Coming to you this week from 📍 Helsinki, Finland ✈️ Tallinn, Estonia
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Hi friends –
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After an epic journey from Seattle to Europe (13 hours on airplanes, 15-hour layover at JFK, and 2 hours on a ship across the Baltic Sea), we have been blown away with what has awaited on the other side of the Atlantic: Tallinn, Estonia. This young nation declared (or re-declared) its independence only ~30 years ago and has proudly embraced technology to become a truly digital-first. All the while, Estonia has preserved so much of its medieval architecture and charm. As the subject of this email says, we feel a magical dichotomy: a sense of being transported back in time when walking down these cobblestone streets while simultaneously feeling transported into the future when boarding busses and trams using our QR code tickets purchased in seconds on mobile.
🙏 One cause we’re supporting (and would love your help with!) ~
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine has dominated headlines this week. This topic needs no introduction. What’s less appreciated, though, is the logistical feat that relocating so many Ukranian refugees into other European nations requires. Here in Tallinn, the Estonian Refugee Council is sending daily buses to the Poland-Ukraine border to evacuate refugees, relocate them to Estonia + various EU nations, and help them find jobs. It’s amazing work worth reading more about here.
- THE ASK: Midori and I have been volunteering with TLU Students With Ukraine here at Tallinn University to prepare evacuation kits to be loaded onto buses headed for the border. These kits include medical supplies, baby food, water, and other materials for refugees being transported from Ukraine to Poland & Estonia to use en route. We’re planning to buy additional supplies to be used in these kits – if you’d like to help fund these purchases, please send any $ amount via Venmo (or PayPal) to us with ‘Ukraine’ somewhere in the ‘What’s it for?’ field and we’ll use the full amount to purchase supplies here in Tallinn. Thank you for supporting this amazing cause!
📗 One book in the spirit of International Women’s Day ~
- Any fashion aficionado (which Midori may lay claim to, but I absolutely cannot 😝) will recognize the regality Diane von Furstenberg’s DVF brand. But what’s even more impressive than the brand she built is the story of how she got there. Her autobiography, The Woman I Wanted to Be, shares a rare glimpse into just that – a colorful life in fashion, romance, and the pursuit of greatness. This comes as a ‘must-read’ from Midori herself!
🎧 One podcast for a crash course in the fundamentals of Web3 + Crypto ~
- Before you shy away from ‘yet another crypto post,’ hear me on this. Even if you’re not a staunch believer in the future of Web3 and cryptocurrencies like I am, this 1-year anniversary podcast episode from Bankless lays out an impressive explanation of money, the economy/central bank relationship, and why decentralized finance (DeFi) fits into the picture in a remarkably simple, straightforward manner. Give it a listen over a hot cup of coffee in the morning. I promise it’ll be at least 2x as good as your ECON professor’s lectures in college!
🐻 One quick job posting that’s sure to put a smile on your face ~
- If you’re tired of reading all the “Great Resignation” articles wondering if you, too, can be a part of this “great” movement, this job posting just might be your golden ticket off the desk… and into the wild? If you apply, do let us know!
This week, we hope you’ll join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the crisis in Ukraine. Stay safe, stay healthy, and take a moment of gratitude for the privileges we have. Until we meet in your e-mail inbox again!
😅 Missing our cars but not enough to pay $5/gal at the pump,
Akaash (& Midori)
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