Let's start from the end! The direct bus ride from Kyiv, Ukraine to Riga, Latvia takes almost 29 hours, crossing western Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. After I bought the return ticket, the thought of this long trip would make me tired. Afterward, I realized that it depends on the traveler and the reason for the…Read more Homebound from Ukraine
Ukraine
One in a canoe and longing for return home
"It will be strange to hear songs in our language", said my young Ukrainian neighbor Tatyana last night. We were going to a benefit concert to hear an indie-rock band "Odyn v kanoe" (One in a canoe) from Lvyv, Ukraine. I had been introduced to their music by one of my new Ukrainian friends and…Read more One in a canoe and longing for return home
They didn’t know we were seeds
The sunflower with the Ukrainian ribbon is in my kitchen since March 8. I came downtown Rīga to see if there was any need for volunteers at the Refugee Support Center and I ran into an acquaintance carrying what looked like a poster. I guessed that she was on her way to join the pro-Ukraine/anti-Russia…Read more They didn’t know we were seeds
Think of the Ukrainians first
(Image credit: AP photo/Andriy Andriyenko) Pope Francis had called for Wednesday, January 26, to be a day of prayer for peace over Ukraine situation. (As always, "situation" means that something bad can turn into something much worse.) He said: "I make a heartfelt appeal to all people of goodwill to raise prayers to Almighty God…Read more Think of the Ukrainians first
Borders check more than our passports: Story about fault lines
On May 1, I woke up and felt like going to the cinema. Latvian cinema. This year we have many new movies - fiction, documentary, animation, TV, etc. - since 2018 celebrates 100 years of national statehood. Since these movies are also a gift to me as a Latvian citizen, I better go and support…Read more Borders check more than our passports: Story about fault lines
Lest we forget…
"Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." (Edmund Burke) Beautiful October day and I am enjoying my morning coffee. Checking the news, Facebook, e-mails... thinking about something fun to do later in the day. I was planning to write my weekly blog about something fun, too. I thought to myself - enough…Read more Lest we forget…
By losing our neighbors we lose a part of ourselves
I continue to reflect on my recent trip to Ukraine. Particularly the city of Lutsk, the regional center of Volyn province. It is a very nice, slow paced city in northwestern part of Ukraine with very fascinating story. It has a beautiful old castle and lots of other interesting cultural, historical and architectural sights. But…Read more By losing our neighbors we lose a part of ourselves
Hello, Ukraine… finally
I keep a diary. Yesterday I read some of the things written down in last two years and countless times it mentions Ukraine. Ukraine has been and still is on my heart. I have friends from Ukraine, I like Ukrainian food, I visited Ukraine as a teenager with my family, I love Ukrainian sunshine and…Read more Hello, Ukraine… finally
“Ich bin ein Berliner…”
There are words and there are famous words. Phrases that people quote. I don't know how long we will remember these words "Ich bin ein Berliner" (I am a citizen of Berlin) by U.S. President John F Kennedy but to lots of people they still mean something. It came to my mind on a recent…Read more “Ich bin ein Berliner…”
30 years later I still cringe at the name of Chernobyl
They say it was a beautiful spring day. What did I do on April 26, 1986? Since it was a Saturday, I must have gone to school in the morning (we used to have school on Saturdays) and then had a weekend to enjoy. I was 12 years old and did not worry about too…Read more 30 years later I still cringe at the name of Chernobyl
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