Week 1, July 14th–20th, 2026
I don’t usually go for runs, but on the first morning I was up and running early. Our coordinator Mariliis organized runs in the mornings, and it was incredible because we got to see the movie-like American neighborhood and get to know others as well. On the first day, after breakfast, we walked around campus, which was a beautiful place to spend the summer: the old brick academy buildings next to the beach, the lighthouse.
Another thing that was new in the morning routine for most of us was the meditation we’d do before class. A moment of silence for the body, just before we started working.
During the first classes, we got to know our professor Richard and talked to him about differences in daily American life. In the evenings, we’d play softball, go shopping, and we even went to this bluegrass concert at a nearby park, which was another way of experiencing the American soul. The place where we’d really get to know each other was the lobby in our dorms, as it was never empty in the evenings, and the sounds of ping pong and pool wouldn’t stop until Mariliis or Jacob would tell us it was bedtime.
We’d play football or basketball, or go to the gym after class, which was not only a healthy part of the routine but also something that bonded us, I’d say. In class, we started digging into why Maine’s blueberry industry is in danger, and we got into groups to come up with our ideas for a solution. Richard taught us how important feedback is, so we tested these ideas by talking to people in the Old Port of Portland. I’ll say getting the average American’s attention on the street is a hell of a task, but we got better at it.
We also saw an actual baseball game, which was different from European sports games based on the sheer amount of colors, noise, and ads it had. Nevertheless, it was fun, and we got to see a couple of bats break. By the end of the week, we were beginning to call each other by the right names, and our phone galleries were piling up with photos.
One of the many walks around the neighbourhood
Week 2, July 21st–28th
By the second week, I got used to the runs around the neighborhood full of big oak trees and that beach that had more dogs than people every morning. Waking up didn’t feel out of place, and I also started to give more time to myself, by journaling or just taking a breath on the porch.
In class, we started doing more team-oriented exercises to settle into our teams for the capstone project. We did this empathy map exercise, which made me think about the relationship between the customer and the entrepreneur. I value empathy a lot, and to see it taught that way made me appreciate the experience of learning in this environment even more. I’d often find myself sharing the lunch table with Richard and other fellows, and for us it was just so interesting to listen to him talk. He’d tell stories about when he was our age and make us question our stance on our ideas. We started preparing for our capstone project too. Our ideas had to be the answer for why young people are less involved in leadership. We went to Old Harbor a few times again to talk about these ideas with real, though random, people. Some of the people were excited about the fact that we were from Europe, and they were proud to tell us about Maine.
We went to an art gallery in Portland, where my attention was caught by the artworks depicting nature. Talking about nature, we also took a ferry to Peaks Island, and it had luscious forests. Some of us spent our time on the island in a Civil War museum, where the guide basically gave us a private tour of the museum only because we were from Europe, and he had such good stories about the war, like about a hat of a general that they had that had been shot through, without touching his head.
Civil war museum on Peak Island
We also managed to get a guitar that week, and it was such a vibe to jam with a fellow musician, Jurgis, on the porch in our free time. We used it at the talent show to sing “Country Roads” with a couple of other fellows. The talent show was something where you were really able to see just how creative some of these people are here. We had standup, Ranek counting in 12 languages, and whatnot, and even Richard performed.
Our free time was amazing. We’d play basketball after class almost every day or go hang out on the beach. Isn’t this the perfect summer? The program was packed in a good way, like when we had a hike in Bradbury Mountain State Park, which had great views, or this one evening we had African dance lessons, which I enjoyed as a folk dancer. But that wasn’t the only time we shared a rhythm, as we had a cultural night where we not only shared a lot of laughs but also tried out traditional dances. I think that was one of the most memorable evenings for me.
Hike the Bradbury Mountain State Park
We also started doing secret mail that week. We had a secret friend, and through a mailbox we’d get a sweet treat or something else, like a compliment on a card from them, every night. We’d also put funny callouts in the box, which would usually make everyone laugh. This whole gathering every evening would make me feel so connected to the people around me. I think most people felt so lucky to be able to look at these people that they didn’t even know a few weeks ago in the eyes and enjoy each other's presence.
