What happens when you follow your partner to a country you’ve barely heard of — and decide to stay for good?

When someone receives a job offer in a different country, it’s rarely a solo decision — especially when partners and families are involved. Behind every bold career move is someone else quietly weighing the unknowns: an unfamiliar culture, uprooted routines, new languages, and a future that’s hard to picture.

In this story, we meet 3 families who said yes to Estonia — not because it was on their bucket list, but because someone they love got an opportunity at Bolt. They packed up their lives and moved to a country they’d barely heard of, with little idea of what to expect.

What was it like to take that leap? How did it feel to start over in an unfamiliar place? And what helped them feel at home — not just temporarily, but for the long term?

From Dubai to Tallinn, and a sign from the universe

Meet Juju and Natasha

Before moving to Estonia, Juju and Natasha had spent nearly a decade building a full life in Dubai: a strong network of friends, fulfilling jobs, and a bustling lifestyle they loved. Estonia was barely a blip on their radar.

In fact, their move wasn’t something they had planned at all.

“We had a sign from the universe,” Natasha says, smiling. “There were no expectations, no grand strategy. Just a strange sense that… we had to move.”

It all started when Juju began casually interviewing for new roles. One of those interviews was with Bolt. “Honestly, I just wanted to see if I could get the offer,” he laughs. “It wasn’t about relocating — it was more like, ‘Let’s test the waters.’”

But when the offer came through, it sparked a real conversation.

“He said he’d probably say no,” Natasha recalls. “So I asked, ‘Okay, but just out of curiosity — if you were to say yes, why would you?’ And he gave me this five-minute TED Talk about the opportunity, the team, and the kind of impact he could have. That’s when I realised — this actually means something to him.”

Then came a surreal coincidence. That night, they went to see the movie Tenet, and discovered that much of it had been filmed in Tallinn.

“I leaned over and said, ‘I know this isn’t your thing… but if there was ever a sign, this is it.’ We both laughed. But the next day, we said yes.”

Relocating with support and a dog

Relocating to Estonia was very different from their past experiences. In Dubai, both had figured things out largely on their own: the paperwork, the housing, the cultural adaptation. But this time was different.

“The minute you enter Bolt, it’s a very welcoming atmosphere,” Juju says. “The support system was on a completely different level.”

That support extended to every member of the family, including their beloved dog, Enzo.

“We’re dog parents,” Juju explains. “So I asked, ‘What does “family” mean to you? Does it include our dog?’ And without missing a beat, they said, ‘Dogs are family for us. Of course, we’ll relocate them too.’ That was the moment I knew — this is the right company.”

For Natasha, the warmth wasn’t just in the relocation process, but in the human interactions.

“Juju’s manager would check in on how I was doing. That never happened in Dubai. I wasn’t even an employee yet — just a partner. But people cared.”

The small things that made a big difference

Neither Juju nor Natasha expected to notice things like the sky's shape or the air's quality, but Estonia surprised them.

“Coming from Pakistan and then Dubai, I just didn’t get it,” Juju says. “Air is air. But then I stepped outside here and thought — oh. This is what fresh means.”

They found themselves delighting in the small things: quiet forest walks, the rhythm of the seasons, and the freedom to explore on foot or by public transport.

“We didn’t even know we valued those things until we got here,” Natasha adds. “It changes your whole nervous system.”

Finding her place, professionally and personally

Natasha hadn’t moved to Estonia for her own job, but she quickly found purpose.

Instead of rushing into something new, she started with curiosity: reaching out to local founders and chatting over coffee.

“I wanted to understand the ecosystem before jumping in. Estonia has this compact, collaborative feel — people are open and generous with their time.”

For a while, she continued working remotely with her Dubai employer. But when a role at Bolt appeared that matched her experience, she felt something click.

“I wasn’t actively looking to leave,” she explains. “But this role lit something up in my brain.”

Joining Bolt didn’t just reignite her professionally — it also helped her connect socially.

“As the partner of someone relocating for work, it can be easy to feel isolated. Your partner gets a built-in social life. You don’t. But once I joined Bolt, I instantly had a community of people who got it.”

