Northmead Avenue 4

The transcription is about Rasa Arrington sharing her background, growing up in Lithuania during the Soviet era, her family's job changes after independence, struggles with finances, the impact of independence on education, transitioning from school to university, and the cultural shifts post-independence. She discusses the challenges her family faced, her university experience, and the significance of independence in Lithuanian history. The interview also touches on personal emotions and reflections on the changes during that time. We'll do it here then. Okay, perfect. Right, so question one, could you tell me a little bit about your background? So when were you born? Where were you born? Etc. My name is Rasa Arrington, my maiden name is Kovrovskaya. I was born on 12th June 1981 in Alytus, Lithuania. I was a full child in the family. My parents were Stasya Godlauskina, that's my mum, and my dad, Mikolas Godlauskas. We lived in Alytus, that's the biggest city in Lithuania. We lived about 20 minutes away from my nan, where my parents and my nan had a farm together. And did you grow up in a big house or was it smaller? Yes, I grew up in a big house. My dad built that house, a two-storey house, a four-bedroom house with a lot of garden outside, and we had land and farm where my nan was. My dad had a good job and that entitled him to have a land and a farm that he could look and feed his family. So you would say that like your mum and your dad both had quite good jobs? Would you say you were better off than some people? Yes, my dad, he was a manager, as we call it now, manager of a place, it's like a warehouse where they used to keep all grain and flour to feed all livestock in the collective farm. He was responsible for that, he had a good job. My mum, she was an accountant and she worked for state. And would you say their jobs were very much dependent on the Soviet Union? You said that your dad worked in a collective farm. Did that change at all after independence? Yes, when we got our independence back, my dad lost his job straight away because it was dependent on the Soviet Union. He was left without a job and my mum was exactly the same, she was left without anything, no job, no income. We were quite lucky because we had a farm that we could have food from. And my dad, he had two brothers, one was a firefighter and another one, he worked in a factory, not sure what kind of factory he worked, but they helped my dad to find another job. So did they keep that job? Yes, they did. And one of the brothers, he was a chief firefighter person and he found a job for my dad as a firefighter as well. And my dad's other brother who lived in Konus and he worked in a factory. I think my memory is that he was a factory, something to do with meditation. But as we got independence back, he came back to live by my nan and inherited some land and he built his own farm and started farming with a lot of cows and he used to sell milk and stuff there. So when you got independence and your dad had to switch jobs, do you remember anything about like how he felt about that? Or, you know, what was that like? I think because we lost everything overnight. There was no income. I think my dad felt that he couldn't support his family because he had five children. And I was about to go to university and they really, he wanted me to go to university. Well, pretty much I was told that I was going to go to university and they wanted one of their daughters to be a teacher and somehow they chose me. But with his brother's support and my nan's support, I managed to go to university and they paid for my university. That was something I wanted to talk about, university. So you said before that they chose you to be the teacher. So do you think you, did you want to be a teacher? Was that something that, you know, interested you? I wanted to be a teacher, but I wanted to be a maths teacher. I was very good at maths. But being a Lithuanian language and literature teacher and having philology degree was cheaper because they had to pay. They couldn't afford me to be a maths teacher, so I had to go. And did you like get to choose which university you went to or was it more just like that was the one? I was given a choice to go to Vilnius and university in Vilnius I wanted because I, my dad's cousin and uncle lived in Vilnius and I could stay with them. Because if I go to a different city, they wouldn't afford to pay for my accommodation and it wasn't a possibility to get a loan. It was, it would be fully funded, which when I missed out by a few marks or they have to pay. So was it, you had to get like a test to? Yes. Like a scholarship sort of thing. Yeah, yeah. Depending on your exams and your grades. And first two years they paid for my university and third and fourth, in the third year I managed to increase my grades and I went to funded place. They didn't have to pay for my university my last two years. And university at the moment, if you're in a government funded place at university, they would pay you money, you get like a scholarship or something. It wasn't much, but you still would get some kind of support from the government. So you'd say definitely that money was a big factor in university and that