JANUARY 2015
SP
NR. 1 (7)
FORMÄ€TS The monthly newsletter of Turiba University's Student Council
TER
NATIONAL
To new beginnings Editor: SIGNE SENE
Hello dear readers! January is a great month to start over or take up something new. Lots of us promise ourselves healthy diet, more intense studying or even finding the love of our life. Probably most of these promises will disappear soon, but it is nice to have them. I think that in January we believe in ourselves more. The reason for this could be that we are starting a new year, blank page. Even the streets, trees, houses and everything else is white, covered with snow, encouraging and saying: „Go! Start fresh! Use this opportunity to start over or be
Photo: from SIGNE SENE personal archive
even better than before. You have a yourself. Use this new beginning and blank canva. Do something with it!” blank page to improve yourself and your life. It doesn`t have to be someEven though it is hard to keep a thing huge. Just something that can promise to yourself, these New make you happy and which needs a Year`s resolutions can help you make bit of motivation. your everyday life a bit more interesting or even make it better than it Maybe that is exactly what New was. Maybe you are feeling a bit Year is about? New beginnings? down and need something fresh in That’s what I believe. So, let’s use your everyday routine? Take up new this new month to start fresh. To hobby or return to an old one. I`m start to be better. And not to forget sure that this will help you to fill up about our promises by the end of the empty spaces in your schedule. February. Have a great and inspiring January! If last month was about the people around you, then this time my advice Best wishes, would be to do something nice for Signe
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How to start living after holidays? Correspondent: SIGNE SENE
Probably everyone has had magnificent holidays - full of fun, late mornings and loads of food. So, the big question at the beginning of January for every student is – how to start living again after the holidays? Do the “eat-in challenge” Challenge yourself, your friends, and your family to cook at home as much as possible this month. Instead of meeting for a dinner out with your girlfriends this weekend, invite the ladies over. Cooking together is great entertainment, often healthier than eating out, and the budgetfriendliest option. Show your skin some love Your skin really shows that you are what you eat. After a sugar-, alcohol, and fat-filled holiday diet, it might not be looking too good. Adding the dry and cold temperatures, harsh A/ C - you're really asking for a bad skin situation. Try to moisturize it as much as possible, drink water (your skin is your biggest organ, and it needs to stay hydrated), apply sun-
Photos: from internet resources
screen on the regular, and exfoliate a couple of times a week. We love experimenting with facial oils and under-eye creams and sleeping with a humidifier. Get your sleep cycle back on track Whether you were traveling around the world, partying every night away, or hibernating with loved ones, your sleep schedule was most likely impacted by the holidays. Get yourself back on track with a strict sleep regime. If bedtime is around 11 p.m., try to shut off your digital devices by 10:30 least. You'll have a much more better REM cycle without the remnants of blue light filtering into your eyeballs. Then set a nighttime alarm clock to make sure that you know when to start winding down. Having an evening routine also helps preparing for a satisfying night sleep.
truffle-infused goat cheese, we're pretty full of the stuff. And that's not including eggnog! Try cleaning up your diet by opting for almond milk instead of cow's milk this month, and avoid the temptation of heavy creams, cheeses, and ice cream. Your body needs a chance to recover. Plus, if you have a winter cold, dairy isn't doing your congestion any favors. Move in the morning
We all know sitting is the new smoking, but unfortunately, most jobs require long hours spent working on a computer. Do yourself a huge favor and get moving in the mornings before you start your day. You don't need to do a high-intensity gym workout. Just a walk around the block will get your heart pumping, and the air will clear your head for the day ahead. Sometimes we get so absorbed by our daily routine that Cut your dairy intake we forget to go outdoors. Make the Give your gastrointestinal system a outdoor-walk-exercise a part of your break from the dairy overload. After morning routine this year. too much triple-crème brie and (Continued on page 4)
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as you would do it with a manager. It might take only five minutes. Ask yourself if you're living according to your resolutions each week, and if you're not, figure out how you can get back on track for the next week. We recommend keeping a journal and jotting down your progress for a couple of minutes each week. This will help your resolutions last all Schedule weekly check-ins with year, not just for a month or two. yourself Set long-term and short-term finanWe love New Year's resolutions. But cial goals more often than not, even our most It's more likely that your bank acvaliant efforts fizzle by the middle of count took a beating this holiday February. Set yourself up for the resseason. Rather than feeling guilty olution of success by scheduling about your expenses, think of the weekly check-ins with yourself, just New Year as a fresh slate for savings.
