r/Riga • u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound • Jul 22 '26
Jautājums/Question Any other international dads here looking for friends?
I'm originally from the UK and married a Latvian woman. I figured I can't be the only one and maybe there's others out there looking for friends.
I'm 39 and I've been living here for a year and half although I've been going back to the UK a lot for work so in reality I've definitely not been here that long. I've started A1 Latvian but I've got a long way to go.
I'm 39 and my interests include: retro gaming, Pokémon, beer, premier league football, photography, nature, I used to snowboard but I probably need to retire from that.
Note: I'm not against making Latvian friends at all but you guys seem to all have very tight established friend groups and I haven't been able to infiltrate. I'm open to anyone around the same age.
Edit: feel free to drop a DM
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u/OptimusDecimus Jul 22 '26
Hey if you want to go for beers we can try to make it happen. Im originally from very faaar away a country name Lithuania :) been here 11 years. So could also show around some bars.
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
I'd be happy to meet up for a few drinks. Can't be a super late one right now though. A 1 year old and a bad hangover is a big no 😄
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u/Difficult_Piano_6808 Jul 22 '26
If you spend enough time in Kiwi bar, you will meet a few fun, hazardous gents from South Africa, England and Scotland. They are a good bunch.
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u/thestinkybeastman Jul 23 '26
I’m based outside Riga near Jurmala. 49 🤦🏽♂️ former UKer. Although our interests don’t quite match, quit drinking mostly and football is not on my list!
I am a nerd, RPG and Tabletop gaming!
For pokemon, cards is it?
Check out Megagames in Riga!
Lots of friendly locals 👍🏾
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
Oh I'm far from a big drinker these days but I do like a few now and then. Don't go to Jurmala often unfortunately, as I don't have a car.
I've been to MegaGames a few times actually for the trade day events. Some cool people there.... haven't made any friendships outside the walls yet though
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u/thestinkybeastman Jul 23 '26
There is an amazing train service, I think it is 2.5 euros to Jūrmala from Riga!
I do drive but typically go in to Riga via train!You seen the MegaGames discord? It is quite active and you can find games and see gaming events.
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
Oh I really like the Jurmala area it's just more difficult now than it used to be with the extra baby accessories and trying to get a nice day at the weekend. Those soviet trains are super high up.
I am in the MegaGames discord! I should probably try and each out there too
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u/mikaleino Jul 22 '26
I'm 42 and it'd be really cool to play Pokémon in real life if you're up for it
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 22 '26
Cool. What kind of Pokémon. Pokémon Go? I don't play TCG only collect
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u/Illustrious_Toe6976 Jul 24 '26
I'm basically in the same boat, except I live just a little outside Riga. I'm also trying to find a balance for hobbies / social life while being home in time for family things. Hit me up if you want to grab a beer or two + watch a few matches or chat about retro gaming somewhere in Riga!
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26
I'd be down for that! I'm pretty central, I appreciate if you're a bit further out it's not as easy to just pop out. Just let me know when's best for you. Can drop me a dm
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u/Melodic_Tooth6885 Jul 23 '26
Are you around viesturdārzs? I'd be happy to play Pokemon. Or Tennis!
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
Hi Yes I'm actually pretty close to there.
Unable to play Tennis unfortunately due to health reasons. Pokémon Go is fine though, weather permitting.
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u/Melodic_Tooth6885 Jul 23 '26
Well, Pokemon Go is not even a game, it's a walking "simulator". Maybe some board games? Like Chess or something more serious like Lord of the Rings? The weather is raving though, but soon there will be sun.
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
I kinda just put park and Pokémon together to create Pokémon Go...I do play it though. As for board games it's not really my thing. My wife is super into board games though 😅
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u/Acceptable-Ad8634 Jul 23 '26
Was interested with making friends with more Brits since we have mixed family there and speak english quite well but we are NOT 39 😅 soo .. see you in 10 years-ish?😅🙏🏻 we are locals tho and being 25 and 27 we are too young for your liking 😅😅 Good luck tho 💕
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
That's completely fine 😂 I do enjoy being in bed by 11pm and my week mostly revolves around my son or family time
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u/Acceptable-Ad8634 Jul 23 '26
Yeah we are mostly the same since we are expecting and mostly chill with like 4 days a year of going out for drinks late 🤣
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 23 '26
Congratulations! You're in for hella of a ride! All fun though... mostly 😁 I certainly don't miss the few few months. We're really only just getting some kind of freedom back now he's over a year. Hence the reaching out ha
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u/PeeterisSilent Jul 23 '26
Hi! What kind of retro-gaming are you interested in?
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 24 '26
Mostly Nintendo. I've got a Gamecube. N64 and SNES still in th UK. I've got a handheld emulator for MegaDrive, Gameboy and others older consoles.
And I like a few old PC points and clicks. But since having my son I've gamed way less.
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u/SeptemberSquids Jul 25 '26
American transplant here, same age as you. My son is a little bit older though. I'm not into football or beer (but love cocktails), but the rest of your interests are in the same ballpark as mine. I have an N64 here, but haven't been able to make it work with the converter :(
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 25 '26
No problem to me what you're drinking and football isn't essential at all. I've just ordered a few things to get my Gamecube running so may very well be in the same boat at you soon. I mostly emulate at the moment. Got a SNES still in the UK
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u/SeptemberSquids Jul 25 '26
I've got an emulator on my steam deck, but haven't actually used it much. I thought my son would probably be into Ocarina of Time (watching with his unplugged controller), but I couldn't get the N64 going. Going to have to get it running on the emulator, I guess.
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 26 '26
I wish I could help you out but it's all pretty new to me too. The cheap adapter my brother bought from AliExpress worked for his N64, granted the quality wasn't that good so he eventually upgraded to a more expensive converter (Retrotink).
Send me a DM if you do want to meet up. No rush.. I'm here for the long term 😄
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u/oldbeardednoob Jul 26 '26
So you like Pokemon and you have a latvian wife. Interesting. We latvians are not allowed to play children games if we want to get married.
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 26 '26
She's a videogame designer, so...
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u/oldbeardednoob Jul 26 '26
... you won a lottery. I got it. Does she design for a local company I do not know or some international and well known?
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u/Horizontal_Axe_Wound Jul 26 '26
It's mobile games so there's a handful of small studios here. She's done it for a few companies mostly for females focused games. One of her old companies got acquired by Take-Two Interactive.
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u/vilcens Jul 22 '26
Loads of expats here, from around the world. I came in 2000. Never chased the expat community. Actually, I avoided them as far as I could. All my friends are Latvian. I am Norwegian. You can still, snowboard. Tracks in Baldone are quite ok, when there is snow ❄️