Living in Latvia

living in latvia
Autobiography of Todd R. Rossman

I have been priviledged to teach philosophy at the University of Latvia in Riga right after the break-up of the USSR and also volunteer for the World Federation of Free Latvians (PBLA). I was there right after the breakup of the former Soviet Union in the February of 1992. As the Chinese say, living in interesting times need not be a curse disguised as a blessing. During that time I obtained a special pass to be able to enter into the Parliament which was still encircled by a wall to keep out tanks. I would eat in their cafeteria, seeing the people who were trying to create a new nation. Walking to work (Rigas Pedagogical Teacher's College No. 1 ) I would seeing beautiful architecture. Soon I became bored with my light duties and offered my assistance to the University of Latvia's Foregn Language Department. There I saw the old style methods of teaching and at times felt as if I was hearing British movie scripts from the 1950s when the remaining instructors spoke. Most of intructors already could not earn enough money to help support their family with State wages and could find better elsewhere.

Serendipty occured and a drinking buddy shanghaied me into helping him read the English version of news at Radio Latvija. After a while I was not only helping over 150 students learn English but I was announcing the news - in English - and it was being picked up as far away as Toronto, Canada or Sidney, Australia. I mostly had Latvian friends but also found friendship from many of the students studying at the Rigas Aviation University. One of my best friends - long before he became famous the in the first Reggae band there in Riga called the Compadres - was, and still and is Kaabi (Mahfood Alkaabi) from Yemen. A curiousity about the old Communist and old Warsaw pact countries was satisified in this friendship; people are people everywhere - some bad, some good, some dishonest, some honest...and some like Kaabi are pure quality. When I was teaching Philosophy and Political Science things started changing. Invitations from people I didn't know would appear. The US Embassy and the Republic of Latvia would send me invitations as seeen right:

While in Latvia I began a correspondence with a lady who directed the Latvian Studies Center in wonderful metropolitan Kalamazoo. She was very curious about what was happening in Latvia. When I returned from Latvia I was to earn a second MA in Linguistics and TESL. Our purely professional relationship via letters and phone calls turned into something else: penpals and then best of friends. To the right is a photo she sent me of herself... When we met in Latvia face-to-face, we knew and we married in Jurmula, Latvia. Fate and/or destiny affected us many times. We lived in a beautiful neo-Gothic tower in Pardaugava area of Riga. When we walked out on our balcony we would see an Orthodox Church or wonderful skyline. Such a beautiful thing to see after a honeymoon night! Later an old postcard showing a view from the church's steeple (across the street) found its way to us. You can compare it below with a picture we took from the tower we lived in. Presently we reside in the US planning for our permanent return and residence in Latvia.

c lickable todd