BLOG COMMENT 15: gypsies - their behavior and lifestyle |
"I don´t quite agree with your statement "I thought their biggest business is to steal and trying to sell bad quality things". There are many gipsies (Romani people sounds not so offensive) that are well-known in Latvia because of their singing and dancing skills.
I agree that there are many jokes about them as criminals or fortune tellers, but if we want to be open to other cultures, then we can slightly say the same about other cultures. Romani people are not the only ones who steal or try to fool others.
What I´m 100% agaist is their opinion about education. Uneducated person cannot make reasonable decisions and that´s is why nothing changes. They keep on living not knowing how to live differently."
I agree that there are many jokes about them as criminals or fortune tellers, but if we want to be open to other cultures, then we can slightly say the same about other cultures. Romani people are not the only ones who steal or try to fool others.
What I´m 100% agaist is their opinion about education. Uneducated person cannot make reasonable decisions and that´s is why nothing changes. They keep on living not knowing how to live differently."
BLOG COMMENT 14: ecological footprint |
"Latvia's Ecological Footprint is 3.95 global hectares per capital, what doesn't surprise me, because I think we are quite nature friendly.
I found a test, where I can calculate my Ecological Footprint and it's 2 hectares per capital. I don't know if I can believe this :D
However, I think everyone should start with him/herself, only then something can change in the big picture. "
I found a test, where I can calculate my Ecological Footprint and it's 2 hectares per capital. I don't know if I can believe this :D
However, I think everyone should start with him/herself, only then something can change in the big picture. "
BLOG COMMENT 13: identities in Norway |
Yup, I think it's like that in most of the countries (that man are the strong gender and woman the weak one).
However, I think in Latvia it changed during the wars, because men were in army, fighting for "freedom" etc. While women were responsible for family and children, as well as working, building the society and so on. So for now (in my opinion) there are two very strong genders in Latvia - woman and man.
However, I think in Latvia it changed during the wars, because men were in army, fighting for "freedom" etc. While women were responsible for family and children, as well as working, building the society and so on. So for now (in my opinion) there are two very strong genders in Latvia - woman and man.
BLOG COMMENT 12: identities in Czech Republic |
"I would like to comment the age identity. It´s funny to hear that in Czech Republic people are afraid of old people making stupid mistakes in case of elections. Why? Because in Latvia it´s quite the same. During elections there are many jokes about this situation, e.g. Hey, You! Take Your grandma´s passport, don´t let the old guys destroy our country!
The problem is that we have party that are mainly east-minded (Russia) and young people are afraid that if the old people will vote for them, they will get the most places in our government and we will be damned...
In this year´s elections (in my opinion) youth of Latvia saved the country :D But we still respect old generation, because no one can resist granma's pie :)"
The problem is that we have party that are mainly east-minded (Russia) and young people are afraid that if the old people will vote for them, they will get the most places in our government and we will be damned...
In this year´s elections (in my opinion) youth of Latvia saved the country :D But we still respect old generation, because no one can resist granma's pie :)"
BLOG COMMENT 11: only in Portuguese |
"All in all I think it's very wrong to forbid to speak in other language. I cannot find another reason for this kind of decision except some kind of personal reasons of the owner. Maybe he thinks that employees talk about him behind his back, but I don't know if banning other languages will solve the problem.
If speaking in other languages doesn't disturb working then I don't see the problem."
If speaking in other languages doesn't disturb working then I don't see the problem."
BLOG COMMENT 10: language |
"I agree with You, knowing languages is very important. Unfortunately, there are countries that don´t bother. E.g. I have met few english speaking people and after I asked them if they do know other languages - their answer is "no". When I say them that I have learned 4 other languages during my lifetime, they are suprised and don´t understand why. While I only can answer "Why not?" "
BLOG COMMENT 9: how Portugal is seen outside? |
"I´m so happy that I came to Portugal, because I was one of those who thought that there is no difference between Portugal and Spain, but there is.
In general I agree with Naomi, I would like it neither if someone would say that Latvia is the same as Lithuania or Estonia. Even if we are sometimes called together as Baltic states or "brothers" and we have similar history, we have our own identity."
