What suprised me in Latvia? l Foreigner's experience

Hey! I've been living in Latvia already 8 months so I get used to many weird habits, but when I came here some things where quite suprising for me. Today I want to share some of them with you. What is your experience?
Hugs and kisses,
Instagram: @halmanaga
Tik tok: @halmanaga

[@artursbondars7789]

It's common misconception, that Latvians don't have their native swear words. We don't simply use them much, so many just don't know them. It's not nice to be vulgar in our culture!

[@dreamthedream8929]

Actually a lot of younger generation Latvians don't even speak or don't know how to speak their own native language purely. What comes out is a mix of Latvian English and Russian. It probably was not like that with Latvians 120 years ago, they knew how to express themselves in their own language without using others

[@RescueOfAnimals]

​@@dreamthedream8929 Tos sauc par krieviem kas dzīvo Latvijā.

[@dreamthedream8929]

@@RescueOfAnimals krievi runā tikai krieviski viens ar otru. Man liekas ka šie ir latviešu tautības jaunieši kas neprot izteikties savā valodā un viens ar otru runā angļu, krievu un latviešu valodas maisījumā

[@RescueOfAnimals]

@@dreamthedream8929 Nu tāda pāudze aug.

[@kirdot2011]

I remember seeing a whole book specifically dedicated for latvian swear words. Its just that they must be 150 or more years old at this point and nobody knows them

[@ines_uk]

Interesting observations. Never heard anyone mention these before. I grew up in Riga and left it when I was 25 and I have never been “pushed off” the pavement before 😀. I never even noticed it. To be honest it happens a lot here in England where I currently live, too. And there is enough vegetarian food in Latvia. We eat a lot of veggies in stews, soups, salads, even veggie pancakes etc.

[@mikuskokenbergs8853]

Thank You. Much love to our Polish friends.

[@dreamthedream8929]

Hi, its interesting to hear that and yes ive noticed the floor thing as well. To me its the other way around. I dont understood what ground floor is, i mean its obviously a floor so it counts and its number 1. Its the first one there is. The same thing when some people refer to houses with mansard or attic floor, they usually exclude it. They may say that its a two story house when obvioulsly there are windows on the third floor as well. Its just a floor and nothing else so i dont why people say it, it sounds like they dont talk realistically when they say it. And the food well there are several options there, if you like cold soups you can get the cold beat soup, totally vegetarian. My girlfriends favorite is potatoe pancaces, she is a vegetarian and thats totally vegetarian. There are other traditional pancakes without meat as well. You can eat whats called pīrāgi with sauerkraut, very vegetarian. You can eat grūbu dishes, also vegetarian. You can also make bukstiņputra and do a vegetarian version. You can eat bread soup, totally vegetarian. Chease salad is nice. In fact you can just eat saurekraut with potatoes, nice meal and totally vegetarian. Its just some of the foods that quickly came to mind. Probably there is quite a bit more. Sounds like perhaps you havent explored or asked enough. And the side walks in riga like in many other cities are very wide, just walk. No need to battle for anything, enough space for everyone

[@u1zha]

Cold beet soup often has doktordesa in it and egg to go with it. Surely you can seek out vegetarian versions...

[@davebeat]

I'm from the UK and the ground floor is the ground (i.e. zero). Latvia calling ground floor the first floor was confusing for me too, and took me a long time to get used to. Also the second hand clothes shops are very good. I like them as you are able to find not just cheap clothes (Latvia has very overpriced new clothes), but you can find items that no-one else is wearing as I believe the second hand clothes are imported from other countries such as the UK as I have found new items in the second hand shops still with their UK price tags attached.

[@seiwarriors]

This is just normal in Europe, wait now that I think about it in Russian don’t use ground floor either so maybe it stem from that aspect.

[@liennucyc]

Those are some good points that I never heard from a foreigner. I agree, navigating on sidewalks in city center is a nightmare, loads of people just don't know (or rather don't bother) with the right side rule. Outside the center it's much easier and people actually walk on the right side. Except for a "mommy-stroller party" those people think they are gods of the road and everyone should move around them :D

[@IRt3h13374t3hn00b]

There are off course really strong swearing words in Latvian, but sadly, in the event of mishap the first bad words arrive in Russian :( Unfortunately Evil Empire's influence on our culture is stronger than we would like to.