sort of thing. Yeah. And it wasn't a culture for young people to work then. Okay. Because the structure of university still was very much like school. You go from say half past eight until four o'clock every day. It's not you go like once a day or you know every other day. No, it was set like school hours. There was no opportunity to work really. It was a lot more like intense than a modern one. Yeah, absolutely. We used to have like three lectures, three seminars every day. And what was that like? Did you find that very stressful or did you enjoy being there? Were you grateful that you had the opportunity? I enjoyed university and I kind of enjoyed seeing them being away from my parents. I think that was a big thing. And I think because I knew that wasn't just my parents who were paying for my university, it might be my university fees, because my uncle and my sister were helping out and I kind of had to do well. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, you felt a lot of pressure on yourself. That I had to do. But it wasn't hard because it just felt like a being of school, but just away from home. So it followed the school structure. Yeah. Would you say that in terms of before university or school, what was that like? Do you think it was sort of more intense than schools here, would you say, or about the same? Schools. I remember my first day of school, that was like a reception class. We had all our books was written in two languages. Right. Because we don't start school until we were seven years old. I mean, by the time I went to school, I would already read a little bit and write a little bit. And it was two languages. And I really was strange because you have to learn to like doing maths in Lithuanian and other half of lessons in Russian. As a child was quite confusing, even knowing here in Russian language wasn't common. But at home, we always spoke just Lithuanian. And it's kind of just sort of what's happened, you know, it's very strange. And I was born in 81. I started school 88. I mean, because there's 20 years in the reception. And I had to go to year one, where I skipped a class. I started straight away in year two. And then 91, that's when we got our independence back, everything changed. Yeah, maths is meant to be better. It was like books, everything is just overnight. It's hard to explain. But as a child, it was hard to understand why. Yeah. You know, because it's, you know, when you had to go to school, I think for about like three weeks or so, one of the things that happened and come back and it was all pictures from the war was gone. And it was different. It was different. What do you say that is different what you learned at school? I think it's kind of became more relaxed. Yeah. Yeah. And we had to choose languages, which ones we wanted to learn was English introduced. And we still had choice of Russian language. And my parents always wanted me to learn Russian as well, just in case, just to never know. Yeah. And I chose English as well, which never was good. Yeah. But it just felt like we didn't have no uniform because until then we wore uniforms. And we didn't have to wear uniforms anymore because we wore Russian uniforms. And it's again came back to money, I would say, because it's because we were children wearing. Some had nice clothes. Some didn't have nice clothes, you know, kind of. Sometimes they felt poor. Because, you know, some would buy clothes from the shops and some still would have their sister's clothes. You know, kind of was that feeling, you know, that we're free, but we kind of not as well off as we were. Yeah. Yeah, I think. Okay. So did you like notice, did you ever talk about independence in school? Was like that something that you learned, for example, in history? Yeah, we talked about it and it was January 13th. That's when everything happened. It's like Memorial Day. Yeah. National holiday sort of thing. Yeah. And people talk about it and how well people responded and how much we sacrificed. And I think everyone, even now, all children, they do know that. Yeah. So you think that that's definitely something that is taught about a lot and you learn to be grateful for. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. You know, traditions, it's always will be traditions, but the number of people who fought for it. I was thinking every family, someone lost someone or, you know, it's always will be talked about. I think that's really helpful. If you want to take a break. No, it's all right. Yeah, I'll see you fine if you want to take a break. I just get emotional about it. Yeah. Remembering things and even I think maybe remembering how I felt that time. Yeah. I couldn't understand. I could see my sisters, you know, especially my older sister, who really embraced freedom, you know, got her hair dyed her hair, earrings, many skirts. And, you know, she was proper. Yeah. It's kind of trying to find your own way to fit in. Yeah. It's a huge change. It's hard to navigate that, especially at such a young age. I can imagine, like, it's pretty hard to know what's going on. Yeah. And money changing because we didn't have no physical money because when we got our independence back, we didn't have no rubles. In Lithuania, there was no