Stay in Latvia or find an other place to live?

Government predictions right now is that by year 2015 as more borders will be open, there will be 250 thousand Latvians living somewhere else around the world. Right now the official number is about 60 thousand. Why do people choose live somewhere else?

I on my own few years ago moved to New York…I had all my life there. And I was almost happy! And I didn’t feel like coming back to live here in Latvia anymore. Actually I even didn’t want to. The only reason I ever came back was my family…and the reason I didn’t go back to New York was because the stupid US government didn’t give me visa… Right now I feel happy living here and the only thing I would change is the weather…I wish more sunshine!

I understand people who move somewhere else to find better life. Like my girlfriend Baiba says, “it’s all about money”. Latvia is one of the poorest European countries and the average salary here is ridiculous. There are either very rich people (not too many) or poor, no middle class. There are only few people who can save money, put it in the bank...Like my mom...she is a kindergarden director, she makes above the avarage...and still – she lives from sallary to salary...no chance to save. And belive me – she doesn`t even have a car...she cant afford it! Thats not normal...so I understand people who leave for better sallary...

Baiba says – people leave to „fulfill some specific needs or desires one cannot fulfill here or because they have obsession with international environment”. Ok, maybe… But my girlfriend Marita, whom I met in New York (she’s Latvian) thinks „living abroad is just a bit different and you’re only better off if you’re the kind of person who’s after new experiences. And be warned - once you’ve been somewhere for a while you’re back to square one and looking for the next place to go to, has happened to me twice already...” Becomes – that`s addicion? I don`t know...livig in different countries, chaging place you call home again and again...Maybe thats ok for someone...but not for me...not anymore. Here is my home, here is all my life – my family, friends, Latvians (here I am citizen and thats important for me) and I would never change it for anything else.