I set up this blog long time ago in June 2007, right after my graduation from the university and before my long awaited departure to Georgia, where I spent eight month as a volunteer.
I've been an ardent supporter of Georgia and keen on everything Caucasian since 2004, my second year at the Riga Stradins University studying International Relations. It had been a truly love affair seasoned with a bitter taste of disillusion, but that came later. My idealism and enthusiasm have gone away replaced by more sober approach. However, I still do care what is happening in the region and share my views occasionally in this blog.
What is All About
As you might guess, this blog is my digital collection of essays on world affairs, particularly on the events unfolding in Latvia and South Caucasus. However, over the years I have become passionate about the world of communication, social media, marketing, environment, architecture, urban planning, education and even food security. Therefore, some posts can be devoted to these topics as well.
My daily life
If you ask me to describe myself in a few words, I'd say that I am "Latvia born and Riga based civil society activist". I spent four years (well, even five) with the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation as a project manager (add to this office, event and community manager positions), together with my colleagues founded an NGO called Baltic to Black Sea Alliance (last year I was promoted to a position of the Board member). I have also joined the ranks of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs in a capacity of Associate Fellow. Besides that I am a freelance event and project manager.
Uh, I totally forgot to name myself - Irina Kuzņecova (ex Ivaškina), if it makes a difference. ))
Uh, I totally forgot to name myself - Irina Kuzņecova (ex Ivaškina), if it makes a difference. ))
Language
My native language is Russian, I speak fluently Latvian and truly believe that my knowledge of English is not so bad. I have always chosen the hardest way to go, that is why most of my posts are in English - to practice and improve my language skills -- and sometimes in Latvian - to make it even better.
Disclaimer
From my post as of Feb 28, 2012
It has been a while since my last post in this blog due to various reasons, but mainly because of the lack of time to dig in, read a lot, travel, analyse and then put everything on this digital paper. I am of the opinion that any researcher should always has to have an up-to-date and even insider information, be constantly on the field (e.g. region/area of your research), and have enough analytical skills to make a thorough analysis of a given situation with ability to provide his/her readers with a forecast on how things might develop in the future.
My writings on world affairs, and particularly on the events unfolding in the South Caucasus, is a part of my hobby. Since I have always been a perfectionist, last year I decided to keep a low profile and take a break in order to understand whether I’d like to continue to keep myself in the field of research and analysis.
I am back again, but with a little disclaimer this time. Since I am not a full-time paid researcher and make my living in the sphere of event and project management, I cannot provide my reader with regularly published comprehensive analyses. What I can provide you with is only my thoughts and reflections on the events unfolding in Latvia and its neighbourhood. I am glad if you find some of them useful and even interesting to read, bud do not have high expectation and forgive me if you find some factual mistakes. In this case, I would be glad to read your comments.
