Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | January 2009 | January 2010 | $10,750 + $100 visa | 16 - 18.6 |
Come to Latvia and you’ll find a nation of rolling meadows, lush forests, and welcoming people. Latvia blends a unique blend of Baltic and Slavic cultures and combines a rich past with a promising future. Riga, the 800-year old capital, is full of distinctive architecture as well as modern businesses in old art nouveau buildings. Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States and borders Russia and Belarus. Situated at a trading crossroads, Latvia has long served as a bridge between Western Europe and Russia.
In May 2004, Latvia proudly became a full member of the European Union. While declared a newly independent state in 1991, Latvia holds onto its old customs.
Family life
Latvian traditions have formed strong bonds between three generations of family members. In most families where both parents work, it is the grandmother who assumes the main responsibility for maintaining the household and looking after the children. Latvian families like to spend a lot of time together.
School life
You will be required to take core subjects: Latvian language and literature as well as Russian language and literature (in Russian-speaking schools), history of Latvia and current affairs, maths, a foreign language and physical education. Electives include a second foreign language, geography, basic computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, music and home economics. School runs from September through May. Classes are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3pm. There are 30 to 38 class sessions per week, and classes run 40 to 45 minutes with 10-minute breaks in between.
AFS Latvia does not accept smokers or vegetarians.
