Home.

When I first got back I couldn't believe how green Latvia is. Then the people proved to be different. Then everything seemed to be different. It's not. The culture-shock I've experienced during the past few days has been greater than I expected, but suddenly my life seems to be back where it was. There is only this gap. Maybe it's not even there, because when I see my friends, it feels like I've only been away for a week. But there is this.. learning, I'd say. It keeps on going. Every minute I figure out a way how to apply the things I've learned during my semester in New Zealand to my life in Northern hemisphere.

Today I stepped over the doorstep of.. being in Latvia, I guess. I just took my scooter for a little ride. Maneuvering in the streets of Riga, being surrounded by cars, avoiding holes and puddles of oil felt like a very realistic computer game, only better.

Life's good!

This is the last time I post something while I'm actually in New Zealand. It's another beautiful day. 8 o'clock in the morning, sun is shining, frost has covered the ground, almost as white as snow. I remember the first time I looked out of my window. Despite the sun melting frost from neighbors' roofs and the few naked trees, it's the same, or is it? I think something's different at this side of the window. As the day picks up, it will be about 10-12 degrees, and the strong sun will make it seem like there's summer all over the planet at once. I'll always remember the locals saying what a bad winter it's been, with a smile on my face, of course.

The good-byes? Not so much! I'd like to think of it as ''see you later'', and that doesn't sound to bad.. well, the bucket of tears I've cried in the last few days would tell you different, but that's a part of it. What an awesome time it's been, bros. [hahahaa] I'll miss having the whole New Zealand around and look forward to coming back.

The blog hasn't been that much, I know, but I've meant it!

One last thing, which actually is my hesitation to pack- in this great jazz book I started to read.. Louis Armstrong has said ''If you have to ask, you'll never know.'' And somehow to me it relates to the ''why?''question I've been asked a million times. I don't mind, because every time I try to find an answer to why I'm here, I come up with another advantage that I've gotten out of it.

& that's just fantastic, aye?

www.afs.org

I'm leaving this Sunday.

As the time has come near the ''end'' I've just been trying to grab as much of New Zealand as possible, living in the moment, since that very moment is all you really have. Past is past and will always be unless there is a Doctor Who person (who thanks to my sister I mention a lot these days). Future? Excitingly unknown!

This morning felt wrong. We even went to school 10 minutes early, which for us is a major breakthrough. Classes seemed to be lasting for ever, except for the BBC movie on human evolution which I quite enjoyed. Still there seems to be something missing in the whole monkey-ape-human development, if that indeed is the right word.

After school I enjoyed autumn as I never have. We, that is me, my sister and our friend, were hanging out at the park. The Queen Elizabeth park. Such a beautiful place at this time of the year. I didn't want that to be the last time for us to hang out, but what can you do, I'm leaving just too soon. If a potential AFS student reads this, please, consider staying for a year as it is worth it, as far as I know, unless you have a very good set of reasons not to. I had mine. Still have, and I'm happy about my choice. The short time I've had here, especially the wonderful moments in the past few weeks have made me appreciate this time even more. The coin, as it usually tends to, has two sides. & as my New Zealand-grand-father said, the inconvenience in life is that you just can't be in two places at the same time. Don't you just love the lessons of life?

This evening was the saying good-bye event for AFS as well. There is just no comment about that. Didn't know it was going to be so hard and I still can't pull all the bits and bobs of my thoughts together, but I guess I'l have the trillion hour flight for that.

Meanwhile, GO PARAGUAY!!! you know.. soccer..

It's still going good!

No, I still don't remember the specific thing I meant, but I must say - that book has been a great source of entertainment and ideas for the last 2 weeks, to me, anyway. [Has it been that long?]

My host grandparents say that they are just getting used to me and I'm leaving so soon. That's just one of the moments when life seems.. shorter or longer (? depends, really) than it actually is. Like today, we went to the local vineyard for lunch and I enjoyed it so much. Half of the time, I think, I was staring somewhere between the autumn leaves outside the window and the same colour, same sense of nature, only much more concentrated, much more obvious, in a glass of rosé at the opposite side of our table. Or am I the only one who thinks that it's more obvious?

