International Student Spotlight: Raivo’s Journey at CADA

International Student Spotlight: Raivo’s Journey at CADA

At CADA, we love hearing the stories of our students - their backgrounds, experiences, and what brought them to our creative community. Today, we’re introducing Raivo Cifersons, a 4th-semester student at the 3D Digital Artist education, who shares his journey from Latvia to Denmark and his passion for 3D art.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?

I’m Raivo, originally from Latvia. In my free time, I always enjoyed drawing and concepting, but I wanted my artistic skills to be more than just a hobby. I joined CADA to explore and experiment different areas of 3D to redirect my passion for art into a professional career.

How has life in Denmark been for you?

I love living in Denmark! The people are respectful and helpful, and there are so many free educational and fun events, especially in Copenhagen.

How does life in Denmark compare to Latvia, both in terms of daily life and studying?

When it comes to daily life and studying in Denmark, I feel that my personal life and time are respected. What do I mean by that? There is a clear separation between study time, being at school, and personal time for yourself and your family. I think having no homework is a big contribution to that.

Another amazing difference is the focus on group-oriented learning. I have learned so much from my classmates and have significantly improved my teamwork skills.

How do you finance your education?

I finance my studies through State Funded Student Grants, which help cover my tuition fees. As an EU citizen studying in Denmark, I'm entitled to receive 1,300 EUR per month in student grants.

How has the social aspect been for you in Denmark?

Denmark is a very international country, so even though learning Danish would be helpful to integrate, the majority of people here speak English. So the language barrier has never really been an issue.

There are also plenty of events here that are in English.

What is something funny, strange, or surprising you’ve noticed about Danish culture?

One of the first things I found strange was that Danes eat sandwiches with a fork and knife! But what surprised me the most, in a good way, is how inclusive they are at social events. It makes me very happy to see different generations enjoying the same festivals, gatherings, and activities.