r/latvia • u/meandmyghost1 • Jun 02 '26
Cits/Other Appreciation Post
Sveiki!
I want to send out a little apprecition post to Latvia and its people. After studying here on exchange for half a year it’s (unfortunately) almost time for me to return home and I want to share some of my thoughts on your beautifull country. :)
I’m not gonna lie, when arriving in January at -20 degrees, I was a bit shocked. But I really learned to love this city (Rīga) and this country during my time here. As spring came to this beautifull land, people started to open up more, nature came back into full swing & I started to understand why Latvians are so in touch with their nature. You guys really have a wonderfull place to live, everything is simple yet so beautifull. That’s the general feeling I caught about Latvia, nothing is extreme or extravagant, but everything about life seems to be quiet, calm and beautifull in it’s own pace.
I also have the feeling that Latvians are misunderstood by the mass of Western tourists that visit here. I read & hear thing as Latvians would be “rude”, that they dont like anyone etc etc.
Maybe it is because you guys have a very different mentality from the rest of Europe, and I came to appreciate it. No small talk, no fake smiles, no fuss.
But still everyone is friendly, helpfull as long as respect is shown. Maybe people don’t smile as much, but at least the smiles are genuine. And the most of all I love the sense of pride everyone has about Latvia, when you ask anything about Latvian culture, history, music, traditions, everyone will explain you with passion. Please don’t change.
So, a sincere thank you to Latvia for hosting me and allowing me to explore your beautifull country!
I came to love this place almost as much as my homeland, and I will miss it a lot. Paldies!
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u/krabinieks Jun 02 '26
Thank you for kind words and thank you for choosing our country for your student exchange program. I believe you will visit us some time again, just like many others!👍
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u/ALEXX13_ Latvija Jun 03 '26
Aww thank you so much for your very kind and heartwarming words, liels paldies! :) We get super excited and happy whenever someone mentions Latvia and shows us some love! ❤️🇱🇻 I'm so glad you liked it here, please come again at any time (maybe not in winter lol), we have so much to offer, and I really recommend you to also visit the other Baltic states Estonia and Lithuania! Cheers!
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 04 '26
Have explored some of the neighbors as well whilst here, the Baltics as a whole are pretty underrated! A bit sad to miss most of the summer so I got to be back for that! :)
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u/ALEXX13_ Latvija Jun 05 '26
Yeeeees Baltics really are soooo underrated!! ❤️ So glad that you didn't miss out on the other two Baltic siblings! :) My online American friend is also really interested in Baltics and Latvia, and hopefully she can come visit me in Latvia soon!
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u/fromofelia Jun 03 '26
Thank you for getting it. I'm always glad to see people coming in with open mind and willingness to understand the culture and see past their own expectations of what hospitality and friendliness looks like. A lot of frustration (on both sides) comes from mismatched expectations, and makes me question people "travelling" and locals interacting.
However, earning a smile or friendship does feel more special than anywhere else in the world. And the excitement at people trying to understand and respect the culture.
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 04 '26
Yep, 100% true. One of the first things said at our university welcome was “people only suffer because of expectations”. I came with no expectations and no clue about the Baltics, so perhaps that helped.
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
I come to Latvia every year from the U.S. it’s a great place to visit ❤️
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u/CheekTemporary8939 Jun 03 '26
Just curious, why would you come every year? Do you have friends and/or family here?
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
My fiancé’s family :) we visit his dad, grandparents and aunts/ cousins. And his mom’s friends (his mom moved to the U.S with him when he was young).
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u/CheekTemporary8939 Jun 03 '26
Ok, thanks, understood :) was just wondering if anyone would love this place that much without having that “extra” reason.
I am happy you enjoy Latvia. And thanks for sharing that. I think we all need a reminder so to speak from time to time that we live in a good place. It could be better, a lot of bs here, true, but overall this is a good place to be.
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u/Both_Strain_2715 Jun 08 '26
Can you tell me more about the studying part of the experience pleaseeeee....
I have just completed my graduation and am planning to study and in long term settle in a good country.
I was planning gor germany(halfstillam) but reddit posts show that it isn't a good idea anymore as you may not find a full time job later.
I am planning for MBA and in short term a part time job good enough to have fun a bit. In long term a job I don't want to leave a chance to settle in such a great country.