Open discussion.

What a long day I've had. I woke up just after 6 am and went for a morning walk (just wanted to see what it's like, cause other people seem to be enjoying that kind of thing) and it was great. Even though this was one of the coldest mornings we've had here, I had a warm feeling afterwards. I had a couple of hours to prepare my speech for an armchair travel group. I was flattered, since at first they thought of me as a New Zealander, and being dressed in my school uniform, I can't blame them. Very enjoyable not have the imaginary ''foreigner'' sign on my forehead. Apparently, I have lost the though North European accent and sound a bit American even. For that I always blame the movies. Well, on the other hand it is nice to be treated as a visitor and someone special.

Most of the people were in their advanced time of life and didn't know anything about my country. I tried create a positive impression and be informative at the same time. Because of their general interest in general aspects of general things had I lot of questions to answer, and that certainly made matters easier.

Now, this has nothing to do with that lovely group of people, but I have come across some situations when I just want to smile and wave. It goes like this:

-Hello!

-Hi!

-Where are you from?

-Latvia!

-Ohh...... mm... yeah! [Now, if this was a fairy tale, their eyes would turn into question marks, despite the unconvincingly nodding head]

(..) few minutes of conversation; and if it's about traveling I ask:

-Do you know where my country is?

-Yeah... It's just there.. you know.. that part of the world... aahh.. yeah!

or

-Where are you from?

-Europe!

(I find it easier)

I'm not surprised, it is a small country. Just funny how these conversations some times turn out. 'N' so I started talking and an hour was gone before I knew it.

Today I started reading ''Open'', an autobiography by Andre Agassi, THE tennis player. Finally I have found a like-mined fellow who sees the tennis match as mental work-out, if I could say so, having read only 17 pages.

''Life will throw everything but the kitchen sink in your path, and then it will throw the kitchen sink.''

I don't remember the exact words but then he went on about something quite interesting, and I don't really remember what it was about (sounds like the ''where are you from'' dialogue, eh?), but when I do I'll let you know.

This weekend turned out to be really good. I got a sudden call and found out that my friend from Paraguay is in town. We ended up going to a cafe in the park; very enjoyable this time of a year (autumn), and saw a movie afterwards, 2 rather. And today we took her out for a walk around the lake, that at this time is full of ducks, since that is the only place where duck shooting season hasn't started and never will, hopefully.

Yesterday, early in the morning (early for me, anyway) my host dad took me to the farmers market. Now, I don't get what I like about that place, really, but there is something.. Good place to get organically grown vegetables, fruit, fresh fish, fresh ''German'' bread from a Swiss guy and meet the locals (in my host parents case). The peach season has ended, so I didn't find it exciting AS. We met this couple that were selling fish cakes - lovely and very chatty (people, not cakes). They had matching blue-checked collars, aprons and tablecloths and seemed generally extraordinarily happy.

This evening I'll be working on my English research report.

Yeah, good luck!

Another week is gone and tonight I experienced something I didn’t really think I would. I watched my own nation’s song and dance festival, in a foreign country. I’ve always been in search of something... (not entirely sure how to describe it). I am sure, though, that a lot of people remember me as someone who said that there is more, a lot more, there, OUT THERE!!! And only now I see the most beautiful spot that I’ve been standing on with my gigantic feet.

I have also recently watched An Inconvenient Truth, that I believe has a very good piece of mind in it to consider.

Other than that:

• I've got my first Achieved with Excellence in chemistry. I am proud of it only because I didn't think chemistry was going to be my cup of tea. Until I discovered that I have heard it all before, somewhere. Oh, well.
• Had my first soccer game this Wednesday.. and fun we had!
• I'm happy!

Such a cliche, but time really flies.

