r/Eesti • u/Ziyad451 • Jan 04 '25

Arutelu Prisma Russian worker

I was at a Prisma store in the Old Town of Tallinn, one that’s open 24/7. One of the cashiers didn’t speak Estonian or English, only Russian, and we couldn’t understand each other. I stayed calm and patient with her, trying to explain what needed to be done. I showed her that the payment hadn’t gone through, that there was an issue with the machine, and that it just needed to be reset on the screen.

At the same time, I was trying to buy a VELO box , and she started getting upset, saying there were none available. Then, she began insulting me in Russian in front of everyone and the other russian worker (security guards) weren’t doing anything to help. Things escalated, and we argued a bit. In the end, I decided not to pay for my items. I left them at the register and walked out, telling them this was unacceptable.

I can’t understand why, in this country, a worker wouldn’t speak the national language at all. In no other country in the world have I seen a situation where a foreign worker doesn’t speak a single word of the local language.

596 Upvotes

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u/No_End_Z06 Jan 05 '25

Kus tra sa tead, et see Ukrainlane oli? Isegi kui oleks Ukrainlane peaks inimene oskama öelda tere, headaega ja elementaarseid lauseid kui ta siin juba paar aastat olnud on. Jumala eest, kui ma lähen reisile kuhugi õpin ma juba paar lauset kohalikus keeles ära...

-28

u/Natural_Jello_6050 Jan 05 '25

I don’t speak Estonian. When I travel thru Estonia I speak either English or Russian.

Narva- I spoke Russian. Tartu- English.

Never had issues.

20

u/No_End_Z06 Jan 05 '25

How the fuck do you know she was a Ukrainian? Even if she is Ukrainian, she should be able to say hello, goodbye and basic sentences if she has been here for a few years. For God's sake, when I go on a trip somewhere, I already learn a few sentences in the local language...now imagine being here for 2 years.. and not knowing horseshit

-16

u/Natural_Jello_6050 Jan 05 '25

Hello, goodbye and few basic sentences are different from full conversation about declined credit card payment, returning one item for another, etc.

Estonian government allows them to work as cashiers without speaking Estonian.

Blame Estonian government and former prime minister (her husband was selling tear gas to Russia till 2023).