In the last few months I’ve taken a bit of a back seat with my interviews for various reasons but two people that really encouraged me to continue sharing them were sisters Santa and Ilva. I have gotten to know the both of them quite well in the last year and have even interviewed Ilva previously but I wanted to focus this time on Santas story, as admittedly I know less about them but feel they have some unique experiences of their own to share with us!
Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Santa and I am from Latvia, more specifically I was born in Preiļi and when I was a teenager I moved to Riga
What was it like growing up in your hometown and also in Riga?
In Preiļi it was really quiet and relaxing with a small town atmosphere, Riga was much more busy so in my childhood I got to experience both which was quite nice.
In Riga was there more to do, would you say it’s more suitable for younger people growing up?
I really enjoyed being a child in a small town because I could walk everywhere, the roads were not busy and you knew most people in the town, it was a nice way to grow up. Riga was much bigger so you couldn’t walk to a lot of places and the pace in general was much faster and busier. I think it was better to be in Riga in my teenage years though as I got adjust to the faster pace and it was more interesting.
Would you say you adjusted well to that pace early on or did it take time to get used to?
It definitely took time to get used to for sure, I struggled in the beginning as it was much more different than I expected it to be but in the end it was fine.
Do you feel Latvia is an underrated place to visit for tourists?
I think it’s getting more popular but is still underrated I would say as it gets grouped together with other Baltic states which is fine because it is a small country but I think Latvia has some things that are specific to Latvia, I think it’s underrated.
What would you recommend about the country or capital that a tourist should do?
I think everybody always goes to Old Riga, which I recommend because it is very beautiful but if you want to go to Latvia in general I would suggest getting out of Riga and you’ll see the real country, there is so much nature to experience.
The forest and nature looks amazing, although I’ve never been I’ve seen a British Youtuber Unicycle through the country!
What made you come to the UK initially and when was that?
I came in 2014 originally when I was 19 years old, I came to study as some of my university studies were based here, my course was on Modern languages specifically Japanese and Film & Television, this was in Norwich. When that was done, I just stayed here, worked and travelled around. After all of my travels I came back here to settle.
Did you enjoy your time in Norwich?
I liked it yes, it’s a big city but compared to others in the UK it’s not so big. It felt big to me but perhaps that’s because of the cities where I come from. It reminded me of Latvia a lot actually because it’s quite flat and most of the UK is full of hills! It was interesting there because a lot of things were different to Latvia but it also had its similarities which I didn’t expect when I got here, I really thought the countries would be so different.
How did you get on with the accent up there?
It took me a while to get used to accents in general in the UK because there are just so many depending on where you go.
Travel
You touched briefly on traveling after your course and I’m aware you did working a holiday in New Zealand, When did you go there and how does that compare to the UK?
I went there with my sister about two years into being in the UK for around 5 months. New Zealand was an amazing experience and really opened my eyes to the different kinds of places and people that are in the world. I think it was a good place to go for my first trip because everyone speaking English so it’s easier for me and in general it had similar elements to the UK and of course huge differences, there is more of an island vibe and the people seem more relaxed.
I like the slower pace of life there. I’d like to retire there but not live there right now as it’s perhaps too slow for me at the moment. After this I went back to Latvia for a few months and then my sister and I came back to the UK together.
Are there any destinations or experiences that stand out to you on your travels?
Samoa was very interesting but the trip in my mind at the moment is my recent trip with my partner to Mexico, It was my first time in Latin America and the weather was amazing the people were so friendly. We travelled around Cancun but we didn’t go to Cancun itself, we began in Tulum and went up the coast to Playa del Carmen and then Isla Mujeres just off the coast of Cancun, that was probably my favourite part because of the vibe and the beautiful beaches.
Do you foresee yourself going back to Central and perhaps South America?
Yes I think so I think it’s opened my eyes to this whole other world. I always wanted to travel around Asia but now I also want to see more of the world too.
What is it that makes you want to travel?
Just opening my eyes to different ways of living, different people and experiences. I love speaking to new people and learning how they might do something differently to me. This can sometimes help you see a new perspective, especially when you feel like you’re stuck in a routine I feel like traveling can bring refresh you.
You mentioned Samoa earlier, I’m very curious on how that experience was, could you touch on that a bit?
It was very different from anywhere I’d ever been, even New Zealand. It’s a very small country with their own way of life, they are very far from many other larger countries, and I think that helps them keep their traditions more. They are so friendly, it didn’t surprise me it was just so nice to experience, I never felt unsafe, and I felt so welcome.
