The Veber family can't complain about life in England – they have their own apartment, main breadwinner Dimitry has a good job as a driver, though he is an economist by education. While Inesa has an architectural technology degree from the Riga Building College she has already closed and sold her Latvian goods store in Spalding.
The family is raising two children, which is one of the reasons for the move. “It's a very big problem for a young mother with children to work, especially with two children, one of my children is two, the other is one year old,” said Inesa.
“I've been sitting at home for the past two years, I'm beginning to atrophy. I need movement, I worked in sales for 9 years. I don't want to lose my skills, I want to keep working,” said the mother.
Unfortunately Inesa finds herself in a catch-22 situation where if she were to work, most of her salary would go towards childcare. While Dimitry is still learning Latvian, the children speak both parents' native languages – Latvian and Russian.
The couple met accidentally on Facebook after getting into a public dispute in the comments section that moved to an apology in private messages. After three years together Dimitry moved to England, however he hasn't liked it since day one, and Inesa also admits to missing her friends and family in Latvia. Planning the move to Latvia, however, hasn't been easy.
“The re-emigration plan is just a title. Unfortunately the Rīga coordinator phone number doesn't answer, just doesn't exist. I then tried to contact the Rīga City Council and so forth, and I was given contact after contact,” said Inesa.
“I was constantly referred elsewhere, and I was surprised how many government organizations there are. But none of them have currently offered me information about what I have to do, what are my responsibilities and what are my rights,” continued Inesa. Dimitry also expressed exasperation regarding the lack of information in languages other than Latvian.
The family eventually found a three-room apartment for rent in Rīga, and the children will either be sent to a private daycare or have a nanny. While the family could get by only on Dimitry's salary as a driver with a Finnish company, Inesa still wants to work.
“I'm not interested in the salary amount. I want to use my strengths to prove myself, and have myself and my knowledge be appreciates,” said Inesa.