Language, identity, and learning to belong

For Juju, navigating life in English has been smooth. But his first attempt at Estonian didn’t go as planned.

“I said kui palju? And the guy replied, ‘Just speak English.’ That crushed my motivation,” he laughs. “But I still admire the language — and I love that Natasha stuck with it.”

Natasha approached Estonian like a puzzle. “I started with food words and menu items,” she says. “Now, I can follow conversations — and people are kind about switching to English when I need help. That openness makes a difference.”

Estonia isn’t a melting pot, and that’s part of its charm

For Juju and Natasha, moving to Estonia meant trading the hustle of big, multicultural cities for something quieter and closer to nature.

Juju often tells friends why Tallinn is a great place to live: “Tallinn is peaceful, walkable, and very nature-oriented. It feels like life should be. Public transport is free, and dogs are welcome everywhere. If dogs aren’t allowed somewhere, places have to put up a sign saying so. That shows how much dogs are part of everyday life here.”

Coming from Pakistan, Juju noticed Estonians' curiosity rather than hostility: “When I first moved, people would stare, but it wasn’t rude, more like genuine curiosity. When I said I was from Pakistan, they were surprised and excited that I moved all the way to their little country.”

Juju also appreciates Estonia's respect for privacy: “People here keep to themselves, which was refreshing. Nobody peeks inside your home, and that kind of privacy feels good. But if someone needs help, Estonians step up. I’ve seen strangers help people who slipped or fell. It’s a nice balance.”

Regarding racism, Juju is frank but optimistic: “There are bad people everywhere, but institutionalised racism isn’t something I’ve experienced here. I can go anywhere without issue. I even voted in local elections, which made me feel part of the city.”

Estonia as a permanent home

Natasha has no doubt: “I just want to close by saying that I absolutely see ourselves here long-term. For us, Estonia is a no-brainer — this is our home now. When I go back to Dubai, I don’t get that strong urge to move back because it simply doesn’t offer the quality of life I want anymore. Quality of life for me now means clean air, being able to walk everywhere, and having equal opportunities.”

She loves the idea of growing alongside the city: “Over the years, we’ve seen new restaurants pop up, more globalisation, and the summer here? Nothing competes with it. It’s truly special.”

Juju adds a bit of humour to the seasonal challenge: “We also love winter in Tallinn! Personally, my favourite season is fall. If I could change one thing about Tallinn, it would be the seasons. Tallinn doesn’t really have four seasons — it has five. And the fifth one is called depression. If we could just delete that one, Tallinn would be a dreamland.”

Juju and Natasha show how Estonia’s culture is not a melting pot, but a place where people respect each other and build a calm community. This culture can become home for those who are willing to embrace it.

Meet Mihai, Oana, and Eva: From “Why not?” to “What took us so long?”

For Mihai and his wife Oana, Estonia wasn’t part of some lifelong dream. Their life in Bucharest was stable: good jobs, a close network of friends, and a city they knew inside out. But when Mihai received a job offer from Bolt, something clicked.

“I wasn’t actively looking to move,” Mihai says. “But the more I learned about the role and the company, the more it felt like a unique opportunity, the kind that doesn’t come around often.”

They began researching Tallinn not as tourists but as parents. Would this be a good place for Eva, their energetic five-year-old? Was it safe, walkable, and family-friendly?

“We wanted to know how life feels on an average Tuesday, not just the Instagram version,” he explains. “And everything we read pointed to balance, safety, and space to breathe.”

Still, the idea of uprooting their lives was daunting. “We had a house, a support system, careers,” Mihai says. “It wasn’t about escape. It was about imagining something better. And that’s a scarier leap.”

A move that felt… easy?

From the very first call with Bolt’s relocation team, Mihai could tell this experience would be special. Every question was welcomed, every detail handled with care.

“I’d never relocated before, so I expected it to be complicated. But this was smooth. So smooth that I kept thinking, ‘What’s the catch?’ But there wasn’t one.”

