LATVIA - RIGA

In case you are planning to visit Latvia, I am sure  that you will definitely like it. At first Ithought it is such a small and not well known country why should I go there and spend five months there?

I arrived at the end of summer in Riga and the people gave me a feeling of enjoying every day but also being separated and for themselves. Everywhere there was music, some small free events with folk dances took place in the parks  and a lot of colors could be seen. However, when the summer was over, and the temperature started to decrease also the people started being more introverted. The lively city from the beginning got ore quiet. After the short autumn of two weeks people where only outside for some shopping but not to enjoying the weather and the heavy wind.

Generally, it was very hard for me to find a Latvian – or someone from the Baltic States - smiling or looking at me friendly at first. This was no problem for me – I am an Austrian girl. Smiling and saying hello to everyone is part of my natural behavior. In the supermarket, shopping in the mall, in a restaurant or going to university I will be friendly. Most of the time people look at you when you say a friendly welcoming word with a face that wants to say “Are you feeling sick? Why are you nice to me?”. But when you continue being friendly to them, they also begin being friendly to you.

Latvia has a long and at times turulent history. During both World Wars some other nation came occupying them  and they were not allowed to say anything. They had to follow the rules of others instead of being Latvian. For example, when they went on vacation they had to go to some specific hotels. In them they were monitored. So that could be one of the reasons why they are so skeptical about other people. So that will be one of the reasons why they are so skeptical about other people. This is one explanation for the elder generation, but why the younger ones are still like that – I do not know. This time period made the people also stronger. Latvians are proud to be a Latvians. A good example are the National Days on the 11th  and 18th November. These are the Independent Days of the First and Second World War. Everywhere in the city you see Latvian Flags and wherever you go during this month you can see lot of flowers and candles put down around the monuments. You feel this strong sense of community and national identity everyday. Another example of feeling this strong Latvian identity one gets during a free walking tour in Riga. These tours are  guided by Latvians and the guide tels you a lot about the history and the city, but also that the Baltic States are there for each other. Because they know how it feels to be occupied and having nothing. That’s one reason why they also help Ukraine a lot during the current war– that is also one thing that you see everywhere in the city. In conclusion, Riga is a city you definitely have to see once in your lifetime but also to feel it. The people might not look friendly at you first but they are only sceptical. And remember

“What goes around, comes around” - Willie Nelson

So you should go around with open eyes and mind. Then you always learn something new from the different cultures. To understand how they see the world. And while traveling you will see the different point of views and the extreme differences. In my opinion you start to see how great your own country is and you begin to miss what was absolutely normal for you.