[@endouceurendouceur318]

/ the same in Romanian language in Moldavia. Many Moldovans are using Russian f.. words as it sounds better. Because of that, sometimes Russian language seems to me so strange, low class.

[@ericzirk8422]

Sidewalks. When I first came to Latvia there was another American on my team who was at least 6.3 feet. He would hold his place in the right side of the sidewalk and watch people bounce off him because he didn’t budge.

[@bitezumm]

It's probably because not that many ppl drive, so they don't apply car rules to sidewalks.

[@immoralwombat6843]

@@bitezumm No, it's the soviet inheritance walking our streets.

[@u1zha]

@@bitezumm It's not apriori/obvious to apply car rules to sidewalks. Whoever touts rules like that usually pulls them from traditional gentlemen etiquette, which has varied a lot. In Sweden for example drivers drive on the right whereas the recommended side of a pathway to walk on is left. (It's not that masses would heed the recommendation)

[@Constellasian]

I'm thinking about visiting Latvia. I actually visited Poland before. My best friend's wife was from Poland, and her best friend was getting married. They invited me to go with them to Poland. I had fun. The Polish folks were friendly for the most part, but we received a lot of stares when visiting rural areas of the country. Perhaps it's because my best friend is Black and I'm Asian, and these people have never seen our kind in person before.

[@halmanaga]

@@Constellasian could be - don’t take it personally. One man in the village in Poland wanted to take a picture with my friend in hijab 😳 well.. they live in their bubble. But I really recommend you to visit Latvia 🩷

[@martinskesteris8664]

Just like a white person would get stares in a village in Africa or Asia...

[@jonasjonava]

Lietuva.Kaunas 1000k❤ Latvia ,Polska ,Ukraine!!!

[@endouceurendouceur318]

/ Moldavia too !

[@Double-green-ll]

Hello from Latvia! I. Well, we have swear words, but often Latvians use Slavic/russian swear words. However, we also have our own rude, offensive, and vulgar words. :D II. As for meat, I was a vegetarian and have many vegetarian mates. There are even vegetarian and vegan cafes and restaurants in Riga. While we do eat a lot of meat, vegetarians can also find options for themselves.

[@immoralwombat6843]

1. Name 3 offensive swear words in Latvian. 2. I agree, vegetarian food is verry available in Latvia.

[@frankhess2816]

@@immoralwombat6843 1. Pimpis (Di…ck) 2. Gailis (Fagg…) 3. Dirsa (A…ss).

[@frankhess2816]

⁠ 1. Pimpis (Di…ck) 2. Gailis (Fagg…) 3. Dirsa (A…ss).

[@GOSSIP773]

Latvia is Northern Europe . That’s why you have a different tings

[@u1zha]

It has had Polish influence historically, that's why it's normal to expect similar things, why not. Large parts of Latvia, like Courland and Semigallia, were governed by Poland, right, but history is not so hot a topic on the social networks, whereas "akschually we are Northern Europe not Eastern Europe" is... For whatever reason :D

[@tiptop3922]

You forgot one thing, what we do not do in Latvia, what you do in Poland. We do not use toilet as a recycle bin. When you visit this place, for toilet paper after using is a bin on the floor, not WC as trash bin instead of this.

[@DNovac]

1. There are some, but not used often. 2. Idnk, may be some elevators got ground floor, but mostly we used 1st floor as 1st floor, no-one actually use the ground floor concept or word. 3. The northers country location, more meat people eat. In Latvia, we got a lot of meat traditions. Also we have no so many vegetarians, I personally know a few persons only (may be I am wrong). 4. Mostly people use right side, but those, who has no driving licenses probably walk as they wish. Yeah I agree about this, especially in narrow center streets. 5. Cannot say anything about it, I am not shop person =) But yeah, we have a lot.

[@aliali-ev3lm]

I'm from Latvia. My mother recently returned from another Polish shopping haul. She loves to go there and buy clothes. She says it's better and cheaper. 😮

[@HakkoChannel]

I guess your experiences are from city dweller and nondriver point of view - I dont know any second hand shop, and sidewalks in our town are right handed "traffic". Also not sure about which "Lido" youre talking bout - those few which I attend (in Spice supermarket) there are plenty vegetarian options.

