Day 1 - The Journey To Estonia

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What a whirlwind 30 hours it’s been! The journey began at Sydney Airport, where I had the unexpected joy of meeting fellow Estonians heading to Estonia. Dad and I were excited to discover we were on the same flight as them from Hong Kong onward.

The first leg of the trip was all about making memories, especially for my nephew Lekso, who’s about to travel overseas for the first time. Dad and I made little videos showing him what to expect on a plane, the food, the setup, and even how to build a fun little pillow fort to keep entertained mid-flight.

In Hong Kong, we took the chance to stretch our legs and went on a mission for dumplings — and wow, did we find some amazing dim sum! I even managed to snap a photo with one of my EstonianDesignsAU tumblers, of course. After refueling, it was time for the long-haul flight to Helsinki, navigating safely around conflict zones, adding extra flight time but offering peace of mind.

I slept for most of that flight, with a few rounds of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in between. But the highlight was seeing “Estonia” appear on the flight path screen. My heart leapt. It was getting real.

Landing in Helsinki, I was struck by the serene forests from above, nature that speaks to my soul and calms my nervous system. After the chaos of life before this trip, I could already feel the healing beginning. The walk through Helsinki airport was long (3,000 steps, at least!), and Mum definitely wished she’d arranged a wheelchair like her friend Eva had. But along the way, we stopped at a special jewellery store, the same one Mum had visited years earlier, and saw that necklace still waiting.

We boarded our final flight to Tallinn, a small propeller plane. I got the window seat (thank you Mum and Dad!), and as we descended below the clouds, there it was: Estonia. Vanalinn, Lauluväljak, landmarks I knew and loved came into view. The descent was steep and fast, but I didn’t mind. I was overwhelmed with emotion: joy, connection, belonging.

I turned to Mum and Dad and said, “We’re home.” And they agreed. It’s hard to put into words the feeling of returning to the land where my ancestors lived, loved, and left their legacy. But this time, it feels different, in the most beautiful way.

I’m home!