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Beatos virtuvė

Tom: my kitchen

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I’ve spent my first month in Vilnius…..and the question everyone is asking my wife…….how is Tom getting on??? It seems to be a common national dilemma. How could an Englishman move to Lithuania.. surely he will hate it, how could he survive?? How long will he last?

The answer to the question? Well, I’ll answer that in a moment, but first let me turn the table and examine the question from the other side. Lithuania seems to be obsessively self-depreciating. The national conscience seems to veer towards negativity. I’ve been told “the traffic in Vilnius is impossible.” “The water park is too overcrowded”……”don’t try this it will be bad.” I’m a glass half full kind of guy. And so far Lithuania has been like visiting one of those restaurants where you get free refills! Because the local people are perpetually talking everything down, my expectations are exceeded in every occasion. I have to say, it’s wonderful!

Tomo virtuvė_Beatos virtuvė

The weather has been great. I arrived when there was 30cm of snow on the ground and sub-zero temperatures in early April. But within a week it was ready to barbeque outside weather! Amazing! I never saw such a swing in climate in my life. So missing the winter is probably giving me rose tinted spectacles. As an Englishman, summer means not wearing a coat. Anything above 18 °C warrants shorts and a T-shirt. I’ve noticed that I am conspicuous in this habit. I look in amazement at the locals in winter coats in 20 °C heat! But there is total solidarity amongst the resident population in their unanimous choice of long sleeve clothing – I am the only one in (just) a short sleeve!

Tomo virtuve_Beatos virtuve

But the more I discover in Vilnius, there more I like. I see a booming city with real energy and a blossoming identity. I’ve found a vibrant city that has been far more hospitable than I was expecting with genuine warmth and a healthy dose of curiosity from the locals.

My journey in Lithuania has just begun, but an exciting adventure lays ahead of me…

To be continued….

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Komentarai (23)
Komentarai
  1. […] visiems labiausiai rūpėjo ir rūpi, kaip jam sekasi. Kadangi aš už jį kalbėti nenoriu, tai trumpai pasisako jis pats… Ir tada dar apie jo mėgstamą […]

  2. ALEJA parašė:

    geras pastebejimas del paltu, uzsienieciai pusplikiai po Vilniu vaiksto, o mes svarkais megztiniais lietpalciais uzsidangste. Jie i termometra ziuri, o mes termometru nepasitikim, nes oras permainingas 🙂

  3. Vilija parašė:

    Thanks for such a positive attitude, Tom! Indeed, a bit of sunshine in the pool of rather exaggerated pessimism prevailing among Lithuanians. On the other hand, when your expectations are not high and then you discover that the situation is not as bad, the positive effect is double, right? I wish you and your family many nice experiences and discoveries in Lithuania. Good luck!

  4. Julija parašė:

    Great post, we are more depressing our self’s than anybody else. As we say: Change your attitude and life will be more brighter to you.
    Best

  5. kristina parašė:

    Lithuanians are known for being negative, but I think it’s changing slowly 🙂 I am so glad you like Lithuania, and thanks for the nice words 🙂 I hope you get to visit the seaside soon if you haven’t yet, I am sure Beata will take you to the Paradise on Eart – Nida 🙂

    • Tom Nicholson parašė:

      Hi Kristina, I visited Nida for the first time last summer and hope to return again this year for a few days…..

  6. Ineta parašė:

    To be quiet honest I didnt expect nothing else 🙂 only lithuanians are talking negative about Lithuania…my husband is english too and he absolutely loves Lithuania…he loves long warm summer evenings, a barbeque going, and he can not get over how welcoming we are. Really glad you are enjoying it Tom. Im sure having such an amzing woman by your side helps too 🙂 hope we could go back to my country with my husband too…one day…maybe…

  7. Vaida parašė:

    I think, we are depressed for a reason. Just look at our history – since the start of Lithuania, 1000 years ago till recently 1991 nothing much to be cheerful about… So we are just like that. We even have unique crying songs (raudos), we live in the place, where we see sun (the source of joy, happiness) only for a couple month, and then looooong, cooooold, daaaark winter… Maybe it will change in a time. Maybe our children, which never saw a hard life (and hopefully will never see) will be different as they don’t have much to grieve about..
    So, I think everything is as it should be. But we do appreciate positive people with the positive attitude. So go for it! :))

