It feels like déjà vu

Labvakar (or good evening in English)

You're probably wondering why I'm writing in Latvian (well, those of you who know Latvian) and why I'm writing my blog after such a long time. Since leaving Latvia last summer, and telling my Latvian friends "I'll be back", little did I know how soon that would be. Yes, I'm back. I keep my promises! I'm working for the same university in the same town and with some of the same people.

This year, I'm working as the PR Assistant for the Baltic International Summer School, which - if you remember - I took part in and filmed last summer. It is the 15th summer school hosted by the university, with 64 students for 17 different countries taking part this time.

I actually departed from England and arrived in Latvia on my 20th birthday. Yet another birthday in Latvia! With two fully-packed suitcases, I had to leave my house at 4.45am to get to the airport. Luckily, I was excited enough about it being my birthday that my brain woke up quite quickly! After boarding my plane at Luton Airport, it eventually sunk in that I was going to Latvia again. As soon as I arrived in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, it really started to feel like déjà vu. Arriving in Valmiera, the same small town I stayed in last year, it felt like I'd never left! Apart from staying in a different student hostel, the town's new bridge and different BISS participants, everything else is the same!

The new bridge.

One thing though: I did briefly forget that the cars in Latvia drive on the other side of the road to England. When I was on the BISS coach from Riga to Valmiera, I looked down at the car driving beside me and didn't see anyone! For a split second, I thought no one was driving the car. I think it's good to have those moments of madness at the beginning of your adventure. Perhaps it was the heat. The weather is amazing here in Latvia!

As well as doing all things PR - social media, press releases etc. - I have the chance to participate in the summer school's lectures. There are two programmes happening simultaneously, but I've been joining the "International Tourism and Event Management" classes. It's only been two days but I've learned so much more about Latvian heritage, culture and a bit more of the language, and have made a few good friends. I've realised I know the town of Valmiera like the back of my hand, including all the shortcuts and random trivia to amuse my new BISS friends.

Trying to learn each other's name with a name game.

It has felt so lovely to see my old friends! I still have a few more to see, but Valmiera is a small enough town that I should probably see them before my two weeks in Latvia come to an end. Here's to another summer in the Baltics - hooray!

"It is important to keep the promises made to friends. This is the true meaning of friendship. To become people who can do so, however, we must first learn to keep the promises we have made to ourselves." - Daisaku Ikeda