[@rigasarzemnieks4230]

Thank you for bringing the sidewalk issue up! I am a foreigner living in Riga and I had thought it was just me who is consistently being thrown off the sidewalk by (usually women!) cutting off my way or walking on their left side as if we were here in England! Interesting phenomenon!!!!

[@immoralwombat6843]

I am Latvian but not from Riga, I have the same problem when I visit Riga. As I come from 90% majority Latvian city, we don't have this problem.

[@frankhess2816]

@@immoralwombat6843good point about the 90% thing!

[@psy-lion]

WE EAT MEAT ! WE STRONK! 😻

[@mmbmonu6026]

I'm your 99th subscriber 😁😁

[@drackkor725]

Good video I was thinking about retiring there I'm from the USA.

[@j7ndominica051]

Well, there are words thar refer to parts down south that are vulgar, like in almost any language. You could use them to refer to a person with contempt. I think meat is an essential flavor in dinner. You add as much as you can afford to a vegetable/starch based meal instead of trying to create something with a combination of spices. Counting from zero is a relatively new thing in culture. There is no 0 on a conventional clock. Usually a floor isn't at exactly ground level in a house, but a little raised on a foundation to proect it from water. I don't like when people walk side by side and occupy the entire path. Especially if thye walk slowly and are in a rowdy mood. It depends on who is more intimidating. If there is a dog on a leash, I have to pass him on the wrong side, because it would be impractical for its owner to pull the dog in suddenly. Second hand clothes used to have negative connotations, that a person who goes to those shops is of low class. The clothes used to be given for free as a humanitarian aid or importedin bulk after being discarded. There a small number of shops where you can buy used items, but the prices are now low.

[@endouceurendouceur318]

Good Luck, pani !

[@Stefans2332]

There are swear words in Latvian. The thing that many Latvians use Russian swear words is another story. And younger people use English words...

[@118Shadow118]

Latvian swear words just aren't as punchy, that's why we don't use them that much

[@evaldslandra1582]

@@118Shadow118 Latvian swear words aren`t vulgar.

[@KALNINApirdiens]

Beidz muldēt, deģenerāt! Īsti latvieši lieto krievu lamuvārdus💪

[@immoralwombat6843]

@@KALNINApirdiens 🤣

[@ervinvonhimmel]

Latvia is heavily influenced by German culture, and it can be seen in the language, kitchen, traditions, etc From the end of the 12th century to the December 1939 Baltic Germans played a significant role in the country. It all can be seen and today in Latvian culture and traditions, people, in the way some things are. Latvian are not a Slavic people, even no similar to Lithuanian people (however Latvian people also Baltic) so there will be a significant difference with Poland. Perhaps, you would find more similarities with Poland in Latgale, Vidzeme (former Livland) has much more similarities with Estonia, and Livland always has been the centre core of what you call Latvia today.

[@lukturs]

Atradis centru,saproties...centrs protams ir Zemgale ar Kurzemi,un tā arī nav viendabīga.Vienā galā līvi,otrā leišmale.

[@uamee]

Sadly both pedestrian manners and road manners are horrid in cities with a lot of soviet occupation baggage - Daugavpils and Riga. You can see someone is not gonna move from your path from a distance. Establish eye contact, normally it makes them reconsider the trajectory. If that doesn't work just stand your ground or go through them. Is what it is. Not all of Latvia is like this.

[@Yetica91]

As a latvian myself, i got surprised by sidewalk manners, after moving to live in the city. And it got worse in past 10 years. I never really was taught, i just knew, that it is appropriate to give some way to a couple passing by. Or older people. Moms with strollers.. Normally, everyone should give some space when passing by, with moderation. But no. There are so many of those angry 'ladies', yes - elder woman mostly, who will go straight with stone face, like no one is coming. At least it is easier now, because population on streets is so much, much less. Now days, it starts to get me angry, when i see bunch of students walking straight on to me. I'm getting tougher, and don't let that happen. There is no way i will step in the grass.

[@dreamthedream8929]

I dont get it, side walks in riga are really wide and enough space for everyone. What's the big deal about it? Me and my girlfriend walk a lot and never had any such problems. Just walk

[@dawidoo3o532]

Dobry film, jeszcze bardziej przekonało żeby tam się wybrac na city breaka

[@halmanaga]

@@dawidoo3o532dzięki! Polecam z całego serca ♥️

[@tiptop3922]

This is, what I did not like in Poland and in the Czech republic: they use WC like a trash bin for the toilet paper after the using it.

