But – not only. What have I learned from Latvian people, being interested in their national culture, its past and present? First of all, I have already noticed how many talented people were born in Latvia and made their country famous. I have learned about it, for example here1 as well as thanks to But what can we, Belarusians in Latvia, be proud of? When I read about the destinies of people born in my country, it is always a story of incredible inner strength and unspeakable longing for the homeland. A sad story. Celebrities, whose names are known today by the whole world, often realized their potential only beyond the borders of their homeland.
As if there was no place for them in Belarus itself, and the motherland had kicked them out for some reason, mostly political. Writing is so painful. But, one must think, honestly.
< H3 style = "margin-left:0 cm; margin-right:0 cm" Title:Francisks Skarina – the light of knowledge from Polotsk
Francis (Francishak) Skarina is a name to be placed alongside Johann Gutenberg. Skarina was born around 1490 in Polotsk. His hometown, an ancient center of culture and crafts, gave him the basics of education, but it proved to be insufficient to develop his talent. Skarina went to study in Europe, received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Krakow, and then defended his doctorate in medicine at the University of Padua in
“As wild beasts know their hiding places from birth; as birds flying in the air remember their nests; as fish swimming in seas and rivers feel their hollows; and as bees protect their hives, so do people feel for the place where they were born and raised in God much love,”
You can find the full text at this SUNDAYfareI have learned about it, for example
How has Anna’s Belarusian identity influenced her appreciation of Latvian culture?
Let’s bring in Anna, a Belarusian living in Latvia, to share her insights on Latvian culture.
Welcome, Anna. Thanks for joining us today. You were saying how much you’ve been impressed by Latvian talent. What sparked your interest?
**(Anna)** “Well, I’ve always been fascinated by Latvian culture, but since living here, it’s become even more apparent how many talented people this country has produced. From music to art to literature, Latvia has a rich cultural heritage.”
**(Host)** “Are there any specific examples that stand out to you?”
**(Anna)** “Absolutely! There’s a great resource online, LR4 on LSM.lv, [[2](https://lr4.lsm.lv/lv/lr4/peredachi/100-slavenie-latvijiesi/) ], that spotlights 100 influential Latvians. It covers a wide range of fields and really highlights the depth of talent here. Plus, the Latvian Cultural Canon[[[https://kulturaskanons.lv/](https://kulturaskanons.lv/) ]is another fantastic resource for exploring Latvian culture.
**(Host)** “It sounds like you’re really embracing Latvian culture. How has that impacted your own sense of identity as a Belarusian?”
**(Anna)** ”It’s definitely given me a new perspective. It’s reminded me of the strength and resilience of people from my own culture, too. We Belarusians also have a history of profound inner strength and a yearning for home.”
Let’s take a timeout for a short break! We’ll be right back with more from Anna about her experiences here in Latvia.
