The secret tunnel

The walk from the metro to Deusto takes me past a roundabout with two stop and go lights. When I was younger (technically a week ago I was younger) I used to stop by each stop and go light. However, I have now discovered a secret tunnel. Maybe not so much secret as unknown to me before. It leads you right under the roundabout and this way I don't have to wait for the two lights. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm finding my way around Bilbao. Whereas my first two weeks here were all about getting to know the city as a tourist, I am now finding my way living the normal day-to-day life. I know which entrance is best to take the metro, I know what streets are almost never used by cars so I can cross without a problem, I have coffee at one bar specifically that is right next to the metro in Deusto because I like their coffee best, I am discovering which part of the metro is busiest so where I should get in to assure I get a seat, I know exactly how many pages I an read in my commute, I know who to talk to when I need anything done at the University, which is not the person actually assigned to helping me but the security guards.. Of course there is still a LOT I have to figure out, but I am on my way to feeling perfectly at home.

The past week has been rather hectic. As I stated in my last blog I was having some trouble with the University bureaucracy and it hasn't gotten any better this week.

Question: Which bear is the best? [ that's a ridiculous question ] Wrong. Black bear.

Anyways.

Fact: In Spanish University any inconvenience is blamed on the Bologna plan which is absolutely ridiculous since Dutch Universities function according to the Bologna plan as well and I have never run into any of these inconveniences at the University of Tilburg.

Fact: At Deusto attendance to all classes is obligatory.

Fact: All students 'create' their own schedule, which means that one has to look closely to be sure that all classes can be attended.

Fact: When a student takes classes from different years he/she (in this case obviously she :)) is up for many hours of puzzling.

Fact: Erasmus students from the University of Tilburg can only take second and third year courses.

Fact: When studying the principles of Law one has to take first year courses.

Fact: When on exchange in Deusto one can only take classes from the faculty through which the exchange was arranged.

Fact: Kayleigh van Oorschot, students s911066, was sent to Deusto through the Faculty of Law since she was told she could also take courses from different faculties.

Fact: Kayleigh van Oorschot, student s911066, is having difficulties arranging her schedule.

Soo.. I think that pretty much sums it up. As it seems, I have turned into a little spoiled student as I am used to having undivided attention from Liberal Arts and Sciences professors and academic advisors, appearantly this is not normal and I have been extremely lucky in Tilburg.. As an exchange student, before getting approval from my home university to actually go on exchange I have to set up a list of courses I want to follow. I had made a list and Tilburg had given me permission to follow the first year course Roman Law and all the other courses were from the 2nd and 3rd year of the Law and Humanities faculty. As it turns out, I cannot take any courses from the Humanities faculty which means that I have to take first years courses also since most second and third year courses ask for basic knowledge of Law, which is taught in the first year.. You see the dilemma. I have now worked out my list of courses, but am still waiting for permission from Tilburg.

There. Now for the fun part!

I love my courses! I started this week and the 3 different courses I have already had are great! They are (translated, as I am following them in Spanish): International Organizations, Political Dimension of the EU, and The Fundaments of Private Law. I have the same professor for the two courses I mentioned first, and she stated in the first class the following: Hay que leer. Y leer libros, no pantallas (You must read. And read books, not screens). Anybody who slightly knows me will understand how excited I am! I've played the 'I'm-not-from-here,-language-barriere-blabla-card' on each teacher and am hoping they will cut me some slack. I've already gotten to know some of my fellow students which is not as easy as it may seem as I have different fellow students for each course and they all have classes together all the time. Even though I think it is pretty darn interesting I'm not from there, they still need some convincing. I have however, met some nice people in 2 of the 3 courses and am sure things will work out!

Besides this I am getting all settled in in my new house! Yesterday Conchita (the 'mom'), Mikel (the 'son'), Miriam and Jon (the 'daughter and husband') took me out to see some parts of the area. We drove up to Mundaka which is a small town shielded by the mountains and right next to the sea. Conchita had prepared a great picknick (chicken, salad, bread, melon) and we had our lunch looking out over the mountains. I enjoyed this so much and it is just great to be living with people who offer to show me around like this. I will add a video of the views and a map of: A - Bilbao, B - Las Arenas, C - Mundaka.

Since the signing up for this blog seems to or not be possible or be too hard to figure out, I think it's safe to say that each monday afternoon a new blog will have been posted! Thanks again for the reactions:

@ mama: I have to be honest with you, after the canon shooting the artsy-ness was blasted out of the whole scene for me as well.. Will call you as soon as everything here is set up!

@ Rudy: Haha, ja, ik dacht, leuk extraatje voor de mensen die me kennen :)

@ Charlene: A ver si el finde que viene puedes pasar por aquí! Estaría geníal!

@ Carine: Ja, na het schieten was de kunstigheid er bij mij ook wel een beetje af.. Misschien moeten we als ik terug ben met z'n allen gaan laser gamen! OH! Misschien kan dat nog wel met VATOS dan! hoezeeee!

Slog: Queen - Don't stop me now

First image is of Bilbao (A), Las Arenas (B), and Mundaka (C)

The second is a video of the views by Mundaka. By the way, the lady in the jeans dress is Conchita and I am telling Miriam she is going to be in my video after which she tries to hide, without succes:)

The third is a video of me showing the house!