money. Right. Like, I mean, over a few weeks, they printed out paper, just simple paper money called bears. And they just, just like normal paper you write on. It's like, you know, it's not the money paper. Yeah, it's just very, like, provisional. And you were allowed to go to, everyone, like, all families were given the books, but you were allowed to buy so much butter, so much meat in the shop. And I remember going to my mum and we were thinking, like, you, like, we could get, you know, and we had to decide, like, rationing, kind of, you know. And this lasted for about maybe six months, a year, until we got our money back. It's called lit, it's like old Lithuanian money and was, like, printed in the proper, money looked like money. But, yeah, it was strange because of this thing, it's not money. Yeah. It's just, we had to do something, I guess. But, yeah. And do you know if money was, was that given out just, sort of, was that given out for jobs or was everybody given a certain amount? On religion I've known that. On religion, no. But the rationing was based on? Yeah. How many children you had, that sort of thing. Okay. So, you mentioned your sister as well. Yeah. I thought it'd be nice to talk about your sisters a bit because we've obviously got so many. Yeah. So, like, do you think that having sisters was, do you think that changed your life in any way compared to maybe having brothers? Oh, yeah. Because, like, mum and dad, they always were busy. Working on the farm, then after independence and it was very hard labour, really, to support family. So, my older sister, she was, like, my second mum, Robin asked of me. And how much older was she than you? She's 53 now. Oh, okay. Yeah. So, she's a big older. Yeah. Yeah. And she really embraced that, though, I think, very well. She used to look after me. She was going to college. She was a seamstress. She would make some clothes, you know, for me. And she would practice. And, you know, because she would get some money for school as well. And she would buy me sweets, hair bands. I spent so much time with her and I shared it all with her. And I think that all my life she's been there for me. When I went to university, one weekend, because she was married then, and one weekend I would go to see her. And the next weekend I would come home. And she would give me money and give me food to take back to university. Yeah, I think she could have had practice before she had children. But, yes, she was everything happening. But in January of 1991, she was the one who wanted to go to Venice. And five or three different women did the test. And I think mom was scared that war was going to happen. And I remember my mom crying in front of the test. Because I think she knew how bad it could get. And I didn't think she expected it was going to get better. But it did. And when the Russian army were leaving Lithuania a few months later, my dad went to see the tanks leaving from Lithuania. And I remember him coming back and he said, And the last one to go off. And I think seeing my dad happy, that was the thing, you know. That's what his life was. He wanted to be free and independent. And he had that. Did you celebrate at all? Do you remember any celebrations? Well, I can't remember. I remember them buying the Athenian flag and putting it on the house. Until then, we'd never had, we couldn't have the Athenian flag. But I think that's one of the first things they did. They put the flag up. Maybe that was often. Got you. Do you want to talk about any of your other sisters? You've talked a lot about your oldest. You definitely got, did you say you're closest to the past? Sorry to make you choose. Well, I'm very close to all of them. My second oldest sister, she never was well. She always had epilepsy. We always kind of knew that we have to look after her. I never made her angry, never argued with her. You know, just always look after her. She went to school and she went to college as well. And the very next, she is, what was it called? She learned to draw like plants, you know, like house plants. Oh, yeah, architecture. Yes, something like that. But she never worked in that kind of industry. She's very... ...arty. I like the word. She makes things from liquor. She's just like my dad because my dad, he makes things. And, you know, she, what she does till now. And my other sister, third sister, she went to college. She learned to work in a bank. Okay. Yeah. But again, with no job, she couldn't find a job. And she went to work in a factory where they make dresses and sewing. And she worked for three years. And she then decided to go illegally. She left country to work totally. And then she came back for bed. And then because we were allowed to go back for a few months, I think, before we joined European Union. And she came back. When she went second time, because she had a boyfriend there, we already were allowed to leave. Yeah. Yeah. And my younger sister, she's six years younger than me. Oh, that was a big... Yeah, big surprise. Yeah, big surprise for my dad. Yeah, she went to university to be, to learn to work, to be a social studies, I think. But the same, she had child quite young. When she started university, she found out she was pregnant. And at that