One of us - Rasa Zālīte

January 27, 2021

Working with foreign affairs is like sliding around the globe, changing time zones, cultural attitudes, and behaviour daily, communicating with people both face-to-face and online. Rasa Zālīte is “One of Us” and works in the International Office at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Rasa is a person with a big heart, a friendly smile and a positive view of things, people and events. She seems to know how to communicate with absolutely everyone and is always ready to contribute to various tasks, even when faced with unknown factors. Read more in the interview and get some valuable insights from our great colleague Rasa! 

 

Please tell us about yourself!

 

People call me Rasa, which means ‘morning dew’ in English, but it would be Lay-Z if I had a rapper name. Smile with me!

 

I work in the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) International Office. I have been in this position since 2015.

 

My job is doing everything from A to Z about student admission. Once they get here, I support students during their studies at VUAS.  I also help them apply and enjoy the benefits of Erasmus mobility.

 

VUAS is my alma mater­. I graduated from the Faculty of Translation studies back in 2009, but I do not work as a translator. I call myself a language user and speak (understand) several languages. Sometimes I act as grammar and style police and get on my colleague’s nerves. 

 

I picked up languages while roaming the beautiful planet earth. On a global level, it is not much, but I have been fortunate enough to have visited 6,67% of the world. I have lived for long periods in the USA, Bolivia, France, Spain, and Austria.

 

How would you describe yourself?

 

I live, and I let others live. 

 

My life is not about climbing the corporate ladder. It is also not about burying myself in material possessions, but my heart beats for a life well-lived and caring for other humans.

 

I am a minimalist when it comes to stuff, but a maximalist when taking in the life around me in the current moment.

 

My passion is to immerse myself in nature and immortalise the beauty of it in photos.

 

It is a true blessing to be living in Ventspils because I get to enjoy my two loves – the forest and the sea. I once heard that those who live on the coast live longer. I hope it is true because I love living and being alive.

 

What do you like most about your job?

 

My job is so diverse that it is never dull and never the same. There is so much growth potential – both for our students and me as an employee.

 

I also admire and respect my immediate boss, Liga, and my colleague Kitija. We are a real team, but all my colleagues are great, and they make going to work enjoyable. Now that we work from home most of the time, video calls are precious and keep the connection going. We are like one big family, and once a new student or staff member joins us, they become one of us, too. 

 

VUAS being a smaller university, allows us to get to know our students. To me, they are like precious gems that we get to work with for a year, two, three, four or more.  It warms my heart to see them succeed and fulfil their dreams, and it is what I love about my job.

 

Pre Covid-19 I liked going to different countries and meeting new people. Even though I am not the biggest fan of flying, I did it scared, and it was worth it. I am looking forward to resuming my trips abroad in the future.

 

What do you value most in person (student, colleague, celebrity, etc.)?

 

The most significant risk is for us to be who we are; so, I value most in a person their honesty and genuineness. I also appreciate a  person's sense of integrity, compassion, and a real dedication to what they need to do. Be it studies, work, family, or community.

 

I have a soft spot for joy. I am in awe when I see a person having an authentic and joyful zest for life. It is inspiring to see others living to the fullest and not blaming everyone else for their mishaps.

 

I also value and respect a person’s ability to take responsibility for one’s actions.

 

If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?

 

I would rather stay the same animal I am – a human being. It allows me to live, love, laugh, feel, think, dream, write, be a foodie, travel and interact with other humans.

 

What gives you strength for everyday life?

 

My strength comes from two cups of coffee every morning. If I am serious, my power comes from my faith and focusing on what is before me in the here and now.

 

Faith and hope are what keep me going, but not only. Every morning when I wake up, I put my big girl panties on and deal with whatever life throws my way. Sometimes the day feels like a gentle breeze, but there are also days when emotions go haywire and work is challenging. The global pandemic also has its toll on me.

 

Is there any new and recent insight you have had? Please share with us some advice!

 

Everything in life is temporary. You have to enjoy life’s moments while you have them. Remember, you don’t owe anything to anybody, and nobody owes you anything.

 

I admire an American author Mark Manson for his frank personality. He says that we need to challenge ourselves to live because we have one less day to live with each new day. 

 

My wish for me and others is to have the courage (to live) and be kind (to oneself and others).