The first week of school after the holidays has gone. It's like a new beginning, only easier, because I know what to expect and what is expected from me. We are having some guests tonight and my host mum (which is a kiwi version of ''mom'') made the best pineapple cake ever. I don't remember having tasted a lot of pineapple cakes, but this is one to remember. At least something makes up for missing black rye bread and cottage cheese with homemade jam.. yam!

Anyway, I had a fantastic weekend after the holidays at the beach. We attempted to catch some crayfish, but only found a starfish stuck in the trap. Our fishing experience wasn't much better - the fishing device was about to be crushed against the rocks, so we had to pull it out a minute after we had launched it. I was hoping that we would at least get A fish, and, to everyone's surprise, there was one, a shark. Little one, not too scary. It didn't stand in the way of enjoying my time, 'cause we had an amazing lobster dish for tea (dinner in kiwi) and a lot of laughing for the pudding!

Tour so far.

It has been a great time traveling through the South Island. So far we have been to Milford Sound (see the picture) and stayed there overnight on a cruising boat. It really is was one of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen. If you ever go to New Zealand, DO go kayaking there.

At the moment I'm in Queenstown and I have just done my skydive. Inexplicable! It doesn't feel like falling down and being terrified about it, it feels like FLYING!!!

7.04.2010. Dunedin

This is my second day on the South Island tour. Today we visited the Cadburry Chocolate factory. I wonder what it’s really made of since it doesn’t smell like chocolate, even when they are pouring down a ton of chocolate into a container. Latvian chocolate factory is noticable miles away. But enough of chocolate talk. I’ve decided to do a sky-dive in Queenstown, so I’ll probably give my feedback on that.

see ya.

AFS Camp

Between Castlepoint and Riversdale. 13.03.

I’m having the best weekend so far, being taken out to a beach house by my lovely support family. Yesterday we were riding bikes on the beach and I cannot put it into words how much fun it was. I met a wild seal that, I must admit, didn’t seem interested in making friends. This weekend I’m spoiling myself with roasted lamb, banana muffins, brandy snaps (delitious little dessert snack) and jaffas (delitious little lolly thing) and it seems like such a kiwi thing to do. It’s a nice, very much relaxed life out here, when all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show that nature presents. I’m talking about the sunrise, the spectacular view early in the morning when the sun rises above the Pacific Ocean. And the blanket of stars you see when you’re staying up late. I was amazed by the clear milky way and could almost see why people like to make up stories about what’s happening out there. Yeah, I find that science fiction is a big deal in New Zealand.

This morning I was planting some spring onions in the garden then trying to catch a lobster in the sea, then I was playing with a tiny little angry crab and I just got back to the house from jet-skiing in the river (not the puddle in the picture). You never know what you’ll end up doing in a moment. As I get to experience all these things, I like to think that one day I’ll come back and do it again. But there is no way I can fool myself - this is a one time only life experience - and there is just so much to do. I’ve recently watched Into The Wild and highly recommend it, especially if you don’t really get what I’m going on about here.

I’ll draw a little picture of my life in Masterton. It’s one of the small towns where everyone seems to everything about everyone else. I’ve made some good friends at school who always have the funniest thing to say to make my day. Studying doesn’t seem too difficult nor does it seem easy, that depends on what kind of angle you’ve chosen to look at it. I love Mondays (ha ha ha) because I get to play tennis after school. I’ve taken up pilates and don’t think I’ll ever give it up. I enjoy the half an hour, or so, walk to the lessons and especially the way back when I can see the sun setting behind the Tararua mountains painting the clouds golden yellow. Sometimes I get too excited about all these little arty things and say it aloud. What I often hear then is ‘‘You’re weird’’. Well, I know, but come on, how can people take this for granted?