moment, my dad supported her all the time. And now she has two beautiful children and married. And, yeah, they're all in Lithuania now. And my sister from Italy, she came back to live in Lithuania with her husband and their little lovely house. It's like little Italy, Lithuania. Yeah. So in terms of having kids, do you think that was really important for you and for your sisters as well? Having, like, children? Children. I don't know. Because it never was... Diane, as she got to know my older sister, she got married when she was 21, 22. And she had children. We around her because she never been well. She met her partner and they had child as well. These things just happen. My first sister, she never wanted children. She's not maternal person. And she doesn't have any children. Me, I met my husband, fell in love and got two beautiful girls. Welcome to bed. My younger sister said she had two. She had a girl and a boy. They're very happy. It's putting no pressure. Definitely no pressure that you have to get married or have children or something like that. But did you want to be a mother? Yeah. Did you say that's big for you? Yeah. Do you think having sisters as well is sort of nice that you've got two girls too? Yeah. When we were little, all children used to pick on and do things. But now it's absolutely lovely. Very, very nice. And would you say you and your sisters as a unit are quite close? Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. All five of us, yeah. Absolutely. This is a bit of a jump. Yeah, that's all right. When you were at university. Yeah, please do. So what did you study again? I studied Philology. And last year I gained teaching qualification as well. Teaching in Lithuanian language and literature. So what did that entail? What sort of things did you study? Well, some things that were very basic, like grammar. That's a bit tricky to know that. All that rules. Lithuanian literature. European literature. Russian literature. Languages was Prussian, Latin, Latvian, and English. And philosophy. What else? Email. Oh, that's cold. Oh, what was that? Email when you write in newspapers and someone checks that you wrote what you did. Editing. Editing as well. That's quite good. That's quite good. And then child psychology as well. And we had to just work experience at school. I didn't attend my school where I went. And one summer we had to record dialect. Four dialects in Lithuania. That was some work to do. It was a lot of literature for the whole world really. All the different types of literature in different languages. So for like a lot of degrees, I'd say, in the UK, it was really heavy. So my mum did an English degree. So it's sort of similar, like doing lots of literature. And a big thing was talking about feminism. So feminism, women's studies. And she would have gone like a little bit before. She went in like 1997. But it was a big thing to do. Women's studies. Feminism. Even doing A-level English. Like you learn about how feminism has impacted things. And in history we learn that too. So I was wondering if you ever, if that was included in your degree? No. I could say that no, I haven't heard about feminism at all. I taught a teaching grant. So you say you were completely unaware that that was a point of interest for people. Yeah. Do you know why that is? Do you think that that may be part of Lithuanian culture? I would say it's a lot about culture. When I was in Lithuania, male was kind of a stronger sex than female. Now I can hear my nieces and nephews talking. It's really European. They've got their ideas. But I would never, even when I was at university, I would never think of feminism. Because first I didn't want to disappoint my parents somehow. I wanted to sit in. Just be like everyone else. Like, you know, you didn't want to stand out too much. It's kind of what was expected from you. It's... Because things have changed in the culture still. Because you had your grandparents, which weren't parents, who still... I think maybe in the past they thought they could go back to being part of Russia. That's why they wanted to just blend in. Just do what you're told and you'll be fine. You weren't taught to think about things in a critical... Like in that sort of way, would you say? You wanted to fit in and you wanted to... Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was kind of... It was important. Finish university, have a job. Then you can support yourself. And that's how it should be. You don't need to reach for the stars. Just make sure you're comfortable and that's enough. And would you say that was an attitude that started in the Soviet Union and sort of continued on a little bit? I would think so. Mum, she was happy with what she had and where she was. We kind of were limited where we can go, what we can do to a certain extent. I think she just thought if we do the same, we'll be all right. Okay. Kind of. Yeah, that's really interesting, actually. Ben, as well, obviously, just my idea of students, we tend to be quite political. So in the UK, students, that's when we tend to start gaining a political view. I know Mum's been more interested in politics and that sort of thing. Would you say that that was something that you were very interested