American Finds Peace in Kuldīga – City with Europe's Widest Waterfall

Last year, 26-year-old American Karla Maiden Vazquez arrived in Kuldīga from Maryland, USA, bringing with her experience in musical theater, Puerto Rican roots, and her dog, which stayed there for a while. She is currently studying Service Design Strategy and Innovation in the Erasmus Mundus master's program at the Latvian Academy of Arts, held at Adatu Fabrika.

Speaking about settling in, she says that moving from a big city to a small one is unforgettable. Seeing the same people almost daily brings her peace. Frequent visits to "Pī Cafe" mean the staff now know her order. However, there are drawbacks: no large shopping centers, so she has to take a bus to Rīga for specific clothes. She thinks it's great to live in a city with Europe's widest waterfall, which is one reason she likes Kuldīga so much.

Vazquez lives on Kaļķu Street and loves her artistic apartment, which allows her to be loud – as a singer, she can record music without disturbing neighbors. Her only wish is that the apartment were closer to a store, as the nearest one is a 15-minute walk, which was difficult in the snow.

Regarding Latvians, she says there are open and sociable people, as well as those who avoid eye contact or even stare. She understands the attention, especially when her hair is down, making her stand out. She is used to it because there are other extremes in the US.