Would you say the friendliness there felt more genuine, not like in some places where it’s there but is a part of people trying to make some money out of you?
There is always an element of that, in that they see you’re a tourist but having said that it never felt unsafe I never felt like there was a marker on me for being a tourist, people would maybe try to make money from you but accept if you declined.
Is there a destination standing out to you at the moment as somewhere you really want to go to and if so why?
I always wanted to go to Asia so probably my next trip will be somewhere there in the South East like Cambodia or Vietnam. Japan is a place I’d also love to visit
A lot of the travels you’ve had have been with your sister. Did you find it was easier to go on these travels because you had your sibling with you, or do you think you would have done the same things even if alone?
I think it was much easier having my sister with me. I had someone to rely on and share experiences with, I wouldn’t change that.
Citizenship and the UK
You now have British citizenship, when did you obtain it and what made you want to do this?
I’ve had it for three years now and always wanted it since I came to the UK as I felt I wanted to stay here for a long time. So it made sense to look at getting Citizenship, if you move to a country and see your future in that country you should involve yourself in the community so that for me is one way to be involved also it created security for me. I could have stayed on the settled status I had but it’s not a permanent thing so If I wanted to go back home to Latvia for a while and then return it would be much harder.
Do you think having a British partner helped in that decision making or you were considering this already?
I think I would have looked to get citizenship anyway my partner just happens to be British!
Do you still feel in touch with your Latvian heritage after living abroad for a while and gaining British Citizenship?
In some ways I feel more Latvian because I don’t live there, I feel like I must put the effort in to appreciate it and that is what makes me feel more connected in some ways. I think if you live in Latvia you just take it as it is but then when you leave you realise there is something unique about you and that makes me special so overall being in the UK makes me appreciate being Latvian.
What are your thoughts about the process to obtain Citizenship, was it quite arduous?
I think for me it was the easiest it could’ve been for anyone, I came here during the EU free movement, before Brexit even started. So for me it was quite straightforward but a lot of paperwork and quite expensive. Although I am aware it is much more expensive now for people trying to get leave to remain or Citizenship.
My family are living that currently with the recent changes, what are your thoughts on it becoming even more difficult to obtain Visa?
I think it is very on brand for this government, I think it’s very unfair to extend the five year process to ten years, it’s long enough as it is, anything can happen in that time and it’s hard to plan your life.
Do you find the UK is a good melting pot of people and do you think it has good opportunities for those wishing to move and work here?
I think so yes, it’s one of the thigs I like the most about the UK. The fact there are so many people from all over the world and it’s not just in London either. I live in Bristol and I hear all different languages in the street… Even Latvian! I love how multicultural this country is.
Would you say Latvia has this kind of melting pot vibe to it, perhaps in Riga?
We have a large Russian speaking population so you’d hear that a lot or Latvian but other than that it’s only going to be Riga where you may hear people speak English. I think we’re getting more people from around the world in general but when I was growing up it wasn’t like that. Now when I visit I see lot’s of different people around which is a plus because everyone brings a different perspective which is only going to benefit the country overall.
What is something that stands out to you about the UK outside of what you’ve already mentioned?
I love the nature here, specifically the mountains or hill areas as Latvia doesn’t have any. Where I live we are not far from Wales or Cornwall so there are lots of areas like that to explore. I also love how unique the UK is, from the architecture to the people the essence here is so different from continental Europe it’s hard to explain.
Is there anything you feel should improve about the UK?
It is very expensive to live here to the cost of living for one thing!
How long have you lived in the Bristol area and what made you move there?
I’ve lived in Bristol for around 6 years now, my partner is from there and when we met I lived in London so after a year of distance we decided to move in together with me moving to Bristol.
I know nothing much about the area and have not yet visited What do you particularly enjoy about the area and what would you recommend to visitors?
Definitely go see the Clifton Suspension Bridge it’s a very famous landmark. Banksy is also from Bristol so I’d recommend doing the Banksy tour if you can, he’s probably the most famous person from the area in recent times. Generally, there is a lot of artwork around Bristol, but the Banksy tour and trail is a good way to get around and see more of the area.
I think the word ‘home’ can change for us over time, from Riga to Bristol would you consider the latter your home and the UK overall to be where you call home now?
Yes I think so, home is a feeling rather than a place. This is where my loved ones are, I’m used to it here and happy here. If I’m going home, it’s going to be to Bristol.
What is it about Bristol that solidifies that position for you?