In general I agree with Naomi, I would like it neither if someone would say that Latvia is the same as Lithuania or Estonia. Even if we are sometimes called together as Baltic states or "brothers" and we have similar history, we have our own identity."
BLOG COMMENT 7 AND 8: what we think about other countries? |
Jitka put a video on the blog about the way Czech Republic sees other countries:
"Haha. :D
Actually I was so interested in this, that I found many other maps.
Here is the link "What Latvians think about other countries" http://g4.delphi.lv/images/pix/520x360/29fd00b3/karte-2-44776188.jpg
It's quite hard to read, that's why I will write it down
Russia - Communists
Finland - Rally drivers
Sweden - Blonde people
Norway - Expensive alcohol
Estonia - Slow neighbors
Lithuania - Our brothers
Belarus - Little Russia
Denmark - Lego
Island - Volcanoes
Great Britain - Our colony
Ireland - The other Great Britain
Netherlands - Weed
Belgium - The capital of EU
Germany - They make best cars
Czech Republic - Skoda
Austria - We have too similar flags
Slovakia - Hockey players
France - frog eaters
Spain - Bulls
Portugal - Little Spain
Luxemburg and Andora - Is that even a country?
Schwitzerland - Watches
Italy - Ferrari and spaghetti land
Poland - SZCZSZCZ land
Ukraine - WW3
Greece - Crisis
Hungary and Slovenia - Non specific countries
Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania etc. - WTF is there?
If You are interested to see something more of this fallow the links:
German thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Vacija1.jpg
Ungarian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Ungari.jpg
Russian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Krievu..jpg
Italian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Italija.jpg
France thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Francija.jpg
Bulgarian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Bulgarija.jpg
ASV: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ASV.jpg
UK: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Anglija.jpg"
"After economical crisis in Latvia many citizens of Latvia went to UK to look for jobs. That's why this is our colony now :D"
Actually I was so interested in this, that I found many other maps.
Here is the link "What Latvians think about other countries" http://g4.delphi.lv/images/pix/520x360/29fd00b3/karte-2-44776188.jpg
It's quite hard to read, that's why I will write it down
Russia - Communists
Finland - Rally drivers
Sweden - Blonde people
Norway - Expensive alcohol
Estonia - Slow neighbors
Lithuania - Our brothers
Belarus - Little Russia
Denmark - Lego
Island - Volcanoes
Great Britain - Our colony
Ireland - The other Great Britain
Netherlands - Weed
Belgium - The capital of EU
Germany - They make best cars
Czech Republic - Skoda
Austria - We have too similar flags
Slovakia - Hockey players
France - frog eaters
Spain - Bulls
Portugal - Little Spain
Luxemburg and Andora - Is that even a country?
Schwitzerland - Watches
Italy - Ferrari and spaghetti land
Poland - SZCZSZCZ land
Ukraine - WW3
Greece - Crisis
Hungary and Slovenia - Non specific countries
Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania etc. - WTF is there?
If You are interested to see something more of this fallow the links:
German thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Vacija1.jpg
Ungarian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Ungari.jpg
Russian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Krievu..jpg
Italian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Italija.jpg
France thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Francija.jpg
Bulgarian thoughts: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Bulgarija.jpg
ASV: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/ASV.jpg
UK: http://kllproject.lv/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Anglija.jpg"
"After economical crisis in Latvia many citizens of Latvia went to UK to look for jobs. That's why this is our colony now :D"
BLOG COMMENT 6: planning managing problems |
After a while I´m starting to used to it. It took me 3 months to understand that coming in time is worthless. Mostly every lesson starts 30 minutes later than it suppose to. I hope it won´t confuse my time-management in Latvia. :D
BLOG COMMENT 5: coffee-to-go |
"I suppose this has never bothered me, because in Latvia I rarely took a coffee-to-go, only when it was cold. And here it wasn't...
I´m now sitting in school and I´m freezing a little bit, so I was thinking about hot coffee...but there´s no place to get it :D
So now it´s bothering me...because those coffee shots are just funny (I cannot get warm of them)."
I´m now sitting in school and I´m freezing a little bit, so I was thinking about hot coffee...but there´s no place to get it :D
So now it´s bothering me...because those coffee shots are just funny (I cannot get warm of them)."
