She was born during the soviet regime, and as a child, she remembers the Baltic way in 1989, human chain linking the 3 baltic countries and the 1990 riots in Riga in which her father was involved. Through these difficult experiences she learnt to survive and be less concerned by material life. She is very proud of her country and her cultural past but she did not hesitate to follow her husband to the United States. “I lived in 4 countries (Latvia, Spain Russia and the USA). For me there is no best country, they all stand in my memory during a major period of my life and it is well so”.
In 2004, she spends 9 months in Gijon, Asturias, Spain as a european volunteer in a youth information center. A real discovery, Spain is a country where life is easy: parents suffered from dictature and children now feel free and open to the world. She feels at home.
“ Every young people should be allowed to go for a voluntary period; in Europe you can move and find grants very easily. Such experiences leads you to a better understanding of yourself and your capabilities. Compared to the U S where you have to pay for everything every time”.
With such experience, she goes to the US to live with her husband. They met in Russia while both were learning the language, a true east-west couple! Switch country was her most difficult experience: in Russia and Latvia, mentalities are similar. And even in Spain. While in the USAeverything is different.
But the USA offers much more opportunities than Latvia for her movies studies. ”I am glad to live here, and to have more opportunities for my career: I even bought a modern house."
Although living across the Atlantic, she feels proud or her country of its culture an its evolution.” Social discriminations are more controled, education system improved and it thanks to the European community. But prices raised a lot and salaries do not follow.”
“When I am back in Latvia, I realise that I miss my country. Latvians are hard workers and easy goers.We don’t look for unnecessary things which we never had.”
What about political system and corruption?” Political people are corrupted like everywhere else; and economic crisis is not worse. In Spain it's harder for young people than in Latvia. Hard and quick working allows us to progress on the social scale. I don’t understand the French strikes, in Latvia we did not learn how to contest” To many years of repression?
"Although, I love France, it’s a wonderful country with a rich and diversified culture. It’s a pity your political situation is getting worse evey day."
Dita is now producing a documentary about the homosexual community in Latvia .She needs patience and negotiation on a still prohibited matter. ¨It's about promoting Latvian society, moral diversity, human rights and fight against prejudice attached to homosexuals in a society where they are still wildly repressed."
She smiles, her hair brushed by the wind and she concludes ” those last 10 years, my life was filled with troubles, discoveries, meeting people. But one thing I learned: do not forget where you come from and learn all you can from the others. Once you know who you are, you are open to the best occasions."