Set weekly, monthly, and annual goals and try to stick to them. Having goals and tracking your progress with an app like Mint will make saving money fun. It's like a game where you can compete with yourself, and it's thoroughly rewarding. Purge your closet One of the best ways to ensure a clean start is to eliminate clutter. Challenge yourself to give away at least one item of clothing for every present you received this season. If you haven't worn something in a year, it might not deserve a space in your closet. Edit your wardrobe, organize it, and add a touch of scent to welcome in the New Year.
A wonderful evening for every student Correspondent: SIGNE SENE
On December 11th, the students of Turiba University had a chance to dance, to have fun and spend a wonderful evening with friends in the annual Christmas ball. This year it took place at Riga Latvian Society house and went on until 4am. During the ball there were many activities and things to do even if you are not a fan of the dance floor.
Photos: from Students’ Council
Oskars Deigelis (musician). After the competition the audience had a chance to see first performance of the newly formed Turiba cheerleader team.
gerbread for your friends or family or even yourself. In another break between dancing, anyone could create their own angel and hook it in the wish tree. By the end of the ball, the wish tree was full of angels and good wishes for everyone who would take a minute and read them. The ballroom visitors also had a chance to take pictures in the photo-corner.
One of the most important parts of the evening was the contest „King and Queen of Turiba 2015”. The participants showed off their talents, dance moves and videos about the previous month, during which they had many tasks. After a discussion, the judges decided that this year`s „King of Turiba`15” is Mārcis Lesiņš and „Queen of Turiba` 15” is Veronika Novikova. The participants were evaluated by Vaiva Ribaka, Kintija During the ball everyone had a Stūre (previous year’s winner of chance to try out various activities. “King and Queen of Turiba’14) and There was a chance to decorate gin-
The atmosphere during the ball was great. Everyone had respected the dress code and arrived in black tie, which made the evening even more special. The event was supported by: Silmachy Remedies, Escaperoom.lv, BUG koka tauriņi, Adi Hai knitwear, Coffee In, Fantasy Park, SIA Jena Motors, Lickstarter, dance studio Padejosim, Mevi Gym, Pineapple Studios, First fly, VAGA, JS Dizains, Hanzas maiznīca, davanuserviss.lv, Skrīveru saldumi, Red Bull.
