Studying medicine in Riga, Latvia

By Marelize Vermeulen

In August 2019, eagle eyed and bushy (pony) tailed, I got on a plane to Riga, Latvia. Now, five years later, I cannot believe how the time has flown.

Landing in Riga, it was much warmer than expected, which quickly turned into much rainier than expected. And it was proper rain, not like the late afternoon showers I grew to love while living in Pretoria. So, a good quality rain jacket was my first big purchase. I quickly learned that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

I moved in with a German girl and a Swedish guy I met on a Facebook group and began my medical studies a week later at Riga Stradiņš University (RSU). My study group consisted of diverse students from Germany, Sweden, El Salvador and even another South African from Johannesburg. After a hectic orientation week, the studies started with a bang. Classes had us bussing and tramming all over the city. Anatomy lessons were held in the Theatrum Anatomicum, a former Greek Orthodox Seminary dating back to 1877, near the old town. First Aid was presented in Paul Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, which opened in 1910, physics and Latin in the Medical Educational Technology Centre (METC) and our remaining basic sciences at the RSU main building.

The first semester flew by, and before I knew it, the streets were white with snow and the smells of Christmas markets filled the air. Just as the snow melted and the spring started showing its colours, Covid-19 put a hold on our everyday life – in the middle of my second semester. Amid panic, I flew home and helped triage at my local Mediclinic while having online classes. A few months later, I flew back to Latvia, while Covid still dictated online classes for a good while before we could return to normal on-site studies.

With on-site studies, the normality of Riga life was welcomed back like the first day of summer. Tourism and travel also opened again, and I jumped at these opportunities to see some of the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, England and Sweden. I also went on some trips to visit my new (and a few old Saffa) friends and others to do some solo exploration, not to mention all the exploring within Latvia.

The semesters flew by, and basic sciences got exchanged for pre-clinical years that turned into clinical semesters in the local Latvian government hospitals. I learned clinical skills in the METC before taking these newly acquired skills into hospital settings. At the METC, you can find everything from a plastic arm to draw blood, simulation dolls that can react to stimuli and treatment and dolls that can give birth to an operating room skills lab. The more time I spent there, the more amazed I was by the teaching technology.

Student life in Riga also allowed me to delve into research, find my passion for academic medicine and present at student conferences in Europe. I further got involved in student leadership, started the RSU tennis club and became an RSU student ambassador. But my proudest accomplishment was starting a little Heritage Day braai tradition. It grew bigger and bigger each year until 43 people from 13 different countries attended the last one. Every single person dressed “African-themed” and brought enough ‟gees” and meat to make the South African heritage they celebrated proud.

Latvia and my Riga family took me in and made Riga my home away from home. As my time in Riga is slowly coming to an end, with only a few months to go before graduation, I am already reminiscing about my time in Latvia. Latvia helped make this little South African’s big dreams into much more than I could ever have imagined.

This is not a last farewell – Latvia has become a part of my being and will forever hold a special place in my heart. But soon … it will be time to start my life with my “boerseun” back home – and to see where dreams and the spirit of adventure will lead us next.