When James Iain McLean first arrived in Lithuania a little more than three years ago, he knew almost nothing about the country. Today, he is studying on the Master study programme ‘Languages and Cultures of the Nordic and Baltic Sea Region’ at Vilnius University (VU) – and now speaks fluent Lithuanian. He says he admires the local nature and language and is in no hurry to leave the country, as he feels happy here.

James first came to Lithuania while pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in linguistics and languages in the UK. As he explains, he did not actually choose Lithuania for his Erasmus exchange – the decision was made by his university. In the third year, all language students are placed in different destinations as part of the programme. At the time, he knew little about the country, but gradually came to know it better.

Lithuania somewhat surprised him – Vilnius, the city where he came to study, turned out to be more modern and contemporary than he had imagined. ‘I remember taking the 3G bus, which stopped on A. Goštauto Street. I looked out the window and saw a huge sign on the Vilnius City Municipality building that read, “Putin, the Hague is waiting for you”. It wasn’t the very first thing I saw in Lithuania, but it was one of the first,’ James recalled – in fluent Lithuanian.

‘Although Lithuania is quite a small country, I feel that Lithuanians express their opinions rather boldly, and I really like that. Sometimes I wish the British were more outspoken as well, especially now, when the geopolitical situation is so complicated,’ he added.

James Iain McLean. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius / Vilnius University.

He knew he would return

After a year in Lithuania, James returned to the UK to finish his Bachelor’s degree. He later worked there too, but eventually realised that his academic journey was not yet over.

‘I thought to myself: I may not know exactly what I want to do or who I want to become, but I do know where I want to be – in Lithuania. The choice felt obvious. It helped that I had already lived here, and the study programme matched what I was looking for,’ he said. Love also played a role – during his Erasmus stay, he met a Lithuanian guy, and they have now been together for three years.

James began learning Lithuanian during his Erasmus exchange and continued studying independently after returning to the UK, though it was not easy: ‘When you live abroad, it’s difficult to find materials for learning Lithuanian.’

Valuing the vitality of the language

According to James, what fascinates him most about Lithuanian is its sound – its phonetics and phonology – and even more, the way people actually speak. ‘Perhaps my opinion wouldn’t please the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language, but I adore imperfect Lithuanian. I love that Lithuanians use such a wide linguistic repertoire: one word in English, another in Lithuanian, a third in Yiddish, a fourth in French. We don’t live in museums; I like linguistic reality, the vitality of language.’

If he had to choose a favourite Lithuanian word, he says it would be laisvė (‘freedom’), not only because of how it sounds but because of its meaning. James also mentions discovering a Lithuanian word that has no direct equivalent in English:

‘It’s not a very exciting word – suderinti (‘to coordinate/align’; used in many contexts in Lithuanian). When I speak English with my parents, this Lithuanian word keeps popping into my head, and I try to find its equivalent in English, but I can’t,’ he said. The student has noticed that sometimes, when speaking English, he uses Lithuanian sentence structures.

James Iain McLean. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius / Vilnius University.

‘Sometimes I say something and immediately think: “What did I just say? We don’t say that in English!”. The funniest part is that sometimes my boyfriend says something in English more correctly than I do, even though English isn’t his native language. I think that’s a good sign – it means Lithuanian has really taken root in me,’ he remarked.

His favourite Lithuanian celebration: Užgavėnės

When asked what he appreciates most about Lithuania, James jokes that it is difficult to answer in the middle of a cold winter: ‘I really love how green Lithuania is, there are so many trees here. Lithuania is such a beautiful country, especially in summer. It’s wonderful to amble around the city with no particular place to go.’ He also admires the abundance of small businesses in the country.

‘I think it’s connected to something very important to me – people here seem to look toward the future with optimism. I feel a sense of vitality here. Sometimes I miss that in England,’ noted the student.

James has noticed that some Lithuanians are surprised to hear that he lives here. ‘I think that although Lithuanians are proud of their country, they don’t necessarily assume that it might be interesting to foreigners as well. I feel as if I’m helping to change that perception a little. I hope that we, as people from abroad, help Lithuanians feel even more proud of their country,’ he said.

His favourite Lithuanian celebration is Užgavėnės (Shrove Tuesday), and the traditional dish he enjoys most is potato pancakes. ‘I remember when I first arrived, I knew I liked potato pancakes, but I wasn’t sure what they were called. For a while, I thought potato pancakes were fried cepelinai. I would order them and feel disappointed, thinking that they don’t look like I expected at all,’ he laughed.

Feeling happy in Lithuania

As a Master’s student, James says he especially values the interdisciplinary nature of his programme, which includes literary studies, linguistics, anthropology, ethnography, and topics ranging from migration to language. He is particularly interested in language policy and migration. 

James Iain McLean. Photo by Ugnius Bagdonavičius / Vilnius University.

‘I see language policy everywhere; it’s an extremely relevant topic. I think it affects our lives and entire generations: the decisions we make today will matter in the future. Migration is also important to me personally, as it concerns me directly. Many people talk about integration, but what does it really mean? Some say it’s about learning the language, but we know it’s not that simple. Even foreigners who learn Lithuanian are not always considered fully integrated,’ James reflected.

When asked about his future plans, the student says he does not yet know what he will do after his Master’s degree and remains open to possibilities, including doctoral studies. But will he stay in Lithuania?

‘There’s an English expression for this: Lithuania has a very special place in my heart. I don’t know whether I’ll live here permanently in the future, but I believe I’ll always have a connection with this country. I am happy in Lithuania, and I’m not in a hurry to leave,’ he concluded.

This article is part of the VU campaign ‘More Than You Can Imagine’. More stories about members of the VU community, their research, scientific discoveries, and meaningful initiatives can be found here.