Born on a Blue Day

Tammet decided that he wanted to explore working opportunities after secondary school rather than attend university. After a series of interviews, a British volunteer organization selected him to teach English in Kaunas, Lithuania. The prospect of such a major change was daunting for Tammet and his family, but he felt strongly that he needed to learn to be more independent and pursue individual goals.

Tammet moved into a large apartment and began work at a Lithuanian organization for women who wanted language training. Everyone was positive and friendly, including the students, staff, and fellow volunteers and instructors.

The experience was extremely positive and beneficial. Tammet established new routines and made friends with whom he could practice Lithuanian (his newest linguistic pursuit), explore the city, eat, and discuss personal matters. A significant change in his personal and social life came when he connected with a group for gay people in Lithuania. He says the decision to call them was “one of the biggest decisions of my life and one of the most important too” (129). He befriended a man named Vytautas and his partner Žygintas. Lithuania was very cold in the winter and had a very different culture than England, but the author enjoyed his new experiences and found joy and solace in nighttime walks in the snow and conversations with a diverse group of contacts and friends.