🇱🇻 Dina, from Latvia & The Bronx
Dina is featured on Episode #14 of New Neighbors podcast.
Dina is originally from Riga, Latvia, and came to New York City when she was eight years old in 1991. Dina has only lived in New York City. and she believes that having the opportunity to live in different boroughs in New York City has given her a taste of New York, comprehensively.
What brought you to New York?
The United States was the land of opportunity and living there. My parents thought there was not a lot of opportunity for us (back home). My dad was in his 40s and my mom was in her 30s. And we just wanted a better life for ourselves.
My uncle was the first one to leave in the 80s. Then, he moved around. He lived in Italy for a while. I guess he was trying to find where to settle. Eventually, he landed in New York and the whole family reunited there in 1991. So my uncles, my cousins, and all of us went from Latvia to Moscow. And then from Moscow, we took a flight to New York City. And we've been here ever since.
“Finally, I realized that home is not a place. It’s just something that comes from inside of me. I can feel at home anywhere.”
What does home mean to you?
It's interesting because since I came to this country, I've been trying to find home. When I came to the city, I felt like a foreigner and didn't belong. When I visited Russia, I also didn't feel like I belonged or that I was at home - and many people thought I was a foreigner because, in their eyes, I might not look Russian. From the beginning of my childhood, I’ve wondered where home was. I would travel to different cities, trying to imagine myself, "Well, can I live here?" And "if I don't live in New York City, where else can I live?
Finally, I realized that home is not a place. It's just something that comes from inside of me. I can feel at home anywhere. I can travel to different countries, but I don't have to move somewhere else- I'm quite fine living in New York City, and I think it would be nice to stay here for a long time.
My dream would be to be bi-coastal or live in another country. I've always felt a pole to Mexico. And it would be amazing to have roots in that country. If I could maybe spend my summers there or something with work, I would like to spend part of my year in Mexico or maybe somewhere on the West Coast. I feel very drawn to the energy on the West Coast.
More from Dina, our neighbor from Latvia:
Have you had the opportunity to create communities in New York?
I think that made me feel most at home in New York City: the friendships I've grown over the years. My parents living here, my brother, my, my cousins live a little, they're a little bit spread out. But most importantly, my friendships with people here in New York City provide a sense of home too.
I've never been very close to the Russian community in New York City so that never provided that feeling of home. And I've never met a Latvian person in New York City, either. I've always been more connected with Russian culture.
Coming to New York City so young, I feel more American. I feel more like a global person because I've just traveled worldwide and love to experience other cultures. So even though I do identify as Russian, my interests are very broad. I love all cultures, and I feel especially drawn to Latin America.
Is there anything currently that's keeping you up at night?
I'm just thinking about the projects that I would like to work on this year. There's just so much to do: from editing my previous projects from the last couple of years (I've been on a long hiatus) to my current self-portrait series, and how I want to see it develop. Simply getting back into the flow of photography because I've been focused on my health and recovery.
Is there something you appreciate about New York City?
This goes back to the answer many people have said on your podcast: What draws me to New York compared to other cities I've visited is how diverse the city is.
There are so many different cuisines that are just full of culture. And that's something that I love about New York. I want to stay here because I can visit different neighborhoods and experience many different cultures. And that makes this place beautiful.
Do you have a vision for yourself in New York City?
I think I'll be in New York City for a while. I often wanted to leave, but something kept me here. And I ask myself why I want to stay in the city, and it’s probably my parents because a couple of times I told them like, I think I might want to move to LA or somewhere out west. And they got really sad.
I love having parents close by, being close to my family on the East Coast, and the friendships I've formed here, but I am very open to living elsewhere. And for now, I think I'll call New York City home for the next 10, 15, or 20 years.