Other events in Baltic States

Celebrating her 102nd birthday, a Latvian woman, who emigrated to the United States during World War II, tells the local newspaper ''Whittier Daily News'' in California her life story and secret to long life, writes LETA.

"I do not think about my age and I do not believe or feel that I am 102," Alma Ezernieks told the newspaper.

If you ask Ezernieks what the secret is to living a long life, she will tell you, "no drinking, no smoking and to stay away from men."

Ezernieks was born June 5, 1910 in Latvia. The mother of two was a refugee who immigrated to the United States in 1944 after being sponsored by a family.

"I came because the Germans and Russians occupied Latvia," she said.

Ezernieks traveled to the U.S. with her children, Arnis and Aina. Her first husband, Felix was killed during the war.

"When I settled in Ohio. I was paid USD 1 a day including room and board to work," she told the ''Whittier Daily News''.

Ezernieks later found work as a house cleaner in Chicago and finally moved to California where she has lived for the past 40 years. She met her second husband, Arnold, in Chicago where they married. They never had children together. Arnold died in 1971 and Ezernieks continued to clean houses in California.

When Ezernieks lived in Latvia, she enjoyed performing as a singer. She continued her passion by performing at local Latvian churches in the Los Angeles area, the newspaper writes. "I love all songs, it doesn't matter what kind it is. I particularly love Mexican music because it has a life in it," she said.

The singer also enjoyed ballroom dancing, cooking and managed to travel back to Latvia three times after moving to the United States.