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Category Archives: Social Issues
For the love of Latvian men
The other day, I received an interesting message. It was from a Scandinavian girl wondering what it’s like to date a Latvian man. Now, I get messages all the time from men asking about Latvian women. These conversations generally go like this. … Continue reading
Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian women, Love and Relationships, Social Issues
Tagged alcoholism, Cheating, Dating a Latvian, Gender equality, Gender roles, Janis, Latvian men's reputation, Love, reverse sexism, Sex, vanity
173 Comments
Where have all the Jāņi gone?
While on a walking tour in Berlin, I got chatting to a guy – as I do. Me: So, where are you from? Guy: I live in Nürnberg. Me: (Instantly suspicious) Guy: And you? Me: Well, I’m from Ireland but I … Continue reading
Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Janis, Latvia, Latvian people, Social Issues, Travel
Tagged Berlin, Germany, Latvian emigration, Meeting people, Perceptions of Latvia, Tourism in Latvia
212 Comments
A few days in Daugavpils (Part three)
Yet again, I woke up at the crack of dawn, thanks to the paper thin blinds and the creaking of old trams (and old bones) outside my window. After trying to convince myself that I was asleep for another couple of … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, Social Issues, Travel
Tagged Ants, Artilerijas Pagrabs, beer, Church Hill, Customer Service, Daugavpils, Emigration, Food, Fortress, Homeless people, Hotel Latgola, Hotel Paradize, Infrastructure, Investment, Laimas Muzykanti, Lidadis, Mark Rothko Centre, Music, Trams
85 Comments
Latvia. Home of the Homophobe.
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
Judgement Day
Gundega: Do you write a blog? Me: SHHH! (Looking around like a fugitive) Yes, I do… Gundega: No, no, I love it! Me: Oh. Great, thanks! Glad you like it. (pregnant pause) Gundega: (with a healthy amount of desperation) Don’t … Continue reading
Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, Social Issues, TEFL
Tagged Clothing, Education in Latvia, English in Latvia, ESU Public Speaking Competition, expat, Judge, Riga, Teenagers, TEFL, The Baltic Times
54 Comments
Something is rotten in the state of Latvia
If you’ve heard about Latvia in the news recently (apart from the Winter Olympics – three medals and counting), you’ve more than likely heard about how Latvia has one of the highest GDP growth rates in Europe, or how Latvia … Continue reading
Posted in Expat, Latvia, Latvian people, Old age, Riga, Social Issues
Tagged Brain Drain, Economy, Education, GDP, Growing old in Latvia, Healthcare, Latvia, Latvia National Library, Latvian people, Latvian winter, Palace of Light, Riga, Social issues
209 Comments
It’s a sad day
No jokes. No sarcasm. No pictures. Today is a truly sad day for Latvia. Yesterday evening, the roof of a supermarket in the outskirts of Riga collapsed. As is the way with these things, it happened at around 6pm, just … Continue reading
Posted in Latvia, Riga, Social Issues
Tagged Latvia, Maxima, Riga, Supermarket collapse, Tragedy
61 Comments
Does this blog make my butt look big?
God, I hope not. I live in Latvia and they just don’t tolerate that sort of thing here. Other women stomp on you with their gold-studded, leopard-print stilettos for letting the side down. They let their rat-dogs out of their … Continue reading
Posted in Fitness, Humor, Humour, Latvian women, Social Issues, Travel
Tagged Body image, Body issues, Cosmo.lv, expat, fitness, Food, humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian women, Weight loss, Weight problems
134 Comments
Growing old disgracefully
I seldom think about my old age. I assume that I won’t live to see it. On the rare occasions that the thought does flit across my mind, I picture myself as tiny and white-haired, more gumption than gummy. In … Continue reading
Posted in Latvia, Old age, Social Issues
Tagged Cost of living in Latvia, expat, Global AgeWatch, humor, Humour, Injustice, Latvia, Old age, Old people in Latvia, Pensions in Latvia, Survival, Sweden
105 Comments
The happiest nation on earth
While half-watching BBC News this morning, my attention was suddenly drawn away from my boiled egg (in an egg cup) and towards the newsreader. She was about to announce which nation is the world’s happiest. You can imagine my surprise … Continue reading
