Tag Archives: TEFL

Why do people move to Latvia?

Posted on August 27, 2014 by BerLinda

Should you take the leap and decide to move to Latvia, the first question you will probably be asked is “Why did you move to Latvia?”. Closely followed by, “But why? Why Latvia?”. Now I know why I moved here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian people, Moving to Riga, TEFL, Travel | Tagged decisions, Expats, Leopard print, Living in Latvia, Moving to Latvia, Sigulda, TEFL, why do people move to Latvia, Working in Latvia | 133 Comments

The Fear

Posted on August 17, 2014 by BerLinda

With just over three weeks remaining until I up sticks and move to Berlin, it’s fair to say that THE FEAR has me firmly in its clutches. I’d estimate that around 5% of me is excited, while the other 95% … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Travel | Tagged Business in Latvia, Leaving Latvia, Leopard print, Moving country, moving to Germany, Sausage, TEFL | 156 Comments

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

The master becomes the student

Posted on July 8, 2014 by BerLinda

When the wonderful “Lady of the Cakes” published her post on “How to be a hater with German food phrases”, I immediately did what any sane person would do and started insulting one of the (three) people I know in Germany. … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, TEFL | Tagged Distractions, German articles, German insults, Lady of the Cakes, Latvian people, Learning German, Making mistakes, Motivation, moving to Germany, Teacher as student, Teaching English, TEFL | 113 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

(North)EastEnders

Posted on July 1, 2014 by BerLinda

One thing my students say which never fails to amuse me is, “The best English is spoken in London”. Once I’ve picked myself up off the floor and wiped my eyes, I tell them to look up “EastEnders” on YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Latvia, Latvian men, TV | Tagged Aleks Shirovs, Deodorant, EastEnders, English in England, fashion, Kristian Kiehling, Latvia, Latvian men, Latvian representation abroad, Leopard print, Roxy and Aleks, Russian Latvians, Stereotypes, TEFL | 234 Comments

The Latvians rewrite the English dictionary

Posted on March 26, 2014 by BerLinda

When I meet an English person and tell them what I do for a living, I am occasionally rewarded with a pudgy finger in my face, and a bellowed “YOU CAWN’T TEACH ENGLISH! YOU’RE OIRISH!” They then turn to their equally … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Humour, Language, Latvia, TEFL | Tagged Barack Obama part Irish, English, English around the world, False friends in English, humor, Humour, Irish English, Latvian, New words in English, Selfie, TEFL | 130 Comments

You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry

Posted on March 15, 2014 by BerLinda

The other day, one of my students made me mad. Hopping mad. Believe it or not, this is actually pretty hard to do. While I am what some might call a bitch little feisty in ‘real life’, in the classroom, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat, Humor, Humour, Language, TEFL | Tagged Attitudes to English, English, Latvia, learning English, Non-native speakers, Students, teaching English as a foreign language, TEFL | 182 Comments

Judgement Day

Posted on March 12, 2014 by BerLinda

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

Latvians and their backsides

Posted on March 9, 2014 by BerLinda

On Friday, as I had a nice early finish, I decided that it was about time I made an appointment to have my hair cut. I had been putting this off for a while, partly because I was afraid that … Continue reading →