Crisis in Latvia. Crisis diary. Winter 2009
Crisis diary by Katya
Winter 2009
2009-02-26
Dentistry is still on demand. You have to sign up to visit dentist one week before. To get to the particular dentist recommended by acquaintance you have to sign up two months before. But its easier to visit your hairdresser, also solarium is free of any reservation.
There is decreased demand in private medical services. People choose to visit States gynaecologist paying 2 lats not private one of 30 lats for a visit.
Hospitals pass on the stand-by duty at home - the doctor is not available at hospital but stays at home, waiting for a call.
Day hospitals have reduced the number of the working hours of doctors. They don’t fit in time and work unpaid overtime. Doctors` salaries in some hospitals are 2 times smaller than last year.
Culinary TV show teaches how to prepare home made sausages, buying the guts in the central market for 40 santimes per meter.
The cook On the TV show makes sausages and treats protesting farmers, who have arrived to the city with agricultural machinery.
On the last week the Prime Minister of Latvia has resigned, today the president of Latvia has named another candidate for this position.
State TV shows a story on the bad political situation in Japan, drunk Japanese minister was showed accompanied by a joyful music.
In women's magazines appears articles about mind power. Articles about successful ladies, who have got all they want, you can find in every magazine.
2009-02-22
There are many skiers and snowbordists on local skiing slopes. On the Early Sunday morning, already about 7 cars are waiting for opening of the hill. After lunch time parking is full and the slope staff offers new parking solution for just arrived skiers to park in the newly washed field. This is a good winter for slope keepers, the last one was warm but this winter guarantees recovering. A new feature is offered: skiing on neighbour slopes. Every hour transfer brings the skiers to neighbour slopes. You can see skiing elderly ones, adults, and 6 to 7 year old children.
2009-02-12
Premature health care reforms take place. Psychiatry has been thoroughly cut oxygen - “the mad ones will walk along the streets”, psychiatrists say.
Newspapers publish articles about the Great depression; Internet suggests learn from other countries in crisis models – Scandinavian crisis of 90-ies, Argentine crisis of 90-ies.
Dramatic decrease of apartment’s prices: on the first of the month prices have fallen by 12%.
2009-02-10
The peak of crisis. Three months ago, I remember my acquaintances said: “Oh, crisis. I don’t feel it. If No TV news and newspapers I wouldn’t even notice about this.” Now I haven’t heard statements like that for three months.
New websites about crisis are appealing in the web. Today I found two of them: www.pingviniem.lv (in Latvian- “for the penguins”), the second one… Nor I can remember, nor even found it. Penguins are a top symbol in Latvia now. Why? The Premier Minister of Latvia recommended inhabitants to warm each other by rubbing each other spines as penguins do.
Yesterday I realized that the spokesman of my favourite radioshow on the State radio is fired. He is going to try his skills in dramatics. It’s so strange - I had heared about this with half an ear but I didn’t want to believe.
Latest announcement of Mr Lembergs - the local millionaire: «Now anyone can become a millionaire”.
