I was so pleased to speak in Estonian with a young folk dancer from Eesti, who complimented me on my vocabulary and grammar and said how impressed she was by everything our parents built here and how the younger generations strive to preserve our heritage. I find it incredibly encouraging to see many young Estonians of the third generation here who are passionate about their heritage. Me and my wife Ellen (who is not Estonian) felt enriched and rewarded as we immersed ourselves in beautiful choral music, watched the ever-so-joyous folk dancing and pondered the wisdom of Kristiina Kallas in conversation with Steve Paikin on the topic of “Education as Defence.”
I was especially enthralled with the theatrical presentation of Klarissa Kirjad (Klarissa’s Letters). This true story is an amazing saga of loss, hope against all odds, perseverance, patience, and ultimately reward.