in? Not political views, I would say. It was more, we tried to join a group to help with our studies more. Whether that would be literature circle or poetry circle. We would actually go to theatre. But about politics, I kind of, my dad kind of formed my opinion, I would say. It was very big thing when I went to vote first time when I turned 18. And I just followed what my dad said. Would you say that's something that other women did? Or was that something that you? That was, I think, maybe, really no one would talk about. No one was interested in politics. Not my circle of my friends. At my university, it was like 120 of students and was three men, was all women. I mean, we just kind of, we never really spoke about politics, I would say. Not that's something we were interested in. And would you say now, you're interested in Lithuanian politics at all? Yes, I do read news and my mum tells me a lot. And my dad. And just a couple of days ago, some Ukrainian, Russian, Ukrainian, they did. Lithuanian airspace. It's quite scary, I would say. Just seeing Lithuanian's name in news is, for all reasons, really, because it's not a happy news. It's scary, I think. And I can understand, like, my mum being scared, you know. And I think, you don't see, because in the town where we live, in the city, there's a military base, and there's a lot of army people there, and, you know, equipment. Even if it's, like, from the EU, from NATO, it's just to defend us if needed. I can imagine how hard it is for them, just seeing those things. You know, it definitely would bring memories back, you know. Where, I think, the younger generation, they understand that, because they haven't seen that they hear stories told about it. It's different. But when you've seen, it's scary. So would you say that the whole Russia and Ukraine thing is, like, a big thing in Lithuanian politics? Yeah, yeah, it is, yeah. Would you say that there's anything that you've looked at in Lithuanian politics that, like, you're dissatisfied with? So, any policies that you would disagree with, perhaps? Not long ago, we had a voting, if people who, because if people could have to, yeah. Like a dual citizenship? Yeah, which one is voted now. Not that I, I want to keep my Lithuanian passport as long as I can, because it's one thing that I have left, really, I think, you know. But if, say, again, British citizenship over Lithuanian, I think it's kind of unfair, because a lot of countries can have both, and we cannot. Would you like more than a little to be able to have a Lithuanian passport, too? Yeah, I think they would like that. To go past the queue. Do you think that you don't want to leave your Lithuanian passport because of... Because Monika wouldn't be able to get one now, we're too old. So do you think that's a part of the, like, why it's so important? Like, you said it's the one thing you have left. Is that a little bit because it's... It's some way, yeah. Like, the gain of independence to us. Do you think that's influenced you in, like... Yeah, because that's who I am, I think. I am deep down, you know, I've been here now over 20 years, but deep down I am Lithuanian, you know. And I've got something that shows that I'm Lithuanian, and I'm proud of it, as you should be. Okay, and do you still vote in Lithuania? No, I do not. So is that, are you not able to, or... When you leave Lithuania, you have to declare that you left country, pre-declaration, because otherwise you have to pay health insurance and all, and you can vote that. I think I might still could vote, but I never looked into it, really. Why, like, why don't you think you've looked into it as much? Because even I follow news, I don't think the person who doesn't live in that country could make a decision for that country. I think it's not fair. I think if you live in Lithuania, you should be, you vote and you can decide what would be better for you. For me, I would be deciding the future for other people, because I don't live there. But I would say, you know, I don't think it's fair. Would you like to vote in the UK? Is that something you'd... I would like to vote because I live here, and I think that would affect me. I would be making a decision on what I would like to happen to me, or, you know. So I can vote in local elections, but not a big one. And do you vote in local elections? Yeah. You do? Yeah. Could you tell me anything about UK politics, like anything that just interests you? I always follow, like, I read news. And the sector where I work, they support the government that we've got now. But I think a lot of things in politics, it's a lot of promises before elections. But, as you know, we don't have to make those promises. I'm sure that's one big con, I think. But what we think we do is, me and my husband, we discuss things, and we find that he votes for both of us, because he thinks I should have a right to vote. But, again, I don't want to stand out. And I'm not going to go and say, you know, I should have a right, because maybe that's... I don't have a right to vote. And especially these days, with all these flags around, and... I don't want to stand out, and I want to draw attention to myself. If I don't need to speak when I'm out and about, if I'm without my husband