SNOW!!!!

I woke up this morning (I really, really didn't want to) and sleepily walked downstairs. My eyes, half closed, quickly opened in excitement when I looked out the window. The world was WHITE!!! This is the view from my bedroom window.

And this is the view from the bathroom. :)

It's not as if snow is a new thing for me, I did spend 4 months living in it, it just all happened so quickly! Yesterday it simply rained; the ground was green where it hadn't been churned to mud; and the trees were straining to keep their golden leaves. And then today the world was completely turned upside down! All the dirt and filth has been covered up and everything looks magical. The trees may not have leaves but at least now they are daintily dressed in snow. I also love how every now and then you catch glimpses of green grass beneath the pure white blanket of SNOW. Did I mention the snow?

I was late for school (and that is hard to do because I live 100m from it) because I couldn't stop taking photos.

I also had my very first snow fight!! :) Everyone seems to find it quite amusing that a 12th grader would stoop to such immature levels as to throw snow at people. But I didn't quite get to the throwing snow at people level. My snow balls all fell apart and by that time the little 7th graders had surrounded me and my friend and covered us in snow :) We're meeting again next week but this time I'll be prepared. I've already started planning tactics :)

And you know what else is cool?!?! How now when I come home at about 4 o'clock, instead of it being pitch black, the sky has a glow to it because of all the white snow! MAGICAL!!!

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A little too quickly

I've been feeling recently that things have been happening a little too quickly for my liking. While most of you are enjoying the joys of spring and the promise of summer I am currently experiencing 'Autumn', although to me it seems more like Winter. For those of you who don't understand Latvians, sniegs (the circled word below) means snow...

First of September

The first of September here in Latvia is a pretty big deal. Everyone dresses up and goes to school for the official opening. It's even more special for the 12th and 1st grades. The 12th graders accompany the youngsters into the school to start the first of many 'wonderful' years to come.

My new class! :)

Autumn!

My Latvian Television Debut

Pity they didn't get my shoes in the shot :(

In Edinburgh I met a poet.
We talked,
About life,
And how little of it,
I share with my blog.
She wrote this

[If you can't read it then you simply miss out on some awesomeness :P]

Jauna Dzive

I have arrived in Koknese and have started living with my new family.

Took the dog for a walk in the forest last night and had the most magical experience. It was a grey afternoon and the trees had this calm intensity to them. I could see the river Perse glistening ahead of me. As I neared strains of singing drifted through the trees. I walked on to find a concert taking place in the Koknese castle ruins. Magical.

This morning I had another simple and yet beautiful experience, potato harvesting. 20 people all working together. Then gathering around the table for hearty food and heartier laughs before setting off again. There is something so beautiful about living simply and really connecting with the people around you. It's nice to see that in normal, modern lives these traditions remain. (Although I wonder how long it takes for the beauty to wear off and the back pain to set in).

I hope you all survived the winter :) The summer here has been wonderful but now Autumn has arrived and with it a lot of rain. I should repair the holes in my gumboots as they will probably come in handy.
Love Zaiga