10 Reasons Why I Love Theatre

  Hello, friends! As you guys know, theatre is a passion of mine. I have loved it ever since I was a little girl and performed for the first time as Gretyl in The Sound of Music. Today I'm going to be listing 10 reasons why I love theatre. Let's do this thing!

1. Theatre let's you become someone else: For that hour and a half (or so) onstage, you get to live the life of a character that is not you. How awesome is that?
2. It gives a glimpse into what it means to be human: Theatre portrays life and what is shown on the stage reminds people of what being human is.
3. Theatre is based on pure, raw talent: What you put on stage is what you get. There is no editing, no redoes, not touchups.
4. You gain confidence: Theatre gives you confidence! By acting and performing onstage, I am able to live confidently in real life.
5. Bond with cast: There's nothing like cast bonding. When you're in a show, the cast and crew becomes your family and you're all working together towards a common goal.
6. There's nothing like being under stage lights: For me, being onstage with the stage lights on is magical. You can't see the audience, it's just you and your cast onstage and it's amazing.
7. You can create a different world with your cast: Theatre allows you to live in a different world than you live in real life. Onstage, you create situations and scenes of another world.
8. The applause: Getting an applause for your show and all that you put into it is the most satisfying, rewarding experience.
9. You can connect with the audience: Whenever I do a show, my goal is to allow my character to connect with the audience. Theatre allows you to form a relationship with people in a completely new way.
10. Allows freedom of expression: I love theatre, because I am able to express myself and there is not limit to how I can do that. 

This Week In Fame!

  Hello, friends! This week I got back in rehearsals for the show that I am currently in, Fame. I just wanted to update you on the progress of the musical and all that has gone down in Fame rehearsals this week.
  
Monday: On Monday, we worked on blocking the "There She Goes/Fame" cafeteria scene. We got the entire scene done and were able to run through it, which was great! I love this scene, because it's the big dance scene that the who is known for, and I get to strut on cafeteria tables ,which is awesome!

Tuesday: On Tuesday, we worked on choreography for "There She Goes/Fame". The rehearsal went so well and we got a ton done! The choreography wasn't too hard, but it will look amazing when it all comes together. There are so many talented people in the cast, and I'm sure it will turn out amazing. I have to get used to singing while dancing a full number, though!

Wednesday: Oh, God. This dreaded day. The stage kiss blocking day. The characters that were couples in the show got together with the director to work on blocking the stage kisses, which was super awkward and definitely interesting. It got done though!

Thursday: On Thursday, we blocked and ran two scenes. I didn't feel like I was completely myself this day and didn't put in the performance that I wanted to. But that's okay! It's fine to have an off day, I just need to make sure that I don't let it continue. 

  Alright guys! I hope you all are liking these updates on Fame. For me, it's a great way to document an amazing experience and share them with you guys! Let me know if you're liking them! 

-Love Ling

My Day: 12/20

  Hello, friends! How are you guys today? I hope you have had an amazing day full of joy and holiday fun! Today I'm going to give you a run down of what went down today, so let's get started!
  I had a performance this morning in which I sang and played piano at a local nursing home. I performed a couple holiday pieces, and it went really well. I really enjoy going to nursing homes and brightening the days of the residents that live there.
  After the performance, I went to Five Guys for lunch, where I had a delicious burger! That place is so great, so if you haven't tried Five Guys, you definitely need to. For the rest of the afternoon, I ran some errands around town and did some shopping. I also got in some Christmas wrapping! I'm really happy that I was able to wrap all the gifts I'm giving, because that knocks off one thing on my list of things to do! 
  This evening, I had dinner with my family and baked some cookies afterwards. I will give you the recipe of the cookies I baked later, for sure! 
  I hope you enjoyed this blog post of my day, and I will talk to you later! 

-Love Ling

Big News!

  Hello, friends! I'm sure many of you guys know that I have a passion for theatre and I do shows quite frequently. I just auditioned for "Fame The Musical" last week, going for the lead role of Carmen Diaz. 
  Well, the cast list was posted today and...I got the role! Thank you so much to everyone who was thinking of me and keeping me in your prayers. I'm really excited to be in this show and go on this four month journey with the rest of the cast and crew! I will definitely keep you updated on all that's going on with "Fame" on this blog,as well as giving you a bit of insight into the theatre world. This is going to be so exciting! I can't wait to share this experience with you! Thanks for your support!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 13

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today/yesterday. I'm so sorry! I was late on my post!