or spouse, I won't. Because he doesn't know what to do. And I do understand, you know, it's your country. If you want to protect your country, I agree with the saying, in the same way I think people would be, you know. It's just... I think it's just bad for me. And I think if you are in that country, you should follow that country's rules. So what do you think about the flags? Do you feel maybe a little bit threatened by them? Yeah, I would say. I just... I'm not feeling safe, I think. Because you don't know people around you, you know. Sometimes people can get better quickly, you know. And for somebody hearing a foreign accent, you know, it's... You know, I don't want that. I don't want anyone, you know, shouting at me in the street, or, you know... Have you ever experienced anything like that? Yes. Not shouting in the street. When I worked in a care home, one of the residents that I lived with came and he said he wanted to speak with someone in English. I understand that, you know. That's right. But it's not quite a nice feeling. Of course. Would you say that living in Somerset, like... Because obviously for me, I live in Birmingham and it's very, very diverse. So there's more people that aren't English in living in Birmingham than people that are English. So, for me, like, I grew up and most of my class are Muslim, for example. But obviously in Somerset, I've noticed, like, walking around, just for me, I'm so used to having so much diversity that I find it really strange, almost, how the vast majority of people are white. When one told me that you're Lithuanian, I think in her head she was like, this is this huge difference. I was just like, oh, okay. Because I think, like, you know, so many of my different friends had, like, mixed nationalities and that sort of thing. So do you think, specifically in Somerset, do you feel like maybe there's a bit more of an anti-immigration stance? I would say, well, most people I met, they're lovely. Absolutely lovely, really. And some, I don't know. I had the same experience, say, as a girl, so just cool, with Monica in her class. All Mums were so, so friendly. We would go on a, we would teach together as kids, we would go to pubs together for meals and stuff. Well, Melissa's class, from her class of Mums, I remember Thursday very well, at main and stuff, talking and stuff. People, when they hear your accent, they kind of make that decision on the spot. And I don't think I ever got close with Melissa's school friends, Mums. Did you not? You're just a bad bunch of people. I don't know, it's just somehow, but it doesn't bother me, really, because I have a lovely family, and I'm happy, and most people around me, they are lovely people, a group of lovely people, and a lot of different nationalities and stuff. But if I'm alone and out and about, I just don't like the attention on me. Yeah. Not at the moment. Because that was something you said about being in Lithuania too, do you think that this is like... Could be. Yeah. Yeah. I feel quite proud when I've got my own family around and stuff, but when I'm alone, I just... Become more aware of things. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think that's fair enough. In terms of like, so we just talked about UK politics, Lithuanian politics, would you say that there is... Do you think you align more with Lithuanian politics and what's going on in Lithuania right now? Like the societal views in Lithuania versus the UK views? I think I more concentrate what's happening here because it affects me directly. Mm-hmm. And obviously in Lithuania, because all my family live there, I worry that something bad could happen. But... And I do understand that when UK left the EU, of course you should be independent country and be proud of what you have. I think, you know, that's... I think Lithuanians are very, very passionate about that they are Lithuanians and they will show that. You know, through their flags, through their basketball and different things, you know. And I think, as we often say, I'm so proud of our family. It's amazing. I'm not going to laugh, whatever, you know. But it's part of who we are, how people see our country, saying our country is England, you know. It's amazing. We should embrace that and show and... Because that's who we are. So do you see yourself as British, would you say? Yeah. You do? Yeah. More than an Iranian? Yeah. Deep down, I am Lithuanian, but I live in England and I follow this country's rules. And I think I see myself... I dream in English. I really do. You know, I count in English. Do you think in English? Yeah. This is just a side note. Yeah. That's really interesting. But you don't count crochet in English? No, I do. Sometimes. No, I count in English. Sometimes it's my... And it can change. I used to translate sentences from Lithuanian to English. And sometimes it didn't sound right. Now, when I go to Lithuania, in my head, it takes a few days until my brain switches to another side. I translate from English to Lithuanian and that sounds hilarious. I say it and I know it doesn't make any sense. And I went to buy tickets for a football match and the lady, she said, Yeah, Lithuanian is very good. I use my Lithuanian language to speak with my parents, but