Lithuanians Abroad: We Are the Ambassadors of Our Country

“I was born to be Lithuanian,” says Mariia-Kristina Chaikovska, who resides in Ukraine. Although she understands and communicates quite fluently in Lithuanian, she decided to devote this summer to education – she deepened her knowledge of her mother tongue through Lithuanian language and culture courses for foreigners organised by Vytautas Magnus University (VMU). She dreams of someday settling in Lithuania with her entire family.

Born and raised in Vilnius in a Lithuanian-Polish family, Mariia says her parents’ decision to send her to a Russian school as a child was their greatest mistake.

“The Soviet authorities at the time promoted the notion that those who knew only Lithuanian or Polish could only pursue studies in agriculture. My mother didn’t want my options to be limited, so she sent me to a Russian school. I studied, read books, and communicated in Russian. But even then, I felt out of place, as if something was missing. And that certainly had a big impact on how my life turned out later on,” says the Lithuanian, who has been building her life in Ukraine for more than 40 years.

The war in Ukraine hindered the return to the homeland

According to Maria, it is the Lithuanian language that is associated with the brightest memories of her childhood. Although her family spoke Polish at home, she connected with her Lithuanian heritage during summer visits to her father’s brother’s family in the Molėtai district. “My aunt was a Lithuanian language teacher. It was she who deepened my connection to our Lithuanian roots: we would only speak Lithuanian at their home, watch Lithuanian films, and eat Lithuanian dishes,” she recalls.

Always dreaming of returning to live in Lithuania and improving her Lithuanian language skills, the woman admits she has always missed her native country. However, as Mariia notes, we can’t always do what we want in life. She has attempted to return and settle in Lithuania with her family, her husband, and two sons several times.

“The last attempt was a few years ago. We had come here with the intention to settle, found a place to live, but then the war started in Ukraine. My husband told me that he couldn’t leave his country at such a time. So, at least for now, we don’t talk about returning to Lithuania. Although we live in the 21st century and are part of Europe, and the world knows and remembers history from not so distant times, it often does not want to draw conclusions. However, I believe that the war will end, and it will end soon,” the woman looks to the future with optimism.

It was the desire to live in Lithuania that led Mariia to the Lithuanian language and culture courses organised by VMU. She says that the most difficult part of learning Lithuanian is mastering the endings. “But I live in Ukraine, and Ukraine doesn’t surrender, so neither will I. I’ll learn Lithuanian,” she jokes and enjoys the opportunity for Lithuanians all over the world to learn their native language.

“Being here, I’ve come to realise that by attending these courses I’m not only learning the Lithuanian language, its grammar, and culture. I am convinced that the students who come here become ambassadors of Lithuania worldwide. I attend lectures together with representatives from more than 25 countries around the world, who will spread the word about Lithuania when they return to their homelands. Speaking with other students, I hear that they love it here and most of them would like to stay in Lithuania for a long time, continue their studies, and establish themselves,” says Mariia.

Language serves as a tool for understanding one’s roots

Meanwhile, Danielius Graužinis, who was born and raised in Siberia, Russia, and now lives in Spain, says he is learning Lithuanian to better understand his roots.

“In 1948, my grandparents were exiled to Siberia by the Soviet authorities. Unfortunately, they were never permitted to return to Lithuania. No one in my family spoke Lithuanian, but I am determined to learn the language as fluently as possible,” admits the Lithuanian, who restored his citizenship on February 16, a date symbolic for Lithuania, and has recently Lithuanised his name and surname.

Although it is his first visit to Lithuania, Danielius has already grown fond of Kaunas. “It’s a quiet, convenient city, boasting not only a beautiful Old Town and well-developed public transport but also very helpful people. Having already made many friends here, my next goal is to learn Lithuanian – perhaps not perfectly, but well enough – and to settle here in the near future. It’s a comfortable place to live,” reflects the man on his future possibilities.

The beauty of language is revealed through songs

According to Mariia, it is important to preserve the Lithuanian language due to its archaic nature. Although there is a belief that the most beautiful and melodious language in the world is Italian, Mariia, who participated in the Song Celebration for the first time this year, experienced the true beauty and authenticity of the Lithuanian language.

“The lyrics of the song ‘Because of That Song’ really stuck with me: ‘I am worried about that word / Which we left behind and forgot / Which now lies somewhere in the field / Overgrown like a stone.’ I believe that my own presence here, in Lithuania, prevents my native Lithuanian words from becoming ‘overgrown’. Although I had never ‘lost’ the Lithuanian language, I have always missed this land,” Mariia says.

About Lithuanian language and culture courses

Every summer and winter, Vytautas Magnus University organises Lithuanian Language and Culture courses sponsored by the Educational Exchange Support Foundation. These courses provide an opportunity for Lithuanians worldwide, students from various fields, and citizens of foreign countries to learn Lithuanian and spend the summer or winter months in an unconventional way.

According to one of the course organisers, Assoc. Prof. Laura Kamandulytė-Merfeldienė, Head of the Department of Lithuanian Studies at VMU, these courses offer a great opportunity to meet, interact, and spend time with people from all over the world who are interested in the Lithuanian language and culture, while simultaneously learning or improving their Lithuanian skills.

“This year, the Lithuanian Language and Culture courses were held for the 25th time and attracted participants from more than 25 different countries,” the organiser highlights the uniqueness of the courses.