Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme!

I have arrived home in England but was too busy to do my blog out there so I thought I'd do it now - before I get busy again!

Week 2 of my time in Latvia began in a way any summer school would: lectures. Interactive lectures given by interesting people across the Baltics. For example, we had the pleasure of meeting with the Managing Director of Association of Hotels and Restuarants of Latvia, a hotel manager-cum-professor for Klaipeda University in Lithuania, the manager of a local active tourism centre in Valmiera and the founder of a tourist agency based in Riga. Most of the lecturers, professors and guests who came in to talk to the students were actually alumni of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (the university which hosts the annual summer school) which made their successes even more inspiring.

Human resources in events management:
choose a postcard and describe how it relates to HR

It wasn't all work though. Social events were scheduled into the programme, including drama night, music night, movie night and sports night. What more could you ask for? Drama night was hilarious! The most memorable event of the night was reenacting Cinderella as a thriller. I was Cinderella. I was meant to be dancing with Prince Charming, pushed down the stairs by the evil step-sisters before being stabbed by the step-mother. Then Prince Charming kills the step-mother. It was a great plan but the actual performance didn't really turn out that way. I ended falling down the stairs myself...

The International Tourism and Event Management (ITEM) students had to give their final presentations in the middle of the week. As a reward/break, they were given a tour of Valmiermuizas beer brewery, where I've been two or three times already. I was lucky enough to meet with a good friend I made last year who was in fact the brewery's tour guide.

I should be an expert by now.

Thursday was one of the best days for me. First, we went to an secret underground Soviet bunker in a town called Ligatne. It's cover name was "Vacation Hotel" for the political elite of the 1980s in case of a nuclear war. After being put in pairs, we were given a mission to find "Object X" by a Soviet General (in character, obviously). We were each given a small basic map of how to enter the bunker and a torch. It was pitch black down there. Every now and then, a man in a gas mask would appear in the light of our torches or waited right behind us. After spending about 45 minutes finding the object (radioactive liquid in a test tube), we had to report back to the General to record our time. Somehow, and I'm not sure how, my partner and I won first place in finding Object X.



My prize: a certificate (yay), a gas mask and a Soviet water canteen!

Afterwards, we drove to the town of Sigulda, where I also visited last year. Sigulda is known for its sports, with over 200 sports events each year. The Sigulda Luge and Bobsleigh Track is a training venue for Latvia's Olympic team, and hosts international and national scale competitions every season.

A tour of the track.

So you can guess what we did...



Courtesy of Azlee Ashraf.

Yes, that was me screaming. I couldn't help but think of one film: Cool Runnings!

The Latvian national team's bobsleigh.

By this point, the end of the week was nearing. One of the last activities we had the chance to do was a 2.4km Barefoot Nature Trail. I've never felt anything like it before. Unfortunately, I finished with two huge mosquito bites on my right leg. Just when I thought I'd escaped the mosquitoes!

Doing my PR duties.

It's impossible to write everything I did during my two weeks in Latvia as there was so much done, seen and said. It was great to be back in Valmiera and I'm sure I'll be back again. I will miss my new friends, my old friends, the fresh air and nature, the amazing intercultural conversations and, without a doubt, the delicious Latvian food! And, as always, I will treasure every memory made!



So many countries to visit!

Visu labu (all the best),

A Student Abroad

"When we are aware that each moment of each day, each gesture and step we take, is truly mystical and full of wonder, we will live our lives with greater thought and care." - Daisaku Ikeda