Latvian Roommate Questions?

Question

I will be having a roommate from Latvia this year on an exchange program. What should I expect? Like, is there religious considerations when going grocery shopping? Will certain typical American things offend him that I might do without thinking?

Answer 1

I don't think you should worry about religious considerations when going shopping. Unless your future roommate will be some kind of exception. I have never heard of Latvians having these problems. Most likely he will have his food preferences as any other person would have.

I would not be so hasty and assume that he would be a christian. May be?...

I don't know which typical American things you have in mind, but there always are times when people have difficulties understanding each other.

Why would you think about how much fun you would have together instead of worrying.

Answer 2

I am not Latvian, I have never even been there, so my info is second hand at best.

Unless your roommate is a rare exception, he is likely to be Christian, not extreme in any way and willing to make the best of it.

I think you best talk it over when you meet.

Of course, you will do things that annoy him, the same the other way round but so would it be with any roommate you will ever have.

I think that with a little more talk than normal you can sort things out before they become a problem.

Above all, remember that he is a person, not a stereotype for his country. All people are slightly or wildly different from all other people, even when they come from the same country, town or even family.