(Part one can be found here)
There is no question in our house that I am going to Estonian Supplementary School. My mother walks with me to Keele Street Public School to register and then takes me every Thursday night. We live about three blocks away from Bloor and Keele Streets, so this is an easy walk from home. I like my regular Canadian school so I don’t mind the idea of another school. My parents explain that the school is vital in order for me to be a good Estonian. I think that it might be fun; even more children to meet and to play with.
My teacher, Mrs. Komi, will be our classroom teacher for all seven years. The first thing I notice during roll call is that my classmates have Estonian names: Kaida, Kadi, Tiina, Mariann, Peeter, Toomas, Tarmo. My name, Anne, has two syllables in Estonian, but a silent e in English. I’m glad to have my two-syllable name back. Some children with Esto names like Eha, Vaike, Tonu, Ants, Madis get teased when their lovely Estonian names sound strange in English.
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