Comings and Goings

Exams are here. Some people are not. Unfortunately many erasmus students have to leave Gent to go back home (some even have to sit exams in their own countries too!) This was Kate's last night in her student residence room - we are all very attached to our rooms, its a sad event to pack up :( However, there are still lots of people staying for the Gentse Feesten in July!! Apparently it's Europes' 3rd biggest festival after Las Fallas in Valencia and Oktoberfest in Munich.

Thank goodnes the Crusaders beat them Aussies... can't have a non-NZ team winnin the 14! Anyways I'd better stop procrastinating n get back to studying... Here, have some feet :)

I finally graduated from something

Can y'all spot me in the photo above??

Got my certificate for completing Low Countries Studies tonight. We had a ceremony for it and everything. The Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the University handed out the certificates, and got so excited when he met a 'Nieuw Zeelandese!!!' Granted, I managed to make an ass of myself because I fell when trying to jump out of the row of chairs I was stuck in (massive bruise on leg) but I got a certificate in Dutch AND another in English!! Plus free wine and nibbly things. Yay.


And when I came home and parked Isobel, I found a lil chicken egg. The chickens like to roost in the bike shed sometimes... photo for mum :)

Just 30 days

One month today til Mish arrives in Belgium!! I'nt he lovely :)

Studying is so unexciting when I know I will be travelling soon!

Mop chop

I finally got a haircut. Usually this would not make for a very exciting story, but you know how bright and bubbly you always feel after getting a haircut? (or is that just me??). I was gonna get it cut REALLY short, but the hairdresser talked me out of it because my hair is so curly it would turn into an afro... seriously (this pic is after she dried it straight).

So the hairdresser proceeded to wash my hair and all that usual hairdressing stuff. And then she let her 2 dogs into the salon. Both of them - a Lab and a handbag dog! - promptly settled themselves on my feet. Belgians are odd. They take their dogs EVERYWHERE - supermarkets, libraries, bakeries and butcheries - dogs are allowed in all sorts of places that you would never ever take them in NZ. Then these other Belgians came in and there was lots of discussion about going on a diving trip in Iceland! So my Dutch must be improving!! Not very customer focussed, but interesting all the same. And I then hobbled out of the salon because my feet had pins and needles!

Anyway I'm enjoying that just-got-a-haircut feeling :P
xxx

Trip to The Netherlands!

Today we had a trip through Flanders and into the Netherlands with Low Countries Studies. We're not supposed to call it 'Holland' because Holland is only one province of the Netherlands, so to call it that would be neglecting other important provinces such as Zeeland!!!

We had all sorts of stops on the way through Flanders, fields used for medieval cloth trade, a town called Kaprijke, and another strange town, Boekhoute, which used to be coastal but is now about 50km inland (there are fishing boats in the middle of fields).

Then we headed across the border with the Netherlands. These were my first steps :)


We stopped right on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The buses in the photo below are parked on the border dyke (the type to stop flooding :P) Behind the buses is the Netherlands, this side is Belgium!!


We stopped to drill for peat. Not a typical tourist activity but our tour guide was a geologist hehe. There is a bout a metre of marine sediment covering the peat, because the area apparently flooded a lot from the sea (because its all reclaimed land) before the dyke where the buses are park was built.

Then we headed to a town called Hoofdplaat for lunch. Where we all had free beer and icecream. And we stopped at the 'beach' aka the delta of the Westerschlde.


Then we had a tour through a windmill that still grinds corn! Yuppers.


So that was my trip to the Netherlands! Lots more photos on Flickr page :)

xxx hope yer all well

Pink Underwear

So I've officially done it. Finished ALL the assignments for both my Degrees! Today I presented my paper for Penal Systems which was on prison labour. I decided that the class would be sick of boring presentations so I included some random pictures and funny stories. These guys above are a real-life chain gang in Phoenix, AZ. The County Sheriff decided to make an example of them as DUI convicts by dressing them in pink shirts AND undies... and making them bury the homeless alcoholics that had died in the area. Only in America.

I'm also ecstatic because I just found out that my visa issues are sorted and I can now stay in Gent for the festival in July!! This also means Hamish will be able to relax here for a while, and we can sort out where we're gonna go from here :)

There is NO CAT

This had me in stitches;

"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."

- Albert Einstein, explaining radio

Drooooling

So I went into the kitchen to make a cuppa, and this Belgian guy had just nuked some kind of bready/cheesey thing. And boy did it smell good. And now (damnit) I REALLY have cravings for grilled Vogel toast with marmite and cheese!!! I'm a self-confessed toast fiend. Maybe my resolve not to buy a toaster while living in Belgium was not such a good idea, coz the next time I come across a toaster I just know I'm gonna go nuts and probably toast a whole loaf!!

So I ended up finding a website that actually takes orders and posts Vogel bread overseas. But they do point out that while Vogels has a 4 day shelf life... the post can take up to 14 days. Not so keen for the mould. Then the Customs officer really would have to 'incinerate it, piece by piece'. haha. "It was a year ago alright Michael... let it go!!"... "What?? Well it's really hard to get!"