Graduation, July 28th–30th
I loved working with my group on the capstone project: the brainstorming, questioning of ideas, and learning to understand each other—we really bonded, and I think most teams did. I remember the evening before the final presentations, every corner of the lobby and porch was taken up by a team preparing their pitch. In the end, we all did fine, and to see our peers present was fun and reflective. It felt good to be over with it, but the thought that we were leaving this place soon came with that, too.
For one of the last dinners, we had lobster, and it was something of an experience when you tear up the animal that you’re about to eat. There, I realized that an experience I’d definitely miss is those talks we’d have at the canteen.
Lithuanian team before devouring the lobsters
We went for one last long run and dipped in the ocean that morning as we were leaving early the next day. That night, we also sent our last long letters in the mailbox and revealed who our secret friends were. I’m not a person who feels attachment to things much, but I think I’ll have to make an exception for the letters here.
We took one last walk along the beach that night, and pretty soon our rooms were empty, and all we had was one last view of the campus through the bus window. I’ll miss everything at the SMCC campus: that yard where we played football in the evening, that beach filled with dogs, but at least I have a few more days with the people I felt so close with.
New York
I remember the New York skyline beginning to show as we were getting closer to the city by bus. The city’s known for all the hustle, but I really enjoyed the way through those calmer neighborhoods. The old brown buildings and parks around made it not only beautiful but also calm in a way.
Soon we reached the UN building and began our tour. It was a place filled with history, but not ancient; it’s something that can still determine our lives, and as someone who’s passionate about diplomacy, it was interesting to see. To see those big tables, it makes you think how much cooperation our world is in today. That and that there were a couple of expositions portraying suffering in the world there made me remember how lucky we are to be from where we are.
We also went to Times Square that evening, but, to be honest, maybe it was too overwhelming and loud for me, so I wasn’t that interested.
Next morning, we went to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. I thought of how exciting and scary it must've been to arrive in the USA with nothing back in the old days. I’m not sure if any of my relatives had that experience, but some of the fellows and Jacob actually found names of their relatives on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Ellis Island had nice places to sit down under the trees, and the view of the skyline was remarkable. That evening, we had our first Broadway show, and it was nothing like anything I’d seen before. Everything from the stage floor to the aisle between the seats above was full of life, and it somehow made perfect sense. Next morning, we saw Central Park, and shortly after, we headed for our last destination.
Visiting the Statue of Liberty
Washington, D.C.
One thing that made me love D.C. is how quiet it felt. I think that also might be because I’ve spent much time at museums and memorials there. We had a great guide, and we did go to the Smithsonian and countless memorials. It was really beautiful when we were at Lincoln Memorial, in the evening, and it started raining. We stayed there and chatted for a bit, which made it such a memorable nightfall.
I went for one last run with Mariliis that morning, realizing early runs with these people would be a big part of what I’d miss back home. Then we went to the Lithuanian embassy, where it wasn’t my first time, and we had a meeting with officials from all three of our countries. They told us about the House Baltic Caucus and daily life of a diplomat, with one of them having just moved to D.C. for their post a few weeks back. I think many of us, including me, tried to imagine how we’d fit in this kind of lifestyle.
It turned out we were also invited to a party that evening hosted by some of the BAFF Board of Directors Co-Chairs. As we arrived, we were greeted by… Richard? Yeah, it turned out Richard happened to be around and joined us for the party, though that meant we had to say our goodbyes to him again. It felt heartwarming to me to meet the people who make the BAFF programs possible and talk to them. I got advice on philosophy, we discussed climate change, met a former U.S. ambassador and discovered many of us geeked out over the same science YouTube channels.
Then came flight day and we actually had enough time to go see the National Air and Space Museum. It was there that it really hit me that all of this is going to an end and I’ll soon be back in my bed. Looking back, the past few weeks were perfect. That day at the museum and later at the airport every conversation, every little joke, every smile and every time you’d look somebody in the eye you just took as much in as you could. Soon goodbyes came, but I think all of us had a sense of feeling this won’t be the last time we see each other.
National Air and Space museum
BAFF Leadership Academy is a life changing experience for many, so one might ask “How do you describe one?” and what I think is that no matter how long I could write this blog, it couldn’t.