I’m Lasma. I left Latvia in 2007 and lived in Melbourne, Australia for 11 years. I’ve only just returned to Latvia, to my hometown of Talsi this May. In Australia, I worked with seniors. I worked in the Melbourne Latvian village and was responsible for managing a variety of activities for them. That village was like my own Latvia, a place where people speak only Latvia, prepare Latvian dishes… And the people I met there, the stories they told me – that was an invaluable experience. Latvia is a wonderland, a holy land for them. There are many Latvians in Australia – there are some who have never been to Latvia and there are those who have gone and come back.
Who helped me with the return? Mostly my family and friends. I also got in touch with the Kurzeme regional coordinator – she helped me with the information I needed. She put together exactly what I needed. A bigger part of our cooperation was her answering all questions I had. I really didn’t know, too, what exactly I needed at the time.
I was born in Talsi and lived there till the age of 30. I studied and worked there. My family has a furniture business here. They produce furniture. I think that in time I might get involved in the family business. While still living in Australia, I began to study. I’ve been studying for a year now, distance learning in interior design. All assignments are practical and must be sent in. This has been my calling since childhood. When I was little, I liked painting the walls, move the furniture around… I appreciate all the things I have here today, the fact that I can just sit here, enjoy Latvia and my family, that I have my family by my side. That’s the most important thing. You can cope with everything! It might take some time but, in the end, you’ll get where you wanted to go.