The team helped sort everything from paperwork to temporary housing, making the transition feel surprisingly seamless. Still, when it came to kindergarten, Mihai and his partner preferred to take the lead.

“We knew Eva was ready, so we started researching kindergartens even before we arrived. We already had a spot lined up in Bucharest, but we emailed our top choices in Tallinn, visited them once we got here, and picked the one that felt right. It was all pretty straightforward.”

Their daughter settled in quickly, and so did they. As they explored life in Estonia, they were pleasantly surprised by the breadth of educational options available.

“Once we were in, we started looking at the bigger picture. There’s a full range: strong public schools, international programmes, and European diplomas. If you’re planning to stay, Estonian education is a great foundation. You have options, and that matters.”

Their first weeks in Tallinn were full of small but satisfying milestones: opening a bank account in minutes, getting public transport cards online, and discovering local playgrounds with Eva.

“We kept waiting for something to go wrong — some paperwork glitch or a lost document,” Mihai says. “But it never happened. Estonia’s digital systems are just on another level.”

And that calm efficiency extended to everyday life, too. “You can do meaningful work without being overwhelmed. You can walk everywhere. It’s peaceful. That balance between career and quality of life is rare, but we found it here.”

From Bucharest buzz to Tallinn calm

Tallinn surprised them, not because it was flashy or bold, but because of how quietly efficient it was.

“Bucharest is beautiful, but chaotic. You get used to planning everything around traffic. In Tallinn, I can walk my daughter to kindergarten, commute to work in 15 minutes, and still have time to breathe before my first meeting.”

That sense of calm extended beyond schedules. Mihai and Oana quickly noticed how safe the city felt. “Kids ride buses on their own. People leave bikes unlocked in some neighbourhoods. Coming from a big city, it feels almost surreal.”

And then there was nature. They discovered it in unexpected ways: squirrels darting across the road, sea views from a city tram, forest trails just minutes from home.

“Eva talks about the squirrels every day. For her, Estonia is this magical forest where fairytales are real.”

Weekend adventures and new traditions

The family made a point of exploring their new home slowly, one weekend at a time.

“We started with museums. Each one was in a different district, which gave us a reason to get to know new parts of the city,” Mihai says. “We’d plan small adventures: take the tram, try a new café, find a local bakery. It helped us build a mental map, emotionally and practically.”

They also embraced the local rhythm: cosy indoor activities in winter, forest hikes in spring, beach picnics in summer.

“Back home, everything was fast. Here, time stretches a little. It invites you to slow down and actually enjoy your life.”

The career side: Space to grow and think

Professionally, Mihai was seeking a role that would push him to grow, while also offering a healthier rhythm than the constant hustle he was used to. At Bolt, he’s found that balance: the bar is high, and the work is demanding, but people also respect boundaries. “Here, you’re trusted to deliver impact without having to constantly prove you’re always on — the results speak for themselves.”

That shift gave him more space to show up for his family, be present, and actually enjoy the life they were building together.

“It sounds simple, but when you’ve spent years racing, slowing down feels revolutionary.”

How Oana found her footing

Oana initially continued working remotely with her Romanian employer, which helped ease the transition. But after a few months, she started to explore what was possible locally.

“She missed being part of something here, not just working from a screen,” Mihai shares. “She wanted to feel grounded, to contribute to this new life we were building.”

She started networking and attending local meetups and eventually landed a new role that matched her background but also offered something new.

“She found a role that lets her grow in a new direction. It gave her a sense of ownership over our move, too — this wasn’t just about my job anymore.”

Staying for the long haul

Neither Mihai nor Oana had a fixed timeline when they arrived in Estonia. A couple of years, maybe. See how it goes. But now?

“I don’t want to jinx it,” he laughs, “but we could be here a long time. We’ve built something real. Our daughter feels at home here. So do we.”

They’ve even begun learning Estonian — slowly, but sincerely. “We’re not fluent yet, but we’re trying. It’s a way to connect with this place on a deeper level. And people appreciate the effort.”

