Outer Banks Sunrise

A relaxing weekend trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina means that I have finally visited that state, and thus I have set foot and seen something in 35 states. Only fifteen states remain!

The Outer Banks are beautiful, and any time spent on the water and out in nature seems to be refreshing. Having time to witness a peaceful sunrise over the ocean was just one of the activities I needed to help recharge my batteries.

Late October sunrise on Atlantic Ocean in Nags Head, North Carolina

More photos and impressions of my inaugural North Carolina visit to follow in the coming days...

What I've Been Reading: Links for You

Life has been busy, but in a work/errands/chores type of way, not particularly in a trips and entertaining activities way. Fortunately, I do have a couple of excursions coming up in the next several weeks, thus I hope to have more interesting topics to cover soon!

In the meantime, below are a few links to posts and articles I have enjoyed, and thought you might, too.

• Do you know what a mud kitchen is? Check out Liene's post on the one created for her sons.
• Heather shares lovely photos from  her first autumn in Rīga.
• Julija, a young Latvian-Canadian woman who has lived in Latvia for several years, writes about Latvian citizenship and voting in her first Latvian elections.
• Heartwarming article in the Washington Post about a website which sells high quality art created by individuals who happen to be homeless or disabled.
• Over at TheRealRiga, you will find some interesting statistics about Latvians who voted outside of Latvia in the recent parliamentary election. 
• I loved the colorful photos from Amanda's fall trip to Michigan. The areas she visited include some of my favorites: Sleeping Bear National Seashore, Traverse City, and Old Mission Peninsula in the northern part of the state, and Meijer Garden in Grand Rapids.
• On Sunday I was in DC, meeting a friend for a movie ("Pride" - highly recommended!) just a few blocks from the White House and the Mall. After the movie, heading back to the Metro, I noticed the sky was quite pretty. Later I saw this photo posted online of that evening's sunset.

Socializing & Car Shopping on a Long Weekend

Although Columbus Day itself is controversial nowadays, I'm not one to complain when I have a three-day weekend! This one was particularly busy with several social activities: wedding, brunch, birthday party, plus car shopping.

I will not dwell on details about shopping for a new set of wheels, as it is terribly tedious! I've had my trustworthy Toyota Corolla for many years, but the time has come for me to purchase something newer. However, I'm having a heck of a time deciding what exactly I like and want given my budget. On Friday night I test drove two cars, on Saturday I drove those two cars again, plus a third, and on Monday I drove yet another car. This would be on top of at least eight previous vehicles I've tried out!

This might be my "if I win the lottery" car (Source: Volvo.com)

Cheapest new car on market = too small for tall Latvian.

Saturday evening I attended a friend's wedding, held at a restaurant called Roofers Union in DC's Adams Morgan neighborhood (better known to Latvian-Americans as the former home of Pharmacy Bar, which was owned by Latvian-American Kristaps Kreslins, who now has a similarly named establishment in Riga's Old Town). The wedding was casual and fun. The bride is a friend with whom I sing, so my group sang her and the groom a song to bless them in their new life. Later, while on the awesome rooftop bar, we gathered for a group photograph and ended up belting out one of my favorites, Riga Iesu Es Mamina, which then proceeded to loop in my ears for the following 24 hours. This was the first wedding I attended that utilized an app and website called Wedpics - anyone with a smart phone could immediately upload photos to the couple's site. Those of us with regular cameras can also upload our photos after the fact. It's a great way to get many different photos from the event.

Singing "Palidz', Dievs"

With J &J, enjoying the cool rooftop.

Group photo! Nice greens in front row, and blues in the back.

Sunday brunch with two friends took me to the Petworth neighborhood, and Domku, a restaurant known for its Scandinavian and Eastern European menu. I loved the bright cheery interior, and many of the menu options sounded delicious. My gluten-free diet, however, did not allow me sample the Norwegian pancake, or the mushroom Benedict, which one friend ordered and loved. I kept it simple with eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Service could have been better, but it's definitely a nice spot to enjoy various European dishes that one cannot find on other menus in the DC area. If you're a beer drinker, the menu offers two Lithuanian beers, although no Latvian or Estonian brews.

