Summary of the past weeks

I wasn't in the mood to write a new blog entry... but here it is. The last weeks were good. My dad, my brother and his girlfriend came to visit me mid-november. We did the usual things: skyline bar, belgian pub, lido, walking around Old Riga and shopping. We also did some unusual things: drinking vodka-cola whilst playing card games and swimming in the aquapark of jurmala. We had a good time! I definitely enjoyed that extra long weekend... thank you national holiday!

My mother came on 5/12 for a couple of days. We did the usual things: skyline bar, lido, walking around Old Riga, shopping, shopping and shopping. We also did some unusual things: trip to Cesis, watching opera on TV and going to the Nutcracker. I think we visited over 20 shoe stores... :) In the end I found 2 pairs of shoes! Hooray! We even saw snow in Cesis. Luckily there is no more snow in Riga! I hope it stays this way... I'm not really fond of slippery pavements. We had a wonderful time together!

The third module is already finished. I had enough time to relax because I had no short module. I wrote my final essays, went to the final lectures and enjoyed my spare time :) Today I had a presentation about Belgium in Latvian. According to the teacher it was perfect. Ha! Friday we have an exam for Latvian, written and oral. I mostly fear the oral part! I think the language is way too difficult :) Apparently we would be able to speak Latvian fluently after another 6 months... Sure! Wednesday 17/12 I have my last exam in International Political Economy. I hope I will pass... I'm not a fan of open questions and lots of materials to read :) After that I have HOLIDAYS till 9/2/09! Woot!

What do I still have to do: pack my bags, go shopping, watch the final episode of popstars, get drunk, go shopping, get drunk :)

I'll be so glad when I get on the plane and fly home :) I enjoyed my time in Riga, but it was a difficult period. Moreover, it was definitely not a new experience... I learnt more during my 11 months in Australia. Anyhow, it's about time that i'm going home. I finally start to miss my boyfriend :) All I want for Christmas is a big hug from him and lots of presents of course :)

So what have I learnt in Latvia:

• I have great respect for students at the Riga Stradins University. The uni is not really known, but the students there work like crazy!
• 'Sorry' or 'excuse me' don't exist in the vocabulary of Latvians. They rather like pushing in crowed trams or in shops.
• I like public transport in Riga: it's so frequent and so cheap! Belgian public transport can definitely learn something from the Latvians! It is also necessary to buy a ticket, because there is a lot of ticket control...
• Movies, opera, ballet and food are cheap in Latvia, which is nice of course.
• Riga is shopping heaven! I think there are more than 7 shopping centres, which have more shops than the whole of Leuven (which is not so big, but anyways.

Sooooo, that's it! I think this might be my last blog entry :) I don't think someone will regret it!
Uz redzesanos!