From temporary plans to lasting belonging

Mihai came for a year and found peace he didn’t expect. Juju and Natasha left behind the bustle of big cities and discovered a slower, more grounded way of living. None of them planned to stay — but Estonia had other plans.

For each of them, it wasn’t one big thing that made them stay. It was the accumulation of small, meaningful moments: the forest walks, the free public transport, the dogs welcomed everywhere, the privacy respected, and the people who — though reserved at first — quietly showed up when it mattered.

Estonia may not be a melting pot, but that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s a place where calm is the default, nature is close, and the community — even if quiet — is real.

From India’s tech capital to Estonia’s startup hub

Kriti and Abhinav

When Abhinav received an offer to join Bolt as Senior Product Manager in Estonia, his wife, Kriti, was already invested in the journey. At the time, she was leading brand marketing at a fintech unicorn in Bangalore — India’s buzzing startup capital — and knew firsthand how much the opportunity meant to him.

“I’d been part of the process from the start and could see how much Bolt impressed him. When the offer came through, I was genuinely happy for him,” she recalls.

Still, the prospect of moving halfway across the world was daunting. Kriti’s only reference point for Estonia at the time was the movie Tenet, partly filmed in Tallinn. What helped tip the balance was research.

“What reassured us was the wealth of information available online about life in Estonia, and the country’s reputation for digital innovation — a lifestyle not so different from what we were already living in Bangalore.”

Stepping into the unfamiliar

The contrast between Bangalore and Tallinn was immediate.

“The quiet,” Kriti emphasises. “Coming from a city of over 10 million, everyday experiences here felt almost surreal at first.”

What once felt unfamiliar is now something she treasures:

“Three years later, the quiet is my comfort.”

Bolt provided clear relocation information that helped them prepare. Yet for Kriti, it wasn’t just the paperwork that mattered, but the thoughtful touches along the way.

“I was surprised when someone joined us to talk to our broker before we finalised a house, or when we were applying for our temporary residence permits,” she shares. “The relocation team was consistently available and so thoughtful.”

One of her earliest memories is her first Bolt scooter ride — especially meaningful since Abhinav had just joined the micromobility team.

Making home, one routine at a time

For Kriti, Estonia became home not through one moment, but through the gradual weaving of routines, friendships, and experiences.

“The realisation came when we visited India for the first time after moving. While travelling back to Tallinn, we resonated with the quote: ‘when you're leaving home to go home.’”

Starting over socially wasn’t easy.

“I had a very active social group in Bangalore — friends I’d had since college or my first job — and I had to start from scratch here. Making plans to meet people and showing up to events helped me through it.”

Arriving before midsummer gave her the perfect introduction to Estonia’s vibrant summers. As routines took shape, so did new social circles. Bolt helped her connect with other expat partners and employees early on, and later, programmes like Work in Estonia’s Re-Invent Program expanded her network.

Today, Kriti leads brand and content marketing at Cleveron, an Estonian company specialising in last-mile parcel management solutions.

Midsummer in Estonia, Kriti and Abhinav

What they’d tell their past selves

If Kriti could go back and give herself advice, it would be simple:

“You can’t plan everything. Enjoy being in the process of becoming. Focus on enjoying the process rather than fretting over to-do lists and waiting to settle in.”

Her advice to anyone whose partner has received an opportunity abroad?

“Speak with your partner about how you plan to settle together. You’ll be each other’s main support circle when you move.”

And if someone asks whether it was worth saying yes, Kriti doesn’t hesitate:

“Absolutely”

Join us in Estonia!

Curious about life in Estonia? Thinking of working at Bolt? Wondering what it’s like to bring your partner, kids, or even pets along for the ride? We’ll support you each step of the way!

You might be surprised at how quickly this little country starts to feel like home.

Whether it’s the calm pace of life, the access to nature, the supportive relocation experience, or the tight-knit international community, Estonia offers something quietly special. It may not be a melting pot, but that’s exactly where its charm lies for many.

And who knows? Like many of us, you might arrive thinking it’s temporary — and end up building a life here.

Meet the families who said yes to Estonia

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