1. My family: I'm really thankful that my family coming in for Thanksgiving wasn't delayed on their flight.
2. Coffee shops: I took my family on a tour of the city I lived in, and showed them my favorite coffee shop. They make such good coffee, and I'm really thankful for it. 
3. Mini cheesecakes: I have some left over mini-cheesecakes from my party last weekend, and they are so delicious! It's basically a little cheesecake triangle covered in chocolate. Ahhh!
4. Blow-up mattresses: I gave up my room for my aunt to sleep in, so I'm really thankful for the blow-up mattress that I ended up sleeping on. It was that or the floor.
5. Nice waitresses: My family and I went out to dinner at this local Italian restaurant. The waitress we had was so nice and made the whole experience really enjoyable.

This is what I was thankful for on the day before Thanksgiving! I hope you have an amazing Thanksgiving, you guys! Eat as much as you can and remember to be thankful for what you have.

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 12

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today:

1. Not being late: There was some really bad traffic this morning and I managed to get my destination without being late. Thank goodness!
2. Coffee: On my way home, I stopped to get a coffee at a local coffee shop, and it was really nice to treat myself. I like to treat myself to a coffee once a week.
3. My grandparents: My grandparents came to visit me for Thanksgiving, and I'm really thankful that they got here safely.
4. Tea with my grandma: I got to drink tea and have a nice conversation with my grandma this evening, and it was really nice to sit and talk with her.
5. My dogs: For those of you who don't know, I have two dogs and I'm really thankful for them. They're soft, cuddly, and loving. I just love them!

I hope you enjoyed what I was thankful for today! Only two more days until Thanksgiving!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 11

Hello, friends! Thank you to those who have clicked on this post to know what I was thankful for today. Here's what I was thankful for:

1. My car not being frozen: A lot of times when I get out to my car, it's completely covered in a sheet of ice. That was not the case today, and I'm really thankful for that!
2. On point Pandora: It's always a good day when my morning Pandora station plays good music. Way to go Pandora, way to go.
3. Gorgeous weather: The weather was so gorgeous today! Instead of being completely dreary, the weather was sunny and warm. What is up Mother Nature...
4. Caramel Apples: I had a big ole candy apple covered in chocolate and caramel today for a snack. It was one of the most delicious treats I've ever tasted.
5. Fireplaces: I sat by the fire and did some work this evening and it was really nice. I'm really thankful for it.

I hope you enjoyed all that I was thankful for today, and that you can find something in your day that you were thankful for! Thanks for being awesome.

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 10

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today:

1. Church: I went to church this morning, and I felt like it was a good service overall, so I'm thankful for the opportunity to go to church and learn about my faith.
2. Swedish meatballs: After church, I got lunch at Ikea and had Swedish Meatballs. Let me tell you, if you've never tried their meatballs, you are missing out. They're delicious.
3. I found a monologue!: I've got auditions for a show coming up, and I'm thankful that I found a good monologue to audition with. This way, I can be prepared and worry more about performing it than finding once auditions draw nearer.
4. Cake pops: I had some cake pops left over from the party last night, so I took full advantage of them today. They were delicious.
5. Broadway music: I was listening to a lot of Broadway this evening, and I just love it. I'm really thankful for that kind of music.

This is what I am thankful for today!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 9

Hello, friends! I'm so excited that Thanksgiving is almost here! Here's what I'm thankful for today:

1. 5Ks: I actually ran a 5K today! My neighborhood put one on, and I'm happy to say that I completed it without having to stop, so I'm very thankful for that.
2. New Girl: I was watching a really funny episode of New Girl today, and it just brightened my day.
3. Performing: I'm currently directing a Cabaret right now, and I got to show off my cast with the community and have them perform at a nursing home. I don't know how they felt about it, but I hope everyone had fun.
4. Baked Ziti: I had a party tonight, so I ordered a huge thing of baked ziti that I plan on eating until the day I die. It will take me so long to finish it off, but I'm very thankful for it.
5. Party: I hosted my birthday party tonight, and I invited a bunch of my friends over to celebrate with me. I'm really thankful that it went so well and that it was a great time!

