I was born in the Estonian SSR but raised in a free Estonia. My childhood mostly passed in a concrete jungle, doing nerdy things on my own—but occasionally, I found my way into the embrace of the countryside. Grandparents are a great asset! Especially the ones who live in the countryside! City grandparents are cool too—they're just better for doing city stuff.
I started school in Pelgulinn, at a school that no longer exists. Not because of me, I hope... Tallinn 8th Secondary School, which eventually became Sõle Gymnasium, where I finished junior-high. Later it turned back into a secondary school and faded into the mists of time. The building is still standing—right next to it is a fancy sports hall where you can now work out your frustrations.
For high school, I went to Tallinn 32nd Secondary School, into their IT class. Even though I aced my math exam in junior-high, it became clear early on in high school that a humanities geek like me was not destined to be a code monkey. I turned to literature and, due to my stubbornness, found myself rereading Goethe’s Faust in a single night during my final year—because I wanted a top grade. I had read it the year before, but memory can be a fickle friend.
I was convinced—loudly and proudly at school—that I would never follow in my parents’ law school alumni footsteps. But life chuckled and made me eat those words. I couldn’t convince my parents to pay for English literature studies, and I didn’t want to do mandatory military service. I couldn’t even apply to political science because my academic aptitude test result was so “academically inadequate” that they probably framed it as a warning to others. But somehow I clawed my way into a spot at the University of Tartu’s Institute of Law—a paragraph monkey was born.
I went to serve in the military after getting my bachelor’s degree, which earned me an extra three months of service—one for each year of university. At least I got to stand guard in front of the Presidential Palace and enjoy elite field trips to Pärnu and Võru for my NCO course. Last line of defense for the city of Tallinn and the guardians of the President—the “Lone Guard Battalion”—will never be forgotten.
I continued my studies at the University of Helsinki, specializing in international law. That’s where I first grew curious about the theoretical foundations of law, which led me to the foggy capital of Albion—London. At University College London, after some contemplation, they decided to hand the monkey-boy a diploma in legal and political theory. Later, life demanded I train as a teacher at Tallinn University—that part was more of an employer requirement.
In general, I’ve lived my life rather inefficiently. I’ve been a security guard, a bowling alley mechanic and track instructor, a pension fund peddler, and even an intern at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I’ve dabbled in being a schoolteacher, academic assistant, lecturer, and even worked as a lawyer in the private sector. I’ve occasionally had the sweet taste of employment contracts, but freelance gigs have been my bitter bread and butter.
These days, I’ve found myself in the skin of a freelance jester and stand-up comedian, who also writes a column for one of the oldest newspapers in the Republic, maintains a blog from time to time, and tries to hold his own on a podcast.
I don’t really have hobbies—unless you count compulsively buying books. Sometimes I read them too. I enjoy walking, occasionally lifting weights in my bathroom for variety, and hoping my health doesn’t betray me again. I’ve survived both mental and physical breakdowns, and I assume the merry-go-round will start again if I don’t take care of myself.
Humor has always been my escape route. As a kid, I made jokes to avoid being bullied. Now I make jokes to escape my own loneliness. And when I see joy in others’ eyes—or hear their laughter—then I feel like I’m ready to live through one more day.