Jared’s AFS story
Jared Grellet was an exchange student from New Zealand to Latvia in 2003. He has now returned to live and work in Latvia as a journalist and rugby coach. He remains actively involved in AFS Latvia as a volunteer.
Labdien Latvia!
Apsveicu un daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā!
I am writing this to express my heartfelt congratulations to AFS Latvia on reaching the important milestone of your 20th birthday.
My year in Daugavpils, Latvia in 2003 remains one of the outstanding highlights of my life.
Arriving here in the middle of January to be welcomed by temperatures dipping below -30and discovering my family’s idea of a shower was a weekly sauna was something of a reality check for a naïve 17 year old who did not properly think things through when opting to go to Latvia on my exchange.
But I soon learned to embrace the differences and make the most of my unique opportunity and when I completed my University studies in 2009 I never thought twice about returning here to Latvia.
Arriving here with little plans, it only took one phone call to an old volunteer friendto find myself a bed for an indefinite time.
I quickly became involved in AFS once more and I quickly learned that as a tourist AFS Latvia have been just as open, welcoming and helpful to me as they were when I was a student here.
It is this kind of hospitality and friendliness that entices me to somewhere like Latvia, a place which most people would think twice about before venturing too.
The fact I still go see my host parents, Mama and Papa once a month, and am welcomed with hugs and introduced to their friends and their colleagues as their son speaks volumes for what it means to be a host student in Latvia.
What first struck me about AFS Latvia when I came here in 2003 was the youthfulness of the organization. The majority of the volunteers are young and more often than not recently returned from their own exchanges so they understand best what the students here are going through. This for me is the standout feature of AFS Latvia and what makes it such a successful AFS member.
So enjoy your birthday AFS Latvia. Let us hope AFS Latvia continues to go from strength to strength and enjoys many more celebrations and birthdays after this one.
Best of Wishes,
Jared
