Back to Riga: Searching New Treasures in a Familiar City

Hi, Riga! It’s wonderful to be back! I hope all went well while I was away, and I’m excited about what new surprises you have in store.

Did you miss Riga so much that you had to return? 

After spending the summer of 2023 at the Liden & Denz school, I couldn’t stop telling my friends in Italy and France about it. The architecture, the language, the lifestyle—everything felt fresh and exciting. Coming back feels

like both an adventure and a homecoming.

What was it like returning to Italy after those two months?

My time in Riga left me even more curious. My professors at Perugia University noticed how much my Russian had improved. When I first arrived, I could barely put together three words. By the time I returned to Italy, I could have full conversations with local Russian speakers.

Why study Russian? 

It started with my mother playing Vladimir Vysotsky’s music when I was a kid. I loved his deep, rough voice and admired his story. Later, I studied history in France, and learning about the Soviet Union made me even more curious. At the interpreters’ school in Italy, I dove deeper into Russian, and watching films and listening to artists in the language only strengthened my desire to learn it. And my stay here last year just made me want to know new Russian speakers, as they were always really helpful and kind.

What are your plans during your stay?

Like last year, I’ll focus on three things: school, home study, and, most importantly, practice. School gives a solid foundation, home study reinforces it, and evenings spent talking to Russian speakers help me improve. As John W. Gardner said, “Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.” Mistakes are part of learning, and teachers are there to guide you. It’s all a cycle of learning, and I’m excited to explore more and share it with you on the blog for two months.

Raffaël, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz Riga