Share on other platforms

Other news

By Rota Rulle June 5, 2025
On May 21, students and staff members gathered at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) to celebrate the culture day with the topic “Cultural Iceberg”". The event offered an exciting opportunity to engage with representatives from different countries on campus, allowing participants to glimpse different facets of culture, both the visible surface and the deeper layers. Ventspils University of Applied Sciences lecturer Rūta Maltisova opened the event with an introductory speech in which she invited all students present to enjoy this event and get acquainted with the culture. International students and lecturers from 7 different countries presented their cultural backgrounds on the specificities of Latvian, French, Chinese, Turkish, Indian, Spanish and Italian cultures. During the event, students and lecturers presented their country's culture, traditions and stereotypes, entertained the audience and gave the opportunity to taste traditional food and drinks. At the end of the Cultural Day, the participants gathered in an informal atmosphere to share their impressions and enjoy a meal together. The organizers of the event, 1st and 2nd year students of the study program “Intercultural Communication”, Līva and Karīna admit that the event was a great success, as it was widely attended. Both participants and visitors provided good feedback, insights and emphasized that the event allowed them to better discover the hidden layers of each culture that they often do not even think about. The event once again confirmed the active role of Ventspils University College in the cultural life of the city and the creative potential of students. The involvement of students and teaching staff in the annually organized event encourages and develops the multicultural environment at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, allowing everyone to express themselves and be included. More pictures from the event are available here: https://failiem.lv/u/ts2jrykn7t (In the situation of publishing these photos, please give credit to the author of photos – Endijs Eihlers.) Photos: Endijs Eihlers Author: 2nd year student of the bachelor's study program "Intercultural Communication" Karīna Ganiņa
By Rota Rulle May 22, 2025
BLU 2025 - workshop of the Bulgaria – Latvia – Ukraine Initiative for Space Weather Investigations June 2-6, 2025 Primorsko, Bulgaria
By Rota Rulle May 22, 2025
Last week, a delegation from the Norwegian space industry visited Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (and the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre. The delegation included representatives from nine Norwegian companies and organizations. The visit was organized by Austris Keišs, Director of Export Promotion in Norway at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). Among the visitors was Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Norway’s largest defense manufacturing company, which produces advanced defense, aviation, and space systems, including combat management solutions and remote weapon stations, as well as developing air defense systems and missile technologies for various military applications. The company also offers maritime systems such as autonomous and remote-controlled solutions for naval forces. Also visiting Ventspils was Space Norway, one of Norway's leading satellite and space infrastructure companies; PaleBlue, a company that offers spaceflight simulations; Spectrum Blue, which uses quantum technologies to develop and produce next-generation materials used in healthcare and sustainability sectors, as well as digital decision-support systems for building management. Other visitors included Inventas, a leading Norwegian design and innovation company; Rocket Grace Group, which organizes Spaceport Norway, one of the largest space conferences in the Nordic countries; and startup Nava Space, which plans to manufacture next-generation space suits designed for extreme environmental conditions by combining artificial intelligence solutions with smart materials. The visit also included representatives from the University of Oslo, the engineering research foundation Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and the Norwegian Industrial Forum for Space Activities (NIFRO). During the visit, the delegation toured the VIRAC and VUAS electronics laboratories. VUAS Rector Andris Vaivads gave a presentation introducing the activities of both VUAS and VIRAC. According to Austris Keišs, Head of the LIAA representative office in Norway, the goal of the visit was “to promote cooperation in the space industry between Latvia and Norway and to integrate Latvian companies into international projects and supply chains, positioning Latvia as an attractive investment destination for Norwegian companies.” VSRC Director Mārcis Donerblics assessed the visit as productive: “We were pleased that the Norwegian Ambassador to Latvia, Ine Måreng, who is a strong supporter of the space sector, also joined the visit. The visit was doubly effective because both the political and industrial sectors were represented,” said Donerblics. “Of course, we took the opportunity to exchange contacts with representatives from various institutions, and with several, we agreed to continue the dialogue in one-on-one meetings. It’s too early to mention specific examples, but we are interested in topics like telecommunications, satellite communication antenna systems, and student exchange opportunities.” Donerblics also reminded that VIRAC already has a strategic partnership with the Swedish Space Corporation and that there is a solid basis to hope for broader partnerships among the Nordic and Baltic countries.
