It’s no secret that men have some habits that we ladies find questionable. Unrestrained as they are by pressures to be ‘ladylike’, men are far more open about their bodily functions than we are. Farting and belching are sources of great amusement. Scratching of certain parts in public is explained away as ‘essential adjustments’. In Ireland, I used to work with a guy who, at around the same time every morning, would tuck his newspaper under his arm and cheerfully announce that he was off to ‘do his dirt’… Obviously nobody wanted to borrow that newspaper afterwards.
However, if you think that this is as good (or as bad) as it gets, think again. Latvian Man has, yet again, outdone himself and raised the bar to giddy heights. So guys, if you want to learn a new trick to amaze and impress your friends, read on for step-by-step instructions on how to perfect what I’ve affectionately dubbed the ‘Latvian Snot Rocket’.
1. While walking along a city street, exhale. Keep going until you have no breath left. (This is essential if you want to build up the necessary power for step 2.)
2. Throw your head back and inhale deeply and loudly, snorting and sucking every last ounce of phlegm and mucus into your nasal cavity.
3. Tilt your head forward until your nostrils are parallel to the pavement.
4. Press hard on one nostril with one or two fingers.
5. Close your mouth and exhale hard through your nose, expelling your green gift to humanity like a mucus missile onto the pavement.
6. Walk on, triumphant in the knowledge that you’ve left a little bit of yourself behind for other pedestrians to admire and aspire to.
Unfortunately, there’s no photo to accompany this post. Quite frankly, I didn’t have the stomach for it. But if any nationality feels that they can top the ‘Latvian Snot Rocket’, please leave your suggestions below for consideration…
Expat Eye on Latvia 
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Oh gods, that would make me throw up.
Soooooooooooo gross!!!
It’s quite the spectacle 😉
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Oh noooooooooooooo! Thats groooooooose!!!!!!! I hate that, just hate that. My granddad use to do this. My only comfort was that he lives in the woods and that I visit him not that often!
The woods is the perfect place for it!!
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Hungarians! Definitely!
(Btw, im a hungarian girl, and i found a truly amazing latvian man! so there are 2 alredy!) :))
Love ur blog, thank u for share all ur experiences! 🙂
Ha ha, you’re welcome! Thanks for commenting! I’ve visited Budapest a couple of times but don’t remember seeing it there 😉 Loved Budapest by the way – it’s in my top 3 cities! Glad you found a good Latvian man! I knew there had to be more of them out there!! Linda.
I’m glad that u liked my Budapest. I love to live here, but let’s see how it goes in Latvia from the next week… (OMG bye bye summer) i will prepare myself for the mosquitoes, thanks to remind 🙂
Hopefully the weather will be good! And the mosquitoes will be kind! Just had somebody else recommend tea tree oil if they’re not. Have a great time here! 😉
I’m not sure about the ‘Tea Tree Oil’ thing – I’ve always used a repellant which contains a high %age of ‘Deet’. Most travel goods shops should sell it in some form.
Even those specialising in Ski equipment might do it, and even some good pharmacies.
(Unless, of course, Latvians are impervious to mosquito bites – for whatever reason!)
Probably something to do with the Russians 😉
have you ever been in Russia or other slavic countries? it’s a post-soviet habit and hope that by saying “Latvian” you mean inhabitant of Latvia rather than people of Latvian nationality as this manner of nose blowing is more common among slavic people (though, not exclusive..)
and it’s not that locals find this particular way of “personal hygene” appealing…
I can’t imagine anyone finding it appealing! And yes, by Latvian, I mean people who live here – and were probably born here.
Same thing here in Ukraine! Got to watch out for those treacherous little slippery patches when the ground freezes in winter 😛
Ha, it’s true! I always walk focused on the pavement! Don’t want any nasty surprises!!
Yuk, yuk, yuk. 😦
I thought so 😉
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Hmmm, I don’t want to sound butt-hurt, but it seems these posts regarding bad qualities of the Latvian environment show some intention of creating backlash towards specific attributes of Latvians that is sugar coated in ill fated humor. Wouldn’t say it surprises me.
As for me, I have seen much worse things abroad but it never has got to me that I could generalize this kind of behavior beyond the seen individual, let alone the whole local population.
