{"id":16328,"date":"2025-11-07T11:52:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T09:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latvia.afssite.afs.org\/?p=16328"},"modified":"2025-11-07T11:52:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T09:52:04","slug":"linuss-latvija-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afs.lv\/en\/linuss-latvija-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Linus in Latvia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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 \u2014 which he continues to take part in even many years after the program ended \u2014 and can confidently call Latvia his second home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/strong><\/p>\n

How did you find out about the opportunity to go on an exchange program?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019ve also visited her host family in Barbados twice.<\/p>\n

This summer, my whole family and I will go to Barbados again to visit them \u2014 although by now, we no longer really see them as my mom\u2019s host family, but as our real family.<\/p>\n

How has your mother\u2019s experience influenced you personally?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s happening there, I can\u2019t wait to learn more about the country and its culture.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s a big advantage that we\u2019re all different \u2014 my family is different from both the Barbados family and the Latvian family. But that doesn\u2019t matter. We not only get along well, we also learn from one another and gain a deeper understanding of how other people live.<\/p>\n

Well, I have to admit that the differences between Denmark and Barbados are probably greater than those between Denmark and Latvia \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t change the idea. It\u2019s a huge privilege and joy to know that, regardless of whether it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Why did you choose to go to Latvia?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t know anything special about Latvia beforehand \u2014 and that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

What were your first impressions when you arrived in Latvia? Did you know anything particular about it before?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019t that common, but I love them \u2014 especially their smell \u2014 so I was very happy to find myself in a country full of them!<\/p>\n

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What cultural differences have you noticed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A big cultural difference is that Latvians are much more active in preserving and passing on their traditions, like celebrating J\u0101\u0146i<\/em> and the Song and Dance Festival. Sadly, that\u2019s not as important to Danes.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 where we\u2019re even more introverted \u2014 Latvians seemed very warm and open. They want to help you, feed you, talk to you, and that feels incredibly nice.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your favorite memory with your host family?<\/strong><\/p>\n

When we celebrated November 18th together \u2014 Latvia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

How did you decide to join a dance group? What was it like dancing together with Latvians?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s daughter invited me to one of her group\u2019s rehearsals.<\/p>\n

At first, I thought, \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll go just this once and that\u2019s it,\u201d because I had never danced before and assumed I wouldn\u2019t like it. But in the end, I really enjoyed dancing.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

As I mentioned earlier about cultural differences \u2014 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\u2019s something incredibly special, and unfortunately, in Denmark we don\u2019t have such a unifying tradition.<\/p>\n

When I dance Latvian folk dances, I feel immense joy \u2014 not only because I\u2019m doing something fun with my friends, but also because I feel like I\u2019m physically part of the living Latvian culture.<\/p>\n

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