Pieredzes stāsts

Par savu pieredzi šajā rakstā dalās Isurika - dalībniece no Šrilankas un dzīvo Latvijā:

"Hi, I’m Isurika. I’m 30 years old (yes, on the glamorous edge of 31), and last month I spent 9 days pretending I was in a fairytale with 30 other wild souls from 6 different countries across Europe. 

Now let me be honest. When I applied to this project, I was not in my "everything’s fine, thriving queen" era. I was in my "why is life punching me in the face?" phase. So when I got accepted, I was like: “Is this for real??? Really the god is giving me a divine gift afterall?” I didn’t think I’d even get in because, well… I’m Asian, almost 31, and usually these projects are filled with Gen-Z extroverts who blink in memes. But hey, your girl got in! And I packed my expectations somewhere between “I hope there’s rice” and “maybe I’ll find inner peace.”

The first people I met were Dora, Aniello, and Ornella, all super nice, and super chill. I immediately felt like this was going to be good. Later I met more kind humans: Emilie, Gina, Joppe, Bori, Hamza, and I started warming up to the fact that I'd be living with strangers in the middle of nowhere in Latvia, in a castle-like place for 9 days. Totally normal. Yes, you read that right. We were staying in Plavnas, which literally looked like a castle pulled out of Pinterest and dropped in the middle of Latvia. I felt like I’d accidentally joined a reality show called “So You Think You Can Heal?”

That first night, after stuffing ourselves with dinner, I and a few girls sat outside, little by little that circle became big and we took turns saying why we joined the project. So basically it was the rehearsal for the morning meeting. I said I’d recently lost the most meaningful connection I had in Latvia and came here looking for comfort. And then I sat there like, “Wow, that got deep fast. Who’s got tissues?” haha joke  😀.But in all seriousness, there was something really sweet and raw about that night. Just vibes, stars, a lot of mosquito bites and a bunch of humans oversharing in the best way.

And THEN… came the plot twist. We were told that Lady Gaga, Nirvana, and other American icons were "here." And I - a trusting, gentle soul believed it for a hot minute, I was like, “Wait, why are all these celebrities in Latvia… together?” Turns out it was a setup. A joke. And our Sonny as Lady Gaga? Oscar-worthy 😉. I lost 5 years of life from laughing and dancing..

After that, the days rolled by in a blur of activities. Dancing, meditating, cooking, cleaning, reflecting, pretending I knew what was going on… the usual Erasmus chaos. I honestly can’t tell you what happened in what order because my brain was on “forest mode.” But I do remember dancing like no one was watching, laughing like I had no filter, and hiding in the kitchen when things got too social.

Speaking of the kitchen, my safe zone, shoutout to Marija and Angle for being the coziest, most precious kitchen companions ever. We chopped veggies, talked about some stuff, and ate Rhubarb with sour faces.

"Oh, and the best part? At one point, we had to rush-pack our lunch, pose for a group photo, get blindfolded, shoved into a van, and then dumped in the middle of nowhere,  all just to go 'connect with locals.' What kind of plot twist was that?!" 😄. So while roaming around we met some family and people there legit thought I was a YouTube celebrity. Apparently I resemble an Indian content creator, and honestly? I didn’t deny it. Gotta live the dream somehow 🤣. Then came my favorite tradition: Mantra Night. Every night, I'd be the first one there, chanting like a wellness guru and loving every second of it. It was wholesome and weird in the best way. Afterward, we’d jump in the lake,  which was magical, refreshing, and slightly scarring when you realize half the people are swimming very free-spiritedly if you know what I mean. 😂 Cultural shock? Yes. Do I still talk about it in my head? Also yes.

Now, I won’t lie. At first, I felt a little out of the group. The Italians and Spanish people had this cool energy and fast-talking vibe, and I was just out here trying to remember names and not fall asleep before midnight. But somehow, by the end, those were the very people I got closest to. Wild, right? I didn’t take many photos. I forgot to document everything. But I was there, living it, laughing at myself, dancing like a maniac, being too honest, and figuring out how to just be… me.

So if you’re wondering what Authentic Path gave me:

It gave me a castle.

It gave me chaos.

It gave me food, mantras, dancing Gaga, and a reminder that even when life feels upside down… laughter, weird moments, and kind people can glue you back together.

It fed me all three meals like a baby, which ‘yes’ made me feel loved, and also fat like a pig, but in the happiest, most well-fed way possible.

It taught me that it’s okay to miss a few sessions, because you can still be present in your own way.

It showed me that you don’t need to be loud to belong, sometimes just sitting beside someone, chopping veggies, or sharing a laugh is enough.

It made me realize I can survive without knowing the plan (even if I panic first), and that growth can sneak up on you like a blindfolded van ride into the unknown.

It reminded me that even when I feel like a background character, I’m still part of the story.

And most of all, it showed me that comfort doesn’t always come from familiarity. Sometimes it comes from total strangers in the middle of nowhere, singing mantras, barefoot and beautiful.

Authentic Path, thank you for all of it: the food, the freak-outs, the friendships, the freedom. And thank you to my body for surviving it all. And thank you all for being part of this beautiful journey."