“Latvia is very different from Pakistan …”

In today's globalization, more and more people choose to go to other countries. The Pakistani Arshad route to Latvia started through England, where he met students from Rēzekne in Pušas, married and established a family. As he is now working in England and his family comes back from time to time, Skype is chosen as a place of conversation. We are talking about what difficulties the Pakistani is facing when integrating into Latvian society.
What is your link with Latvia and how long?
My wife is my link with Latvia, that is, from mid-2012, when we met. We met in England, we married there. Now, our son, Aidan, is all together. I visit Latvia for the first time in summer 2013, but we live here for about two years. Latvia is very different from Pakistan but is not so crazy. I like Latvia's nature.
What linguistic barriers do you have to face when living in Latvia?
Of course, the language is the biggest problem, because unfortunately, i don't have to learn the Latvian language yet, but English is a foreign language for many. We're going to live in Riga now because there's a lot more comfortable there. In terms of language, i had to get acquainted with relatives, my wife's family, who lived in the countryside Pušā. They don't know English at all. In Riga, however, it can be said that almost everyone is speaking English. The main thing is, however, to be the opposite of the people themselves, and then they can also understand each other without the knowledge of the language.
How insurmountable are these cultural, etc. barriers to be faced with?
It wasn't so crazy because I had lived in England for 10 years and was used to the European way of life and people. England, for example, is very adapted and has long been ready for other nationalities and religions. Latvia needs to wait a little while, and people look back when the foreigners pass. When i came to the party for the first time, many people asked my wife how she could live with Muslim, because in their families she had no telling. But as i said before, i felt a great difference between living in Latgale and here. In Riga there is even a prayer house, a mosque where Muslim believers can pray, here can be found where the national kitchen is to be eaten.
What perceptions do you have to face?
Of_course, there's a lot, we couldn't stop counting them. But it's normal that we're all not the same. We don't worry about it so much, it's important for us to coincide with our family. You can't control what happens outside.
We all believe in our particular things, the beliefs, and it would be pointless to strive to achieve some fairness, everyone has the right to live in their own beliefs. I have the right to be Muslim also in Latvia, to observe traditions. My family is my value.
What misunderstandings have you encountered in Latvia?
There have been many situations, of course, but my positive attitude helps to deal with it. I do not eat pork, for example, which many still do not understand why. It is natural for a man to ask a question on which he is waiting for a certain answer.
Are there things that you think the Latvian citizen doesn't want or want to accept in contact with you?
It's hard to say, it's not so much time to live here. The biggest problem is that people believe too much in what they say in mass media, where only part of the truth. When you hear that i am from Pakistan, there can be a variety of reactions. Yes, it's mostly negative, but you can't and don't all like it.
Are there any further problems, barriers, that you are being prevented from integrating into Latvian society?
It must be understood that without problems, it must always be ready to address them.
What are your future plans in Latvia?
This is hard to do with the work. I thought i was still working in England to keep my family. I hope it will change with time.
Marina Shadurska was talking to Zhatred Arshadu.