During his time at TalTech (May 21 – July 12), David supported the department and the School of Business and Governance with tasks ranging from competitive analysis to experimenting with AI tools for education. His internship was supervised by Manager’s Assistant Marit Laos and Communications Officer Tairi Tuulik, who helped integrate him into the team and guide his journey. A large-scale internship assignment was also proposed by Ingrid Laas, Head of Marketing and Communications at the School of Business and Governance. In this interview, David shares his impressions of Estonia, his work at TalTech, and what he’s taking home from the experience. 

Could you briefly introduce yourself – where are you from, and what do you study?

I am David Williamson from Orlando, Florida. I study Technology Management at the University of North Georgia.

What brought you to Estonia and to TalTech through the CIEE program?

I wanted to study somewhere in Europe with a charming old town and a thriving technology industry. Tallinn stood out to me as the perfect fit for my needs.

What were your first impressions when you arrived in Tallinn?

The old town is delightful, with great restaurants, and the downtown area of Tallinn has very futuristic-looking tall buildings. But the weather was colder than I expected for that time of year.

What was your experience living in Estonia like?

It was a fun adjustment from life in the USA. Fresh, healthy foods were much more accessible. I found myself cooking most of my meals, which was fun in itself! I walked many miles daily, which is rare where I live. We mostly get around by car, and public transportation is almost non-existent in Georgia.

What was your favorite place in Estonia and why? What cities/places did you visit?

I loved the old town—it’s a lovely place with a truly historic charm and appeal. The history and beautiful buildings really made me feel lucky to be there and see them. I also visited Pärnu and Rummu, and I took a trip to Narva. I enjoyed the steep hills in Rummu, while the beach-town energy of Pärnu was very delightful and reminiscent of small Florida beach towns.

Was there anything that surprised you about Estonian culture, people, or daily life?

I was surprised at how reserved locals can be. In the American South, we’re very outgoing and conversational with strangers. However, I made one friend in Estonia, and she was highly talkative and loved conversation. I was also pleasantly surprised by the sauna culture—it was amazing, and I’ll definitely seek out saunas in my local area now that I’m back in Georgia.

Did you have a chance to try any local foods or participate in any cultural events?

I loved the variety of local meats at the grocery store (beef, pork, deer) and ate at many restaurants in the old town, like Farm, Olde Hansa, and many more! I had a great time at the midsummer festival at the open-air museum. The bonfire and the dances were very interesting and eye-opening to me. I also attended the Song and Dance Festival before leaving.

Estonia is often praised for its digital society – did anything in particular impress you about the tech scene here?

I was impressed by the number of tech startups, digital e-services (like voting), and the everyday tech I encountered—like automated lawnmowers, robotic food delivery, and e-Residency.

What kind of tasks or projects were you involved in during your internship?

I collected data for a competitive analysis of schools offering a 3-year bachelor's in international business, like that of TalTech, in the Baltic region and nearby. I also worked with various AI platforms to create sample video lectures.

What are some of the key things you learned?

I learned about workplace cultural differences between Estonia and the USA, how to use AI platforms for video creation, the accessibility of higher education in the Baltic region and Scandinavia, and I improved my Excel skills.

What would you say to other international students considering an internship at TalTech?

I would tell them to go for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with many different internship options depending on their needs. The colleagues are great, the campus is beautiful, with nature very close by, and the lunch options in the cafeteria are healthy and tasty.

How would you compare the work culture at TalTech to what you’ve experienced in the U.S.? Did anything about the Estonian communication style or office dynamics stand out to you?

The work culture at TalTech was much more laid-back. In my experience as a U.S. worker, we have a much more rapid-fire work culture where employers want to extract as much work as possible from their employees. There is little care for workers in the U.S. I really enjoyed frequent trips to the break room for an espresso and small talk with others who were also on a coffee break.

Would you consider coming back to Estonia in the future – for work, studies, or travel? What are your studying/working plans for the future?

I would seriously consider coming back for all three. I love the education facilities, and after doing some research, it’s clear that a master’s degree is much more affordable in Estonia than in the USA. I really enjoyed the accessibility of healthy foods—many of which are either unavailable or considered a luxury where I live (like duck, venison, grass-fed beef). As for vacation, I’d love to show Estonia to my friends back home and share everything I loved about it. I certainly hope to be back sooner or later.