School has let out for the summer – yippee! Shout the children! But the adults have something to shout about as well – 4 graduations! Two will receive their diplomas for primary education (Grade 9 is the magical grade. With it you can enter High school or a trade school. Without it, all avenues for education are blocked.)
We are very proud of the two teen boys who will receive their primary diplomas, for even a couple of years ago, it seemed like an unattainable dream. Also two of our young men will receive their high school diplomas. Both hope to continue their studies in the fall. These young men showed maturity in their persistence and effort. Our hats off to them!
The economy in Latvia is in dire straits. Many lay-offs and astronomical rates of inflation for everything, including the staples like milk and bread, have resulted in skimpier meals. Luckily the children like sorrel soup and sorrel grows in abundance all throughout the countryside. In the beginning of May the older boys erected a greenhouse so that there would be tomatoes and various homegrown vegetables to enrich the nutritional value of the children’s meals. (The growing season in Latvia is short, so that some sort of a greenhouse is necessary to grow tomatoes.)
Anyway, summer is here and all are ecstatic!
