The first week is completed, and what a week it’s been!

It is still a bit of adjusting and getting used to everyone and everything, but so far, it’s working out great! School is pretty cool, we have breakfast with the kids every morning, something simple but nutritious, and then play. And play a lot. First indoors, then we go outside and hang out there for a couple of hours. Usually there are some small activities, with water, or ice cubes and food colouring, and we had a berry tasting with fresh homegrown fruit!

One thing for sure that is different than I am used to, is having a rhythm that’s the same every day, but it makes total sense for the kids. To me, it’s a bit strange, because before I came here, I worked in a salon as a hairdresser, so your days are never the same and you don’t know what to expect in the morning. Here, you know it all when you wake up. Which is also kinda nice. Another thing I am not used to, but loving it, Friday is actually the last day of the week! For the last 8 years, I worked on Saturdays and some Sundays, so this is a blast, to have a proper weekend! Which means parties on Friday nights and hangovers on Saturdays.

With living in a new country, I like to take every opportunity to do new stuff or meet new people, so I was really excited to join Rasa on Wednesday for my first Latvian boxing training! I’ve had a few boxing trainings back home, and I am looking forward to pick it up. Having said that, it was quite intense! The training location was the best, outside on a sort of industrial area, with selfmade boxing bags out of car tires and other equipment. Our trainer is the best, I don’t know what he used to do exactly, but when you look at him, you know not to piss him off.
After the training, in full heat in the sun, I was dead but feeling great! I called my mom after the training, talking about how awesome it was, but feeling my muscles aching already, she was like, ‘you know you should take your time with this, not going full speed ahead, but go slowly and in little steps!’ But she knows me as well, and this is not how I work, it’s all or nothing for me.

So Friday after work, it was time for training number two! It is still pretty hot, but the sun made room for a little thunderstorm, so we were all soaked from the rain that came through the roof, no shower needed! There were a few other girls who were debutants like me, so we’ve learned some of the techniques and combinations with the greatest names. The Postman, two knocks on the door and delivering the letter, and The Déjà Vu, because you go for the liver and go back for it again. Watch out next time you see me!

I finished the week with a little gathering at home with Rasa and some of her friends, to introduce us to each other and have some fun. Meaning a small initiation, meaning vodka. Don’t worry, the police hasn’t been called. Yet.