Dream*

Bonjour, Paris!

2012-01-30T20:38:00.002+02:00

Hi, guys!

As you may remember, I got accepted at the University of Utah for the Spring semester 2012. Luckily for me, my flight was through Paris and I got to spend 1 day there. Of course, it's not enough, but that's like a bonus before coming to the USA... :)

Life works in a strange way and it happened so, that after studying Italian for 2.5 years at the University of Latvia, I changed Italian to French starting from Term 6. Besides, all those years when I studied French at school shouldn't go to waste. I can't quite explain it, but I suddenly fell in love with French and had an urge to learn it.

I didn't have much time in Paris, but I did have 1 wish: to see the Eiffel Tower. I did not expect it to be so... amazing!!! I fell in love with the Eiffel Tower immediately! I have to admit that I have a fascination with lights and it's just so... beautiful!!!

All I know now is that I want to return to Paris and spend some more time there... <3

P.S. I ate macarons for the first time. They are super tasty!!!

xxx
Daria

2012

2011-12-31T14:45:00.001+02:00

Hi, everyone!

Here are my wishes to you:

May the Christmas season fill your home with family and friends, your heart with love, and your life with laughter. I want to wish all of you a wonderful year of 2012! Always remember to enjoy your life 100%! Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Sunset

2011-12-16T23:34:00.000+02:00

Hi all!

This year I had a privilege to observe some truly gorgeous sunsets. I took photos of most of them and of course I have to share! Enjoy the beauty of nature!

Daria

Can't you see these skies are breaking?
Cause on top of the world is where I'm from...

("One of a Kind" by Placebo)

22

2011-11-28T19:47:00.001+02:00

Hey guys!

This is it. I’m 22 now. Seems to be a beautiful number. I celebrated my Birthday on November 8 in the close circle of my dear friends at a very cozy American restaurant “TGI Friday’s”. Amazing atmosphere, great people, nice music, and good food. Surprise of the evening: a birthday song sung by the 3 waiters and a dessert (free of charge)!

On November 13 I celebrated my Birthday with my relatives. We had a pretty good time as well! I just realized that when I was celebrating my Birthday with relatives, I had 2 cakes and no candles. At all. I totally forgot about the candles this year…!!!

Well, at least I had my wish on November 8 thanks to the dessert, which had 1 candle… It's just sad that I could have had two wishes, but I only had one... But if that one wish comes true – I don’t mind! ;-)

P.S. I had so many wonderful presents and congratulations from wonderful people this year!!! Thank you all! Love you!!!

Daria

Like a dream come true...

2011-10-31T22:08:00.002+02:00

Hello everyone!

There's been a lot to say to all of you... Here it goes.

Wednesday (October 26) was a very special day for me. I received an e-mail saying that I had been accepted at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) as an exchange student for the spring semester 2012. I couldn’t believe my eyes – I was so happy… I started jumping and screaming “thank you”! :D There were even tears in my eyes… (blush)

I have to say that calling my Mom and telling her great news over the phone was extremely exciting and emotional!!! Don’t you just adore telling your loved ones something amazingly pleasant? Then I also called my granddad. He was so glad, he couldn’t speak normally – and so did my Mom! :D I also wrote to all my dear friends in skype. Their support was incredible! There’s no need to say that I was the happiest person at that moment…

On Friday (October 28) I found out that my visa would allow me to stay in the USA for 30 days after the end of the semester! I can't resist the temptation to stay there as long as I can!!! Besides, it has been my dream to go to the USA for so many years…<3

On Saturday (October 29) I bought tickets for my trip to the USA! Riga - Paris - Salt Lake City and then back the same way… I’m leaving on January 3, 2012. America, here I come!!! God, I’ve been waiting for ages to say that!!! <3 P.S. Isn’t it great that I will also have an opportunity to spend some time in Paris??? This can’t get any better…

I must admit I’ve been dreaming about the USA for a long time now. Maybe 5 years or so… Somehow I couldn’t figure out the best way to go there. Everything I considered ended up as a bad idea. My whole life in general was nothing special. I know it’s a very sad thing to say. Maybe it’s not true, but that was how I felt about this whole “life” thing anyway. I wrote a couple of depressing entries about it in my blog as well... I was unhappy for too long and now here’s my chance!!!

When I got the news about the USA my life turned 180 degrees. Or maybe it wasn’t my life, but just my thoughts… It doesn’t even matter!!! The fact is that my life will never be the same. And right now I feel so blessed. I feel so incredibly pleased and happy… Even today I still can’t believe it!!! I will never be the same person again… I feel like I’m about to live my dream! Who could have thought???

