Linus from Denmark chose Latvia as the destination for his exchange program. Thanks to the program, he has learned the Latvian language, discovered Latvian folk dancing — which he continues to take part in even many years after the program ended — and can confidently call Latvia his second home.
How did you find out about the opportunity to go on an exchange program?
Since childhood, AFS has played a big role in my life. When she was young, my mother herself went on an AFS exchange program to Barbados. Through her, I discovered early on how meaningful exchange programs can be. We’ve also visited her host family in Barbados twice.
This summer, my whole family and I will go to Barbados again to visit them — although by now, we no longer really see them as my mom’s host family, but as our real family.
How has your mother’s experience influenced you personally?
In some way, I feel that Barbados is also a small part of my own identity. Even though I try to keep up with what’s happening there, I can’t wait to learn more about the country and its culture.
I think it’s a big advantage that we’re all different — my family is different from both the Barbados family and the Latvian family. But that doesn’t matter. We not only get along well, we also learn from one another and gain a deeper understanding of how other people live.
Well, I have to admit that the differences between Denmark and Barbados are probably greater than those between Denmark and Latvia — but that doesn’t change the idea. It’s a huge privilege and joy to know that, regardless of whether it’s your biological family or not, and no matter your political views, religion, or skin color, there are people elsewhere in the world who think about you and care about you.
Why did you choose to go to Latvia?
I didn’t know anything special about Latvia beforehand — and that’s exactly what attracted me. I knew several people who wanted to go to big countries like the USA, the UK, or Germany, but no one really knew much about Latvia. I thought that an exchange year would be a perfect way to broaden my horizons and immerse myself in a language and culture completely unknown to me.
What were your first impressions when you arrived in Latvia? Did you know anything particular about it before?
I ended up in a very kind host family, and my first memories and feelings are connected to them. On the first day, we went out to enjoy nature, and I remember that there were pine trees everywhere. In Denmark, pines aren’t that common, but I love them — especially their smell — so I was very happy to find myself in a country full of them!
What cultural differences have you noticed?
A big cultural difference is that Latvians are much more active in preserving and passing on their traditions, like celebrating Jāņi and the Song and Dance Festival. Sadly, that’s not as important to Danes.
Latvians like to describe themselves as introverted, but my experience was completely the opposite. True, maybe Latvians are more introverted than Italians or Spaniards, but coming from Scandinavia — where we’re even more introverted — Latvians seemed very warm and open. They want to help you, feed you, talk to you, and that feels incredibly nice.
What’s your favorite memory with your host family?
When we celebrated November 18th together — Latvia’s Independence Day. We went to Riga, watched people gather by the Freedom Monument, and walked around the Old Town. The atmosphere was very special, and I still remember that day vividly.
How did you decide to join a dance group? What was it like dancing together with Latvians?
I learned about the Song and Dance tradition and its importance to Latvian culture during my first days in the country. I wanted to take part, but I was too shy to take the first step and join a group. Luckily, a family friend’s daughter invited me to one of her group’s rehearsals.
At first, I thought, “Okay, I’ll go just this once and that’s it,” because I had never danced before and assumed I wouldn’t like it. But in the end, I really enjoyed dancing.
When I returned to Denmark, I joined a diaspora folk dance group. There, I not only improved my dancing skills but also deepened my love for it.
As I mentioned earlier about cultural differences — the Song and Dance tradition in Latvia is truly alive. Young people continue to take part, the repertoire keeps expanding with new creations, and the tradition still manages to unite people even today. I think that’s something incredibly special, and unfortunately, in Denmark we don’t have such a unifying tradition.
When I dance Latvian folk dances, I feel immense joy — not only because I’m doing something fun with my friends, but also because I feel like I’m physically part of the living Latvian culture.