Every nationality has its quirks! This is just one that I personally hadn’t seen anywhere else but maybe it does happen elsewhere. And of course not all Latvian men do it. But I have seen enough of it to warrant a post! Bear in mind that I’m not making stuff up or lying – I can only write about what I see. Sorry if you don’t like it or my odd sense of humour- you’re not the first and I’m sure you won’t be the last! But in the same way that I have the freedom to choose what I write about, you also have the freedom to choose whether or not you read it. Linda.
Ok, it happens in Russia too!
http://pollyheath.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/russia-quirks/ This is written by an American girl who lives there 🙂
I don´t know if this is a national habit or convenience, but I noticed in Serbia that men relieve themselves in public places…like infront of historic monuments and cathedrals…But I rather enjoyed Belgrade otherwise. =)
So do you find Latvian men to be romantic? flirtatious? Don Juan-esque, even?? 😉
Oh of course! Every day is a new treat! I’m amazed that Latvians don’t have the same international reputation as say, the French or the Italians… 😉
Ew! Kind of like the stag nights in Riga I guess… 😉 How they can mistake the Freedom Monument for a urinal is beyond me but I guess the beer goggles are pretty strong!!
Ew, that is gross and – quite unfortunately – I know first hand how disgusting it is. I had this boy in our class back in school days, which used to do pretty much the same routine of snot cannoning. It was stomach wrenching view and sound to handle back then, but at least I can console myself with the fact that he was just a teen back then and that nowadays, as far as I’m aware of, he does not act this way anymore, or not where and when he could be seen by innocent onlookers with no stomach for the stuff like me. But for a grown up to act this way… darn, but I don’t get it.
Oh my god, snot cannoning is the most fantastic description I think I’ve ever heard! Wish I’d thought of it! Poor you having that kid in your class 😉 I guess it made lessons kind of exciting though – making sure you weren’t in the firing line!!
EEEEWWWWWWW – GROSS! It makes we wonder why we bother with them, sometimes 😉
Luckily, they still have some uses 😉
You mean for putting up shelves, and suchlike? 😉
It’s like you read my mind 😉
Haha! I’ve noticed several European football players do this during matches. It’s horrible to see on TV but I can’t even imagine seeing someone do it in person. Ick!
They should be fined for subjecting innocent viewers to that kind of behaviour! It really is more special in person though 😉
Oh, dear, and I just had scrambled eggs for breakfast. BARFF! (And this is from one who is quite used to cleaning up cat puke and cat poop.) So do you recommend rubber boots for your walks on Latvian streets?
Probably a good idea! Flip flops are a risky choice… 😉
I just vomited a little in my mouth…. I will not be trying this one on a date with Mrs. G.
Bet you’re glad you’re going to Italy not Latvia 😉
I don’t know…snow and snot rockets sound appealing.
Sun and snot rockets at the moment! I really should write for the Latvian Tourist Board…
Wow. That is taking the game to a new level. The spitting is quite universal as is the adjustment of one’s manhood under the inexplicable illusion that no one can see you at it. Short of sticking a post-it on your zip I really don’t see how you could be any more transparent:)
Now that I’d like to see!
When I was around 19 years young, I was having breakfast with the family of my girlfriend. At some point I took a sip of milk and at the same moment some one told something. I had to laugh so badly, all the milk came out through my nose. Must say that it was quite embarrassing in front of the whole family. Latvian men apparently don’t have a sense of embarrassment in their whole body. They just don’t care and in worst case they are proud of what they have achieved.
In a way, you almost have to admire them for it. Almost 😉
UGHHHH. This and the spitting is THE WORST. whyyy?
I always thought spitting but the worst but this is a whole new level for me! Hadn’t seen it anywhere before!
Aw gawd, am so glad I read that AFTER brekkie. I truly am.
I doubt I’ll feel like having lunch…
It’s part of my new slimming series… 😉
So THAT’S how Latvian women do it!
Now I understand everything.
You may have something there! Wish I’d made that connection!
All that I can lay claim to is suddenly finding my trousers descend to around my knees in the middle of the local ‘Sky’ supermarket……..
Not enough to make an impression on anyone I suppose – and it’s definitely NOT a habit!
I doubt anyone even raised an eyebrow here! Very funny though! (But maybe not for you) 🙂