The International Women’s Club of Riga is an international group of women offering friendship and supporting local charities.
Today, we get to know Brittany Conlin better – an incredibly active and inspiring member of our club. Recently, she has distinguished herself by organizing several charity events to support local charity organizations in Latvia. Additionally, Brittany launched a Spanish language club, bringing like-minded people together and creating a new group for communication and cultural exchange. Her energy and dedication inspire everyone around her!
IWCR: Brittany, can you share a little bit about yourself? What is your profession, hobbies, what have you done before, your cultural background.
Brittany: Thank you for inviting me to share about myself! I was born in a small town in Iowa, a farm state located in the center of the USA. At age eight, my parents made an absolutely wild decision to move our family to Colombia, South America. My time in Colombia was amazingly formative as I learned a second language and fully immersed myself in a second culture. Even as a young girl, the exposure to a foreign county altered my life trajectory. I knew that although I appreciated and loved my own country, my biggest desire would always be to live overseas and to be a member of an international community.
I met my spouse in 2004 and we have since kept a fast-paced lifestyle with nine moves including three international ones. In the midst of our constant moving, we did manage to add three children and a cat to our family. Depending on our location and length of stay, I have worked in the small business sector as a financial manager. Though most often I have been a dedicated volunteer for local organizations including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and the local school parent association. My personal hobbies continue to include swing dancing and travel.
We are beyond excited to be in Riga through the summer of 2027 and I am grateful every day to be on this adventure. Looking forward to more events and meeting everyone in the International Women’s Club.
IWCR: Brittany, you are a IWCR member for a while. How did you find out about the club, and what the club does?
Brittany: I am a Facebook junkie and began researching international outlets within the Riga, Latvia community. I was pleasantly surprised to find the IWCR! I attended my first Meet and Greet in August 2024.
IWCR: Which club activities do you enjoy the most? What would you like to add?
Brittany: I most enjoy the club activities that provide an opportunity to socialize and share with other members of the international community and our host nation friends. I appreciate learning about the different cultures, customs, foods, and experiences. I will continue to share my own customs and am looking forward to the January 25th Naked Lady Swap Party!
IWCR: Would you share with us your favorite experiences in Latvia (a place you like most, a dish, an event, music, culture etc.)?
Brittany: Our family only lives in a place for one to three years. I have learned that to feel “at home” and to fully enjoy a place even for a short period of time, it is necessary to hit the ground running. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Riga has a swing dancing community that hosts dances and class series. In August 2024, I moved full force ahead and signed up for weekly dance classes that are taught completely in Latvian! I am meeting amazing Latvians with whom I might not have come into contact otherwise. I have absolutely loved being one of the few foreign members in Swing Latvia.
IWCR: How does life in Riga differ from life in your hometown?
Brittany: I treasure Riga and one of the biggest reasons it appeals greatly to me is the ability to easily get from one place to another by walking or public transportation. My home state of Iowa is predominantly rural and it is impossible to walk places even within a small community. Public transportation is not common or as easy to use in many parts of my country. I am also captivated by the long-standing architecture and historic preservation that provides Riga with such charm. My hometown is very young in comparison to Riga!