[@tiptop3922]

By the way, when you will give back Danzig, SIlezia and the Western part of Poland? These are German cities and German territories.

[@MrsUnderwriter]

What is it with this Lido thing?

[@seiwarriors]

It’s the best cheap eatery and it’s everywhere in the country, similarly to weatherspoon in the UK minus the pub culture though.

[@tiptop3922]

Princess and the bean - again

[@euhm4443]

I liked this video:))))

[@bighand1530]

Same

[@aaporhum-jaswantsshow2098]

Good to see you are vegetarian ..

[@occasionalquest]

About vegetarian not correct ... Lido has vegetarian burger and other items as any body else... the same goes for most popular fast food chain Hesburger (the cheapest one) beside very popular as well MC ... Even Narvesen has vegetarian offers (cheap hot dog/burger/press/drinks selling trade points) Very popular are Kebab places ... strongly suggest visit Ausmeņa Kebabs (local favorite, Riga and Rezekne) and they have vegetarian offers as well. Lido is traditionally place to bring foreigners (interior is suited for that and I would call the place as tourist trap) ... personally not like food quality there (the same as office bistro at the best), it is not great and they have restaurant prices ... I known better places for that money(food/interior), personally with family will not visit that place, not worth (food quality is under level for restaurant) ... Any bistro in office public/buildings has daily vegetarian offers, the same goes for any office food subscription services ...

[@dreamthedream8929]

Even latvian traditional food has many vegetarian options, bread and cold beat soup quickly come to mind. A lot of mushroom dishes as well. Mushrooms are vegetarian right?

[@occasionalquest]

@@dreamthedream8929 cold beat soup is not traditional for Latvia ... It is Polish/Soviet origin ... Mushroom dishes is mainly seasonal thing and it is luxury item unless family did not collect them themselves ... and mushrooms dishes is not very popular ...

[@dreamthedream8929]

@@occasionalquest cold beat soup is very traditional in latvia, the originl doesn't matter. It's also very traditional in lithuania. It has established itself among the traditional foods and can be commonly found in traditional latvian food restaurants. But these are just a few vegetarian options that came to mind. If you search you probably can find even more. Sounds like the person in the video has not asked or searched. She only mentioned potatoes. Although even potatoes are done in many ways and can be delicious and a good meal by itself

[@occasionalquest]

@@dreamthedream8929 Traditional Latvian restorant do not exist ... Tradicionally city food is Polish/German ... Potatoes in Lido are trash ... Lido is poorly executed traditional Polish street food ... or the latest they try to switch to Hamburgers ... again not great ...

[@dreamthedream8929]

@@occasionalquest there are plenty of traditional latvian food restaurants. i was in one yesterday and yes my vegetarial girlfriend had a vegetarian meal there. lido is good but there are many others. again the origin is not relevant here. it is about how much the particular food has established itself in the food culture in that country over time. Those are Latvian household foods that have passed from from one generation to the next. Latvians dont eat burgers in such a way but something called šašliki very much could be called traditional. Again the origin does not matter here as there are plenty of traditional foods around the world that originally were introduced by people from somewhere else. Even ingredients, for example tomatos and potatoes didnt even exist in Europe for a very long time and now there are so many traditional foods across Europe that use those ingredients

[@HassenAbdo-qx9er]

❤

[@euhm4443]

Jaaaaaaa

[@tiptop3922]

I live in Latvia. I never bought the second hand clothes, I never was in "Humana" or "Kilomax". So do not tell us again Polish fairy-tales.

[@HassenAbdo-qx9er]

I live in Riga

[@immoralwombat6843]

No one cares, many people live there.

[@MiguelGLD]

Lido is the worst food chain in the world. Both food and service are cold. To be fair, service in Latvia is poor in general. Visit Kozy Eats at Blaumana iela if you want good vegetarian food.

[@halmanaga]

@@MiguelGLD I did! And I love it! 🥰

[@frankhess2816]

Miguel go visit Taco Bell and stop talking bad about most traditional real Latvian food in lido restaurants

[@MiguelGLD]

@@frankhess2816 LOL Frankie, don't be so triggered, just enjoy your cold Lido meal if that's what you enjoy.

[@abdulhalikah980]

dearest ur most beutyfullon earth no onelke u ur sweetet