Justin Petrone

A good-natured and light introduction to Estonia with many true observations.

"Minu Eesti. Kas lubate elada?" (My Estonia. Will You Allow Me to Live Here?) is the 1st volume of Justin Petrone's memoir of his relationship with Estonia after meeting his future wife Epp Petrone (nee Saluveer) when they were both on a Finnish junket in 2003 for foreign journalists where Justin represents the USA and Epp was there from Estonia. The memoir was originally written in English as "My Estonia. Passport Forgery, Meat Jelly Eaters, And Other Stories."

Both books are issued in the hugely successful Estonian travel series of books published by Petrone Print called Minu... (My...) where an Estonian traveller or ex-patriot writes about their experiences of living in or visiting a foreign city, country or region. The series now numbers 106 books published as of November 2017 in the 10 years since Epp Petrone self-published her own "Minu Ameerika. Reportaaže ja pihtimusi 2003-2006 # 1" (My America, Reports and Confessions 2003-2006 #1) because other publishers did not want to take a risk on that sort of niche publishing.

Justin Petrone's "My Estonia" fits into the series as it is a foreigner's experience adjusting to a new relationship and a new country. It is full of good-natured "fish out of water" stories of Petrone's experiences with the people, customs, food and drink etc. Probably the funniest and most absurd circumstance is when Petrone goes to a village store with his future niece-in-law 5 year-old Simona with his only very basic knowledge of Estonian to back him up. The little girl was in the habit of gathering branches and twigs for stove and sauna fire starting with her own father during similar walks. Nobody explained this to Petrone of course and he is increasingly mystified by the unwieldy bundle of twigs that the girl has gathered by the time they reach the store. A passing local resident has to help him to convince the girl to relinquish her load.… (meer)