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Riga now is like home to me
I N T E RV I E W W I T H A S T U D E N T Correspondent: DARIA DONTSOVA
Photos: DARIA DONTSOVA
The first semester is over and we all have different impressions about it. Probably studying was especially difficult and unexpected for the freshmen as the university atmosphere might be quite unusual and new for them. SP Formāts International was eager to find out the freshmen’s opinion about the first semester, so we asked Anna Semenuyk, 1st course student of Communication Faculty, to tell us more about it. You have lived here for half a year already. What’s your overall impression about Turiba and Riga in gencity, unlike in the past when I was eral? just a tourist while visiting. As an international student I can cerWhat do you think about the first tainly say that I have experienced exam session? How difficult was it the first phase of culture shock: the for you? honeymoon phase. It means that everything seems to be new, friendly The first session was described to us and fascinating for me. If comparing as something “terrifying” and at first studying here and school back at I wondered if I will be able to pass it home - they are totally different, ob- at all. I studied quite a lot before viously. It is more interesting here; each exam, even read some addieven homework seems to be attrac- tional information to be as well pretive. At school on the other hand my pared as I could. The hardest exam only thought was to wait until the for me was for “International comlesson finished. To be honest, how- munication management”, because ever, here are also some subjects it was oral and the subject itself is that I don’t like or seem to be tough, rather complicated. Nevertheless, but more or less everything is ap- despite all the difficultness, every pealing, at least for now. lecture for me was a pleasure and my interest in the subject has inI’ve chosen Riga long time ago. Becreased a lot through the semester. fore applying to the university I used For that I should probably thank my to come here once in a while. And I lecturer and dean Andris Petersons. totally adored the city. Riga is so After passing all the exams I was very comfortable and cozy, I feel like proud of myself and obviously haphome here. Especially now, as I am py. The first session is passed! almost a citizen of this incredible
What is your favorite thing in Turiba apart from the studies? I really like BAT SP – the students’ council (and I am a member of it). It organizes all the events in the university and helps students not only to take part in organizing, but also to create their own projects. Every student can become a leader, who will be followed and who will become a part of something huge. From your experience, will you recommend any future students to choose Turiba? Yes, I will. Subjects here are exclusively directed to the future profession and professors are eager to share knowledge with students. The atmosphere in Turiba helps us to enjoy student life not only through studying but also with the help of other activities. This university helps students to develop themselves, to unify job and hobby in future and become self-confident adults.
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New year, new me Correspondent: DARIA DONTSOVA
A new year is already here! It is going to be long, productive and, certainly, fun for all of us. Everyone wants to start the New Year as a “new page”: by promising yourself to accomplish something. So, SP Formāts International prepared top 10 promises that we usually make for yourselves for the next year.
Finding a new hobby Hobbies play an important role in our life: they help us to relax after studies or to distract ourselves for a short period of time. So it is obvious that in the new year, we want to find a new one: maybe something more useful, that can help us develop our inner-selves, such as meditation or sports, or just something fun and relaxing like skiing or knitting.
Changing lifestyle to a “healthier” one Sometimes we want to start to live healthier so badly we do it from the New Year’s Eve. However, we should understand that it is not really possible, because usually we eat and drink a lot while celebrating New Year. So, it is better to start it a little bit later when holidays are over. You can start eating only fresh food or jog in the mornings, it doesn’t really matter: your body will thank you anyway for this kind of promise. You just need to keep it J Finding a “soulmate” It is quite weird but true: many of us make “finding love” a promise. Even though is looks more like a dream, as usually we can’t control it unlike every other promise, it is still possible to
Photos: DARIA DONTSOVA
accomplish it. You can meet new people by going to some new places in town and you will finally meet your true love and soulmate. Learning something new It shouldn’t necessarily be connected with your studies. You can learn something totally different; it will be still fascinating and interesting for you. Learn a new language; go to driving courses, you can even learn how to do a massage! It all depends on you and only you can decide what to do better. The New Year is open for new possibilities! useful, of course, as long as we keep it. Probably giving up smoking is the Reading more books hardest one but you can try it anyIn our modern world we are usually way, so that this year will be totally surrounded by technologies and Indifferent and truly amazing. ternet, so we simply forget about simple books that are actually very Improving financial situation useful for our minds. So, a promise It can refer to both: earning more or to read more can be quite effective if spending less, it doesn’t matter. All you are able to keep it. To make this of us want to have more money so promise more realistic, you better we need to learn how to control our write a list of books you want to read expenses and it definitely needs to and finish it by the end of the year. be done in the next year. It may be Reading is great! especially hard after holidays, as you have spent a lot of money for gifts, but it is still a helpful promise to This promise should help us to get start a year with. out of the boring world of studies. Travelling to a new country or doing Becoming generally more responsisomething you have never done be- ble Gaining new experiences
fore: all these are the prefect ways to shake your life up a bit. Try everything new, meet new people, have fun!
