Photo: Jānis Gabrāns
About 20 people who have chosen to return to their homeland came to the afternoon meeting for remigrants “My home in Vidzeme” in the art space “Mala” in Cēsis. They came both individually and as families with children.
The initiator of the event was Inga Madžule, the remigration coordinator of the Vidzeme planning region, hoping to establish a new tradition. She admits that daily work with remigrants indicated the need for a meeting. Before the event, she did not hide her anxiety, because it was not known how many people could come – there was no need to apply for the event. It turned out that there is interest, those who need such talks came.
“I had contacted several of them before, consulting on various issues, but I met some for the first time,” says I. Madžule. “I think it was very useful for them to meet to support each other, to make contacts. They didn’t talk about problems, it seems that such meetings are attended by those who have already managed to establish themselves, found a place to live, a job, and who have the time and desire for occasional meetings.
Perhaps these people are nostalgic for the gathering, because when living abroad it was customary to gather at diaspora events. I admit that those who have large families here, many friends, do not look for such meeting opportunities, but for those who moved to Vidzeme from other regions, who have no roots here, it is very necessary.”
First, the returnees were involved in activities that allowed them to get to know each other in order to understand from which countries they had returned. It turned out that the representation was wide, returning from Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Spain, Brazil, USA, Canada, Mexico. Most of them currently live in Cēsi district, but there were also visitors from Valmiera district, Gulbene, Mālpils.
Then everyone sat around the family table to share a short story about themselves. Inga Madžule revealed that she is a remigrant herself, so the topic is very close. She returned to her homeland from Australia nine years ago, lived and studied in Germany for ten years before that.
“When the children were born, I realized that home is home, I returned and I haven’t regretted it for a moment,” admitted I. Madžule.
The owner of “Mala” Kristīne Auniņa is also from remigrants, so she gladly hosted the event in her premises. After studying in Riga, Kristine went to France, where she worked for five years. There she met her husband, Alberto, an Italian who lived in Germany at the time. They thought about where to settle down, and the choice was in favor of Latvia. At first they thought of staying in Riga, but Kristine’s mother lived in Cēsis, there was a place to stay, and they started living in Cēsis nine years ago.
The executive director of the World Latvian Art Center, Kārlis Kanderovskis, said that he was born and raised in Chicago, and has been living in Latvia for three years now: “I started here as a volunteer, helping to set up an exhibition at the World Latvian Art Center. I stayed in Cēsis for a month, I really liked the city. Of course, after Chicago, which has more inhabitants than Latvia, it was a culture shock, but I like the small town. I have never been interested in living in Riga.”
Madara Mestere from Valmiera district said that after 12 years in Great Britain, she is back in Latvia for more than a year: “More than three years ago, we talked with our relatives about what we would do if we won several million in the lottery. In Great Britain, people really like to play lotteries, the winnings are big. Since we like to cook, we talked that we could have a house with a beautiful orchard, flowers, we could lead a beautiful life. After a couple of weeks, during a coffee break, we returned to the conversation and realized that you don’t need a million to do it. We decided to do it, created our company “Laux” and, although it could have worked in Great Britain, we deliberately chose Latvia, because we realized that it was time to go home! Three weeks after the start of the war in Ukraine, we returned to Latvia. There were a lot of questions, the families said that maybe it wasn’t necessary, because it was an unstable, unsafe time, but we stuck to our decision!”
Inese Wegner from Germany has already spent the third winter in a country house in the middle of the forest in Amata Parish. In the conversation with “Druva”, she did not hide that she still hasn’t really settled in yet: “It’s understandable, because 18 years away from Latvia left an impression. When I made the decision to return, I couldn’t even imagine what to expect. The Latvia I left 18 years ago was completely different, after returning I had to start almost from scratch.”
Explaining the reasons for her return, she says that she came to this decision over time: “When I left, I didn’t plan to stay abroad for long, but I got married, three daughters were born, and time dragged on. If you live in a place for ten years, the scene is the same, after 15 years it is different, and after a couple of years I realized that I had to leave. I didn’t want to be there anymore and I didn’t want to raise children – even less!”
The challenge when returning is also the fact that Inese is a professional artist, but the art market in Latvia still doesn’t exist, so she hasn’t really seen a place for herself. She has moved the equipment of her workshop and wants to open her own art room, where those interested can learn various printing art techniques. A suitable place was not found in Cēsis, it seems that the workshop will be established in Līgatne, on the territory of the former paper factory.
When asked if she has returned to stay, the artist is succinct: “If I have brought all the equipment of the graphic gravure workshop here, it is about ten tons, then it is to stay!”
After the event, I. Madžule admitted that the meeting was a success: “Those who came realized that they are not alone, this was an opportunity to meet people similar to themselves in order to keep in touch in the future, because the exchange of ideas can encourage and inspire. It is important to create a sense of community and realize that there are people nearby who can support, so the tradition will definitely be continued, perhaps in another town in Vidzeme, but we will return to Cēsis as well!”
