"Demographics"

Having explained the foreign policy situation here, I thought I might continue with the more mundane country facts. Today’s lesson is in demographics.


For starters, actual demographics: the country is, technically, ethnically diverse. There are descendants of Letts, Livs, and Ests (the Baltic people groups) as well as Slavs (Russians), Germans, and other European nationalities. The reason I say “technically” diverse is this: all these people look alike. They are all of a fairly normal height, have very light skin and blonde or dark hair (there’s really no red to speak of – I’ve seen maybe five redheads – not counting the obviously dyed sorts that are burgundy, orange, or pink). There are no blacks or Hispanics and very few people of oriental extraction. I realized just how weird it all was when I was shocked to see my first black Rigan a couple weeks after my arrival. I can count on one hand the number of black people I’ve seen since then. Such differences are not lost on the Rigans, either, though they don’t seem to know how to handle them. The police and justice system are still trying to find their way and have not yet come to the conclusion that following after and insulting someone should probably be a punishable offense. Which makes me glad I fit in as much as I do. (…and when I’m wearing baggy jeans and a Hard Rock Café shirt, as now, that’s “not very much.” :))

But there are other sorts of demographics (all comments from the Greek student peanut gallery aside) :). Take, for instance, the sorts of cars on the road. Surprise, surprise, the tendency around here is toward European companies. German cars are quite popular: BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Audi make up at least two thirds of the cars on the road. There are also Saabs and the occasional Porsche (joy of joys :)). There are some non-European brands represented, like Ford (that’s the only American brand I’ve seen – barring the embassy Suburbans), Toyota (but not Lexus), Mazda, Honda, and Hyundai. But the really fun ones are the brands that few people in America have ever seen – or even heard of: Citroen, Peugeot, Renault, Opel, and Skoda. … Maybe Dad and Daniel have indoctrinated me too well… but I actually really enjoy observing cars :).

Another demographic study is the sort of songs you hear on the radio. It seems the favorite station is “Star FM” (which is, incidentally, its actual name… why it’s in English, I don’t know). The station’s a really odd mix. Almost all the songs are American, but the in-between commentary is in Latvian and I think I’ve heard some Russian commercials. Also, I can’t seem to figure out what kind of station Star FM is. It’s got a funky mix of old and new, pop and rock going on. Over a couple days at work, I actually kept a running tally of what I heard:
Mambo No. 5 (in the States, too old for “modern,” too new for “oldies”… and that’s just fine with me :))
Kokomo (way before my time)
Land of Confusion (almost before my time – but not quite; it’s an 80s pop song I’m partial to)
Macarena
“Bon Voyage” (I think it’s Latvian; very catchy)
Our House (the 80s “in the middle of our street” one)
Cradle (by “Atomic Kitten” – if I hear this one more time, I’ll puke)
Get the Party Started
Walking on Broken Glass (more 80s – love the tune to this one)
Some Guys Have All the Luck
Say Tonight (late 90s, I think – I kinda like it)
Life for Rent – and White Flag too, for that matter (yay for Dido! :))
Boulevard of Broken Dreams (new song? it’s not exactly happy… nor is the band one I’d suggest… but I rather like the song, for whatever the reason)
La Bamba (the Spanish classic)
I Just Called to Say I Love You
Welcome to My Life
California (“…here we come”)
It Must’ve Been Love (“…but it’s over now”)
Incomplete (I learned the other day that this one’s by the Backstreet Boys… not too shabby)
Wrap My Words around You (never heard it before coming here… I rather like it)
Yellow (by Coldplay)
I have yet to find a unifying factor in all this music. One thing I am quite happy about, though, is that these folks have the good sense to toss in some 80s from time to time :).

There are also bird demographics – I like bird watching kinda like I like car watching, so changes from the norm are interesting. In this respect, though, Latvia is mostly like the US. There are pigeons (grey, black, white, brown, and various combinations of the above), house sparrows, and gulls. On the odd side: There are little birds that look like a cross between a house sparrow and a black-capped chickadee; they’re cute. The niftiest are these crow-like things (I think they’re called “Hooded Crows”), but they’re bigger than our crows by rather a lot. They’re only black on their heads, necks, wings, and tails – the rest of them is slate grey. It’s kinda classy looking. I think it’d be fun to have one.


I think that reaches the end of all the “demographic” tallies I have made to this point. Hope it gives you a clearer picture of that fun thing known as “life in Riga” :).