Tag Archives: Smiling

How to spot a foreigner in Riga

Posted on May 14, 2014 by BerLinda

Taking into account the fact that the vast majority of Latvians are white (apart from when they’re solarium orange), and the vast majority of foreigners living here are white, you’d think that everyone would blend in together nicely. Not so. Foreigners … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvian people, Riga, Travel | Tagged Being an expat, clothes, Cycling, Driving, Eastern Europe, Foreigners in Riga, Holding doors, Hygiene, language, Paying, Shops, Smiling, Toilets, Tourists, winter | 209 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

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

The Latvians take over! (Part 2)

Posted on January 22, 2014 by BerLinda

The second guest post comes from one of my favourite Latvians. If we were guys, she’d be my brother from another mother. However, as there’s no female equivalent (that I’m aware of), I tend to think of her as my … Continue reading →

Posted in Latvia, Latvian people, Riga, Rudeness, Travel | Tagged Christmas in Riga, Creepy old men, Dog shit, Glaring, Guest post, humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, LIDO, manners, Pensioners, Rude people, Russians in Riga, Smiling | 159 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

Oh Jānis, my Jānis!

Posted on September 13, 2013 by BerLinda

This Sunday sees me going on my first ever blog outing (or ‘blouting’, if you prefer). ‘What’s a blouting?’, I hear you ask as you scoot perilously close to the edge of your sofa. Well, a blouting is where you … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Janis, Latvian people, Riga | Tagged Adventures, Black Balzams, blog readers, Blogging, expat, humor, Humour, Janis, Latvia, Latvian men, Riga, Riga Old Town, Smiling | 41 Comments

Stranger danger?

Posted on July 11, 2013 by BerLinda

So I’m back in good old Blighty. This will be my home for the next five weeks. I flew into Luton airport on Wednesday afternoon and went to buy a bus ticket from the National Express office. Faced with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Humour, Travel | Tagged Cultural Differences, England, English people, expat, Friendly strangers, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Low-fat muffins, Luton Airport, National Express, Politeness, Smiling, Tea with milk, TEFL, travel, Waiting | 31 Comments

Smile. Confuse a Latvian.

Posted on March 24, 2013 by BerLinda

When I started writing this blog as a light-hearted look at some of my experiences here, I was, of course, aware that some Latvians might not agree with (or gasp, might not like) some of the topics I wrote about. … Continue reading →