Who is this_latvian

From a
distance, we
all look the
same..
in fact, we
are not

Latvia has
spent its
entire life
between
Germany and
Russia

Moreover - in
different
times
Sweden and
Poland have
reigned in
Latvia too

For a part of
Latvians the
occupation
museum is a
memory, not
an exhibition

Yet, during
20 years of
our freedom,
we haven’t
agreed which
way to go

Our social
integration
has failed

There is
enormous
difference in
national
composition
among
different
regions

..and there is
a large part
of society,
who like to
look back

In the same
time Latvia
has its own
ideas of
which way
the EU
should go

Undoubtly
PSRS has left
a number of
implications
in Latvian
society..

I. KGB have
thought us to
be very
curious
about other
people

II. Latvians
love to give
flowers

III. We are
very
practical,
thus we like
to build
interesting
things

IV. PSRS has
thought us to
play hockey...
and it has
become a
part our
national
identity

V. During
occupation
we have
established a
number of
our largest
companies

And yet, we have always managed to
preserve our identity

Doing it “the
Baltic way”
in 1989 - two
million
people, 4
million hands

Raising
money to
build
freedom
monument in
1935

Latvians
have a
special way
to celebrate
winter
solstice

We are used
to live in
messuages

And we have
a keen sense
of personal
space and we
don't like
when
someone
crosses the
line

Yet we love
to gather in
song festival,
where are
almost as
many singers
as spectators

Latvians
believe you
have to look
deeper to
understand
some
aspects of
life

We are
tended to
make the
same
mistakes
over and
over again

We are still
struggling to
understand
capitalism

Latvians
think they are
good drivers

Latvians
have a
special
relationships
with
mushrooms

It is said that
Latvian
women are
the most
beautiful in
world

But most
importantly -
we think we
can do
anything

Thanks to Māris Bišofs for
the excellent visualizations.

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