Explore Latvia During Today's Holcombe Global Series

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The presentation starts at 8 p.m. today in Holcombe Hall's living room.

The evening features a short presentation followed by a sampling of a common Latvian dish, medus rausis. These are fluffy, golden pastries glazed with honey and topped with hazelnuts. It is a special treat meant for special occasions.

A lot of the time, if people have heard of Latvia, the Baltics, or have a vague idea of where Latvia is geographically, they tend to have misconceptions about its culture. Naturally, people assume that because it borders Russia, the culture is Slavic in character. However, Latvia has a very distinct Baltic culture and they speak a Baltic language.

"Latvia is a place not many people have heard of, or, if they have, they rarely know anything about it. This would be an opportunity to discover a hidden gem—a country with ancient history and traditions that have survived despite insurmountable odds. Our language is one of only two surviving Baltic languages and our traditions are unique and surprise most people that I talk to," said presenter and student Emilija Sarma.

"Latvia is a place like no other—a country with deep cultural roots and a mysterious folklore that binds us to nature."

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania and Belarus to the south, and Russia to the east.

"All Latvians are raised to hold deep connections to our folklore and mythology and this has always been my favorite aspect of Latvian culture—we still recognize and celebrate pagan holidays and pagan deities, which shows how deeply we hold on to our cultural heritage that dates back centuries," Sarma said, "I am the only Latvian on this campus, so this may be someone's only chance to ever come in contact with Latvian culture, and I think that's really exciting!"

This event is open to all within the university and Fayetteville community. Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and engage with the presenters after the presentation.

Global Series is an on-going program. Latvia is the second event of the series for the spring semester.

Global Series 2020 Program Schedule

• Feb. 10: Taiwan
• Feb. 25: Latvia
• March 17: USA Day
• March 31: Tunisia
• April 8: Russia
• April 21: Philippines

About University Housing. University Housing is a department within the Division of Student Affairs serving a residential community of around 6,200 on-campus students. More than 200 students find employment opportunities with University Housing each year. We offer educational programs that support the success of students and services that help students focus on academics at the University of Arkansas. Living on campus starts with a housing contract.

About the Division of Student Affairs. The Division of Student Affairs supports students in pursuing knowledge, earning a degree, finding meaningful careers, exploring diversity, and connecting with the global community. We provide students housing, dining, health care resources, and create innovative programs that educate and inspire. We enhance the University of Arkansas experience and help students succeed, one student at a time.

About the Holcombe Global Series: The Holcombe Global Series focuses on new countries each month and gives international students at the University of Arkansas the opportunity to showcase their home country. American students are also invited to share their study abroad experiences. The series is presented by International Students and Scholars and University Housing. Follow us on Facebook at Holcombe Global Series.