This promise is great for those who are terrible at planning. Being more responsible and organizing can improve your life a lot and you don’t even know about it! Better to start Giving up bad habits with a notebook to write all your It is not only about smoking, we plans and timetable. promise ourselves not to drink or to stop eating fast food. This is really (Continued on page 7)
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It will help you to concentrate on something important instead of forgetting things all the time. And, of course, it is better to have a goal for yourself and draw a “ladder” to that goal. Step by step, you won’t even realize it – you’ll have already achieved it!
Improving studies So, the last but not the least: our schoolwork. We all promise ourselves to study more next year, to be more reliable or to spend more time doing homework. This is a very good promise, even though it may be difficult to keep it. But together, with a
help of each other we can study better in our great Turiba University! Every promise is hard to accomplish, but SP Formāts International can assure you: if you keep at least some of them, your life will improve significantly in 2016. We wish you a happy New Year!
King and Queen has been crowned Correspondent: SIGNE SENE
During the Christmas ball on December 11th, the contest „King and Queen of Turiba 2015” took place. After prepared performances and dancing, the winners were announced. This year the King and Queen of Turiba are Mārcis Lesiņš and Veronika Novikova. During the finale, the finalists entertained the audience with specially prepared individual performances and one common dance. Also a video was shown how the participants
Photos: form Student’s Council
prepared during the competition: not only the rehearsals for the final dance, but they also learned how to make coffee like trained baristas in collaboration with Coffee Inn, went to the Mevi Gym, took part in the team game Escape Room, and answered unusual questions in an interview for the contest.
“Queen of Turiba’15” is Veronika Novikova. The audience’s favorites were Alīna Siliņa and Jānis Gavars. All the participants received nice gifts from our sponsors. The participants were evaluated by Vaiva Ribaka, Kintija Stūre (previous year’s winner of “King and Queen of Turiba’14”) and Oskars Deigelis (musician).
After making the collective decision, the judges of the competition an- SP Formāts International congratunounced that this year’s “King of lates Mārcis and Veronika! Turiba’15” is Mārcis Lesiņš and
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Here comes 2016
W H AT C A N W E E X P E C T F R O M I T ? Correspondent: SIGNE SENE
Photos: internet resources
Another year is here and a lot of us want to know, what we can expect from it. Will it bring new love? Adventures? Amazing work opportunities or even a win in the lottery? It`s always fun to find out what your horoscope promises you, so SP Formﾄ》s International looked into this. Aries Any New Year`s beginning marks you more confident and more eager to make changes in your life. It seems that 2016 promises you novelty and many satisfactions in your professional life. there may occur real estate investFurthermore, this year will be char- ments and the purchase of long-term acterized by a flux of enthusiasm. It use assets, especially patrimony aswill be a year characterized by in- sets. You will benefit from your famitense passion and by very much con- ly`s and close relatives` full support, structive emotion which may gener- and your family will seem to blosate unusual ideas for you on a crea- som; you will live in atmosphere of tive level, and will give you more emotional security and a lot of opticonfidence in your capacity to ex- mism. press your feelings and wishes. It is an excellent year to promote your abilities and skills and to work more on the image you show to society. Taurus The 2016 looks promising when regarding love, your house and properties. In the first part of the year more precisely - until August 2016, your family life and your relationships with your loved ones will be favored. It is possible for you to consider moving into a bigger house, to think about building something, redecorating, renovating etc. In 2016
Cancer
The most representative events for you will be related to your career. The hit you took several years ago, regarding some events in your life, will become stronger in 2016 and it seems that it will make you look back towards your past, and it will give you a strong emotional motivaGemini tion to move and explore new frontiers. You will have many advenThe base of 2016 will deal with relatures, and you will face some comtionships and acquaintances. In the pletely unforeseeable situations. first part of the year, new characters will enter your life and they can be- Leo come your friends, collaborators, In 2016, your great ally is going to be advisers or even couple`s partners. Jupiter. Jupiter will be present in But regardless of the number of new people you will meet, not anyone will be welcomed into your life. You`re very exigent regarding the selection criteria, you want to be surrounded only by intelligent, active and original people (this is not something new, but this tendency will become more pronounced this year).