Thank you for reading this post! Have a great day!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 8

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today:

1. Friends getting smart phones: One of my best friends just got a smart phone, and I'm so happy for her! I'm thankful that she got such an awesome phone!
2. Zaxby's: I'm so thankful for Zaxby's. I'm so sorry if you don't have one where you live, but it's the best chicken fast food place with the most amazing chicken and fries. I went there for lunch today with some friends, and it was the bomb.com.
3. Good conversations: I love being able to have good conversations with people. It's nice to get to just talk to people and catch up.
4. Target: I went to Target today to pick up some stuff for a party tomorrow, and I'm so thankful it! Target one of my favorite stores and has a ton of Christmas decor out right now. Score!
5. Christmas music: I know that we haven't gotten past Thanksgiving yet, but I'm just so excited for the holiday season! I was listening to Christmas music in the car today, and it made me so happy!

I hope you enjoyed this post! I'll see you guys tomorrow!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 7

Hello, friends! Welcome to day seven of Thankful-ling, where I am here to tell you what I was thankful for today!

1. My car not being icy: Yesterday my car was basically a giant icecube. I'm really thankful that when I left home today it was not frozen. I didn't even have to defrost it!
2. Pandora station: I was listening to Pandora all morning, and I was so happy with the music today! It put me in a good mood for the morning.
3. My trench coat: I wore my trench coat today, and I'm really thankful to have it. Not only is it fashionable, but it keeps me so warm! It's definitely needed in the frozen tundra of an environment I'm living in. Just kidding. It's only like 20 degrees.
4. Sunshine: Though it was really cold today, what made it somewhat bearable was the gorgeous sun. I love it when it's sunny, because it makes me more productive and in a better mood overall.
5. My best friend: I'm so thankful for my best friend, Savannah! I know I've mentioned her a thousand times on my blog, but I just love her to death! She is auditioning for a spot in a prestigious band today, and I'm thankful that she received this opportunity. Please pray for safe travels and strength for her! 

I hope you enjoyed what I was thankful for today!

-Love Ling 

Thankful-ling: Day 6

Hello, friends! Today was a bit of a rough day, but here's what I was thankful for

1. Monologues: I'm auditioning for an upcoming show, and I found a really good monologue to use for my audition! I'm so thankful that I found a good one!
2. Throat Coat: I just discovered the beauty of "Throat Coat", which is a tea sent from the heavens for singers. It's made out of licorice, and has a very sweet flavor, without being overpowering. My voice always feels better after drinking it.
3. Shane Dawson: I watched a bunch of his videos today, and the man made me laugh so hard! I'm thankful for his joy and goofiness.
4. My mom: I love my mom! She made me pasta tonight, and I'm really thankful to have such a caring mother.
5. Car defrosting spray: I needed it this morning! My car was absolutely frozen! I'm really thankful that I have this now. It's definitely going to make my life much easier.

I hope you enjoyed what I was thankful for today!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 5

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today

1. Productivity: For the first part of my day, I feel like I worked hard and got a lot done. I'm really happy about that.
2. Almond milk: It's just so delicious. It's the perfect way to start off the day.
3. Chikfila: I was able to eat there for lunch today, and it was absolutely delicious. I always get the chicken sandwich, because it's the best!
4. A good laugh: I laughed a lot today, and that makes me happy, because I love laughter! It's healthy to have one of those good laughs where you can't control it and it keeps coming back!
5. My dad: I'm so thankful for my dad. He's one of my favorite people in the world, and I think he's great.

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! I'll see you tomorrow!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 4

Hello, friends! Here is what I was thankful for today:

1. Protected Green Lights: If these lights were not in my favor when driving, I would be late to everything. I am so thankful to be able to have the right of way at a light when I am in a hurry!
2. Productivity: I like to think that today was a pretty productive day. I'm thankful for all that I got accomplished.
3. Laughter: I reckon that I laughed a whole lot today. I love to laugh and I'm grateful to be able to do that a lot. The people I surround myself with just bring me a lot of joy.
4. Friend Tire Guys: I had to get my tire air checked today, and the guys working at the tire place that I go to are just so friendly and so nice. No matter when I go in, I always receive the sweetest service and they always brighten my day.
5. Chai Tea: I just had a chai tea latte tonight and it was delicious. I'm so thankful for it!

