Yesterday Latvians celebrated the Declaration of Independence. It was declared 87 years ago, though our 'last' independence lasts since August 1991.Our president as usually (and it is her job) was speaking... Smart woman, I guess... though... I wonder how did she end up as a president?! too idealistic or ambitious? :) hehe.. naah.. I want to believe in best intentions.
I was even less in politics back in 1999 than I am today, so it felt very weird when this woman appeared in the elections and actually became a president. I have no doubt that that was a good choice, but it was... surprising. Her family left Latvia during the World War II, so she spent most (very big most) of her life outside the country.
So, she said that the way we have Latvia today is without doubt a heritage of past years, but it is also creation during the past 15 years of independence. It is so much true :). And I hope it will be heard, because one of the greatest problems of many Latvian people is that they live in the past. Instead of looking around and heading to the future they put their efforts in keeping memories warm... sometimes not memories even, but fantasies...
15 years is quite a long time. Kids were born and grew up in Independent Latvia...
Unfortunately, as my dad mentioned not that long time ago, he read some kind of survey that shows that many many young people that are about to finish school are willing to leave the country. Many even know already where they are going. It is scary. Especially because these young people are the ones who where born in independent country.
Now that may sound silly if I will start blaming them. Hello! :) I'm not in Latvia myself.
I actually wouldn't blame them if I would know that they have 'right' intentions. 'Right' in my opinion, of course. I would be happy if these young people would go abroad to meet other cultures, to get a good education and then (oh, selfish naive me) come back home with broader ideas about the world, with actual thoughts how to build greater better homeland, with contacts and experiences, smiley and happy, looking forward to do their best for Latvia.
Since May 2004 when Latvia became a member of EU, thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) Latvians went abroad. Opposite to my idealistic ideas they went to earn some money or maybe even left Latvia forever. Many of the first ones, have a higher education, but work on the fields, in the restaurants... anywhere where no education is needed... Second ones maybe have better positions, so they have a chance to live according higher living standards... probably higher than in Latvia, but then... do they realize that they will be foreigners forever? Will they be happy having a nice house and a car, but living far from relatives among people with different mentality and traditions? (Btw, I believe it makes things different if someone moves to USA instead of Europe :).
When we had this conversation with my dad, he joked that he is kind of worried, that when it will be time for him to be retired, there will be no one left in the country to make social payments... I joked back that they should return by then. So... sad...
Sad because I don't see happy faces on this picture. Oh well.. We'll see...
Hehe... I know, I know... I'm not there myself.
I'm not sure if I should start talking about myself now :D, but yes... I find my choice different from many others. I know exactly what I am doing and why. I didn't leave Latvia, because I couldn't find a well-paid job. I had eventual job offers before I left, I had real offer that is still available. I'm not running 'for a better life', though I don't deny that my life is better because Mats is next to me. My life, in fact, is not better because of other aspects. But I'm not gonna whine about it :P. As I said it is my choice, and I was aware about these 'aspects' when I made it.
So, I was talking about Independence, right? As you noticed, I changed a subject as I... sometimes... do ;). I guess I'm still not ready to discuss 15 past years of my country in public :D.
I was even less in politics back in 1999 than I am today, so it felt very weird when this woman appeared in the elections and actually became a president. I have no doubt that that was a good choice, but it was... surprising. Her family left Latvia during the World War II, so she spent most (very big most) of her life outside the country.
In 1998, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga returned to Latvia to lead the Institute of Latvia, an organization devoted to promoting Latvia abroad. A year later, in June 1999, she was elected the president of Latvia. She was originally not a candidate but the Latvian parliament failed to elect a president in the first round. Then, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga was chosen as a compromise candidate, as a highly respected person not affiliated with any of the political parties in the parliament. /WikipediaOh well... She spoke yesterday, though I'm not sure she was heard. Our president is respected among the people, I believe... but I don't know if people actually listen to these speeches and stuff.
So, she said that the way we have Latvia today is without doubt a heritage of past years, but it is also creation during the past 15 years of independence. It is so much true :). And I hope it will be heard, because one of the greatest problems of many Latvian people is that they live in the past. Instead of looking around and heading to the future they put their efforts in keeping memories warm... sometimes not memories even, but fantasies...
15 years is quite a long time. Kids were born and grew up in Independent Latvia...
Unfortunately, as my dad mentioned not that long time ago, he read some kind of survey that shows that many many young people that are about to finish school are willing to leave the country. Many even know already where they are going. It is scary. Especially because these young people are the ones who where born in independent country.
