01.08.2014

In this academic year I was lucky to visit cultural capital of Europe 2014, in Riga city. The purpose of this visit was not only the acquaintance with cultural legacy of Europe, but also obtaining experience and knowledge in one of the best academies of Latvia. 

We have visited two wonderful cities Sigulda and Yurmala. Each of them differs in great climate and landscapes, which surprise by variety and beauty. Sigulda is the city of knights and medieval castles. And resort city Yurmala is known for everyone not by hearsay. Unfortunately, I did not manage to visit Yurmala concert hall “Dzintari”, in which all darling “KVN” and “Novaya Volna” take place, but I proudly walked in streets of this hospitable and sunny city, on which many actors and celebrities walked.

Everything has started when Division of academic mobility of Almaty Management University offered 12 students to take summer semester program in Baltic Business Academy for free. Within the confines of this program, I had the opportunity to master the subject “Marketing communications in tourism”. It should be noted here that it was the most interesting subject which I have studied during the learning process. Distinguishing was the fact that their methods of teaching greatly differ from those which are used in our university. Percentage ratio of practice and theory was 60 to 40 percent. It would seem that I was in Europe for about two weeks, but I have learned lots of new and interesting stuff; I have seen a huge amount of historical sights and, moreover, I even get acquainted with traditions of summer solstice’s celebration during a Ligo festival. For Latvians, celebration of Ligo is going on similarly grandly as our Nauryz.

It can be said that Latvia is not only the center of rough cultural life, but also an inspirer and the main participant of the most interesting and prestigious events. One of the advertising companies of project “Riga is the cultural capital of Europe 2014” sounds next: “Leave your heart in Riga”. I believe that Riga manages to make me felt in love with it and also to leave pleasant memories from the trip.

I wish all grant winners to have such great opportunity to fill up their baggage of knowledge outside our country; after all such exchange programs are incredible chance to get interesting experience and to expand your horizons! When, if not now?

Laura Kopbayeva,

Winner of Yerzhan Tatishev`s Foundation grant 2011

Forth year student of International Academy of Business