The Fun In Being An Absolute Beginner
I am an Israeli living abroad for the past couple of years.
I lived 2 years in the amazing Amsterdam, which was pure fun, before life got serious: marriage, kids and a dog 🙂
Two years ago my husband and I were relocated to Minsk, Belarus due to his work.
Sounds like a bad joke from a chapter of “Friends”, because no one actually moves there… It is plain USSR in its best! Russian speaking city and Russian style all around even though it is Europe! To sum it up, it was a unique experience. Imagine 2 Israelis trying to get along where no one understands them.
Our amazing dog Snoop moved with us and got the chance to see the world and meet some Belorussian female dogs.
After two years, which at the beginning seemed so rough (crazy weather-mostly frozen), not to mention Belarus is the last dictatorship remained from the USSR, I found a cool job teaching toddlers English in a kindergarten and before I knew it, I was a Russian speaker. And after a while, Minsk felt like home. In that “home away from home” we became parents for the first time.❤
Vansu bridge
Riga Opera house in the city center at winter
3 weeks ago we moved to Riga, Latvia and I must say I feel like the easy life is back again! Europe in it’s best! Best shopping, nature, food, sights… and Snoop enjoys a wide balcony to relax on.
Winter, with National Library of Belarus in the background
The “House of Blackheads”in the old town square
Victory Square, Minsk
A beautiful street in the heart of old town Riga
I still have lots to discover for sure, but isn’t it cool to order a meal in the McDrive in plain English and get exactly what you asked for?!?!
For me, the best part as an expat is being far away. I just love it! Not the fact that I am a foreigner and know no one, I just love to land somewhere and start exploring.
When you arrive to a new city it feels like a fresh start and that everything is possible.
I wonder where do we go from here?!
To be continued…. 🙂
Me on the background of the Daugava River