your sign and is considered to bring you luck, optimism and expansion. Having Jupiter on your side, you will have high spirits and nothing will seem too hard for you to accomplish. You will have a much more positive perspective upon things, and your sense of humor will stick with you even in the most difficult situations. (Continued on page 9)
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Virgo In the first part of the year, having a proper help from Jupiter and Uranus, Saturn will be able to help you with consolidating, building or buying real estate, a house or an apartment. It is even possible to receive an inheritance. However, from this position, Saturn will bring you responsibilities, worries and even difficulties in your relationship with parents. There is going to be certain feeling of austerity or an atmosphere of isolation or loneliness in your family. Libra The year will be like a long waiting time to enter the holidays after the stormy end of 2015. As last year Saturn and Jupiter were irrelevant for you or the people around you, this year they will support you very much so you will really feel the energy they stream. Relationships will become a priority for you and here we are talking about all sorts of relationships, from the emotional or marital ones, to friendships or professional collaborations. Scorpio You can relax now: Saturn will step aside from your sign. It will make you feel a sort of release, your spirit will be higher and your level of physical energy will grow with every passing day. Life will seem more beautiful to you and it seems that your intentions will be accomplished much easier. 2016 will be an excellent year for you on a professional level; it will
bring you a lot of prestige and suc- an influence by motivating them to cess. do a better job, to consolidate their social position and some of the reSagittarius sults they have obtained have long Saturn for this sign can bring along a term results. lot of pessimism, lack of confidence Pisces in oneself, inhibitions, physical stamina decrease, freedom limita- It seems 2016 will be an important tion, diseases, obstacles, big delays year for each native in this sign. The in accomplishing any king of objec- dominant presence of Saturn will tives. have an important influence on your professional life and you will feel But, even so Saturn also has a very more confident than ever that no precious constructive part and it is obstacle is going to stay in your way. associated with wisdom, reliability, perfectionism, durability, prudence The Saturn-Uranus connection is and patience. going to point out your determination and it is going to give you Capricorn strength in your battle for reaching 2016 will be much more peaceful your objectives. year than the previous year for Capricorns. This state of peace and calm is exactly what you need to sort out This year is going to be beneficial in your thoughts, to prepare your field anticipating and with an optimistic and spread the seeds of some posi- future. There are many signs that tive thoughts which, in less than two indicate a prosperous year of 2016. years will show you the way to suc- A major change that stands out is cess. the confidence about the economic growth, which will be stable and not just momentary. 2016 horoscope promises some technological innovations which are going to change our lives just like the mobile phone and internet did. Last, but not least, Aquarius there are positive changes for the After a long period of being station- economy and for our personal ary (more than two years), Saturn health. will leave the House of Career with Let`s hope that a part of it is true. no warning. Its presence made you Happy New Year! feel fed up with responsibilities, imposed many restrictions on you and made you go through many moMore information on horoscopes – ments of frustration. www.horoscope-2016.org For those representatives that tend to be more determined, Saturn had But that doesn`t mean that 2016 will lack strength or action! Your emotions will remain just as intense and your attitude tends to be radical here and there.
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Photo report from Christmas ball Photos: from Student’s Council
Editor: Signe Sēne Correspondents: Signe Sēne, Daria Dontsova, Reviser: Annemar ija Gr asmane Desktopper: Kr istīne Šņepste Design: Sandijs Br īze In the case of publication permission from Student Council of Turiba University is required. In case of citation reference of „SP Formāts International” is required. Publisher: Student Council of Tur iba Univer sity, C218, Gr audu str eet 68, Riga, phone: +371 67607750
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