In the evening I helped celebrate a friend's daughter's third birthday. You know you are very good friends when your arrival is greeted not by "Hi, good to see you, glad you could come!", but by "Excellent, one of the tall people is here - she can put up the party decorations!" Luckily, I was amply compensated with freshly homemade guacamole, interesting conversation and happy little kid smiles.

On Monday a friend and I had hoped to go hiking, but gray and damp weather altered our plans. Instead I test drove yet another car, and we hit up the famed grocery store Wegman's. For people who grew up in New York State, Wegman's is the end-all-be-all when it comes to grocery shopping. The chain set up shop in Virginia and then Maryland several years ago. The nearest one is not particularly close to me, although I do like to stop by occasionally, as they have an enormous selection of products, and excellent prices on some of them. Their gluten-free brownies, in particular, are quite amazing. If you do ever find yourself near a Wegman's and have at least an hour to spare, check it out.

Somehow we now find ourselves already in the second half of October. I seriously hope that the news about Siberia's serious snow cover possibly predicting a hard winter is incorrect! I am not ready to hibernate -- too many things to do, too many people to meet!

Links for You: What I've Been Reading

For your reading enjoyment, here are several links to articles or blog posts I've found to be interesting.

• Heather loved beautiful Tallinn, Estonia and the fall weekend in which she explored Sigulda, Latvia.
• Bev's vacation to Taiwan included hiking in a national park. Check out the shrine on top of a waterfall!
• (In Latvian) Ceļojumā uz latviešu debespļavām Katskiļu kalnos ASV.
• Liene and her family admirably represented Latvia in Spartanburg's (SC) International Festival.
• A reminder that experiences are more valuable than things. 
• Excellent English language summary of the Latvian parliamentary election that took place on October 4.
• Fascinating election information about Latvians voting in foreign precincts. Ninety Latvians voted in Dubai! (Once you are on the site, scroll about halfway down the page until you see "Vēlēšanu results Ārzemes iecirkņos" - gotta love the mix of Latvian and English here. If you select "All" under "Displayed entries", you will find details about every single precinct outside of Latvia - how many people voted, and for which parties.)

Šoreiz latviski - Vēl mazliet par GVV50

(This post is in Latvian. I will return to writing in English in my next post!)

Uzdrošinājos šoreiz latviski rakstīt. Ja gadijumā nav skaidrs no "About Me" apraksta bloga labajā pusē, esmu ASV dzimusi un augusi - citos vārdos: forši, ka es vispār protu savu mātes valodu, vai nē?

Liekas, ka manam blogam nav daudz latviešu lasītāju. To gan grūti zināt, jo sagādātā statistika man dara zināmu vienīgi no kuras valsts lasītāja/s ir pieslēdzies, un ja lasītāja izciemojās bez kommentāra uzrakstīšanas, tad nezinu kas viņa tāda ir! Zinu, ka ir vismaz daži latviešu lasītāji (sveika, mamma!), un tā kā man noder kādreiz arī savas latviešu valodas spējas izvingrināt, nolēmu kaut ko arī latviski uzrakstīt.

Par Gaŗezeru un GVV varētu gari un plaši rakstīt, bet pieļauju, ka tādiem rakstiem nav tik milzu liela publika. Gribējās gan pieminēt dažas lietas par Gaŗezeru, GVV un tā jubilejām. 

Es sevi saucu par 'Gaŗezera bērnu.' Pirmajā Gaŗezera vasarā biju tikai zīdainis, un līdz desmit gadus vecumam katru vasaru ar ģimeni pavadīju apmēram astoņas nedēļas Gaŗezerā. Mani vecāki mācīja GVV, un es ar māsu dabūjām baudīt bezbēdīgas vasaras dienas - peldoties, vardes ķerot, makšķerējot, pie ugunskura sēžot, u.t.t. Divas vasaras - kad man bija 11 un 12 gadi - netika pavadītas mūsu mīļajā Gaŗezerā, un tās sezonas ļoti smagi pārdzīvoju. Beidzot, 13 gadu vecumā bija laiks apmeklēt GVV, un tā tur mācījos piecas vasaras. (Tajā laikā bija piecas klases, bet tagad ir četras tādēļ, ka ir īpaša sagatavošanās skola bērniem 11 - 13 gadus vecumā.)

