MarielSmolko

Hey, I’m Sima, 18 years old, and I’m from Estonia — born and raised in Tartu, which is like the smaller, chiller, more artsy cousin of Tallinn. People say I have a resting calm face but inside my brain there’s always a playlist running. I’m that girl who shows up early to places just to watch other people arrive. I speak Estonian and English, and I’m secretly learning Korean because the alphabet looked pretty. I’ve lived in the same apartment my whole life but somehow I feel like I’ve outgrown it — not in a sad way, more like a “ready for the next thing” way. I spend a lot of time by the Emajõgi river, just sitting on the steps and thinking about nothing and everything at once.

Turns On Quiet mornings with no rush. I love making pour-over coffee and watching the steam rise — it’s my meditation. I’m really into sewing and upcycling old clothes; there’s something magical about turning grandma’s old curtains into a cool summer top. I love libraries, especially the old ones that smell like paper and secrets.

Turns Off Loud chewing, people who don’t listen — just wait for their turn to talk. I hate being rushed, especially when I’m eating or thinking. Also, when someone says “just be yourself” but then gets weird when you actually are. I don’t like aggressive perfumes, surprise birthday parties, or when the bus driver closes the door right in my face.