Let me just say – when dreams come true (and they really do!!!) – it doesn’t feel like reality any more… You’re in a parallel universe!!! <3

I have to confess that I’ve been feeling in high spirits lately – no surprise there. I feel on top of the world!!! By the way, there were quite a few problems during these last few days as well. But even those problems didn’t feel like real problems… I hope it will stay this way my whole life! :D

I’m entering a new chapter of my life. Well, what can I say? Feels so good to be in this blissful state of mind... <3

Lower are the photos of Salt Lake City - the place that will hopefully become my home next year...

♥

Love,
Daria

Surprising

2011-10-24T14:53:00.000+03:00

Hi, people!

I want to go back to September… Unfortunately I fell ill and I even had to cancel my shift at the restaurant on September 11. However, I didn’t miss any of the classes at the university. I just really don’t like missing classes…

On September 14 when I came home, still quite ill, I decided to lie in bed for a while. After an hour or so, I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I didn’t want to lie still either.

I decided to start reading a book. Somewhere in August my friend Christina gave me all “Twilight” series books and I couldn’t think of a better opportunity to start reading them! Besides, it has been a while since I’ve wanted to do so. Moreover, I even haven’t watched any of the movies related to the books – so that I could first read the books and then watch the movies.

I wanted to read Twilight more out of curiosity, since the books got such good reviews. I had no idea it would grab me this much. <3

Let me tell you something: I spent 6.5 hours reading the 1^st book that day. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it… And it’s so unusual of me, since I almost never spend so many hours on reading in one day. It used to be a big struggle for me to read when I was a child. Then gradually I found more fun in reading.

Honestly, there are very few books that I read the same way… Even my all-time favorite book “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger isn’t on that list!

I finished the book in 3 days. At school I was thinking about getting home sooner and start reading. I had only small breaks for talking with my Mom & stuff.

That’s why being ill is not that bad after all. If I hadn’t been ill I would have probably spent my day in front of the computer…

P.S. The way Edward is described, it is almost impossible NOT to fall in love with him.

Daria

Bad situation? Think again!

2011-09-26T16:38:00.000+03:00

Hey guys!

Well, let me tell you something about those predictions I made earlier… (You can read them in THIS post). I was right.

1. My job at 4Rooms was actually quite fantastic during the summer, but then a few problems appeared and I decided that the best thing is to quit. I’m not a quitter in a negative sense of a word, but in this particular case it was the right thing for me to do.

2. I’m actually really happy about the budget place. Obviously. However, my budget results ended up disappointing me, because I found my name in the list of budget students lower than I would wanted it to be.

3. My TOEFL exam scores. They don’t seem to be so good anymore. I’ve got good scores, but they could have been better.

So my conclusion is like this: I had some happy moments this summer and things that brought me positive emotions (I’m talking about those 3…). As time passed all those things lost their value a little bit.

Stop! Remember to:

a) Be happy that I even had those things;

b) Turn 180 degrees around and change negative to positive…

c) Believe that soon there will be other good things in my life that will come instead of “old” good things. Because this is how it works! ;-)

So in every bad situation there must be something good, right? Here are my ideas:

1. The good news about quitting the job is – I can now paint my nails in whatever color I want: black, pink, blue… My nails are in black now. Oh, I missed it so much! :D

2. Budget place. Who cares? The most important thing is that I don’t have to pay for yet another year – and that’s what matters!

3. As long as TOEFL scores will “give” me what I want – I don’t care! ;-) We’ll see how it turns out…

P.S. Do you see any improvement in my character? (blush)

Love

Daria

Wanted: happy moments

2011-09-18T02:59:00.003+03:00

Hey, everyone!

Do you remember my post “Confessions” (you can read it HERE) about the idea that I’m not happy? Well, the thing is I don’t have enough things that make me happy. Mostly, it’s good marks at the university and some good leisure time. This leisure time typically consists of TV series, food and stuff like that. There are also things like traveling, music concerts, friends, dancing, reading, photography, singing and so on – but these good leisure time things aren’t always available or don’t always bring the necessary amount of happiness. Sometimes they can even make things worse.

I almost always have TV series to watch and tasty food to eat, so they provide good leisure time. But marks at the university aren’t always good. Sometimes they’re just OK, or even worse: bad. ;-( This is when the trouble begins. Being left with just a few of my “happiness-creators” makes me feel extremely sad and lost. But then the new day comes and I have good marks again.

But let me tell you something. I need more things that can make me happy. Or at least I need to have the same things that already make me happy to bring happiness to my life more often. And sometimes even good marks at the university can’t cheer me up. God knows why. So basically there are 2 main pictures in my life, both of which can make me extremely depressed.