Dzejolis par godu Garezeram

Nav jau tā, ka ikkatrs Gaŗezerā pavadītais brīdis bija skaists - tika pārdzīvotas arī visādas vilšanās un sirds sāpes. Tomēr, laikā kad Latvija vēl bija padomju okupēta, iespēja pavadīt nedēļas latviskā vidē un draudzēties ar latviešiem no visas Ziemeļamerikas bija neprakstāma.

Mana GVV absolventu klase

Kā jebkurai sabiedrībai, GVV ir savas tradiīcijas. Piemēram, katru piektdienas vakaru notiek ugunskurs, par kuru atbildīga cita klase vai darbinieki. Sestdienas vakarā vienmēr notiek ballīte. Divas vai trīs reizes vasarā ceturtdienas vakarā ir svecīšu dievkalpojums. Gadiem ilgi katru vasaru tiek rīkota arī "pērkonīša ducināšana" - tautas deju maratons: pārītis, kurš visilgāk dejo uzvar.

Kaut priecāšanās Gaŗezerā daudz un dažādas, mācības GVV tomēr nopietna lieta. Klasēs tiek uzdoti mājas darbi, un notiek arī pārbaudījumi. Daži īpaši pārbaudījumi, saukti par "biļetēm," ir kaut kas tāds, ko tipiskais GVV skolēns savā ikdienas ASV vai Kanādas skolā nekad nepiedzīvo - jo atbildes jādod mutiski veselai komisijai, kurā parasti sastāv trīs skolotāji. Otrajā klasē "liek biļetes" Latvijas ģeogrāfijā, trešajā latviešu vēsturē, ceturtajā latviešu literatūrā un gramatikā. 

Ar citiem GVV audzinātājiem (1995.?)

Pēc savas GVV absolvēšanas, es tur atgriezos vairākas vasaras strādāt. Vienu vasaru biju pieteikusies strādāt par audzinātāju, bet kad ierados man direktore pateica, ka vajadzīga latviešu valodas skolotāja pirmajai klasei. Biju gatava apgriezties un tūlīt doties mājās, bet mani pierunāja palikt. Mācīt latviešu valodas gramatiku trīspadsmit gadus veciem jauniešiem bija - ja nekas cits - tad interesants piedzīvojums. Pāris vasaras strādāju audzinātājas darbā, kurš arī bija raibs.

Garezera saulesriets

Pirms dažiem gadiem manai absolventi klasei apritēja apaļa jubileja, kad bieži tiek rīkots salidojums un tikšanās. Tad, kad mēs svinējām desmit gadu jubileju, es biju sarīkojusi salidojumu. Bet šajā reizē likās, ka cilvēkiem īsti nebija intereses, un tā nekas netika rīkots. Nesen dažiem klases biedriem ierosināju, ka mēs varētu salidojumu rīkot nākamgad, kad viss Gaŗezers atzīmēs 50 gadu jubileju, un kad tiek plānota  trīs dienu garas svinības. Bet klusēšana izsaka daudz ko, un jāatzīstas, ka esmu nedaudz sašutusi par reakciju vai to trūkumu. Tā laikam vienkārši jāpriecājas par jau aizvadīto GVV 50. jubileju (kura bija ļoti jautra!) un par gaidāmo Gaŗezera apaļo jubileju, kura tiks svineta 2015. gada julija sakuma.

