Rotary Youth Exchange

Learn About the Countries: Lithuania

Are you looking for the unique? Do have a pioneering spirit? Be one of the first exchange students to the country of Lithuania! Lithuania is the most southerly of the Baltic States, and with it comes gregarious people - they're sometimes called the Italians of the Baltics. Lithuania shares a common history with its Baltic neighbors: It became an independent democratic state in 1918, the Soviets and Nazis occupied the country during World War II, it was a part of the USSR until 1991 when it was the first Baltic state to declare its independence. In 2004, it joined the European Union. The country has undergone dramatic change in the past 20 years, which will be especially fascinating to a student interested in cultural preservation or politics. Students sent to Lithuania will likely end up in the Vilnius, the nation's capital. Among teens, basketball is the most popular sport, followed by soccer.

Country Officer

Lynn Keillor
keill003@tc.umn.edu

Places of Interest in Lithuania

The geographic center of Europe is in Lithuania, north of Vilnius. It's marked with a large monument within a park.
Trakai, the former capital of Lithuania, is a 600-year-old castle surrounded by water. It's located outside of Vilnius.
The Lithuanian National Museum in Vilnius has a collection of all things Lithuanian past and present, including coins, maps, textiles, and items from the Soviet occupation.
Walk to the top of Gediminas' Tower of the Upper Castle, and overlook Vilnius. While you're there, count the numerous church steeples.
Visit the Baltic shore where sand dunes rise high above the sea.
The old towns, especially in Vilnius and Kaunas.

Interesting Facts about Lithuania

Singing is a popular activity among Lithuanians of all ages, and it's one way they keep their folk culture alive.
Lithuanian cuisine is very similar to Polish food, and includes specialties such as pierogi, a stuffed potato dish called cepelinai, baked potato pudding and a tree-shaped cake called sakotis.
Lithuania borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland and the Russian territory of Kaliningrad.
Folk traditions are strong, including the celebration of equinoxes and the solstices - which are a blend of Christian and Pagan traditions

Lithuania Links of Interest

Other Lithuania Information

The language is Lithuanian: the only other similar language is Latvian. It's a difficult language to master, but with effort, it's possible to be conversationally fluent by the end of an exchange.