Here it is, week one.
It’s been (almost) 7 full days since I left home, to live this new chapter. Right after I left the airport in Riga, the girls were waiting for me with Rasa’s mom. The drive to Preiļi took us a couple hours, but with the help of a little Eurovision party, it didn’t seem that long.

Preiļi is this cute little countryside town, with a big park and amazing views, but of course it’s super small compared to my hometown. Which doesn’t make me love it any less! Rasa showed me around, and after a day off and trying to start with some Latvian words, I started my first day at school. Right now, the elementary school is on summer break, so it’s the kids from kindergarten and preschool that are running around here. I’m kinda glad I don’t have to start with the whole school in business, because this gives me some time to get adjusted to everyone and everything. And it’s working, I am already friends with 5 year olds, who love to shoot and kill me multiple times a day. The way friendships work, love it. Needless to say, even a few kids can tire the shit out of you. Hence the needing a nap!

The thing that I love a tiny bit less, is the heatwave that’s been going on here for the last couple of weeks, and don’t seem to end anytime soon. I don’t know about you, but when I think of the Baltic countries, a heatwave is not the first thing that pops up in my mind. Having said that, we’ve used it to our advantage this weekend. Rasa invited me and Julia over to her grandparents’ countryside house, where we spend the whole day swimming in the lake behind the house. It was so peaceful and quiet, and Rasa’s family was super welcoming and warm. After multiple swims, a little football match, and many mosquito bites later, we all sat tired but satisfied in the car, and with the temperature a few degrees lower, a good night’s sleep was a guarantee.

Let’s see what week 2 will bring!