Atskatoties uz GVV50 (par kuru rakstiju agrak) gribas vēl pieminēt vienu īpašu momentu, kurā pati nebiju klāt, bet kurš laimīgā kārtā iemūžināts. Piektdienas vakara ugunskurā pašreizējā GVV direktore un divi iepriekšējie direktori uzstājās uzvedumā, kur rādīja kāda ir dzīve GVV direktoriem kad tie aiziet penzijā. Tā kā ugunskurs notika tumsā, tā ir uzvedumu mazliet grūti saredzēt, un uzveduma saturu īstenībā sapratīs vislabāk tie, kuri paši strādājuši vai apmeklējuši šo vidusskolu. 

Tādēļ nobeigšu ar dažiem ierakstiem, kuri būs saprotāmi plašākai publikai.

1) Skaists 2014. gada svecīšu dievkalpojums, kurš notika ezermalā.

2) Tautas deja ar ko GVV skolēni uzstājās Garezera brīniškigājā 45. gada jubilejas lieluzvedumā

3) Brīdis, kad GVV koris dzied kopā ar Latvijas vispārejo dziesmu svetku noslēguma koncertu.

Going Back in Time: National Park Seminary

Amazingly, another gorgeous weather weekend was coming up (we had a generally fantastic summer and thus far wonderful autumn this year, with many sunny, dry and warm days -- I hope as a reward for living through a terrible winter, not as a precursor to another freezing cold season). Doing something at least somewhat outdoorsy was definitely necessary. When a friend invited me to join her on a tour of the National Park Seminary district, I jumped at the chance. Having heard about this historic area, I was intrigued by its history and architecture. Much of the tour took place outdoors, although we were shown a couple of interiors, including the marvelous ballroom.

Located in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring (yet "inside the Beltway"), the land had once been a tobacco plantation. In 1887 the area was repurposed as a resort, and a hotel named Ye Forest Inne was built. On the photo below you can see the original stained glass sign above the hotel's main entrance. However, the hotel was not successful, and the land and building were rented and then purchased by a couple who created a finishing school for young women. Opened in 1894, it was named National Park Seminary. (Apparently for a short while in the U.S. 'seminary' denoted a girls' school, while 'academy' was a boys' school.)

Difficult to spot, but the stained glass says "Ye Forest Inne"

Over several decades the school was owned by three different couples, and expanded with many new buildings constructed in various styles. At its peak popularity, the Seminary educated approximately 400 high school aged women annually, and was attended by girls from well-off families from around the country. During World War II the Army seized the property, and it was turned into a rehab hospital. Later the Army practically abandoned the Seminary, and many buildings fell into disrepair. Eventually the county purchased the property for $1, then selling it to a developer. By that time the Seminary was listed as a historic area. Many building have been beautifully renovated. The original  hotel building now contains apartments, the sorority houses are single family homes, while the additions to the school have been converted to condominiums, some of which are quite spacious and sell for up to $1 million.

Our tour guide was brimming with interesting facts and funny anecdotes about the school, its students and owners. My favorite tale was about the annual Colonial Ball, which was held on George Washington's birthday, February 22. Although the school had regular dances, those for many years did not include any boys - the girls danced with one another. For the Colonial Ball, half of the girls would dress up as Martha Washington (George's wife), while the others dressed up was George himself. Almost as good as having boys at the dance, right?

View of the ballroom

Sororities evolved to be a significant component of the school's existence. Each sorority had its own house, although those were used only for meetings and events, not as residences. (When the Army  owned the property, the sorority house were converted to officers' housing.) Many of the sorority houses were architecturally unique.

This former sorority house has recently been purchased, and will be renovated.

Pagoda sweet pagoda

At the end of the tour we visited a small room that contains historical artifacts from the school, including yearbooks, sorority pins, and the like. A few items were also available for purchase, including three different postcards, which can be seen below. The organization which runs the tours is Save Our Seminary, and they also offer other events, including occasional happenings in the ballroom (which is otherwise very rarely used). Guided tours are held the fourth Saturday of most months, and only cost $5 per person.

Dance in the ballroom in the early 1940s

Painting depicting Army time in later 1940s

Japanese pagoda in earlier times