I am Latvian. Latvians love to call themselves great singers. It is true, but unfortunately I am a bad singer. We have beautiful nature, it is also true. We have great minds and we are the best ice hockey fans, there is no doubt. I’ve heard Estonians say – if it is raining, then God is Latvian. Probably, but I am not quiet sure. We have a webpage www.MillionReasonsWhyLatviaIsTheBestCountryInTheWorld.com. It is sad that this page is just in Latvian, but there are also some pictures for everybody to see. This is a virtual place where we can make some fun about ourselves. We are also those people who last few years spent the money we had never earned. We lived on credit and bought the most expensive cars. I haven’t seen so many exclusive cars in Brussels till this. I really do not know if people in Brussels feel the impact of economic crisis but we do in Latvia now.

One of my mission is to take the bag off!

That is why we are leaving the country one by one. It is sad, but also true.  There is a joke – the last Latvian leaving the country should switch off the lights in the airport. Last few months I’ve got so many messages from friends about their leaving as never before. They are going to study or work with no intention to return.  I’ve just read in the webpage of our national news agency that this year there is the highest  rate of persons leaving Latvia since the start of this century.  Now they are not going to pick champignons in Ireland or strawberries in Norway for some months. Young, well educated professionals are leaving with their families.

 „Nothing special” – said our ex minister of finance Atis Slakteris when the journalist of Bloomberg Television asked him – what happened, that we get to this point in Latvia? But I would like to say it is special to each individual leaving. Because it is not about percents, numbers and statistics, it is still about people.

So, I am also here in Brussels, European Parliament for next 5 months. In DG Communication, Web Communications Unit. I applied and hoped to be here, because stage in Brussels is probably the most desirable place to go for people in my age. Till this I’ve never been in Erasmus, never lived in other country longer than couple of weeks.  Never studied or worked outside Latvia. I thought it is not going to be easy for me. For now it feels even too comfortable here. And I am thinking – why? I’ve always been afraid (I do not even know if it is the right word) of everything new – of unknown places, new experience, even people. It could sound weird, but I prefer staying home not going out. I prefer social networking, written communication, not real social activities. I am not good at talking to people in public. I still remember that in my first summer job in news agency I was afraid to talk on phone with unfamiliar people.

There is a joke – the last Latvian leaving the country should switch off the lights in the airport.

So, what was I thinking when choose to study communication? A shy and introverted journalist? Sounds bad. I’ve got no answer for myself.  I loved my studies very much but it is still pretty hard for introverted person to be in such dynamic professional environment. In spite of this, I try to convince myself that it is possible to learn everything – even to communicate in an extroverted manner. Because by the definition you have to be extroverted to work in communication field. And I believe – personality traits can be shaped according one’s will. It is also called experience – I guess.  So, I am here on my mission to learn!

As they say – impossible is nothing. Now it feels the ball is on my side of the field and I can decide what I am going to do with it!