Coming live from the couch, is blog post number 5! It’s so weird to think about it’s been a full month since I left the Netherlands, it feels like I’ve been here for so much longer already!

During last week, nothing much special happened, besides me getting my first COVID vaccination! Hooray, let’s get the second one asap!

But, this weekend, it went down. Like, party down!! Every year, the school host a sort of summer camp, where families and school staff get together to welcome new members into the community and to have some fun. This year, it was at a families home just outside of Preiļi, where it’s not just their house, but they have this amazing little piece of land, with a big pond/little lake, basically the perfect setting for our mini festival.
Because yes, the festival summer back home is cancelled, mine was very much alive!
Julia and I were picked up on Friday late afternoon by Aija to set some stuff up before the festivities started. While we were figuring out how to set up our tent, Māris, our host, came up to us to welcome us at his place. He did so with a bottle of coca cola and a glass with some undefined, amber coloured substance. Meaning alcohol. So, Latvian people who are reading this, please, next time before you give me a typical local drink, explain to me EXACTLY how you are supposed to drink it. Because we have some different ways to go at it, clearly.
After some shocked but pleased looks, I just took a large amount of home-made, something very strong, alcohol, we continued trying setting up our tent, with the festival feeling being very much present.

Sitting in the grass with a new, but thankfully of a lower percentage, beverage, enjoying the sun, it was the perfect start of a great weekend.

Later that evening, when already quite a few families had arrived, Māris and Antra welcomed us all officially with a big bonfire and a little concert of Latvian folk songs.
Without the light pollution, it was the perfect way to enjoy the stars in the sky, something I am not used to at all, but absolutely loving it every time I get the chance!

Next morning, and way too early to wake up. But the day has started, and we have things to do! Rasa helped us all by doing a mini morning workout, some stretching mostly, feeling wide awake and ready to start the camp!
People were coming and going, and after breakfast, Ilona, the school’s director, officially opened the camp with a welcome speech and introduction of new families and new staff members. Hello awkwardness, standing in the middle of a circle with a bright spotlight on you, not my cup of tea.

My job and contribution this weekend was doing a small hair workshop, where everyone who was interested, could learn some braiding techniques from me. Thankfully it was a small group of lovely ladies, so I didn’t feel as awkward and in the centre of attention as earlier that morning. But I had another task as well, something Liene asked me to do, like 3 days before the camp started. She came up to me and asked if I was able to do some henna tattoos, so I looked at her and was like, ‘I’ve never done it before, but I think I can do it?’ So there I was, with a full cone of fresh henna and no experience. Tina, Rasa’s sister had done it before, she showed me the basics, and off we went. And man, people were waiting in line to get one, or more! It is true what they say about practice makes perfect, I was getting better and more comfortable with every hand or arm that came in my direction.
Even when the boys came the next day to get one, with their peculiar requests, like Shrek, goblins, just some money, or Superheroes, I was actually able to draw it for them.

During the day, there was a football competition happening, and I don’t know what came over me, but I said yes in joining one of the teams. It was Rasa, one of the sons of our hosts, and me. Of course we lost our first game, we weren’t even surprised to be honest. But me being busy with all my other activities, and Rasa helping out in the kitchen, we never played another game, until they came up to me and said it was our time again. We walked towards the playing field, without Rasa, she just disappeared, but then they told us we were disqualified! Apparently every other team played four or five games, but our one game was not enough to stay in the competition. How happy, uh, I mean, sad we were to continue our day.

Then in the evening, a traditional Latvian band(?) joined us to have some entertainment. It is so interesting and admirable to see how much value traditions have here, something else I am not used to. Everyone, no matter the age, knew all the songs they were singing and steps we had to dance. It was a honour to join them and to learn a bit more about their culture. Although, one song was all and only about, guess what, cucumbers, so this is where I leave.

Sunday morning, always that lovely feeling of the final day of a festival. Not much sleep, little hangover, no shower in sight, feeling wonderful. But the sun was still shining, people are still in a good mood, so no complaining!
I think I will dream about henna tattoos for the next week, I am not even sure how many I made!
Feeling super tired and with a cold coming up, it was time to go home after two amazing days. Time for a long, hot shower and an actual bed to get some more hours of sleep.