Anyway. Not much exciting to report this week so far (although I'm in Belgium!!! haha I still have moments where I suddenly realise I'm in Belgium and go all crazy with the wavy arms and whatnot). I'm still recovering from putting my back out last week (which cost me the trip to the brewery I was so excited about, but was also probably for the best seeing as I slept for 2 days and ended up getting a bit of study done too). So yeah. Now I'm just working on my last presentation for this week (Penal Systems!) n then yeah. On exam leave after that!

xxx

Hungarian Pancakes, Lethal Drugs and Foreign Tongues

Mmmmm had Hungarian pancakes and French Crepes for dinner last night. Our 2 Hungarian friends made these nice pancakes (or maybe they're crepes, coz they were thin), with a nut-paste filling and gorgeous rich chocolate fudge sauce.... And French crepes with nutella and jam were pprrrreeetttty tasty too! The awesome thing about this was, we had our meal on the top floor solarium of Home Fabiola (one of the student residences), which as you can see is a room of windows basically, and has a great area outside where you get a great view of the city. Neat place to have dinner - on a rooftop!

Earlier we had a very interesting lecture in Low Countries Studies... beginning, living and ending life in Belgium. Belgium and the Netherlands are the only countries in which Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are legal. Also, Belgium, Netherlands and Spain are the only European countries in which gay marriage is legal. And, in Belgium they also allow the creation and experimentation on human embyros for scientific purposes. I'm ok with all that. But apparently the British are trying to pass laws that would allow them to produce chimeras - hybrids of humans and other animals. Now THAT I have a problem with - and I certainly can't see the scientific benefit in such creations. I can see that in the next few years we will be treading on very delicate ground in terms of genetic policies.

In other news, I got an A- overall for my Dutch course. Not brilliant, but I'm happy with that. It was hard!!

Now that Goal 1 of my exchange is nearing completion (finish last semester of law), I'm also trying to work on Goal 2 (participate in as many activities in Belgium as I can). So, this saturday I'm going on a bike trip to a brewery (the Delirium Tremens brewery actually). Hehhehe. And then next weekend I'm going on a bus trip to the Netherlands with Low Countries Studies for only 5 euro! Wohooooo!

Be good xxx

Buzzzzing

My lovely people!!! Here's a piece of Belgian sky for you all - first clouds we've had in ages!!

I'm so excited!!!! And I just can't hide it!!!! Ya'll know how I get a bit hyper sometimes... well... yep now is one of those times!!!! I just got back from handing in my LAST EVER assignment - Penal Systems! Well, undergrad anyway. YUSSSS. I still have 2 big presentations, and exams, but no more last minute typing and hurried printing out of things!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Plus its so summery here. People are wearing some fabulous outfits, everything is so colourful and glam (here's hoping I learn something - goodness knows I could use a bit of style help!!). Although mostly the female Belgian wardrobe consists of minidresses, short skirts, miniskirts, and even shorter shorts. So not sure how I will fit in there! Mmmmm the lawns outside were just mown so there's that lovely fresh cut lawn smell around. Plus there are 4 new baby chickens that must have just hatched a few days ago!

Plus Hamish will be here soon! Just 20 days, 14 hours, 22 minutes and 17 seconds til he leaves NZ! 45 days til he shows up here... assuming he doesn't decide he likes the pyramids more than me!


Much love!!! xxx R

Field trip for International Nature Conservation Law

Yesterday we had a field trip to a Flemish nature reserve, between Gent and Brugge. It's called Warandeputten. The weather has been FABULOUS - 26ºC, blue skies and not a cloud in sight all week! There are people out sunbathing and shirtless and playing volleyball all that summer stuff.

Anyway, the trip. Glad I had the sunscreen, there are a few pink students around today! :) The reserve is a semi-natural area (ie has to be maintained in some way by humans or the species currently living there wouldn't survive - the area would naturally be covered in forest... so is mown yearly to allow scrub and meadows, along with insect species and birds etc to remain). It is a Natura2000 area (protected by European and International Law). This particular area was destroyed when the canals were widened and the sludge that came out had to be put somewhere - in a heap over the last remaining arms of the River Scheldt that has passed through the area unchanged for centuries (at least 800 yr). Then they decided to turn it into a dump for raw sewage, goodie! So you when see the photos below, you will appreciate the improvement!!

This was taken from a bird-watching hut. They cleaned it up and allowed it to develop into a wetland area (as it was when the Scheldt ran through), with some sand banks and stuff so that birds (especially Kingfishers, Mum) would nest. Got to see the Kingfishers out and about, even fishing in the water! Dunk'n'dive!! The Flemish are really proud of this reserve, there were lots of little kids from a nearby school running around looking for insects, and lots of people walk and watch birds there. All maintained by volunteers. Lots of great bike tracks too, we should go for a ride there Mish!

This meadow was covered by 1.5m of poo, which they had to remove. Now it has these amazing purple wild orchids growing (which you can't see very well, but just take my word for it).


