Over at the fantastic TED site, there's a great video from Sir Ken Robinson who points out the many ways our schools are failing to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people.
"We are educating people out of their creativity,"
It's pretty long at 20mins, but well worth it.
This puzzled me. Was it the work of a visiting Brit with a spray can? Or just a local hoodie with a desire to show off his foreign language skills?
Then I came across this
I know English is the universal language but I still find it strange/amazing whenever I come across it in situations like this.
Another day another country. Lithuania went much the same way as Estonia, but this time I'd already been warned what to expect, so the silence wasn't as disconcerting.
I then had 3 hours before flying home, which I spent walking the streets of the Old Town, I did find this place, which I want to believe was the Eastern Bloc's answer to NYC's Studio 54. Notice too the impressive hours of business (9pm-5am). Alas I was never to go inside, which may well have been a good thing as it will forever be the urber 70s kitch heaven of my imagination.
Great type.
Flew off to Latvia that night. Same deal the next day, 9.30am start and then the rest of the day to myself.
This time, I killed them. Same jokes. Same provocative thoughts. But what difference. A wonderfully lively debate afterwards that lasted 40minutes. What can I say, different country, different culture same material. Latvia, I love you.
They also had something of sheer brilliance at the event - instead of having to put your hand up and ask questions you could SMS it to a screen.
After, I went walking around the Old Town. Whenever I go abroad I never really do what I should, museums, sites etc. For me I like to just sit and watch and absorb the place I'm in and that's exactly what I did.
Found a great coffee shop
I was invited to tour the Baltics and give a talk about the 'new world' and how agencies need to adjust to it. My first stop was Estonia and I died; my tried and tested jokes - nothing. My most provocative opinions - not a murmur. And at the end, two questions.
Afterwards talking to the organiser he told me that this was typical Estonian - they're very quiet and respectful when it comes to people talking especially foreigners. Small comfort, but comfort none the less. That night I was flying off to Latvia, which gave me the rest of the day to explore the old town.
There really is something about this place. A real sense of energy, a belief that anything is possible, but there's still a respect for the past, but one that goes only so far.
Let me give you example.
I don't know if I was being ultra adventurous or ultra cautious by opting for a curry, but I did. Anyway, this is what it looked like from the outside
And this is what it looked like inside. (Sorry about the crap photo but it was an awkward shape.)
And it was the same all over city. Take a look at this place.
Ideal if, like me, you use a MacBook.
And yet this is what it looked like outside.
A great place, Estonia, they live in the now
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