“I’ve been the most frozen in Chile.” How are Latvians doing in the distant South American country / Article

In Pēter’s voice, when he thinks, there is disbelief in himself that he, a Latvian boy, has ended up in such a distant and, it must be said, unknown Chile. Currently, around 30 Latvians live here. We don’t get to meet each other often, so every meeting with people who speak our own language is a happy event. In Peter’s home, the Latvian language is not heard on a daily basis – he was brought to this land by love. He has been living in Santiago for nine years and works in construction.

“I was brought by love. I went to Tenerife for an indefinite vacation and I met a Chilean girl Vivian there, I came to Chile, my son Bruno was born, I started working here. I had no plans to stay for a long time or go back, I didn’t plan anything. I just came here , slowly building my life. I think I will stay in Chile forever. I really, really like it here,” he admitted.

Personal life and work matters have been arranged smoothly for Pēteris, both Chilean and Latvian builders work under him, because Pēteris’ example is contagious, a relative once came to work with him, another Latvian, a master of his trade, found a place for carpentry here, makes kitchen furniture . The work skills of Latvians are appreciated in Chile, because the locals are not dictated to work, Pēteris reasoned.

“Latvians are very responsible and orderly, Chileans like that,” he added.

On the other hand, the Latvian Ieva Stumpe traveled, experienced a lot of the world for work and had been to Chile, where, according to her own words, she met her future husband and started a family, so she currently calls this country her home. She also lives in Santiago, but it is a city of 10 million people, so she rarely meets other Latvians, including Pēteris. Ieva learned programming, it expanded the boundaries of her working life, because the employer allows her to work from anywhere in the world. Therefore, during her six-year-old daughter’s vacation, Ieva and her family tend to spend time in Latvia as well.

She said: “My biggest surprise was, I expected it to be very hot in Chile. Of course it is in summer, it’s hot here, but the biggest difference is that it’s cold at home. It’s hot when I go outside, it’s cold at home. Winters are I can’t stand it because there is no heating. The temperature in the house can drop to +8 degrees. I have already mentioned that I have been cold the most in my life. That’s it . That was the biggest surprise for me. I came for a long period in June, which is winter in Chile. I wasn’t prepared either emotionally or mentally.”

Meanwhile, Peter admitted that he really likes the climate here. But, as you say, it’s strange that Christmas is expected in shorts and a T-shirt. After nine years of living in Chile, Latvians are still not used to it.

Ieva, on the other hand, added that even though people are friendly and communicative, one must beware of superficial, ostentatious friendship and be able to distinguish it from a real and sincere desire to make friends. Ieva also stated that she learns not to say everything on a daily basis so that conflict situations do not arise.

Regarding whether people in Chile know where Latvia is, Pēteris was surprised that many really do. Knows the historical aspects, but many confuse it with Lithuania. Ieva meets people of different knowledge on her way, but once there was a taxi driver who knew Latvia and also knew history. It was amazing.

While Pēteris does not speak Latvian with the children, Ieva purposefully talks to her six-year-old daughter Māra in her native language, so that when she comes to Latvia, her daughter can communicate. The daughter’s name “Māra” was chosen directly by Ieva’s husband, being a Chilean: “With children here in Chile, Māra speaks Spanish, with relatives in Latvia online Latvian.”

At the end of the conversation, Pēteris admitted that Latvia was and will be his homeland, a country that is kept in his heart: “It is a place where I will visit. I don’t know if I will ever return, but I miss Latvia.”

For Ieva, the language always echoes that Latvia is home, a place where loved ones live, a place that constantly attracts like a magnet: