Day 2: The adventure continues...

Another day has gone by in Latvia and I have once more made so many wonderful memories.

Purely picturesque.

Today it was raining non-stop in the morning so I sat in my room wondering what to do. I thought that this would be the perfect time to Skype my family and friends, not realising how homesick it would make me feel. Nevertheless, I got to speak to those dear to me and felt ready to face whatever was going to come at me next! Yesterday I made the target to speak to as many people as possible - I can say that I have made progress.

I thought I had left the rain behind in England!

I was invited to go around my friend's home again, but this time by myself. I had to make my own way there. I decided to get a taxi, a chance to become confident with interacting with Latvian people. I walked to the bus station, sat in a taxi and asked a question that is becoming more of a habit for me to say: "Do you speak English?" Thankfully he did (phew!) and after I showed him the text message with her address, we had a nice little chat about the time he spent in England 9 years ago working for 6 months.

Once again, I had a great time at my new friend's house playing with her 3-year old son. I watched a Latvian cartoon movie with English subtitles with him and before I knew it more than an hour had gone by.

My first Latvian film.

This just shows how long I can go without television - I'll watch anything! We sat down to eat dinner, a Latvian soup dish with bread and herbal tea.

My third Latvian meal, yum!

As I keep checking my phone for the time, reading texts, searching Latvian things on the internet, taking photos and even writing these blog posts, I am beginning to realise how important technology has become in order to communicate with others, remember things and organise ourselves. And this all links so perfectly to my degree in Communication, Media and Culture. I do wonder what my experience of travelling for the first time would have been like 50 years ago...

The best part of today was the short bike ride back to the hostel with a bike my friend has lent me until she needs it. I went over an old train bridge, rode through a forest and saw some beautiful houses. I must just go for a bike ride every now and then!

My new mode of transport.

I find it so fascinating to hear small children speaking in another language. After watching the cartoon and eating, I played a Latvian version of the Snakes and Ladders board game. I lost, but however did learn how to count to six in Latvian by listening to my new little friend count every time he moved his piece on the board - another target completed today. Also, I managed to borrow a blanket from my friend so I won't have to buy one.

So on to my goals for tomorrow:

• Buy a swimming costume for my trip to a sauna next week (Latvian tradition apparently - I'm not complaining!)
• Visit tourist office for information on the area
• Check out the closest cinemas
• Meet the other intern departing from Germany and arriving in Valmiera in the evening

I would like to end with a quote that fills me with inspiration and determination every time I read it:

"No matter how wonderful our dreams, how noble our ideals, or how high our hopes, ultimately we need courage to make them a reality. Without action, it’s as if they never existed." - Daisaku Ikeda