As I wanted to spend the 5th semester abroad to further improve my English language skills and make international contacts outside my comfort zone, I sought advice from the FHDW International Office in advance. There I received a lot of information about the partner universities abroad and the associated opportunities.

With the aim of getting to know a region and a culture that was still foreign to me at the time, I applied for a semester abroad at Turiba University in Riga. The International Office told me that I would probably be able to complete most of the modules planned for the 5th semester of the International Business degree course in Riga. I only completed one module with another course group at the FHDW before my stay abroad, which didn’t cause any problems due to the long-term planning.

Once I had been accepted for Erasmus funding and the first friendly contact with Turiba University had been established, they immediately drew my attention to the accommodation on offer at the Turiba Hostel on the university campus. They also informed me that an introductory week was planned before the start of the semester.

The journey by plane to the airport in Riga, which is very close to the city, was very straightforward and Turiba University organized a cab from there to the planned accommodation.

I felt well covered with the ADAC international health insurance. Because Latvia is a member of the EU and uses the euro as its currency, there was no need to apply for a visa or anything else and there was very little bureaucracy involved.

Before the semester really started in September, an introductory week was planned at Turiba University. This began on Monday with a warm official welcome for all Erasmus students and a few briefings from the International Office. Furthermore, the Students Council organized several meetings during the week, which included exploring the campus, Latvian specialties and the city of Riga by day and night. The meetings were very helpful in settling into the new environment and getting to know the other Erasmus students.

As I have experienced during previous stays abroad that international contacts are quickly made in student residences and very good friendships can develop, I decided (at least for the time being) to move into the hostel on the Turiba University campus. I opted for a single room, although rooms for two or four people are also available. This was no problem due to my early request. The rooms cost between €60 and €240 per month, depending on your choice. In general, the hostel is newly renovated and well equipped. There is a branch of the large Maxima supermarket chain with other small stores about 5 minutes’ walk away.

Living together with around 30 Erasmus students on one floor was a wonderful experience that I definitely wouldn’t want to miss! Even if it was sometimes loud in the corridors, the sense of solidarity that developed after just a few days together is hard to put into words. The communal kitchen gave us the opportunity to cook and eat together and we played, laughed and learned together in the common room.

The city of Riga consists of two parts, separated by the wide Daugava River. The Old Town and Central District with the Central Station are on one side and the airport and Turiba University on the other. Turiba University has its own small train station on campus, from which you can get to the Central Station within 10 minutes for 80 cents. From the central station, train connections are available to the surrounding area.

Next to the train station is the central station with long-distance bus providers such as Ecolines or LUX Fahrten, which offer trips to other cities in the Baltic States. This makes it easy to reach the capitals of the other Baltic states, Vilnius and Tallinn, as well as other destinations for a weekend trip.

Public transportation is generally very inexpensive for students. Bus journeys are possible for less than 30 cents with an electronically rechargeable student multi-ride ticket and the nearest bus station is within walking distance of the university campus. There are also several cab apps such as Taxify and Yandex, which, depending on location and demand, sometimes offered comparable prices to bus and train for 4 people and were also available outside rush hours.

In Riga, almost everything (even the smallest amount for a train ticket) can easily be paid for in cash. The cost of living is generally somewhat lower than in Germany.

At Turiba University, I first had to get used to the fact that in all the modules I took there, one to three exams such as presentations or tests had to be taken before the end of the semester in order to be admitted to the final exams. These count to a certain extent towards the final grade. In addition, the assessment is based on a points system from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best and at least a 4 being necessary to pass.

The professors only spoke English in the lectures and always used practical examples to illustrate the content, as they have a direct link to the private sector through previous or current positions in (their own) companies. With a number of participants ranging from 10 to 50 students depending on the module, the lectures were held in a pleasant atmosphere.

Turiba University also offers the opportunity to study in the library and use the facilities for group assignments and study groups. The two canteens in the main building offer inexpensive lunches.

In addition to the normal lectures, the Students Council of Turiba University regularly organized intercultural events and festivals. For example, we celebrated the Indian festival of lights Diwali together with cultural representatives and got to know Latvian culture through typical national dishes and snacks as well as traditional dances and rituals. There were also frequent opportunities to try specialties from different countries during lunch breaks. For example, there were French crêpes, Uzbek soup and Indian curry.

In addition, events organized by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) Riga enabled students to get to know international students from other disciplines and universities in Riga. The offer includes organized (theme) parties, joint cultural games or meals and a wide range of trips to the surrounding area. For example, there was the opportunity to travel to Lapland with a large, friendly group of international students for a very student-friendly price, to go husky sledding together, enjoy the sauna right by the Arctic Ocean and jump into the icy cold ocean in between, as well as to organize sled races together at night and marvel at the Northern Lights. An all-round unforgettable experience!

It was a very special experience to marvel at the celebrations for Latvia’s 100 years of independence in Riga. The streets in the city center of Riga, which I had always perceived as quiet and relaxed in the remaining 4 months, were full of life and emotionally all of Latvia wanted to experience this special weekend in mid-November in Riga. In addition to the numerous locations throughout the city, where buildings and monuments were staged with special light shows and (live) music, there were organized events such as concerts, a military parade and, as a highlight, an enchanting light show over the great Daugava River, which was rounded off with a breathtaking fireworks display.

I only had peripheral contact with the Latvian language, as all the information at the university was available in two languages. There was a language course on offer, but in my case it took place at the same time as other lectures.

The city has a very cozy old town center and historically very interesting, sometimes hidden places to offer. Even if the streets sometimes look rather quiet, almost deserted, there is always something going on in the evenings. Riga also offers a wide range of other leisure activities for groups.

In addition to small towns, there are also beautiful national parks in the surrounding area , such as those in Kemeri and Sigulda. The Jurmala-Majori beach section is also easy to reach by train and is ideal for long walks on the beach or playing volleyball together.