NSLI-Y 2024 Latvia – Week 2
Greetings again from Riga. This week, we’d like to share a blog drafted by students Sophie and Yuxuan.
We were told that “those six weeks will fly by” during the finalist selection process for this program. Back then, it seemed doubtful that this could go by so fast. However, as the end of the second week approaches, we couldn’t agree more.
The second week especially flew by as students encountered a range of new experiences that challenged them to expand their Russian language skills. This week, we had to adapt to traditional meals, public transportation, and communications with host families.
Luckily, students have established helpful Russian skills through their classes, like learning the accusative case and familial vocabulary. The accusative case is what we use to construct basic sentences describing what we like and don’t like. Also, both classes have been acquiring new vocabulary to better talk about themselves. Each student can now talk about pets they have at home, the names of their siblings, and their favorite hobbies.
Most of all, we students are continuing to learn outside of class! Over the weekend students strengthened their Russian skills and relationship with their host family by visiting museums, watching Russian movies, and playing local games, like Novuss. Novuss, a national sport of Latvia, is kind of like billiards, but disks are used instead of balls. It is a lot of fun.
When classes resumed at the start of the week, we also had an RD meeting on Monday afternoon, where we played an intense game of ‘study abroad bingo.’ We also learned about historically significant moments in Russian music history, from the infamous ‘Rite of Spring’ to the contemporary band IC3Peak.
On Wednesday, Oleg returned to give another expert lecture, this time on post-Soviet Russian economics. Another highlight was Thursday’s after school activity, when students were guided through Old Town and taught the medieval history of the city. Our tour guide Uldis seemed to know every building in the neighborhood.
Finally, on Friday, students submitted their final drafts of Russian questions for their culminating projects, and in the afternoon, we did some fun activities with our peer partners. They helped us come up with ideas for Russian-language sitcoms. One story even took place on Mars.
Altogether, these experiences have further enabled us to immerse ourselves in Russian-Latvian culture. We can’t wait for next week’s adventures!
During the RD meeting, students learned about the Soviet practice of selling “Bone Music” (improvised gramophone recordings made from X-ray films). Then, students utilized information taught in class to deduce the meaning of a classic Russian song.
Joaquin, Madhav, and Alex recite a Russian dialogue. They are utilizing new vocabulary!
Ekaterina’s class focuses on conjugating new verbs.
Joaquin, Savion, Robert, Katherine, and Nadiya meet up after school at a popular coffee shop close to school.
Omer and his host family had fun watching the new Despicable Me 4 in Russian.
Over the weekend, Yuxuan attended her host parents’ wedding and host sister’s birthday.
Sophie celebrates her host sister’s birthday.
A group photo during our Old Riga guided tour.
Lena asked the tour guide a question.
Lena and Carissa pet a stray cat—The cats in Riga are very friendly, and this one happens to hang out near the restaurant where we have lunch each day.
Robert gets advice from his peer partner regarding characters and illustrations for the sitcom project.
Rose smiles for the camera on the tram to Riga’s Old Town.
Oleg describing some significant economic reforms.