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Just like in america latvia started elementary school at age 6. Elementary school in latvia is only grades 1-4.  They are required to go to secondary school grades 5-9. After you finish those grades you can go to three additional years of secondary school grades 10-12.

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Once you graduate secondary school, you can go to higher education. They teach you more and they also teach you about other jobs in the world. It is very hard to get into higher education, students often times compete for positions and scholarships by exams. If students don’t get in they can pay tuition at private and some state-sponsored schools.

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Latvia uses a parliamentary democracy. That means that there is a prime minister who is the head of government. Another person is the president who serves as head of state. The prime minister has executive power. Because prime ministers are usually chosen from the legislature, or parliament, executive power is not separate from the legislature.

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Before you go to Latvia you should know all of the laws. Drinking is a big thing in Latvia. Having possession of a open bottle, being very drunk or driving while under the influence of alcohol is unacceptable. Smoking in a public place or have possession of drugs is disproved of. Another law that you want to follow is  disrespecting a police officer or play dumb and  saying that you don't know a law.

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Latvia is the 82nd largest export economy in the world and the 39th most complex economy. One of the most popular trading partner of Latvia is Russia. They trade a lot of  The top exports of Latvia are Refined Petroleum , Sawn Wood, Hard Liquor , Broadcasting Equipment  and Fuelwood , using the 1992 revision of the HS (Harmonized System) classification. Its top imports are Refined Petroleum , Broadcasting Equipment , Cars , Packaged Medicaments  and Petroleum Gas.

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Latvians drink beer and soft drinks at room temperature. Cold drinks are considered unhealthy. Juice and coffee are also common beverages. In latvia people tend to drink a lot of alcohol beverages including vodka, brandy, and wine, some Latvians consume balzāms—a thick mixture of herbs and alcohol that is drunk alone, with coffee, or is poured over ice cream. It is said to have medicinal value.

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Most Latvian cousins include pork. Others include potatoes and cabbage soup. IF the dishes don’t include those things hey have red meat, poultry, or fish.  Imported summer fruits pineapples, bananas, and oranges and locally grown produce onions, potatoes, beets, cucumbers, apples, mushrooms, and berries to give variety of flavors.

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In the past 100 years a lot has happened in Latvia. In 1921 Latvia became a part of the league of nations. Nine years later Latvia struggled with economic depression. After the economic depression, Latvia became a dictatorship in 1934. In 1940 Latvia became part of the soviet union. 1941 Natizis invaded Latvia and started killing Latvian jews. On september 2 1991 Latvia restored their independence.

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Name day in Latvia is almost as close to the popularity of a birthday.  Each day in the Latvian calendar includes up to four names. On May 22 they celebrate all of the names that are not celebrated already. The tradition is related to a church calendar of the Saints. The calendar gets updated every two years.  The owner of the name receive flowers, congratulations and small presents. They celebrate with families at home and with colleagues at workplaces. Anyone can celebrate with you because there are no invitations.

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Latvia used to be government controlled. The government used to buy all of the companies and then give them to people to own. As of 1930 Latvia transferred to be a market economy. To be a market economy means that you own your own company and you can control things that the government controlled before.

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Riga,  the capital of Latvia got to be the capitol because sailors sailed on the cost and landed at a fishing village there and built a fort. Before that, Latvians used to be stone age hunters and gatherers in 2,000 BC. In 1201 The Pope decided that all of Latvia should be christian.

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Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a Lutheran heritage church. Both the Nazi and communist government persecuted the church badly before religious freedom in Latvia in 1988. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia sees itself as being in a continuous tradition of Christian life since the earliest recorded Christian missionary work in the area, in the 12th century. about 20% belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia 15%  of latvia belong to an orthodox church.

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Amber jewelry it a very popular color and it is well known as a  latvia art form. Other art forms like amber jewellery include weaving, metalwork, ceramics, leatherwork, native carving and wood carving. Latvians weave lot and lots of carpets.

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Latvia in the fall can be a very festive time. People going dancing in the streets and or going to see concerts. Theater productions are very popular too. Every season people are all over the town singing and dancing around. Folk festivals are always happening and they are a great way for new people to meet other latvians.

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In urban areas, apartment living is most common. Large up to 12-storey apartment blocks. According to gender siblings can share a room and can decorate it however the wish. In apartments the couch is always a foldout bed. The parents can sleep together in the same room and so will the baby no matter what gender.

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Latvians usually tend to have two or more kids. The girls in the family help their mother do house work. Cook and wash dishes for some examples. The boys help their fathers do repairs and in rural areas farm.