nowhere else. Is there a reason why you didn't teach morning Lithuanian? I was learning English myself. I think that was... I wanted to learn English and that just happened. Would you want to teach them in the future, do you think? Yeah. I think they would like that. Yeah. Definitely. And then, I was just going to talk about some specific things. Like, different social views. So, what do you think of how women are treated in Lithuania? Like, at the minute. I think they are equal with men. It's not... I would say they are treated differently because they are women. Lithuania is a very European country now. And especially the younger generation, they all watch programs on TV in English. They all speak perfect English. And it's a very modern country, really. And women, they have good jobs and they can have children. If you don't want to, you don't need children. They can get married, they can get divorced. No one is going to even look twice. Where before, to have a divorce in the family was kind of, you know... Is this when you were growing up? Yeah, when I was growing up, it was like, you know, I shouldn't know what people are going to say. Where now, it's pretty much a very free country. What do you think about, like... So, obviously, they've got a bit, like... They haven't legalized gay marriage yet, for example. What do you think about that? I think it's coming. And people are starting to accept. Because a lot of celebrities, they express themselves, if they're gay or not, they talk about it quite openly. And not everyone, I would say, society, I don't know how they would react if they would see, you know, two girls walking and holding hands and kissing, or boys doing that. I don't know how open people are about it. Especially older generation. But I can see that younger generation is partly fine. Do you think that the older generation, like religion, informs their views a lot? Obviously, it's a very Catholic country. It is a Catholic country, but it's a lot based on what other people are going to think. And... They're not wanting to stand out again, I guess. Yeah, don't want to stand out, what neighbours would say, you know, or what, you know, family would say. Even if they're right with it, they might want to talk about it. And what do you think about, like, Lithuanian laws to do with abortion? Because, yeah, abortion is not illegal. Yeah, it's a woman's choice. A woman can decide if she wants to have a child or not. Do you agree with that? Yes, 100%. Absolutely, yeah. A woman should be able to make that decision. Do you think that that might have been different before, like, when you were growing up, maybe? I don't know. I know my mum had five children. And she, because they were a quite wealthy family, she wanted to have a lot of... They wanted to have a lot of children. That was their choice. But... I can see, well, from religion side, you know, people may be against it, but... I don't think it's been talked about as much. But... I think... As a government, we are very, very supportive for women now. And... In hospitals, what we have is help windows. Just meaning, if you have a child, and you don't want to look after your child for any other reason, you can take a child, and it's a window with a little basket. You can put a child in. There's no camera for anything. And again, it's a child. Is that something that you, like, support? Yes. Because you mentioned this last time as well, that this is like a little way... I'm not sure if we have those in the UK. I think it's just a fucking child in a bin. It's a way you can make sure you're left safely. So do you think, like, the baby boxes are, like, better than abortion? I think women should be able to make that decision. Yeah. And I think if... You have the choice. Yeah, you have a choice, then, you know. And if you... You can get pregnant, but it doesn't mean... that you need to have a child. If it's your choice, if you don't feel... I think women should be able to make that decision. Yeah. Without any pressure or anything. Do you think that your mum would agree with you, or do you think maybe... I really don't know. Because my mum never spoke about things like that much with me. Like politics and stuff? No, like... personal things. That's when my sister spoke with me about it, when mum has just always been busy. Mm-hm. So would you say, like, in terms of personal things, was that, like, all nature of personal things? Or I would say all nature of personal things, yeah. Somehow I just learned things by myself. And... I don't know. I never felt so... I never felt that I could tell things to my mum. I didn't want to disappoint her. I didn't want her to be angry with me. But maybe it's just my thinking as a child. I don't know. Do you know if your sister felt the same, or... I would say, yeah. Yeah. I... Okay, I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. I... We're kind of close between us. But when we were little, I think we were closer to dad. Because mum always, always was busy, and she was cleaning, cooking. We just would go to dad for things. If anything would happen, we'd go to dad. Okay. Well, I think that is it for the... for the personal questions. Do we want to take a little break? Yeah. Yeah. We've done like...