My extended family from my partners side is there and that makes me feel more at home, it’s important to have family around you in general. My own family is quite far away other than my sister. So having my partners family around is quite nice.
Do you think the UK will be your home for the foreseeable future or do you have plans elsewhere, could you see yourself returning to Latvia for example?
Never say never, it’s possible that things may change. I am open to moving if opportunities come up but for now I’m happy in the UK. I may go back to Latvia at some point in my life but not for a long time.
Do you think it was an easier experience for you living in the UK and becoming a citizen because you had a family member or partner also living here?
Yes for sure, when I was here originally for two years I was by myself pretty much and it was quite difficult to build yourself up from scratch In a new country. So when my sister and I came to the UK after travelling together I felt like it was much easier already because I had someone to rely on. I think it was extremely helpful.
Being a twin and confidence building
What does being a twin mean to you?
I’m lucky because my sister and I are very close, and I don’t think all twins get along as well as we do! To me being a twin feels like I won the lottery because I was born with my best friend already, they’ve always been there, and they know everything about me. There are challenges of course as we work together, we get mixed up a lot so it’s a little harder to have your own individuality but the positives outweigh any negatives.
Do you feel your more susceptible to being compared to your sibling because you are a twin and if so do you feel it’s harder to establish your own identity outwardly?
Yes, I think people compare us all the time even unconsciously. I don’t think people mean to do it it’s just how it is. When we were kids we both went to music school, we liked the same things but I played flute for example and it was as if my sister couldn’t play it they should play something different like Piano just so we’re not so easy to compare.
We’d actively try not to do the same things and not compare ourselves to each other. I think sometimes our differences are almost exaggerated because we are together a lot. I think sometimes if I wanted to express an opinion or something that my sister may have then I find it harder as people may just say “oh she’s just like her sister”. So I may be more reserved at work for example because I don’t want to be in that situation.
Despite this, do you feel you and your sister have still followed the same path in many respects?
Objectively yes, we’ve travelled together, we work together etc. I think we ultimately do have different interests and strengths that have developed over time but we still have our similarities and do follow similar paths, I think our shared experiences keep us close.
Do you think you’ll continue to follow similar paths or feel there will be a divergence in time?
It depends on what happens in my life and at what time, I don’t see our closeness changing even if we went different directions workwise or something. I think we’ll always have our bond.
When I first met you, I felt you were quite reserved compared to your sister but as I’ve gotten to know you I feel you’ve really come out of your shell, how do you build confidence in new situations or when meeting new people, for me I really struggle with new people at first I’ll start off quite silent and try to gauge the person over time.
I would relate to what you said, I will hold myself back until I can gauge the dynamic. When I started working here I didn’t know anyone other than my sister and there were so many people here as well as so many new staff members so it really took me a while to get to know people.
Now most faces are familiar to me and it’s been a few years. Now if I were to move teams or role I feel it’s a lot easier but still a slower process where I may hold back and take everything in first.
Do you feel as though taking the plunge to move countries is something that happened due to pushing yourself out of your comfort zone or is a catalyst in what helped you come out of your comfort zone?
I think the former, I wanted to push myself. It hit me after I finished school in Latvia that I didn’t have much of a plan, I knew I was a timid person and I wanted to change that so in that way moving countries was a decision I made while I was already trying to push myself out of my comfort zone but also doing it helped me be more confident and well-rounded, I got to reinvent myself in some ways.
Much like myself I believe you’re someone who finds enjoyment in playing video games. Do you find Video games are a good form of escapism and if so what would you say is the genre you’d be drawn to in order to find that escapism?
Yes, for me it is a way to relax since I was a teenager. During School it was a way to escape as there were things I wasn’t happy with in my life. I found the helpful to escape my own life for a while and enter a different one. I really liked open world games like Skyrim or any kind of role-playing games like Final Fantasy. If there is a bigger story or open world to explore I’d really enjoy it.
Would you recommend someone to try these kind of games as a mechanism for relaxation?
Yes, I’d say so, it’s a bit like watching a movie but more interactive, you might have puzzles or something to break it up as well. I love watching things but with game I feel like the player and the game are working together in a way and that synergy really resonates with me.
I wanted to thank Santa for her honesty and her time. I also wanted to thank Both Santa and Ilva for not only being a fan of this blog but for encouraging me to continue it after a time where I’d lost a bit of my spark, it’s people like them and others that make doing this worth it! If you want to follow this blog on social media you can find me here. I have also set up a donation site here if you wanted to support the blog.
see you next time!
Interviews With You! By Lewis Jane 
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