Elderly people on computer

If I look to my family – I find we are all on the web, but doing different things there. We are all there for daily news, seeking for the most interesting title. OK, not all of us – the youngest one (7 years old) is not interested in news yet and the oldest one – 84 years old grandma -prefers one special TV news programme, because “the moderator is the son of my sister’s friend’s friend.” My nephew is on the web to socialize. He is one of the so called “mobile generation” and is my guide into WAP. My mother uses the web for research and goes to Youtube for classic music. She is the one who is ready to pay for good content. And she does. On the contrary, my father is on the web for everything he can get for free. He always says that this is the best thing about internet. That is the reason he tries tirelessly but unsuccessfully to teach his old mother to read her regional press printed out from the web. A pity she has a problem with her eyesight, otherwise he would try to convince my granny to sit and read these stories online. Although my dad has made some progress. My granny has been on skype for me for a few weeks already…

New media has changed my habits of media consuming. But that’s not surprising.

Myself, I am still not so advanced as to be on Twitter or to use all multimedia features possible, but I’m happy to watch Youtube documentaries, mostly those made by the BBC. Whenever I want and whenever I have some burning question. The last one I was pleased to find and watch was “Michael Jackson Story 1958-2009″, also powered by the BBC.

Youtube is always there for you – with both lots of amateurism and most important, lots of valuable information. So, no regrets that I do not have my real paper magazine in my mailbox anymore.

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!