Latvian - Englishman, English - Latvian

Gunārs Spodris, head of the central board of the “Daugava vanagi” organization, has been living in Latvia only since 2008. At the end of the Second World War, in 1944, when he was five, his family moved to Germany and settled in England in 1947. As a result of his marriage to the Latvians, Victoria Gunar was brought back to his homeland, from early 2009 he resides in the municipality of Rezekne, Lendžu.
“In every environment it is hard to get to the end, so you must create your own environment. I believe that it was not difficult to integrate into Latvia in my years, because i have already worked more on the vision of our world.“ But there are things hard to understand and accept, ”said Gunar Spodris.
 Is there something left in memory of childhood in Latvia?
Then we lived in Sauka parish. But i was born in Riga. There is a lot of memories from that time - the bar, the station and the red forest brothers. I still remember the wolf Bari wandering around the house for one winter, his eyes gleaming in the darkness and scared. It was the time of the war, but there was no danger from that time.
'Are you in a stranger, your parents told me about Latvia?' Did you speak Latvian in the family?
We talked Latvian and mother talked much about Riga and their relatives. His father was quiet, he didn't want to say anything and go deeper. His father served from 1918-1920. He remembered the Jews' exportation and death in Riga with horror.
What was it when you came to Latvia after such a long absence? What were the feelings, emotions?
It was September 1990, more Soviet times, but it was all about the proximity of freedom. We had to get a lot of documents, but they were here, abolished the visas. I went with my daughter to look at Latvia.
We were a whole group who arrived in Latvia, but we chose the objects themselves. We were in Jacob Palace, Jurmala, Sigulda, sunny etc. At that time we went through Moscow to Riga, there was a long way to get here.
There were shared feelings in Latvia – as if you were at home, but all strange and unknown.
Did you live in a stranger with what happened in Latvia? 
I followed the exile press and also the English press for all news about Latvia. But there was a censorship and much was hidden. A group of artists from Latvia, who traveled around England, met these people and learned what was happening in Latvia. I had contacts with my cousin from Latvia, but there was a censorship and something could not be written.
Returning to Latvia, did it not be difficult to feel in this environment that is so different from life in England? 
In March 2008, i married Victoria in London and moved to Riga, Old Town, where Victoria had a flat. Lendžu parish has been living since early 2009.
In each environment it is hard to get to the end, so you must create your own environment. I believe that it was not difficult to integrate into Latvia in my years, because i have already worked more on the vision of our world. But there are things that are hard to understand and accept.
Latvians think that everything is arranged in England, but it is not. There are problems everywhere. I like it in Latgale, it's beautiful here.
What is the most difference to us, from what is in England? What is worse and what is better? 
There are many things in England more organized after the Second World War – medicine, real estate, etc. In Latvia, properties are much cheaper.
Latvians expect much from the country, but they must move forward. There is a complex bureaucracy in Latvia, which makes many things difficult.
You have recently been elected as the head of the “Daugava vanagi” organization. How did it happen? 
There are four thousand members of “Daugava vanagi” in THE United STATES, Canada, Latvia, Australia and Germany. The vote was held and the eu was elected as a preparatory session. Our organization supports multi-child families, legionaries, foster families and projects. It deals with charity.
How are the people in England from people in Latvia different? 
In England, neighbours are interested and help each other. There's no more trust here, stand up. But i feel safer in Latvia.
Do you like living in Latvia?
I like it, i feel good. Of course, life is influenced by the qualities and thinking of England. I am an Englishman, but in England, Latvians!
Gunar had a long conversation with Gudrik, Lendžu parish librarian