What I love..

The past week there has been a lot of added stress concerning my studies, bad internal communication here, issues with permission from the Netherlands. BUT, since I have been complaining about this to anybody willing to listen (thanks and sorry Antonio, mama, and Jesse) I decided that this blog would be on a more positive note.


What I love about studying at Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao:

• Students at the University carry their books around instead of putting them in a bag; makes me feel as if I'm in an American high school movie.
• Teacher still use actuall blackboards here, I love the white-ish residu it leaves on their hands, the scratching of the chalk on the board.
• My spider senses seem better in Bilbao, I am not falling over non existing thresholds etc.
• The weather is still nice here.
• But when it is not, and 3 drips of rain fall down, everybody puts up their umbrella right away which makes me feel like a super tough chick.
• And then, when it's puring down, I can use an umbrella. This is impossible by bike, or it is possible just not feasable for me - quite clumsy.
• Even though I am taking first years courses of Law, that classes have been divided so there's only 70 students or so in a class room, instead of 400 as in Tilburg University.
• I like public transportation a lot, since it is like a slot of time that is beyond your power, all you can do is sit and daydream. Most of all I love the metro. And that is how I go to school every day.
• The walk from the metro station to Deusto is just the right amount to be able to listen to 3 super happy songs, so I get to walk with my face in the song, singing under my breath (sometimes not so subtle though).
• My generation in Bilbao is pretty alternative, which is why the not-so-much-under-my-breath-singing is OK.
• Besides that, I always look as though I'm all together because my clothes are clean, ironed, and not baggy.
• It's a lot more fun to party with Erasmus students than serving them.
• Whenever I want to go out in the center of Bilbao on a thursday (when there's no metro's at night - only on friday and saturday), my ex-housemate Charlene generously states that 'mi casa es tu casa', and she keeps her word!
• In Sevilla I did not like being 'that Dutch chick' since I was trying to fit in with Spanish society, I've come to peace with the fact that I will be the odd one out in Spain so I am totally enjoying and exploiting my 'Dutchness'
• I prefer being reminded to the fact that we lost the world cup than to how all Dutch people are probably prostitutes and drug addicts.
• Everybody says my Spanish is great.
  
• I am close(r) to my man!
• My room is small and thus always organized.
• Whenever I need some fresh air I go to the beach, which is 5 minutes from my house.
• First years students are usually not secure enough to speak up in class which makes me look like Einstein. Love it.
• When abroad you make random talks so much easier, I don't know why but it's just true.
• There's Churches everywhere so I don't have to struggle to find a Mass.
• I have friends (who are on exchange also) in different timezones so I can always call someone.
• There's great museums in Bilbao.
• Even though I love my activities at home ('sorority' - Fame, study association - Extra Muros) I am very glad to only have to focus on my studies for a semester.
• People are relatively short here, so I can always see what's going on ánd it's easy to find me :)
• I can call Antonio from my cell phone without having to take out a student loan.
• When in Sevilla I had not yet discovered skype; I can call whoever in whatever country on their homephone for 7 bucks a month.
• It's easier to appreciate things at home when abroad, so I know that when I get home I will have a new found respect for many elements of Dutch society.
• I found a provider that allows me to send text messages to ANY cell phone number in the world for only 10 cents. Pretty sweet.
• I realize how much my friends at home mean to me - making good friends is close to impossible in 6 months, and Erasmus life is shedding a new light on my homies.
• That the stores are closed on sunday. It is nice to have one day a week on which you cannot run to the store to buy something etc., it's quite relaxing.
• This past friday Deusto had arranged a tour of Casco Viejo (the oldest neighboorhood in Bilbao) and I learned a lot about the history of Bilbao and its port.
• This has nothing to do with studying in Spain, but I just bought a flight to visit my friend Henk in Venice! JOY! (www.henkinitaly.blogspot.com)

Thanks again for the comments!
@ Pierre-Hendrik: Dude! Ik wacht met smart op je eerste blog!
@ Kim: héél goed meissie, ben trots op je ;)
@ Jasmin: enjoying them mucho as we speak, and even though LAS spoiled us attentionwise, she also tortured us reading-wise, so the 15 pages I have to read to prepare a class here are a joke!
@ mama: Hope your ppt worked out, will call you guys tonight to see how we're going to arrange your visit.
@ Rudy: Jij bent echt een keistouterd! maakt niet uit hoor, de zucht was inderdaad gementioned, maar dat je het hele filmpje hebt gezien is al heel wat :) Top met die link! Voel me geliefd/gemist.

Slog: Craig Morgen - Redneck Yacht Club