Day 1: It's just the beginning

I am currently using Latvian internet, so my laptop has picked up the tendency to translate everything into Latvian... and then turn it all back into English - clever laptop.

So today has been my first full day in Latvia (excluding the few hours I got on Latvian soil last night before conking out) but I'll start with yesterday - the departure and arrival.

All matching and ready to go!

Anyone who knows me relatively well will know that I get quite excited around planes, even at the sight of them. After my dad found a parking space, I saw a plane fly over the car park and I instantly squealed. I did wonder how I would be actually ON the plane...

Can you feel the excitement?

After checking in, eating a bit of chocolate cake (my idea of comfort food), having my last gulp of good ol' English tea and going through customs, I had about 10 minutes to get to my gate. My gate was a long walk away. I ran. I ran like Forrest Gump (well as fast as you can run with a camera strapped to your side and hand luggage). I felt like I was in one of those films where the guy is running for the girl who is about to embark on a new journey in another country. Fortunately I made it and had nothing to worry about. First time flyers, eh? 

Sitting on the plane, I realised that about 95% of the people flying to the Latvian capital of Riga were Latvian. The flight attendants could tell who was Latvian and who wasn't, and so adjusted their language when communicating with passengers. I remember telling my brother one of my main worries: if my seatbelt isn't actually fastened properly. So I spent the first few minutes of sitting on the plane playing with my seatbelt. It was time to start taking photos. You'll have to excuse the marks on the plane window though!

Bye Mum!

After I took this photo, I realised that the flight attendants were in the middle of going through the safety drills. Instead of worrying, I managed to convince myself that my flight was going to be fine. After take off (the most exciting bit for me), the views from the window were amazing. I just wanted to touch the clouds... one day, I told myself. One day.

I tried so hard to fall asleep, whilst keeping tabs on how much time had gone by so I wasn't awoken by the plane landing and me rushing to get off the plane semi-asleep. This was all prevented by... you guessed it... a crying baby. Luckily, she was cute! But then I looked out of the window and saw this:

Heaven?

After flying over Germany and the Baltic Sea, the capital city of Riga began to appear and so did my camera!

That building in the distance isn't the Eiffel Tower.
I did wonder if I got on the right flight for a minute.

When I landed in Riga, a student from the university I will be working at met with me with a sign saying "Gabby Westhead UK". I was so grateful to be accompanied by someone so enthusiastic about their country and could give a quick sightseeing tour on our 2-hour bus journey to the town of Valmiera.

And so to today. And what a day it has been. I was able to have a lie-in and then visit my new workplace. I met everyone I needed to and then had a lovely Latvian breakfast of pancakes stuffed with cheese. Yum! I had then arranged to meet the Latvian student staying next to me in the hostel and briefly visit the supermarkets and shopping centre. It was sooo hard stopping myself from spending money on clothes because everything seemed so cheap, but I was strong (for once). 

After slowly getting used to Latvian fashion and locating shops, I was invited to an annual tradition by the boss of my boss where the young people from the region of Vidzeme come together and perform a dance and her daughter was performing. Unfortunately it was raining, but they still performed some beautiful Latvian songs. 

So many colours to brighten up a rainy day.

I was invited to come to her house afterwards and I accepted straight away. This memory I will truly cherish forever, especially helping out with the making of a Latvian dessert!

My first time trying rhubarb as well!

Something that I am very proud to say, as person who would not even touch vegetables or food that smelled weird as a child, that all I have eaten today is Latvian cuisine. Okay, apart from the sneaky pizza last night.

Letting off loads of balloons into the air as part of the annual concert tradition.

Goals for the new few days:

• Learn key Latvian phrases
• Buy a blanket
• Speak to as many people as possible

As a wise man once said:

"Interaction with others enriches our lives. It is important that we open our hearts and minds, and form ties with others." - Daisaku Ikeda