There are some occasions when something really nice happens. But somehow, it doesn’t stay long enough or it quickly ends or something bad has to happen and ruin it... And that is the time when I feel down again. And that it is about 90% of my life, which is unbelievable!!!

This summer, there have been some good moments. I got a job as a hostess-administrator at the “4Rooms Restaurant”. I also got a budget place for my junior year (you already know about this one). And finally, I received my TOEFL iBT scores, which are really good and better than I expected. All these things are my “happy moments”. It means that I am a little bit happier right now than usual. But are there going to be any problems with these things, too? Sure!

In time, my job will become less and less interesting. The budget place will no longer bring happy emotions, because it will become something obvious. Eventually I will also want better scores on my TOEFL exam. I know it’s bad to say things like that, but it is the truth. I’m pretty sure this is the way how it is going to be sooner or later.

I still need to find more sources for happiness. All these happy things that I told you about are really nice and all, but the bigger picture is that bad things are still stronger. Bad things still win. They are the major power. And when I look back at my life it seems to me that I used to have more fun. Though, the truth is - I’m not so sure.

Maybe my character doesn’t allow me to focus on the happy things? Somehow it is way easier to concentrate on the negative. I don’t know why. Maybe the secret is in the ability to forget about the negative and concentrate on the positive? Maybe I’m asking for too much. Maybe this is all my fault that I’m not happy and destiny is my excuse? Maybe there are people with even worse lives who manage to be happier than I am? Maybe I’m complaining too much? Maybe I need to try harder in order to see my life from a different perspective. Am I complicating things? Am I the only one who’s creating a problematic life for myself? Am I my own enemy? Or is my destiny the one to blame? Is it so wrong to want a better life? Am I capable of creating that better life myself? Am I the only one who’s responsible for my life??? I’m still figuring all this stuff out…

But tell me one thing: is it too depressing to read my blog when I write about things like that?

P.S. if you have any ideas or answers to any of my questions – you’re very welcome!

Love,
D.C.

Three times

2011-09-01T17:06:00.001+03:00

Hey all!

First of all I'd like to say that I can't believe today's the first day of fall. Summer's gone, but that doesn't mean that fun should stop, right? ;-)

I also wanted to tell you about one "special" day. Last Tuesday (August 23) was quite unusual. I went to the city center "on business" and when I returned home I realized that I had left my keys at home earlier that day. :-( Has the same ever happened to you? That's why I had to go to the city center one more time and take my Mother's keys. When I finally got home, my friend Julia invited me to meet and walk in the city. We had a really nice time! This is probably the first occasion (at least the first that I can remember) when I went to the city centre three times in one day.

Best,

Daria

Friends on a sunny day

2011-08-27T13:32:00.001+03:00

Hi, guys!

I want to share some photos with you from August 3, 2011. It was such a nice day! One of the best in a long time. I met with my dear friends Ksy and Nastushka and we had a really good time. Chatting, laughing, taking photos and having fun. Don't you just love days like this? <3

P.S. I don't know what's wrong with those two photos, but I just can't rotate them... Any suggestions? :-(

Xoxox

Daria

Above it all

2011-08-15T22:33:00.000+03:00

Hi, everyone!

I was watching the movie "Last Night" some time ago and there was this phrase: "Tell me something that counts." That's a really nice and interesting thing to say in a dialogue. So what really counts? What's the most important thing in life? What's above it all? I have to live a little bit longer to be able to answer that, but right now happiness seems to be above it all. And for every person it means something different. I would say that for me happiness means: experience mutual love, find myself / my purpose in life, have a sense of belonging somewhere, feel alive...

Daria

Goodbye, July!

2011-07-31T20:34:00.000+03:00

Hello everyone!

I would like to share some of my favorite pictures with you... Enjoy!

x
Daria

Midsummer Day

2011-07-15T22:50:00.000+03:00

Hey all!

July 15, 2011. Today is the midsummer day. Today is also the day I got my rotation results at the univerisity. I'm really happy to say that I will remain on a budget place for my junior year of studies. For those, who don't know -- I wasn't able to get a budget place for my freshman year, but after a successful 1st year I moved to the budget group for my sophomore year. And I've been lucky ever since... That's it for now. Have a great summer (or what's left of it!).

Love,
D.

Confessions

2011-07-13T16:03:00.001+03:00

Hi all!

I think it's about time I wrote about something more personal than usually.

