Tag Archives: Customer Service

How do you solve a problem like a Latvian?

Posted on July 18, 2014 by BerLinda

In my (almost) four years here in Latvia, I feel like I’ve got to the bottom of a lot of riddles concerning this land and its people. However, there are some things that still mystify me, even after all this time. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian people, Riga, Rudeness | Tagged Body odour, Cafes, Cats, clothes, Customer Service, Driving on Latvian roads, Drunks, Man bags, Old people, Parenting, public transport, Shoes, supermarkets, TEFL, Vodka | 177 Comments

An open letter to Latvijas Pasts

Posted on July 5, 2014 by BerLinda

Dear Latvijas Pasts, Having lived in Latvia for almost four years now, I truly thought that I had scraped the bottom of the barrel when it came to deplorable customer service. However, on Thursday afternoon, your Čaka Street branch plumbed new … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Latvia | Tagged birthdays, Complaints, Customer Service, Latvia, Latvian Post, TEFL | 156 Comments

A few days in Daugavpils (Part three)

Posted on May 9, 2014 by BerLinda

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

A few days in Daugavpils (Part two)

Posted on May 6, 2014 by BerLinda

Of Daugavpils, my (admittedly out of date) Lonely Planet had this to say: It’s hard to smile when the grey sky matches the grey of crumbling Soviet block housing… a city with as many prisons as churches… Rigans will snicker when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Fashion, Food, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Travel | Tagged cake, Churches, Crisps, Customer Service, Daugavpils, Food, Markets, Museum, Park, Sightseeing, Trams, Wine | 113 Comments

A few days in Daugavpils (Part one)

Posted on May 2, 2014 by BerLinda

“It’s a total shithole.” “It’s a dangerous shithole.” “It’s a shithole full of crazy people.” My friends’ reactions when I voiced my travel plans only made me more curious to check out Latvia’s second largest city. Daugavpils, with a population of … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Travel | Tagged Customer Service, Daugava, Daugavpils, Food, forests, Hotel Paradize, Latgale, Roadworks, Travel in Latvia, trees | 93 Comments

Are you being served?

Posted on April 24, 2014 by BerLinda

Just for a change, I think I’ll start this post on a positive note. I have had some great service in Latvia. However, (yep, here it comes), the problem is that service levels here are so woefully inconsistent. When out … Continue reading →

Posted in Beer, Expat, Food, Humor, Humour, Latvian people, Rudeness | Tagged Bars, beer, Customer Service, Food, manners, Muffins & More, Politeness, restaurants, Riga, Smiling, Stockpot, Wine | 138 Comments

The Bag Lady

Posted on September 5, 2013 by BerLinda

20:15 Landlady’s daughter: Hello! Maybe tonight at 21:00 Mamy come with new lessee. OK? Me: OK, I’ll just go outside when they get here. 21:40 Me: So I guess nobody is coming tonight? Landlady’s daughter: Hello! Yes, I think so! … Continue reading →

Posted in Accommodation, Humor, Humour | Tagged Customer Service, humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian flats, Living in Latvia, Moving flat, Renting a flat/apartment, shopping, Spiders, Wine | 68 Comments

The wine, the witch and the wardrobe

Posted on May 7, 2013 by BerLinda

It was a wonderful weekend in Riga. The sun shone, temperatures crept up to the high teens, Latvians celebrated the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia – and I celebrated a three-day weekend and not having to wear tights … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Humor, Rudeness, Travel | Tagged Customer Service, expat, fashion, Humour, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian women, Riga, Spring, Sunshine | 20 Comments

Here’s my number, so call me…at your peril

Posted on March 22, 2013 by BerLinda

If meeting a Latvian on the street is a bit like running the gauntlet, speaking to one on the phone is more like running into a brick wall. Usually you end up playing the role of both caller and receptionist. … Continue reading →