Erasmus Experience in Riga, Latvia by Tatiana

Why did you choose to go to Riga, Latvia?

I spent three months in Riga last year (May-July 2016) working in a translation company as a marketing intern. I chose Riga because my university had an agreement with that company, because I was curious about the Baltics and because I wanted to improve my Russian.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I had a three-months scholarship, one part provided by EU and the other one by my Region (Sardinia, Italy). I got 2. 100 euros scholarship for the whole internship (I spent 960 for the accommodation)

What is the student lifestyle like in Riga?

I didn't really experience student life in Riga because I was working from Monday to Friday 8 hours per day.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Riga to other students?

I would definitely reccommend Riga for a short period, especially during spring and summer, when the landscapes are gorgeous and the weather is warmer.

What is the food like?

Being Italian I honestly have to admit that I am pretty demanding with food and it's not what I enjoyed the most. Fruit and vegetables are quite expensive in winter whereas meat is definitely more affordable. There is a market where you can buy from local people, not many of them speak English but the prices are lower compared to Rimi and other supermarkets.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Riga?

I found my accommodation in a Facebook group when I was still in Italy. It takes a while and it's better to do the research locally

How much does it cost to live in Riga?

It depends on your lifestyle, and mostly on the price of accommodation, my room was in a central area (Brivibas Iela) very close to work and it costed me 320 euros per month (bills included). If you eat healthy you can reach up to 300 euros per month only for food

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

If you speak Russian you can easily communicate with anyone, especially the elders, which are not very familiar with English or other languages. I'd reccommed to study a bit of Latvian before you get to Riga

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Riga from your city?

I would say both trains or buses

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Riga?

Rock cafè.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Riga?

Lido

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