The brown-looking oxygen-type weed stuff is CARNIVOROUS!! Yeah, that's right you heard me. It's got these neat little bubbles (like a string of pearls sorta thing) which burst on contact with living things and then suck in, digest and absorb their prey. Orrrrrsome.


This is the canal where some of the sludge came from. It has been widened to allow really quite large boats to pass through (bringing freight from the port at Oostende). You can see the bridge that moves to allow ships through! (see the sign - automatische brug - always improving the Dutch eh!). And now you all know a little bit more about Flanders :)


These are some of the girls in my class (2 are Belgian, the rest exchange students). The sun was really bright, so that's why I look like a munter ok!

I am Erasmus

Got my Erasmus shirt! I think the phrase is "been there, got the t-shirt" - but in this case I'm not done in Gent yet! Although I will wear my shirt with pride :) On the front it has 'ESN Gent' (our chapter) and the Porter House logo - hence the 'I got lucky in Gent' - Irish Pub!! Yay!

And yes, I did feel stupid taking photos of myself at first, but now I'm totally over it! So laugh at me all you will :P

Ik heb mijn Nederlandse cursus vervolledigd!

Just got back from my final Dutch exam. This is just a random photo of Rozier straat (probably the only street name in Gent that is pronounceable hehe) which is where we have (had!!) Dutch class - in the 'dungeon' basement of the big old building on the right. It was taken at 9pm... see how light it still is!! I had to do an oral presentation about myself, and then a 2-hour exam. I think the presentation went well, I got nice feedback, but not sure about the written part :S although at least the dictation was easy!

Orestis and I celebrated our completion of the course (because a lot of students never bothered to show up or study, and a lot cheated in the exam) with a lovely hot chocolate at the heavenly Quetzal. Mmmmm.

So now I just have Penal Systems (I mention this so that Ben can have a laugh...) and Nature Conservation... and then exams and I'm DONE. We have all been struck by the realisation that our wonderful time here in Gent is coming to an end! Tomorrow night they are handing out the memorabilia T-shirts for erasmus students, so I have to go to a cocktail party to fetch mine... what a pity!

P.S.

The weather has been really beautiful here lately. I'm quite attached to Gent now :)

UK Marmite is NOT the same!!

Ok, so the British may have made it first, but we make it better! I found this UK stuff in a supermarket but its terrible! Firstly the colour is all wrong (its a light, almost translucent brown), its kind of stringy/sticky like honey, and it tastes like a cross between vegemite and beef stock! Thankfully I have my own supply of the real deal :)

Beer and Jazz

I guess this is Stefan's farewell part II. A few of us went out again to celebrate his very last night in Gent, we went to a neat Jazz bar in the city centre for a few beers. The bar is called Het Damberd, and its one of the latest-closing bars in Gent. It plays neat jazz music, so it has a great atmosphere. Also, each Belgian beer has its own special type of glass that its served in (see photo of me and my Orval), which means that bars have to stock a lot of glassware!! There are HUNDREDS of types of Belgian beer (I hear that there are over 300). The beer here really is fantastic. There is such a wide range too, from very heavy (and high percentage alcohol) Trappiste dark beers, brown beers (bitter, sweet, or even fruity) white beers, even fruity girly beers that taste just like raspberries (Framboise - its' really an amazing beer!) I don't think I will ever be able to drink Tui again!

We stayed in the one bar until 3am, it was that great! I love how there are so many different styles of bars and cafes here, each with its own type of regular customer. We met some more Romanians, another Greek guy, and randomly some pretty interesting Belgians and even Jamaicans! But it was really sad when we actually had to say goodbye!! There were tears!



Ben my friend... there is a little competition for the Giant Woman... Orestis says you must come back to Gent to claim her!

Stefan's Farewell

Stefan is going back to Romania, so we decided to have a dinner/farewell shindig to say goodbye :(

We tried to convince him to stay by tying him to things.


But we also had an amazing dinner, with MASHED POTATOES!!!! Apparently the Romanians love mashed potatoes too, and it's very common there (except Europeans call it 'smashed potatoes' hehe). So here's me getting (a very large and tasty portion) of creamy mashed potato goodness. Mmmmm.

I know I spend a lot of time raving about the food, but its just SOO good! We had the Romanian mashed potato of course, and chicken drumsticks too, a German 'countryside' lentil and bacon dish (VERY tasty) with special pasta noodles and weiner sausages (!!!), Greek cheese pie (yes, a pie full of Greek cheese!!!), meatballs, chicken with potatoes, and pasta, and a special Portuguese sausage! We had green stuff too coz I made a salad :) And an Italian marzipan/biscuit cake along with my chocolate instant pudding for dessert. It was like eating Christmas dinner I tell you!

Then we had toasts, and speeches, and shared videos and photos and stuff, even a flute performance (very nice!) before going out. The special this week at the Porter House was Delirium Tremens for 1,50 euro. Cheap! For future reference, any Belgian beer called 'delirium' with pink elephants as a (famous) icon/symbol on the bottle, has got to be pretty potent.