Right, I’ve got a little job myself at the Wairarapa College library. I had to get one because of the 40-hour-community-service-thing-I-have-to-do, and this one turned out not so bad. My job is to put away all the books that have been returned, so I have a good image of what people like to read here. My plan to get the hours done is to give some presentations about travelling in Europe to those who study tourism and transition. The dean suggested that I would talk about French and Italian kitchen during the hospitality lessons, but I’ve still got a lot to learn about it myself. And it’s a major topic for me now, since I’ve found a piece-of-art travel book about Italian food and wine. I’ll tell you more about it when I finish it.

I’m looking forward to the South Island tour in April, but I’ll write another message or two before I go.

I hope you enjoy the winter in Latvia, it must very beautiful with all the snow.

I wish all the best for those who have just gone to their exchange programmes.

Greetings to the skiers, I hope you have a sunny holiday!

Take care.

Mission estate concert, Nepier

Kiriwhakapapa

Wairarapa & me

/Huka falls

I've spent my first week in Masterton, Wairarapa. I personally adore this district - there might not me loads of beaches or mountains with skiing tracks, but the place has it's own charm. There are many small vineyards, little towns with green hills and blue mountains in the background not to mention sheep.

Being an exchange student brings a huge difference to my daily life. I have to make the effort to come up and talk to the people I want to be friends with. It doesn't sound so difficult, I know, but try being a shy person among many different teenagers at the other side of the world. So when I realized that the the process of getting used to the environment isn't a matter of hours, I started enjoying myself for real, and actually I don't see it ending, ever.

The most wonderful family has opened their home for me and I couldn't be having more fun. But maybe it's just me. My attitude has obviously changed.

I remember yesterday, siting in the front seat of a car, driving on the road to Wellington and singing along with ABBA. And I don't believe that I can ever get used to the beautiful sights that you see once you decide to go somewhere, even the back fence of the backyard - fields of gold and a clear blue sky above the mountains that cover the horizon.

And today was an unforgettable day. We went tramping in the native forrest, it was more like a walk actually, but I enjoy seeing myself tramping one day. I had never seen trees that huge before, I think. I feel in love with the green color and the sound a slightly small river making it's way down the hill.

And I remember all the people who asked me why I'm doing this. Why not?

See you next weekend.

The China Experience

29.01. Hongkong-Auckland

Once we found our way through the huge Hongkong Airport, we were picked up by a lovely chinese lady who took us to a shopping mall, that I definately do not remember the name of. We had a lunch there at a small, quite crowded restaurant. She picked out some dishes that she wanted for us to try. They were all very delitious, what more to say? Then we took a taxi to downtown. We went through a market where people buy really cheap souvenirs, fake Gucci bags, for a priece that says: ‘‘Made in China’‘ and usually it is lowered three times once you show the interest. Oh, and the city.. I didn’t notice a building that wouldn’t be called a skyscarper in Latvia. It’s fun for one day, but I didn’t even try to imagine myself living there, too different.

One Starbucks frappucino later, we found ourselves in the inner shopping paradise among the airport gates. And now, 4 hours away from our destination, perfect New Zealand, we have been scared by their customs. A4 sheet of paper with a list of things you can’t bring in, and we have some of those, and a lot of questions to answer. The answers that I have given mean that I’ll have to spend a lot of time declaring goods. What makes me slightly not optimistic is that they had to write down the possible outcome of failure in decleration- prison. But we’ll see.

On my way

27. 01. Frankfurt-Hongkong

It is impossible that a person not being uncountious isn’t actually aware of what he is doing. But this is the case. Saying goodbye to family & friends is such a big blur now and seems as though it was weeks ago. We just walk from one gate to another, one plane to another (two planes so far, actually, but it seems like there have been a million of those). At this moment I decide to be honest. What's the use of experience if you can’t share it, right? I just got over my head-ache from crying. [No, I didn’t cry all this time, but the head-ache can really last]. The thing is, once you have gotten through security check, a glass wall away from where your heart is, you forget all the reasons why you are doing it in the first place, and do they even count?

Don’t think that the whole story here is going to be covered in tears. At the moment I’m quite optimistic, not tired, hoping to experience the best in our tiny stop at Hongkong.