girlworks March - April 2022

Janet’s Spiel As you emerge from winter, from the most recent strain of the virus, from another bizarre year of school spent at home, there is still so much to look forward to. Spring, for instance! We hope you enjoy these great articles: • Learn about Latvia, and Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the first woman to head a post-communist eastern European country.• Actor Mckenna Grace• Jumpsuits for Everyone• Antibodies and the Immune System• A Career in Immunology• Cosplay• And more…. Coming in May / June: • The Ukraine• Homespun Heritage Fashion• Learn to Swim• Actor and singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo• And much more… Join us as we continue to cover the serious, the fun, the hip, the bent – the real. Check out the girlworks App—for iOS for Android and Amazon—it's the only…

Latvia Neighbouring the Baltic Sea and the countries of Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania and Russia, The Republic of Latvia is a country with a range of cultural influences. Latvia has a long history of regional invasions and wars, both in recent history and centuries past. The first people in what is now Latvia were the ancient Balts. In the 800s the Vikings took control of the region; Germany, Poland, and Sweden later ruled. One example of invasion finds part of current-day Latvia under Swedish rule. During the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629) Riga and the largest part of Duchy of Livonia came under Swedish rule in 1621. The area was known as the "Swedish Bread Basket" because it supplied the larger part of the Swedish Kingdom with wheat. During this period, the translation…

Consider the Jewish Experience in Latvia When learning the history of Latvia, it is difficult to ignore the modern (within the last century) historical experience of the Jewish community living in this region. The first Jewish settlement was formed in Latvia in the 16th century. The positive contribution of the Jewish community to economic, academic and scientific development was significant. But by the 1880’s a wave of Anti-Semitism hit the Russian Empire, followed by WWI, when Jews were deported to Russia, with some 75,000 becoming refugees. By the end of the 1930s, approximately 93,000 Jews lived in Latvia, half in Riga. Latvia fell under Soviet rule in 1940, and all Jewish-owned banks, industrial plants and businesses were nationalized. Author: Carl Strott In WWII, Nazi troops occupied Latvia in early July…

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Imagine living most of your life away from the place you were born, and then, after retiring after a full career, returning home and becoming President. That’s Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga’s story. Author: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland Vaira Vike was born in 1937 in Riga, Latvia, but when Soviet forces took over Latvia, her family fled to Germany where she began her schooling in a refugee camp. Near the end of WWII, the family left for French Morocco. In 1954, Vike moved to Canada where she studied psychology at the University of Toronto and then McGill University, where she earned her Ph.D. in experimental psychology. She married her husband, Imants Freiberga in 1960 and they had two children. From 1965 - 1998, Dr. Vīķe-Freiberga taught psychopharmacology, psycholinguistics, scientific…

career as an Immunologist Immunologists study, diagnose, treat, and help prevent immune system disorders like severe allergies, asthma, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Becoming an immunologist requires completion of at least nine years of education. 1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree (4 year program) Courses may include biology, calculus, chemistry, anatomy, genetics, physics, biochemistry, nutrition, statistics, healthcare policy & planning. 2. Earn a Medical Degree (4 year program) Courses may include cells and tissues, molecular foundations, applied biochemistry, genetics, the nervous system, immunology, microbiology, pulmonary system, skin and endocrine systems, reproduction and women’s health, the brain, hematology, pediactrics, surgery, family medicine, psychiatry, neurology, critical and ambulatory care. If you are focused on immunology as you enter med school, you may select courses more suited to that focus. 3. Complete a Residency (3…

The Immune System What is it? The incredible immune system is a large network of organs, white blood cells, proteins (antibodies) and chemicals. This vast, connected system works to protect you from foreign intruders like bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause infection, illness and disease. Fundamentally, your immune system protects you from germs and helps you recover from illness. The main parts of the immune system are: • White blood cells: Serving as an army against harmful bacteria and viruses, white blood cells search for, attack and destroy germs to keep you healthy. White blood cells are a key part of your immune system. There are many white blood cell types in your immune system. Types of white blood cells are granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T…