and how different Chambers of Commerce work bilaterally and multilaterally to promote their economic interests. 

One of the most rewarding parts of this internship has been knowing the real impact I have made on companies here in Estonia. I have been able to work with real companies to help them expand their business opportunities and network. Looking at international trade from a macro-perspective often means you forget the effect that it can have on individual businesses, but getting to see the tangible effects trade has on businesses has been incredibly gratifying.

The biggest impact this internship has left on me is how much cooperation exists in business and economics. In today’s world, it is often hard to forget that as the global economic order has increasingly turned towards protectionism and believing in a winner-take-all system. International trade is not something you can win, but rather something that helps all parties involved. The benefits businesses can gain from international trade cannot be achieved through competition, only through cooperation. This internship has taught me that I want to help businesses to expand their markets abroad and push for more cooperation between states in trade and business.

Opportunities for Learning and Growth through Adventure

Not only has my internship in Tallinn immensely impacted my time here, but my experiences outside of the classroom have had a profound impression on me. I have had so many adventures which have given me a glimpse into Estonian life and culture. Some of these include learning how to cross country ski, visiting the Open-Air Museum, watching Tommy Cash win Eesti Laul, ice skating in Old Town, touring the Estonian Parliament, and visiting some of Estonia’s many saunas. 

I have also had the chance to interact with many locals here and learn from them. During a trip to the border town with Russia, Narva, I had the opportunity to help teach English to local middle school students in the town. Being able to speak with kids here about what they were interested in, what their day-to-day life was like, and what they wanted to do in the future really drove home the importance of cultural exchange for me. 

Estonia’s proximity to Russia means that the threat of Russian aggression cannot be ignored. Russia’s attack on Ukraine is constantly felt in the surroundings here, which was most underlined during my experience volunteering at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, where we helped make camouflage blankets for the front lines. That experience really solidified for me the impact of international relations in people's lives. It is necessary that states continue to strive for cooperation even in the defense sector, and my time in Estonia has only reinforced that belief.

My favorite memory in Estonia so far has been Estonian Independence Day. On the 24^th of February, I woke up before dawn and joined a large crowd outside the Estonian Parliament to sing and watch the flag be raised with the sun. I spent the entire day surrounded by the blue, black, and white flag, with little miniature versions of it stuck into every pastry in cafes. The day ended with my host family all making the traditional kiluvõileib together and watching the president’s concert and reception. Being able to witness and take part in Estonian Independence Day traditions made me feel connected to this country in a way I did not anticipate before coming here. I felt moved by the resilience of the Estonian people and how important it was that this moment was even possible. 

Conclusion

My time in Estonia has shaped my opinions and beliefs more than I thought was possible when deciding to come here. Whether it was through helping plan an Estonian business delegation event, speaking with children about their hopes for the future, or singing with a crowd of strangers about freedom. Every part of my time here has reinforced my belief in pushing for communication and cooperation between different states, businesses, and people. Estonia has given me clarity of the type of impact I want to have on the world and the kind of future I want to be a part of.

Chloe Urankar, Spring, 2025
CIEE Program: Tallinn Semester program
Georgetown University

Chloe is sharing her CIEE referral code! Use it when you apply and get $200 off your study abroad program. Plus, a $200 donation will be made to the Global Navigator scholarship fund to help more students study abroad. Here's the link: https://my.ciee.org/?rc=aa8c74f3-d66b-ef11-9e47-0050561072ea-5-web