By Rota Rulle May 20, 2025
On 15th of May, students of the Faculty of Translation Studies had the opportunity to attend a guest lecture about German-Latvian cooperation, embassy work and diplomatic protocol. The guest lecture was given by Christopher Grounau, Head of the Cultural and Press Section of the German Embassy, and Nataļja Buinicka, graduate of VUAS’ bachelor and master study programme in translation. At the beginning of the day, the visitors were welcomed by the 3rd year students of the translation bachelor study programme; the students gave them a short tour of the University and told them about the daily life of students and about the VUAS in general. During the guest lecture, the Embassy representatives told the students of the Faculty of Translation Studies about the work of the Embassy, its structure and responsibilties of specific units, shared some aspects of their daily duties, and answered questions asked by students. Matīss Jansons and Elēna Šatrovska, 3rd year students of the bachelor study programme Translation, Interpreting and Language Technology shared their impressions of the tour and the guest lecture: Matīss said: "Until now, I had no idea how close and diverse the cooperation between Latvia and Germany actually is. It was interesting to hear how much attention and support they give to cultural projects that really bring our countries closer together. I used to think that diplomacy was all about fine suits, empty speeches and champagne at events, but today I realised that there is much more to it. It's a lively, dynamic environment where every day is different, and behind it all, there's people who do exciting and important work.” Elena also shared: “It was a wonderful opportunity not only to learn how the Embassy works from the point of view of insiders, how diplomatic meetings are organised, where so many details need attention, but also to meet the people who make the Embassy run smoothly. Moreover, meeting them in person allowed me to see the human perspective of their work making it more understandable, not as something idealised, complicated and unachievable.” Event organized by the lecturer of the VUAS Egita Proveja. Information prepared by the students of the bachelor study programme Translation, Interpreting and Language Technology.
By Rota Rulle May 20, 2025
Through collaboration between Latvian technology company Nanocraft SIA, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and the Tartu Observatory, the photo-realistic modelling project “CI3D” has been successfully delivered to the European Space Agency (ESA). The project activities have produced computer-generated images used for testing the cameras of ESA’s “Comet Interceptor” mission. Since the mission, scheduled for the early 2030s, will approach a still-unknown target comet—its trajectory from the Oort cloud towards the Sun currently too distant to observe with telescopes—photo-realistic images are needed to validate the mission’s cameras.
By Rota Rulle May 20, 2025
On May 7, the second- and third-year students of the study program “Translation, Interpreting and Language Technologies” participated in a literary translation workshop at the VUAS Library. The event was led by poet, translator, and editor Linda Mence and attended by students with a particular interest in literature and literary translation. The main theme of the workshop was the voice embodied in the text. This voice can belong to an author or translator, although the translator’s voice usually plays a symbolic role. At the beginning, Linda Mence introduced the audience to the questions that should be asked before starting a translation, such as: “Identity – who is the speaker?”, “What are the lexical layers and the emotions conveyed by the words?” Students read several texts – poems and story excerpts – and expressed their opinions during discussions in order to reach a common understanding. They also translated texts from English into Latvian to explore the nuances of literary translation. The poet and translator also shared her experience of translating various works and spoke about “absolute language pitch”, which is comparable to absolute musical pitch and is just as undeniably a great talent. Moreover, this sensitivity can be developed by reading works of various genres and authors from different time periods. However, translation should begin with shorter forms – essays and short stories. Two third-year students, Ilze Jaunzeme and Natālija Dolgova, shared their feedback on the event. Ilze said: “Once again, I was reminded that translating expressive texts is not an easy task. What I really liked was that it felt more like a conversation with a like-minded person – a colleague who is genuinely interested, listens freely and curiously to all ideas, and offers suggestions. This event was incredibly valuable; I hope no one loses interest and that more of these workshops will follow.” Meanwhile, Natālija commented: “I truly enjoyed how heartfelt this event was. Linda Mence explained very clearly and engagingly the aspects that must be considered when translating literature. She didn’t just lecture – she actively involved the audience, and I believe that the exchange and weighing of different translation options taught us more than if we had simply listened.”  The event was organized by the Dean of the Faculty of Translation Studies at VUAS, the Ventspils International Writers’ and Translators’ House, and the VUAS Library.
Other news