Jõekääru: an unforgettable summer camp where I fit in, and a place where you can, too

Every year, after the last day of camp was over, I would sit in the car on the long drive home to Montréal and count the days until the next summer session would begin. JK was always a yearly highlight growing up, so my feelings shared here don’t do justice to the gratitude I have for this camp. But I will try…

It was hard for my friends in Montréal to relate to me at times, as none of them had an Estonian upbringing. This is why attending JK was such a blessing in my life.

I seriously have the most amazing family, friends, travels, academic and extracurricular experiences, and more. Looking back at my childhood, it has always been hard to pinpoint why, despite all of this, I often felt like I never perfectly fit in anywhere. Growing up in the predominantly French-speaking city of Montréal, I never mastered my French as well as one might think everybody in Montréal does. I spoke Estonian with my Ema (mother), siblings and extended maternal family, and English with my dad and extended paternal family. At home, we embraced our Estonian heritage in our everyday lives. I often felt more connected to Estonian culture than I did to my Canadian home culture. It was hard for my friends in Montréal to relate to me at times, as none of them had an Estonian upbringing. This is why attending JK was such a blessing in my life.