Anita Rutule is a young entrepreneur from Bērzgale who, after spending ten years in the United Kingdom, returned to the countryside of Latgale and dared to embark on an important, yet far from easy, business venture. She opened “Bierzgalīts”, a village shop offering not only food but also a wide range of everyday essentials. Anita brought the idea home from abroad, where such small convenience stores, combining different types of goods under one roof, are extremely popular.
Returning Home – A Choice Made for Family and Heart
Anita does not hide the fact that leaving Latvia was not an easy decision. At the time, however, it offered an opportunity to seek better living and employment prospects. She spent a total of ten years abroad, but eventually came to realise that it was time to return for good.
“I didn’t leave simply because I had such a good life in Latvia. In total, I spent ten years in the United Kingdom – I left, returned, and then left again. Why did I come back? First of all, I had a daughter, and I didn’t want her to go to school there. Secondly, I simply wanted to return myself,” Anita explains.
Her decision to return was not merely a practical consideration. It was also driven by a desire to live in an environment close to her heart, to be in Latvia, and to build her future here. But wanting to return is not enough on its own – after coming home, one must also find their place, a job, and a way to provide a decent everyday life for their family.
From Experience Abroad to Her Own Business Idea
While living in the United Kingdom, Anita noticed that small shops in villages, where people could buy a wide variety of everyday essentials, were a familiar and popular place to shop. After returning to Latgale, this experience developed into a concrete idea: to create a shop that would serve local residents and allow them to purchase what they needed close to home.
Starting a business in the countryside is not easy. It requires assessing demand, planning investments, choosing the product range, and managing everyday costs. Those returning from abroad must also take into account differences in salary levels and business opportunities in Latvia.
“It is really difficult when you come back from abroad and start wondering, ‘What am I going to do here?’ The salary will be twice as low, after all. Perhaps it was a little easier for me because I had some savings and experience,” Anita admits.
Her experience shows that knowledge and observations gained abroad can become the foundation for a new business venture in one’s home region. It is important not only to return, but also to dare to take action, adapt ideas to local circumstances, and bring a vision to life step by step.
A Dream of a Home by the Lake
Anita’s story of returning home is not just about work and entrepreneurship. It is also about a personal dream – living in a place where she truly feels happy.
“Don’t be afraid! For example, I had set myself a goal: I wanted an apartment or a house near a lake, whether in a town or a village. And I found a home in Lendži. Knowing that there is a lake right beside you, just a two-minute walk away – it is simply WOW! This is the place I truly wanted,” Anita says with joy.
The feeling of having found a place where you belong is often one of the main reasons people choose to return home. Returning does not necessarily mean going back to the way things used to be. It can be an opportunity to start afresh, drawing on experience gained abroad, accumulated resources, and the courage to pursue one’s dreams. Anita’s example is an encouragement to others who are considering returning to Latgale. The beginning may not be easy, and the answers to every question may not be immediately clear. But sometimes, a clear goal, belief in one’s idea, and the willingness to take the first step are all it takes.
Anita’s story reminds us that home is not only a place to return to, but also a place to create, grow, and build your future.
Translated by AI
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