I hope you enjoyed reading what I was thankful for today! I love you!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 3

Hello, friends! Here's what I was thankful for today:

1. My dad coming home safe: My dad was recently out of town for a business meeting this week, and I'm very thankful that he came home safely.
2. Pot luck lunches: It is a good day when my church has a pot luck lunch! I love eating a plateful of comfort food with no shame.
3. Movie days: It was really nice to just sit back and relax today. I watched "Father of the Bride 2" and "17 Again". Zac Efron, guys. Zac Efron.
4. Hot Chocolate: I had a nice hot cup of hot chocolate tonight and it was wonderful. I used unsweetened cocoa powder, water, and a hint of chili powder to give it a kick!
5. Warm PJs: As I'm writing this post, I'm wearing the warmest of pajamas that I'm so thankful for. It's crazy to think that there are people in this world that would be lucky to have a flip flop, rather than warm Forever 21 PJs. I'm thankful.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Check back tomorrow to see what I'm thankful for!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling: Day 2

Hello, friends! Here are 5 things I was thankful for today:

1. Good friends: I got to spend most of the day with my best friend, which was really nice. I love her to death!
2. Getting to perform for residents at nursing home: Today my friends and I went to a local nursing home and played some music for them, which was really fun. It's always good to give back.
3. Getting your package in the mail: I love getting a package that I ordered! I got surprised today with a facial sponge that I ordered from Target. I'm so excited! I'll review it later!
4. Character shoes: I went to a party tonight wearing my character shoes that I wear in theatre. Not only are they cute, but they're functional. I danced for four hours in those babies!
5. Parties: I'm so thankful for the party I went to tonight! I danced the night away and  hung out with some awesome people.

I hope you enjoyed the five things I was thankful for today! Remember to give thanks for your gifts!

-Love Ling

Thankful-ling

   Hello, friends! I hope you're having an awesome day! Thanksgiving is coming up, and I'm so excited! This is a time of fellowship, friendship, and festivities. To get into the spirit of the season, I'm starting a new series on my blog. This is called "Thankful-ling", in which I post five things that I'm thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. It's so important to remember what we've been blessed with and to try and share our blessings with others, as well.

1. Campfires: I was recently at a church bonfire with some of my friends tonight, and it was an absolute blast! I'm so thankful for their friendship and the opportunity to hang out with them over s'mores and hot dogs.
2. Opportunities: I've been blessed with a lot of great opportunities, and I'm really thankful that I have been able to take part in them.
3. Cozy blankets: What would I do without my cozy blue blanket? It's been really cold lately, and I'm glad to have it!
4. Heating systems in cars: When I drive, it can get really cold. I'm so thankful for the heating in my car!
5. Warm showers: Showers are basically the best thing ever. It's the perfect way to wind down after a long day. Love it!

I hope you enjoyed this post, you guys! Have a great day!

Things That Make Me Happy: Part 4

Hello, friends! Every now and then, when I'm feeling down, I like to make a list of all the positive things in my life. This way, I can appreciate the joys that life brings, rather than focusing on negativity. Here are 10 things that make me happy :)

1. Blasting my music in the car!: There is nothing better than driving down the road and turning up that bass! It's very soothing and makes driving so much more fun!
2. Teaching: I love to teach. I'm a Sunday school teacher at church, and it brings me so much joy to be up in front of kids teaching them about Christianity.
3. Donuts: Donuts are so wonderful, and I love them a lot. Ah! I just love them.
4. Coffee Shops: I love coffee shops! The atmosphere is so soothing, and it's so nice to sit, listen to music, and share a cup of joe with a good friend.
5. Painting my nails: I love changing out my nail colors, and painting my nails is really relaxing and fun to do. It's like a mini art project!
6. Talking to people: I think it's so fun to talk to people and get to know them. I'm so happy when I get a chance to meet a new person, or get to have a nice conversation with a friend.
7. My friends: I loooove my friends! They make me so happy and always lift my spirit.
8. Writing: I'm a writer at heart. I love writing, and it makes me happy to be able to express my thoughts and ideas through the word.
9. Dancing: Dancing is one of my favorite things to do. It gives me such a rush to dance and feel graceful and beautiful! I love it!
10. PJ pants: They're just so gosh darn comfy! They make me happy! I especially love my Elmo pjs. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! See you next time!

