Category Archives: Culture and Traditions

Jānis and Gunta, sittin’ in a tree…

Posted on August 23, 2014 by BerLinda

I recently agreed to do an interview for The Northern California Review (ZK Apskats) – a bulletin published by the Northern Californian Latvian Association. While my dealings with the Latvian media have been, on the whole, dire, I thought that this might … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Travel | Tagged Creating stereotypes, Estonians, Interviews, Lithuanians, Northern Californian Latvian Association, Stereotypes | 196 Comments

Who’s your daddy?

Posted on June 17, 2014 by BerLinda

A couple of weeks ago, I discovered a funny thing about Latvians. Yes, another one. But first, a little background… I recently met a couple of really nice Latvian girls – it seems they do exist. While I was out for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Janis, Latvian people | Tagged Assholes, gardens, growing your own fruit and veg, How to address Latvian people, Janis, mojitos, nature, public transport | 178 Comments

How living in Latvia has changed me

Posted on April 2, 2014 by BerLinda

Now that I can see the light at the end of my Latvian tunnel, I’ve been thinking about how I’ve changed over the last few years as a result of living here. Here’s what my profound thought process has come up with: … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvian people, Rudeness, Travel | Tagged Birch juice, Door Dominoes, Drivers in Latvia, Eastern Europe, Elvi, expat, Holding the door open, humor, Humour, Latvian forest, Latvian sauna, Leopard print, Living abroad, Path Rage, Plastic Bags, Rudeness, shopping, The Sixth Sense | 171 Comments

In Latvia, you can’t win

Posted on March 23, 2014 by BerLinda

I try to chat to my mother once a week on the phone and, over the course of our conversations, the blog usually comes up. Me: So, what did you think of such and such a post? Mammy O’Grady: Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, Latvian people, Travel | Tagged Berries, Conversation, Dace Melbarde, expat, Foreigners in Latvia, forests, humor, Humour, language, Latvia, Latvian people, Leopard print, Marmite, Mushrooms, Riga, Small talk, Smiling, weather | 228 Comments

Latvia. Home of the Homophobe.

Posted on March 20, 2014 by BerLinda

It’s catchier than ‘Latvia – The Land that Sings’, don’t you think? Although I can see why the tourist board would go with the latter. The other day, a friend of mine was horrified when his son came out with … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Festivals, Latvia, Love and Relationships, Social Issues, Tolerance | Tagged Aigars Kalvitis, Amnesty International, Anti-gay marchers, Being gay in Latvia, Brain Storm, Gay, Gay marriage, Homophobia in Latvia, LGBT, People throwing shit, Politics in Latvia, Prata Vetra, Renars Kaupers, Riga Pride Parade | 155 Comments

Ice Ice Baby

Posted on January 8, 2014 by BerLinda

After you’ve pissed off an entire country, there’s really only one thing left to do, and that is go to a place where there are lots of people from that country moving around, at speed, on very sharp objects. Yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvian people | Tagged birthdays, cake, Dinamo Riga, expat, ice rink, ice-skating, Jurmala, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian women, superstitions | 114 Comments

The Latvians take over! (Part 1)

Posted on December 25, 2013 by BerLinda

As I’ve said before, I’m taking a little break over the Christmas holidays. Rejoice/Bemoan as you will. In my absence, I’m running a few guest posts from Latvians – none of whom are called Jānis, oddly enough. The first post … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Latvia, Latvian people, Love and Relationships, Travel | Tagged Christmas, Emigrating, expat, Family, Guest post, Home, Jelgava, Latvia, Latvian people, Love, Moving to America | 39 Comments

You had me at ‘Hello’

Posted on November 20, 2013 by BerLinda

If you do come to Latvia, chances are you’ll meet a few Latvians. And, if you’re really lucky/unlucky (delete as appropriate), you might even get to know some of them. One day, you might bump into the same Latvian twice. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Janis, Latvian people | Tagged 'Hello', expat, humor, Humour, Janis, Jerry Maguire, Latvia, Latvian people, Politeness, Saying hello, Smiling, Social norms, TEFL, What to expect in Latvia | 126 Comments

Soccer, sex and Stockholm

Posted on November 17, 2013 by BerLinda

My little home from home has a lot to celebrate at the moment, though clearly not in football as Ireland whupped Latvia 3-0 on Friday. (I couldn’t not mention that.) Far cheerier is the fact that Latvia celebrates Independence Day … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Culture and Traditions, Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvian women, Travel | Tagged beer, Elina Desaine, expat, Football, Happiness, humor, Humour, Ireland v Latvia, Latvia, Latvian Independence Day, November 18th, Roy Keane, Sex, Staro Riga, The UK's horniest student, Wine | 92 Comments

Latvia. The land that sings.

Posted on July 7, 2013 by BerLinda

In the past, I’ve been guilty of calling Latvia many things. Land of Misery, Land of Crappy Winters, and Land of Leopard Print spring to mind. However, this week, Latvia truly lived up to its reputation as the Land that … Continue reading →