America Days in Viljandi – Day 2

On the second day of U.S. Embassy Tallinn’s visit to the America Days celebrations in Viljandi, Embassy staff members were first greeted by famed Estonian textile artist Anu Raud at the museum at Kääriku Farm, which showcased prime examples of Estonian handicrafts and artifact. Professor Raud then invited the Embassy delegation into her home, which also serves as her studio. There she explained the significance of the Estonian handicraft tradition and the steps she takes to preserve it. Every summer, students from around the country visit her farm and learn the techniques she uses to weave intricate tapestries and knit fun and functional woolen goods for the coming winter.

After saying goodbye to Prof. Raud, the Embassy team visited Olustvere Service and Agricultural School. Housed on the grounds of a 19^th Century manor, the school blends old traditions with new facilities and training techniques to help young Estonians maintain their cultural heritage and turn it into a rewarding career. Embassy staff members enjoyed a delicious lunch in the manor house and then toured other historic sites on the campus. At the grain storage building, they sampled Estonian barley bread, which reminded many American staff members of the corn bread they eat back home. They also visited a number of art exhibitions featuring various media, including blown glass, ceramic and wood. One display housed hundreds of horse figurines depicting various scenes from Estonian history and culture; they were all created by a single artisan Voldemar Luht in rural Estonia.

While the main Embassy delegation was touring the manor grounds, other Embassy staff members were busy teaching students how to make classic American Chili at the school for culinary arts. The whole team then reconvened in the school’s dining room to taste the students’ delectable creations. The apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and blueberry-lemon tart were definite crowd pleasers. Hopefully some of those students will feel inspired to travel to the United States to learn more about America’s culinary traditions!

To complete the Embassy’s trip to Viljandi America Days, the team visited Pastor Hermann Kalmus at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Pilistvere. His congregation has established a museum commemorating the tragedy of the Soviet annexation of Estonia, and just down the road from the church stands the Stones of Sorrow memorial. Erected in 1988, the monument pays tribute to those who perished under Soviet subjugation and deportation. Each year, thousands of Estonians visit the monument to remember loved ones and fellow countrymen lost. Despite the sorrow the museum and memorial invoke, the Embassy team was impressed by the Estonians’ continued efforts to preserve their patriots’ legacies.

At the end of the day, the Embassy team left Viljandi for Tallinn with a strengthened appreciation for the Estonian-American partnership that extends throughout all of Estonia. We look forward to our next trip to Viljandi, where we hope to greet the many new friends we made during the two-day America Days celebration!