Lithuania 🇱🇹

Tautvydas, 25

Born in Kaunas, Lithuania

Came to Australia in July 2004

What is your occupation?

I am a lawyer at a boutique law firm called MDW Law, specialising in civil litigation. I studied a Bachelor of Law and Commerce (Management) at Notre Dame University. I feel like civil litigation is my calling; it is a lot of work but it is also incredibly fun. It’s a very dynamic field of law and so you’re always learning new things.

Why did you come to Australia?

My parents brought me here for better life opportunities. We had green cards and were ready to go to America when we received our Australian visas and decided to come here instead. When we moved here in 2004, my half-brother was already living here in Sydney; he greatly helped us in securing our visas.

What do you like about Sydney?

The sense of community in Sydney is amazing. You go to a cafe many times and make friendships with the baristas. I like how there are different ethnic pockets of Sydney that make you realise how multicultural this city is.

As an avid motorcyclist, it’s exhilarating when I find hidden nooks and crannies of Sydney. Because of technology, everyone seems to be so time poor when they all should relax and take the time to properly explore this massive city. I think even locals forgot how many things there are to do in Sydney.

What don’t you like about Sydney?

The Sydney property market is just insanely overpriced. I’m currently renting an apartment and I don’t know when I’ll be able to put a decent deposit down. Something that is really important to me is what kind of property I wish to purchase; I don’t fancy the idea of living in a shoebox-sized apartment when I could buy a decently-sized plot of land elsewhere.

Sydney’s nightlife (or lack of) is a missed opportunity. Implementing 24/7 public transport would definitely help the nightlife economy; it would incentivise businesses to extend trading hours. There are bars and clubs where the only patrons are bartenders who’ve just finished their shifts.

What would you like to say to Sydneysiders?

Be more accepting of finding your communities. They may not be what you want, but they will be what you need.

I feel like with COVID, people have become more sheltered and defensive. You’ll miss out on so much if you don’t broaden your horizons. Wherever I move, I try to seek out the local cafes, delis and butchers and make connections wherever I go.

What languages do you speak?

English and Lithuanian

I also understand a little bit of Russian as both my parents speak it and I grew up watching Russian cartoons. This is an episode of a famous Russian cartoon called Nu, Pogodi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDXGUU7uE1E. It is basically a Russian version of Tom and Jerry.

I did 3 years of Italian in high school. I’ve lost a bit of it but I reckon if I spent 6 months in Italy, I’d be pretty good.

Teach us one word/phrase from your native language.

Printeris

Lithuanian migrants or people who don’t use the language enough tend to Lithuanise English words. Most people say the printer is printeris but the actual Lithuanian word is spausdintuvas. I occasionally get into arguments with linguistic purists who laugh at my corrupted Lithuanian. The truth of the matter is I just don’t practice it enough.

What is one thing you want us to know about your native country?

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state that was founded by Lithuanians and lasted from the 13th century to 1795. It was the last pagan state in Europe. At its greatest extent, in the 15th century, it was the largest state in Europe. It was a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, with great diversity in languages, religion, and cultural heritage. People learn so much about Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece and the French Revolution but they forget about this monumental piece of history that led to the Russian Empire.

Who is the most famous person in your native country?

Domantas Sabonis

He is a Lithuanian basketball player currently playing for the Indiana Pacers. He is a two-time NBA All-Star and the son of the best Lithuanian player of all time, Avydas Sabonis. People often refer to basketball as the second religion of Lithuania.

We put a lot of emphasis on basketball as it was our way of acting our democracy during the Soviet occupation. It doesn’t hurt that we have one of the tallest populations in the world. As a 6ft guy, I’m probably below average height in my native Lithuania.

What is the best dish in your native country?.

Cepelinai

They are potato-meat dumplings and are also called zeppelins. A national dish of Lithuania, cepelinai are best served and eaten as soon as they are made. The dumplings are hard to store, and are best piping hot and covered with hot gravy. There used to be a Lithuanian club in Bankstown however it closed down a few years ago. The way to try this is if you know a Lithuanian friend.

Disclaimer: All posts are personal opinions and perspectives of the interviewees and are not a perfect representation of the whole country/experience.