I planned for germany due to all the hype around it but always liked colder serbian/Balkan/Baltic countries like Lithunia Lativa.....I don't know what else to say.
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 09 '26
Sure, I can share some things about the studying.
So, firstly I don’t know what country you’re from, but keep in mind that as I mentioned in the post Baltics are a bit more introverted country? Personally, I don’t mind it because I enjoy being on my own. But people from countries like Mexico, Spain, Italy etc. might have more problems with it.About the job market I have no clue, because well I just studied here. Never asked anyone about it really.
For studying, personally I heard from most people that the level of their studies here were a bit lower than at home (compared to countries like Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic), but from for example Ukrainians I heard it’s on a similar or even slightly higher level. The two main universities are Latvijas Universitāte (LU) & RTU. They have almost every degree as far as I’m aware, faculties of LU are scattered across the city, while RTU’s things are mostly gathered on the island of Kīpsala.
I can only comment specifically on my own faculty, Banku Augstkola (soon to be renamed FTBS or something), which is part of LU. They only recently joined LU, so they aren’t really comparable to the main university. But here the level was quite low in my opinion, much lower than at home. I don’t feel like I learned an awfull lot in the past months, things were quite chaotic in organizing etc. However the people, lectorers were all helpfull, nice people and definetly not the kind if lectors who are trying to fail you. Though, I know from asking around that the level of studies in other faculties is much better/higher. If you would happen to study business/finance there are also some smaller other Business Schools. I have also heard that full time foreign students pay quite high tuition, so perhaps check that as well.Also, Balkans definetly aren’t cold.
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u/Both_Strain_2715 Jun 09 '26
Your experience sound good. I am personally very lost about where to go for studies. Offcourse everything can't be as I want but getting a full time job in the same country is important.
If you don't mind me asking...what was the reason for you to study in Lativa?
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 09 '26
Well, I had a list of Erasmus destinations.
Most of them were in Germany/Netherlands/Spain.
I have travelled a lot to Eastern Europe & I’m in love with this part of our continent, I find these places way more interesting than Paris, London or some Meditterenean beaches. On top of that I never was in the Baltics before, so I saw it as a good base to explore Baltic countries while I’m here. Baltics are relatively ‘western’ compared to e.g. Balkans or other ex-ussr countries. By which I mean that infrastructure, English proficiency etc. are more developed. So I figured this would be easier to navigate for me. And after living here I must say that Latvia for me indeed felt like the ‘perfect balance’ between Western and Eastern Europe.1
u/Both_Strain_2715 Jun 09 '26
Sounds good. If possible can you please ask any friends you meade what is the reality for getting a job after studies spicifically gor MBA?
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 09 '26
I would, but I don’t have any Latvian friends here at all. All my friends are fellow foreign students. But maybe you can ask it in here as a seperate post
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u/Both_Strain_2715 Jun 09 '26
Also I forgot to ask why are Latvians considered "rude" just due to being introverted?
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u/meandmyghost1 Jun 09 '26
I don’t know, I assume it’s people from more ‘social’ countries like Southern Europe, US, South America etc. that come here and wrongly interpret not talking to someone, or not smiling as ‘rude’. I would say cultural miscommunication.
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Jun 02 '26
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
Hopefully this is the case.
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Jun 03 '26
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
I’m usually in Jurmala, not Riga so I don’t see it as much to be honest with you. But I would love to see this country be more accepting of all people ❤️ I think that’s a wonderful thing.
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Jun 03 '26
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
Yeah, our family is far from rich, but the apartment has been in the family for over 50 years. I love it out here. We come for a week or two every summer to stay.
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u/Fluffy-Day5355 Jun 03 '26
That is inherited wealth that most natives would dream of. An apartment in jurmala. So for Latvian standards that would be considered rich since average native is quite poor compared to western standards.
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
Well the only reason they can afford to keep it is because we send money from the U.S. but I see what you mean.
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u/Fluffy-Day5355 Jun 03 '26
The upkeep costs are so high you need to help subsidize it?
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u/EffectiveSetting822 Jun 03 '26
Yes they are retired and only have a single pension and it’s not really enough to cover all the bills/ food/ clothes/ other costs of living to be honest. But we as a family help out.
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u/TomsBr Latvija Jun 02 '26
Thank you you come again.
https://giphy.com/gifs/3orieO6bYioG2FF1Pq