-Love Ling

Things That Make Me Happy: Part 3

Hello, friends! Long time no talk! I was on vacation with my family last week, so that delayed my blogging a bit, but we should be back on track now. You guys know how important happiness is to me. Above anything else, the most important thing to me is to be happy. Here are some things that make me happy, and I will leave part 1 and 2 below.

Things That Make Me Happy Part 1
Things That Make Me Happy Part 2

1. New Girl: New Girl is my favorite show in the whole world. If you don't watch it, you seriously need to. It's so witty and absolutely hilarious. It definitely makes me happy.
2. Desserts: Desserts make me so happy. How can you pass up the opportunity to eat something sweet? Give me some cheesecake and I'll be a happy girl.
3. Random Acts of Kindness: I love helping people, especially if it's just random. I mean, helping my family do things is fine, but I love being in public and helping out a stranger. It makes me really happy.
4. People Who Let Me Merge Into Their Lane: Driving can be really stressful. I'll admit it. Whenever I have to merge into another lane, I get a bit nervous, especially when the roads are busy. What makes me happy is when some blessed person lets me in and  I don't have to sit in the car like an idiot waiting for someone to let me in. For those of you who have road courtesy, bless you.
5. Learning: I love learning new things. I know a good amount of stuff, but I want to know so much more. I want to know how things work, how people work, why something does something. Whenever I get a chance to learn something new and expand my knowledge, it makes me really happy.
6. Iced Coffee: There's nothing better than waking up in the morning and treating myself to a nice,refreshing cup of iced coffee. It's so much better to drink in the summer, because it really cools me down. Hot coffee is for every other season, iced coffee is for the summer.
7. Sunshine: I hate rain. I hate it so much. I know a lot of people like how cozy it is, but I much prefer the sun. I love the way that it lights up the world and makes everything seem much happier. 
8. Food: Food is literally one of my favorite things in the whole world. Not only do I love trying new flavors and just enjoying eating, I feel like food brings people together. It's something that everyone needs and it's a great social medium. People really bond over it. Food makes me so happy.
9. Driving: When I know where I'm going, I love driving. I like knowing that I am the source of my own transportation and it really relaxes me. Driving is fun (when people let me in their lane).
10. Singing: I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I love singing. It's my all time favorite thing to do. I probably sing to much, but that's okay, because it makes me so gosh darn happy.

Alright, guys! I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Rather than thinking about what you don't like, focus on the things that make you happy. It's so much more fun.

-Love Ling

Wander-ling: Riga, Latvia

Hello, friends! I found internet! As my days in Latvia are coming to a close, I'm going to share with you my travel adventures that occurred over the last four days. I'm even including pictures! Starting with day 1, here we go!

Day 1, June 27-28

My dad, sister, and I woke up early to go to the airport on the 27. While at the airport, we made friends with an ex-marine and saw one of the draft picks of the NBA walk by Chili's, which was awesome. In addition to this, we did typical airport things: security, checking baggage, waiting around, etc. 


  Our first connection was to Chicago, then from Chicago to Helsinki, Finland. That flight was slightly miserable considering we didn't have individual TV's, the seats were uncomfortable, and 9 hours flights just suck, in general. However, my family and I did have a TV in front of us so we could watch movies that the pilot played for us. We got to watch American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook. Guess what?! Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence were in both of those movies! Coincidence? I think not. I liked Silver Linings Playbook the best.
  From Helsinki, we had a short flight aboard a rickety plane to Latvia. I've never been on a plane with the propellor on the outside...but it didn't crash! It actually flew! We arrived in Riga, Latvia in no time at all. 

  Once we got to our hotel, our rooms weren't ready yet, so my dad, sister, and I went out to explore Riga and get some lunch. Riga is beautiful! The buildings are a mix of old and new and there's a ton of little shops. There's a lot of gardens, benches, and squares. It's kind of a blend of Italy and Germany. The people are gorgeous, too. The guys could be applauded for their attractiveness and the women look like those models you see on Pinterest. We had lunch in the middle of the square where we were serenaded by a bride-to-be at her bridal shower. She danced in the street playing her recorder, wearing a candy bra. Wow. 
  After lunch, we came back to the hotel to take a nap. I was so jet lagged. Later that night, we walked around town and ate dinner at the hotel. 







