My name is Carter McKim, and I double major in History and Joint Global Studies and Modern Languages and Literatures. I am currently studying abroad in Daugavpils, Latvia to further my studies in Russian Language. After several previous trips to Europe, I was inspired to study abroad in the EU for a full semester!
I visited Latvia once in the past, and my positive experience then greatly influenced my decision to return. Latvia is known for long and cold winters. I am looking forward to spring! In this picture you can see that I have introduced Lehigh merch to Latvia!
Daugavpils is considered to be the most Russian city in the EU. The majority of the population is ethnically Russian, with Latvians being in the minority. As a result, most citizens of Daugavpils speak Russian day-to-day. It creates the perfect environment for complete language immersion! All of my classes are taught in Russian, and my peers and I converse in Russian outside the classroom as well. I live with a very kind host family. I have long conversations with them every day and as a result have learned a lot about not only modern Latvia, but also what life in Latvia was like in the past several decades including while under the control of the Soviet Union. I have access to first person perspectives that I had never had the experience to consider in the past.
One of my favorite aspects of the semester, and why I decided to study in the EU, are the travel opportunities. I have traveled to all of the Baltic states, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and soon even Norway! I love learning about the cultures and histories of every new country that I travel to. I am captivated by new places and people both as a history major and a GS major. My friends and I have enjoyed taking city tours and visiting museums. Evidence of early globalization and cultural assimilation is evident in all of my travel locations so far. Most often these countries have been influenced by Germany to the West and Russia to the East. I am very interested to learn about the progression of cultures before and after culturally influential events. The sharing of food, language, and religion are the most obvious examples to be on the lookout for. Two of my favorite locations so far have been Krakow, Poland, and Bratislava, Slovakia. I wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad to everyone. Being able to call a foreign city home as well as travel far away from that second home is an experience that is impossible to simulate under any other circumstances. You will always arrive back home a stronger and more well-rounded person!