Now that may sound silly if I will start blaming them. Hello! :) I'm not in Latvia myself.
I actually wouldn't blame them if I would know that they have 'right' intentions. 'Right' in my opinion, of course. I would be happy if these young people would go abroad to meet other cultures, to get a good education and then (oh, selfish naive me) come back home with broader ideas about the world, with actual thoughts how to build greater better homeland, with contacts and experiences, smiley and happy, looking forward to do their best for Latvia.
Since May 2004 when Latvia became a member of EU, thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) Latvians went abroad. Opposite to my idealistic ideas they went to earn some money or maybe even left Latvia forever. Many of the first ones, have a higher education, but work on the fields, in the restaurants... anywhere where no education is needed... Second ones maybe have better positions, so they have a chance to live according higher living standards... probably higher than in Latvia, but then... do they realize that they will be foreigners forever? Will they be happy having a nice house and a car, but living far from relatives among people with different mentality and traditions? (Btw, I believe it makes things different if someone moves to USA instead of Europe :).
When we had this conversation with my dad, he joked that he is kind of worried, that when it will be time for him to be retired, there will be no one left in the country to make social payments... I joked back that they should return by then. So... sad...
Sad because I don't see happy faces on this picture. Oh well.. We'll see...
Hehe... I know, I know... I'm not there myself.
I'm not sure if I should start talking about myself now :D, but yes... I find my choice different from many others. I know exactly what I am doing and why. I didn't leave Latvia, because I couldn't find a well-paid job. I had eventual job offers before I left, I had real offer that is still available. I'm not running 'for a better life', though I don't deny that my life is better because Mats is next to me. My life, in fact, is not better because of other aspects. But I'm not gonna whine about it :P. As I said it is my choice, and I was aware about these 'aspects' when I made it.
So, I was talking about Independence, right? As you noticed, I changed a subject as I... sometimes... do ;). I guess I'm still not ready to discuss 15 past years of my country in public :D.
5 comments:
it amaze me that you have a woman president (even i already knew that i forgot )and also that she was elected after only a year of returning, thats so odd. I wonder if you was in age for vote around that time... :P
And i think that people that go abroad seek some dream, but the problem if when they are not aware of the difficulties that can come in the path (well but the part of my theories kinds of break if they are prepare people) such as if they dont speak the language of the country so they can only get not thinking jobs.
I infer that latvia got problems of socials payments, and its the same for Mexico. I dont know how people get pay after they retire but in here they implement an retirement account so the company you are working for have to pay a part of the salary for the retirement account so when you get old it suppose you will have that money plus interest and the account is locked so you cant have the money until you retire.
Yesterday i was thinking to read more about the modern history after watching an interest picture of germany and the wall and since i dont know much of it cause it happens when i was child/teen so i didnt put much interest... nice coincident to read some history here. I like to hear also stories of people, they may not be the whole history but small pieces of persons stories make the whole story.
That's a Parliament (Saeima in Latvia) that elects president in our country. We vote for the parties that get into the parliament.
We as many other countries pay a Social Security Tax which, of course, is covering social needs today and is not waiting us safely in bank till we get retired. Since few years ago there are few "pension levels" (3, I believe). Two of them are compulsory. 1st goes and is administrated by governmental institution, but who manages 2nd one we choose ourselves - it can stay with this institution or can go to the bank in any case money will be invested and you may get more or you may get less depending on how successful they are. There are few risk/possible revenue levels to choose. 3rd level pensions are usually private fonds. You can choose some bank offer yourself or some companies offer it as a benefit. Banks do :D.
Ok, not that you asked all that stuff... but some people can do anything just for avoiding doing what they have to do :).
In mexico if you work in a goverment company you get good social payment cause its supported by the mexican budget. But there are few goverment companies, the rest of people have to use the pension system called "AFORES" and is a little bit similar, but in this the money is in the same place but you can choose if you want a stable investment or a bit risky investment like if you where in wallstreet but without you choosing.
Changing topic, I just found in the net that i dont need visa anymore for going to any baltic country :D(because of the EU treats). Now i can go without having any trauma of the past.
Now you can count it as a benefit to turist :)
Oh, good :)
Just, when you decide to go, I will maybe check it and read myself ;)
:P
Hi Maija, I wrote a rather long comment on your post, so I thought I'd add it as a post to my own blog :).
See here: http://thequicky.net/archives/2005/11/20/feeling-at-home/
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