Day 2: June 29
  
  This morning, my dad had his workshop where he taught other professors about measuring factors in business (we were in Latvia for a conference). Meanwhile, my sister and I got to sleep in and have breakfast downstairs which was surprisingly delicious.I had this chocolate thing that tasted like a donut and this crumb cake with apples and zucchini in the middle. 
  After breakfast, my sister, Claire and I came back upstairs to our room and hung out, waiting for our dad to come back. Once he did, we went to lunch at McDonald's. I know right. In Riga. I figured that if I spoke in a British accent when ordering I wouldn't look like a dumb American. I would look like a dumb Brit, instead. No offense to you Brits, out there! You guys aren't dumb! Neither are Americans! It was a joke-okay. Nevermind. Anyways, I was trying to practice my accent by my dad noogied me every time I did. Oops. For lunch I had a gross cheeseburger and fries. I also go this dragon toy that spins on a stick! After lunch, Claire got a key chain, I got a chocolate bar, and we went back to the hotel.
  Once at the hotel, I watched "Love Never Dies", which was amazing. I've been dying to see it for the longest time. If you ever get a chance, watch the movie or see the show. It's amazing. At 4:30, we went on a tour with the people in my Dad's conference. We got to tour traditional Latvian houses and taste traditional Latvian food, which is definitely interesting. Me and my sister made friends with a 6'4'' guy from LA at dinner with the people at the conference. 
  Seeing that dinner was a bit light, we went back to the hotel after and ate sausage with cheese and bread. That's the end of that day. 












Day 3: June 30

  On this day, I woke up at what I thought was nine in the morning and got Claire up for breakfast. It turns out that my time was wrong and it was really eight o'clock, so I didn't have to rush her out of bed. Oops. Anyways! After breakfast, we came back to the room to wait for our dad to get back from the conference once again. When he came back, we went to lunch at the conference. I wasn't too impressed with the lunch, but the dessert was good. 
  Following lunch, a speaker was giving a speech about satellites, but I regrettable fell asleep. I felt so bad, but it was really boring, and I was in food coma time. We went back to the hotel shortly after. I napped. 
  After waking up from my nap, we went back to the university so my dad could go to the meeting. My sister and I just sat outside the meeting and hung out. We watched Phantom of the Opera on my kindle. I'm obsessed, as you guys know.

  Later, we went on a cold tour of Latvia and got to learn some of the traditions and cultural quirks of Riga. Then we ate dinner with our new friend and some of the people at the conference, which was fun. It wasn't too much of a eventful day, other than the tour. 

Day 4: July 1

  This morning, we woke up at eight in the morning in which my dad, sister, and I had breakfast together downstairs. We had a train to catch at 9:40, planning to meet up with our new friend and his mom for some castle visiting. 
  Once we got to the castle, it was pouring. Actually, most of this trip was spent in the cold and wet. Anyways! The first castle we went to was really awesome. We got to try on some cool medieval armor and we got some great pictures from that. The first castle was a short visit.
  The second castle we visited was absolutely gorgeous. Despite the rain and dreary chill of the Latvian air, we had a good time walking and talking with our new friends up to the castle. Once we got there, we trekked up to the top of the tower. It was like...a lot of stairs. I felt like Hazel Grace in TFIOS. It was a climb. However, once we got to the top, it was absolutely stunning! There were several windows to which I could see out all sides of the tower. The view was of lush forestry, misty rivers, and rolling hills. Absolutely gorgeous. The rest of the castle was really nice, too. There were some neat exhibits displaying historical Latvian events.

  After touring the second castle, we got lunch at an old cafeteria. It was a Soviet era cafeteria, so it was plain, basic, and functional. The food was really good, though! I got Schnitzel with potatoes. By this time, we were exhausted and took the train back into town. We spent a bit of time getting ready at the hotel before we went back out for our last dinner at the conference. We had dinner at a windmill restaurant with okay food and delicious  dessert. I met a professor from Australia who told us about his beloved continent, and me and my sister played poker with our new friend. I'm bad at it. 
 Well that was our last day in Latvia! As I am writing this, I am in Poland, and will be sharing a post about Krakow with you soon! 

-Love Ling