I was an exchange student in Latvia ...

Being an Erasmus student in Latvia...Well that was not something that I expected. Actually Latvia was not one of my choices. But the Erasmus Committee in my home university determined to send me to Latvia. I was really surprised at first I even thought about to object to this decision but in time I made my search about Latvia, Riga and I changed my mind fortunately.

When I first arrived in Latvia, I had some problems. I did not have a place to stay and actually there was no one around me to help me to get into the environment. But I had to do it somehow and I did it. After I moved to my dormitory things started to get well. I met other Erasmus students and I made really good friends that I hope to be in touch for the rest of my life. I deeply realized that to have different nationalities is never a problem in connection people. Because being a human is common all over the world.

As a student coming from a hot climate I can say that the only thing that I did not like about Latvia was the weather:) How do you live with a grey sky for over 4-5 months? Okay I can say that you do just fine:)And also Riga is a quite small city when I compare with the city I live in. But of course it has almost all the opportunities that you can find in a bigger city.

And finally I can say that I had the time of my life as an Erasmus student in Latvia. I wish I could bring back those days to live every single moment that I wasted. Some day for sure I'll be back in Latvia to visit. I have all my memories there.

Bilge (Turkey)

I think my semester abroad in Riga was one of the best times of my life. I met so many interesting, funny and awesome people from Latvia and many other countries and experienced many new things, which was also one of my reasons to come to Latvia the first place. Even one year after my Erasmus semester, I am close friends with some these people. We also had some great trips with ESN and the University, like going to Latgale or Salaspils.

I liked and still like Riga a lot. It is such a thriving city on par with many other big European cities. For example, you can go partying in the Old Town (every student is going to remember French Bar), in summer go swimming in the sea or just sunbathing in Jurmala or Vecaki, hiking and canoeing at the Gauja Valley or just look at the nice Jugendstil buildings in the New Town. Another thing I liked is Jani, the Latvian midsummer celebration.

Since the end of my semester abroad I've returned twice to Riga and I will certainly visit Latvia again.

Patrick (Germany)

I decided to go to Erasmus to Latvia because I wanted to broaden my horizons, Slovenians are not to going-out-of-their-country people and everybody likes to live at their birth place. Furthermore I wanted to get to know new places, people and culture. This was the first point, the second was easy to get credit points from Erasmus exchange, which is not possible anymore with the Bologna reform. Third point was going as far as possible from Slovenia hoping to get a cultural shock, so I was choosing among Spain and Latvia. I thought Latvia was much cheaper so I chose the second.

The exchange was great, the best 4 months of my life, like a mixture of high school and vacation in one package! The one thing I value the most from Riga are FRIENDS! The interaction with people was great, especially for a person who was never abroad, except the neighboring countries. Students at LU are also great, helpful and OK, but the locals don't seem to like english speaking people, whether they are Latvians or Russians.

One big part of exchange was of course the ESN RIGA, without their assistance Latvia's adventure would not be as it was! They motivated even the laziest people, organized many unforgetfull trips to different cities and countries. We had motivational weekends at summerhouses with perfect saunas and parties and all night lasting parties till the morning.

To sum up if you like easy school, great parties at Riga center, beautiful girls, new friends from all over the world and unforgetfull time of your life, than Riga is the place to go on the Erasmus exchange.

Štefan (Slovenia)

i think it's difficult to assess the impressions that i've got in Latvia by words. Latvians were so warm to me, the situation in dormitory and LU was very friendly, i wish it would be also in my country:) i've got acquainted with so many people and became friends. i still have very tight contacts with them (this month i'm gonna visit one of my friends in Germany). we all visited many interesting places in Latvia and spent unforgettable days together. in most of the times ESN was the facilitator of these trips and i want to say THANK YOU to them. they made us to communicate, integrate, overcome the problems and have as good time as possible. Latvia was one of the best parts of my life. in few words, i'm in love with Latvia:)))

Levani (Georgia)

I am Cemile Asker. 21 years old Azerbaijan and Turkish Erasmus student or former Erasmus student. I would like to start to writing about my life experiences. I was borned in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. Since one year old, I live in Turkey. My family decided to move to Turkey regarding my father’s profession as he is a pianist in Mersin State Opera and Ballet.

 My story starts here cause I used to live in different cultures and each year, several times moved from one country to the other. I use two languages as my mother tongues, has more than three cultural impacts on my identity and so on. But the most important point in this story is that my family decided the city in which I should spend  my Erasmus. They gave me a big present for my life. My father visited Riga in Soviet times when he was a young pianist for a concert but my mother couldn’t had a chance for visiting because the day which she should visit Riga for youth Camp, she met with my father and they decided to marry ( Here is the importance of Riga:P)

I haven’t got any ideas for Riga and University of Latvia. The most popular options when I was choosing the universites was Czech Republic, Germany or Poland. As you guess, I was also dreaming of this countries but... One day, I remember end of the March 2010, I learnt that, I should choose another university because there wasn’t any place for me. Then after a short phone conservation with my mother, I decided to choose University of Latvia. Before coming to Latvia I made my agreement with university for one semester, 4 months but the last day of the studies I found my self in the Migration Office for prolonging my residence permit.

When I was in Moscow, for my Russian studies , I received an e-mail from ESN Riga Team. With this e-mail, my coordinators informed me that I am going to have a buddy during my Erasmus period. Buddy is someone who is meet you in the airport, help you with your  residence permit problems and try to spend time with you. I was happy with having a buddy in Riga. This means life will be better for me in Riga.

First week or the introductionary week started with interesting activities such having a dinner in LIDO- one of the mine most favourite places in Riga, discover the university and the faculties. The most memorable activity was Erasmus Welcome Party. This party held in Enqure, outside the Riga in a small wooden house with international friends and having so much fun.
You won’t have any time for boring in Riga cause there are lots of activities. You can discover the city, attend to very interesting and very exciting hockey matches and support Dinamo Riga. If you are a big fan of the Latvian Band Prata Vetra or Brainstorm as me , you can find tickets for their concerts and have unforgettable times here.   I usually spent my time in Old Riga for having lunch or met with my friends. If you would like to listen good operas and watch perfect ballets, you have a chance to watch them in Latvian National Opera. This Opera has  one of the best repertoires in Europe

For my opinion one of the most attractive sides for spending time in Riga is travvelling. In my first semester, I usually spent my time outside the Riga. I visited more than 10 countries and 14 cities. Riga International Airport in a cooperation with the low cost airlines as Ryan Air, Wizzair and sometimes AirBaltic, offers you low prices.  It is a good chance to discover not only the Europe and also the neighbour state, Russia.

I practised my language skills and worked with very and very good Professors and also students. It gave me another perspective for my worldview.  I made good works in university and I started to believe my self.
 
I couldn’t find any words for concluding. I only would like to say thank you to my dear family for their big support..To my buddy Gleb for his patiance and convoy..To University of Latvia International Office and ESN Riga Team for their hospitality and beneficence..And thank you to my honoruable Professors for their unforgettable studies in unforfettable university..
Paldies!

Cemile (Azerbaijan and Turkey)