BLOG COMMENT 4: gender equality |
Ana put a video on the blog about gender equality:
After I watched it I was with my mouth open, because it was so true in every way. Female gender is always being cultivated as a weak gender and this video shows that it is still a problem and it can lead to denying the gender identity.
“Very good topic. I think it is clearly society’s and parenting fault. Society’s, because it is cultivated in all the films and series (the same as in the video - "run like a girl", "hit like a girl" and others). Teenagers spend most of their free time sitting in front of TV and catching their idols saying those phrases again and again, so they start to think that it’s acceptable. Television has become the third parent in the family. On the other hand the parents themselves often use this phrase in educational process. At least I certainly remember that some family members said to my brother – stop crying like a girl, or stop whining you are not a girl. So we as prospective parents can learn from our parents mistakes and eliminate this parenting style. “
BLOG COMMENT 3: difficulties about language |
I agree with Andreas and Jitka. History, globalization, USA economic and many other circumstances has made English the world language.
And as much as I love Latvian, I would never insist some one to speak in it. And Jitka is right ' it´s so easy to learn English, at least the basic words and basic grammar . And with Portuguese (at lest for me) it´s vice verse. It´s hard for me to spell the majority of the words. So I think, as much as we want to be patriotic about our own language, we should accept that for know, English dominates. Of course we cannot forget to respect other languages and learn how to deal with situations like You described in Your blog.
And as much as I love Latvian, I would never insist some one to speak in it. And Jitka is right ' it´s so easy to learn English, at least the basic words and basic grammar . And with Portuguese (at lest for me) it´s vice verse. It´s hard for me to spell the majority of the words. So I think, as much as we want to be patriotic about our own language, we should accept that for know, English dominates. Of course we cannot forget to respect other languages and learn how to deal with situations like You described in Your blog.
BLOG COMMENT 2: a job as a foreigner |
"I think in Latvia it is not so important where You come from, if You know languages (languages, because mostly the cases You won´t find a job without knowing not only Latvian, but also Russian). I think language knowing is even bigger problem in Latvia, because everyone should know Russian to get a stable, well-paid job.
The other problem would be your belonging to specific ethnic group. I wouldn't say that Latvians are racists, but they definetly avoid something new and not well-known. That´s is why for dark-skinned people life in Latvia is very hard for now.
In general I would say that in your case the steps made by "superiors" were wrong (starting from asking your the question "Where are you from?", because it´s discrimination)."
The other problem would be your belonging to specific ethnic group. I wouldn't say that Latvians are racists, but they definetly avoid something new and not well-known. That´s is why for dark-skinned people life in Latvia is very hard for now.
In general I would say that in your case the steps made by "superiors" were wrong (starting from asking your the question "Where are you from?", because it´s discrimination)."
BLOG COMMENT 1: fascim against freshmen |
"Back in Latvia we always had some kind of "freshman welcome" as well, BUT I have never seen something like that as it happen during freshman week here in Faro.
It was just crazy! Of course watching it makes some of us to laugh, someone maybe thinks about some kind of human rights etc.
In the beginning all of those painted students made me smile, but when I saw some girls and guys doing humiliating things, I just didn't get the point of that all. Maybe that is why I didn't go to the big parade, because I knew it´s wrong in many ways.
If we talked about time when I was freshman, the worst thing we should had to do is jump into fountain which was full of cold water. Either way these activities were only for few hours not for a whole week.
To sum up my opinion - Yes! There should be some kind of welcoming event for freshman, but without offending each other, without humiliation and harming."
It was just crazy! Of course watching it makes some of us to laugh, someone maybe thinks about some kind of human rights etc.
In the beginning all of those painted students made me smile, but when I saw some girls and guys doing humiliating things, I just didn't get the point of that all. Maybe that is why I didn't go to the big parade, because I knew it´s wrong in many ways.
If we talked about time when I was freshman, the worst thing we should had to do is jump into fountain which was full of cold water. Either way these activities were only for few hours not for a whole week.
To sum up my opinion - Yes! There should be some kind of welcoming event for freshman, but without offending each other, without humiliation and harming."