  8. Laura parašė:

    I’ve lived in the Uk for 8 years and then moved back to Lithuania and I can tell you that lithuanans get far more sunshine than english! Here you can have bright blue skies and sun shining all day in winter or summer, which neve happens in England- on a good summer day in England max you can get is a couple of hours of sunshine and then clouds clouds clouds… So weather in LT is really great ( as for northern country)!
    Here i also heard people complaining that Vilnius is a crowded, poluted and noisy place to live but after living in London, Vilnius seems like a countryside resort!
    Good luck to you guys! Nice move! 🙂

  9. Anonymous parašė:

    Hi Tom,

    I really enjoyed reading about your life experiences in Lithuania! And nice to know that living in Vilnius (in the eyes of a foreigner) seems to be better than Lithuanians themselves are convinced;)) And that „your expectations are exceeded in every occasion“;-)

    BUT, what I really miss in your text is how you really feel;-) How you feel being a LOVE emmigrant in Lithuania? How do you feel being an emiigrant? For example,

    1. Have you ever lived abroad before moving to Lithuania? If yes, for how long and what language had you spoken there? Does your life in Lithunia is your first experience abroad??

    2. What about your social life in Lithuania? I understand, 1 month is too short to make some serious private acquaintances… But I hope your friends are not restricted to the best girlfriends of Beata and their husbands… Are there at least any foreign husbands?;-) I understand that you need somebody to moan about this unbearable Lithuanian mentality;-) In order to be understood in a proper way, perhaps, you need a foreign ear ;-)) Therefore, have you already found/joined a „club of Englishmen in Vilnius who meet on a regular basis“ (you know what I mean;-)

    3. What about the language barrier?? How are you getting on along with this? Are you already registered in any courses of Lithuanian language? What about the pronounciation and do Lithuanians understand you???? Do you nderstand them??

    4. And what about UK? Do you miss Wales and London? Do you miss your life in the metropolis and do you regret moving to the province of the Europe? What do you miss the most?

    5. What about your identity? How are going to protect it? And do you feel like moving to Lithuania for good?

    Anyway, welcome to Lithuania! Enjoy your stay and try to get the best out of this!!

  10. Jūratė parašė:

    „20 °C heat!“ 😀 😀 😀 Made me laugh. 😀 But I see what you mean.
    Nice article. 😉

  11. LinaJūra parašė:

    Tomai, gražus laiškas.
    Labai nenusimink, į įkyrias apklausas (anonymus’o) atsakinėti nebūtina :)))
    Čia jau kvepia persekiojimu :)))
    Beata, saugok vyrą 😉

  12. Raimis parašė:

    i like it 😀

  13. Saulele parašė:

    my hubby loves visiting and staying in Lithuania. He was coming to see me while dating number of times and in different seasons: non stop rains in November, deep icy winters in Jan and beautiful spring and summers. He loves the people and sincerity, more honest approach to relationships, loves food and even though we are living on the other side of the planet he constantly speaks about Lithuania being his top priority for holiday. So, people should stop beating themselves down and be proud of who they are. All the best to your family and keep the spirit up!

  14. Deva parašė:

    It is so lovely to hear, Tom, you are enjoying visits with Beata to Lithuania. It is a marvellous country after all. I remember how daunting my husband’s first trip was, he is a Cornish guy. He was so apprehensive, even fearful. We travelled for Christmas and mountains of snow were the first things he saw, he did not dislike it, all was new. On the contrary, the country just grew on him so much through the years (we travel a few times a year for visits) that we are thinking of moving to LT for good in the near future as LT has many advantages talking about lifestyle and family life… many topics could be discussed and one of them is children education! Lithuania is No 4 in the world for its children education! Plus, all other things the people above has mentioned: nicer relationships, greener life as land is plenty around one’s house and many more. UK is also nice; it has its own charms, especially the historical herritage and a very long coast line. When we move we would miss trekking in Welsh mountains, long coastal walks in Cornwall and London visits too! To be a split nationality family is a challenge at times but lots of fun too. I think your family has had similar experiences when living between two countries. My husband says, ‘I wish we could have the best of the both countries 😉 ‘. So, we wish your family as well to have the best of both worlds, enjoy it!

    • Beata Nicholson parašė:

      Miela Deva perduosiu komentarą Tomui, kraustykite į lietuvą tikrai čia smagu, ir parašykite man, jei kokia padrasinimo ar patarimo reikėtų:))
      Geriausi linkėjimai

      • Deva parašė:

        Aciu, Beata, uz linkejimus! Manau, pats lalikas butu kurti sugriztanciuju kluba Lietuvoje :). Kiek teko skaityti, tai jau tikrai nemazai misriu seimy gyvena LT, ypac Vilniuje. Mes net expat tinklapi radom, kur angliakalbiai bendrauja :).

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