Now that it’s summer, I find myself reflecting on this past year after arriving here in Latvia full of wanderlust and a craving to understand this corner of the Baltic Region. Being our second OUTCAN, I’m quite aware of the challenges of living in a foreign community, but this posting comes with the additional challenge of not knowing the local language.
Most times we find a kind soul who knows English and is doing everything they can to help us. I didn’t realize how much I appreciated these folks until I had to walk away from a store and approach it another day armed with more patience and a translated sentence or two. Other times, I find myself laughing at things I never found funny before, like the terrifying experience of being yelled at in Latvian or Russian for touching a bag I wanted to buy. I still love those bags, but she keeps on yelling at me. Maybe next time I’ll buy one, or maybe I’ll walk away giggling.
I’ve quickly realized that the stoic nature of the Latvians shouldn’t be confused with being unfriendly. We have met many very kind Latvians who enjoy sharing the details of their culture and ways to enhance our “Latvian” experience, and it doesn’t take long to find another interesting corner of the country to explore. Their culture is dynamic, complex but simple, and it keeps on drawing my interest to learn more.
For me, the most rewarding part of my experience is making connections with fellow Canadians. Each of us is away from the support systems we once knew, and we have quickly become a close-knit support network. It’s something I’d never experienced until being on an OutCan. Although we are here to experience the Latvian culture and way of life, it’s also a time to learn what makes Canadians incredible.
Another posting season is upon us and it almost feels like New Year’s Eve, with the promise of what the next year has to offer. But there’s also the knowledge that I have one less year to enjoy this amazing city and wonderful people I’ve met along the way. It’s hard not to be sentimental, so I’ll just sign off by saying “liels paldies” (thank you very much) for being part of my Latvian experience.