I am alive. I have a place where to live. I live with my Mother. We have enough money to pay the rent, buy food and clothes. I'm not ill, but I'm not perfectly healthy either. I look normal. I have friends. I have lots of interests. I never run out of things to do and I'm never bored with myself. Still. It's not good enough for me. I'm not happy. Not even near. I'm so far from happy that it hurts so bad! I consider myself to be an optimist, even if it's only deep within. With all my heart and soul I would like to be a believer. I still do believe that I have a better life ahead of me. I do believe that life is fair, even if it is naive from my point of view.

I am 21 years old. I haven't achieved anything special in my life. Sure, I do have some things I am proud of, but it's nothing comparing to what some of my acquaintances have achieved. Most of the time I feel insecure about myself. I know what I want from life and I know what I don't want. But at the same time I'm so lost. Sometimes it feels as if I don't know who I am. At all.

There are days when I feel so down that there is very little hope left. I have my dreams and with all my heart I believe that someday at least a part of them will come true. I have so many of them (and the list keeps growing) that it is almost impossible to think that all of them will come true. Still, it is worth living. Even if you have a life like mine. Some people have it worse. Some, on the other hand, have it better. I can't be the judge and decide what each and everyone of us deserves, but if I do speak about it... Well, let's just say I'm not satisfied.

And you know what? I keep waiting. For a miracle to happen. As if waiting ever helped someone. It doesn't change anything. Everything remains the same. I can go on talking about justice, fate, destiny, dreams and things that matter to me for hours... But what's the point? I'm a big talker. I'm always talking. Sometimes I also do things, but that's more like an exception. I prefer to write. That's the point. I just like it. It fulfills me. I just need to write. That's the way I am. I express my feelings on paper and I feel a lot better afterwards. Let's hope this time it will work as well.

Some people say that life is what you make it. Sure, there are things that 100% depend on what I do and how I act. But then there are also a lot of other things that I have no control over and things that I don't have ANY connection to. They just happen and it has nothing to do with me. Let's talk about the parts of my life that I can influence. Well, if I am a "maker" of my life at least at some degree, then I must say I am an awful doer of this job.

I am nowhere near where I want to be. I don't have a completely clear vision of who I really want to be, but I know for sure that one thing I want to be will not come easily. So my question is this: Will I ever be able to become a LIFE LOVER?

Love,
Daria

Worries

2011-06-25T17:16:00.000+03:00

Hi, people! :)

This is not the first time I got this idea. I don't need to worry about all the little things. Somehow, it doesn't work in practice. I keep forgetting about it and there is no control over my actions, feelings and emotions. Maybe in time I will figure out a way to stop my worries. Not today. =(

Best,
Daria

Summer

2011-06-05T23:01:00.000+03:00

Hey guys!

Wish you the best summer of all!!! <3

Love,
Daria

Balance of Life

2011-06-04T13:45:00.000+03:00

Hey you! :)

I'm just thinking about how life is so changeable. One moment you're happy and it feels like everything's so wonderful... The next moment something unpleasant happens... WHY does it always have to be like that? One of my friends said, "It's the balance of life, my dear." And I know it... Just don't want to accept it!

Best
D.

Home Alone

2011-06-04T13:38:00.000+03:00

Hey all!

There's something so great about being home alone. Freedom to do whatever you want. It's 11 pm now and I am singing. If my Mom had been at home, I wouldn't be able to sing right now... But do you know what's also great? Knowing that tomorrow evening my Mom will be at home with me! <3

Love
Daria

Dear Life

2011-05-04T18:52:00.000+03:00

Dear Life!

I really enjoy how interesting you can be... You just keep surprising me & that's truly amazing! <3

xx
Daria

Happiness

2011-05-03T18:24:00.003+03:00

Hey...

You want to know the things that make me happy, don't you? Well, most of them are small things that others won't even notice...but not necessarily. I love the end of the day. Especially when the work is done and I feel good about myself, which means I deserve whatever good comes next. I prepare some yummy (usually unhealthy) food, sit down in my comfy chair and start watching one of my all-time favorite TV series "Veronica Mars". Happiness... <3

Love,
D.

Spring fun

2011-04-25T21:18:00.002+03:00

Hey!

I haven't written anything in a month. But I promise to write something soon. And for the time being - enjoy those pics! ;-)

xx
Daria

Hi! :)

2011-03-27T04:00:00.002+03:00

Hi, everyone!

My name is Daria. I was born in Russia, but I've lived in Riga, Latvia since I was 2 years old.

I am currently studying English Philology at Latvian University.

My interests: traveling, music concerts, TV series, dancing, singing, movies, magazines, fashion, writing, cinema, photography, tennis and many more... :)

I've been keeping a personal Diary since September 2008, but now I've decided to start my own personal blog as well. I called it "Dream", because that's what my life is all about...

I love dreaming, I believe in my dreams and I live for my dreams...

xxx
Daria