Travel broadens the mind

In the latest Muusa, the editorial team put a set of questions to the writers contributing to the issue. One of them (the questions) was 'Reason to leave Estonia?'. One of them (the writers) responded in a way that very neatly encapsulated my own thoughts on why anyone would and indeed should leave their country and see a bit of the world. Coincidentally, the writer in question*, Merit Raju, has just moved to Australia. This is what she said:

Tunda, et elad. Kasvada suuremaks, õppida targemaks, avardada oma taluvuse, mõistmise, oskuste, teadmiste, võimete, tutvusringkonna ja maitsete piiri, vaadata kaugemalt ning mõista, mis ja kes on olulised ja kes sa ise oled.

To feel that you're alive. To grow bigger, to grow wiser, to push the limits of your tolerance, your understanding, your skills, your knowledge, your abilities, your circle of acquaintances and your tastes, to see further and to appreciate who and what is important and who you are.

(At the same time, when asked 'Reason to stay in Estonia?' she said, a little harshly but probably quite rightly, that Estonia is the right place for Estonians - it is a "cold country with cold people".)

http://www.muusa.eu/

*no pun intended