Life as I know it

This past month I've underwent some heavy duty integration, so you will have to forgive me my lack of contact. I will try to do better again from now on!

What have I done this past month.. Well.. I'll start with my travels!

First of all mom and dad were here for a long weekend. Dad had to be here for work (and they will be back the end of this month for the same reason) and mom came with him. It was a lot of fun to walk around Bilbao and Las Arenas with them, they also came over for dinner here (I had to hear about menu options from Conchita for about a month) which I would say was a great succes. The next time they are here I will be serving as a guide since they'll be here with a big group, so we also made a plan of everything that we'll be doing when they're here. All in all, useful and fun trip :)

Conchita - Mikel - Myriam - Dad - Estibaliz - me

I bussed (I really don't care if this is a real word) down to Madrid for a day since Antonio was going to be there for his big exam. It was a bit of a paliza (beating), it was intens, a lot of hours in bus but it was totally worth it! It was nice weather, so we kind of strolled around (however, he had his leg in a cast, so we couldn't stroll thaaaat much, but anyways, we tried) and had lunch/dinner. It is so nice that it was just possible. One of the awesome things of living here is that we are closer, which up untill this moment was just calling on our normal cell phones, now however we've experienced the coolness of living in the same country!

Two weeks ago I went to Venice to visit my good friend Henk. He is studying abroad there as I am in Bilbao and even though the plan was to go with a group, it worked out this way. He showed me a lot of cool things: the Guggenheim, the rialto, the palace of the Doge, a loooot of tiny streets, water etc. Since I'd already been in Venice, I wasn't as shocked by the city as I guess many first time visitors are, but it's a cool city and it was great to have a good tourguide! Henk showed me the nightlife with his friends and accompanied me to Mass in the San Marco which was very cool. So all in all, a good trip!

Supernice dinner!

Near the Guggenheim with my awesome poster
(which by the way I left in a cafe
so required a rescue mission)

Henk and I

Calling with Antonio :)

Also I figured out what I'm doing for Christmas! I was doubting between Sevilla/home for a while, but I decided to celebrate Christmas with mom and dad and then fly down to Sevilla from there on the 30 so I can start the new year with my guy! Very excited.

Besides all this of course normal life continues. I'm studying a lot! After all the bureaucracy these are my final courses:
- Roman law
- Political science: constitutional law
- Political dimension of the EU
- International Organizations
- Distance course from the UvT: Politics and the European Union
- Assistent researcher in research group European Integration


YES! You read that correctly. I am an assistent researcher. I would like you all to refer to me as miss.assistent researcher from now on. Am thinking about making a new e-mail address: MisZ@ssist@ntReZEarChEr@hotmail.com.

I am teaching English conversation class three times a week. My 'students' are a an 'older' lady who is going to take an exam and a brother and a sister (of 6 and 4 years old). Even though it feels kind of wrong to be teaching kids that young another language (I find it kind of exaggerated..) I make some nice extra pocketmoney basically playing with a 4 and a 6 year old, so it works for me!

I have also started the applications for my masters. I decided a while a go (but didn't really do anything with that idea) to do my Master in Londen at hopefully the London School of Economics and Political Science (also known as LSE). They have an amazing master calles European Studies: Ideas and Identities. However, I of course need a back-up plan, so I'm also applying to UCL (University College London) and King's College, which is also in London. Although, back-up plan sounds kind of cocky, since these are ubergood universities as well, but I'm trying to be positive and if I don't get accepted anywhere (or don't a scholarship, which is crucial) I'll have to do something in the Netherlands.

As you can probably tell, I'm busy, but no worries,
I'm doing just... fine.... :)

Slog: Damien Rice - Volcano



Everybody thanks for the comments!
@Kim: chick, wie gehst je nieuwe baan?! x
@Rudy: by deze de reden van mijn schamele blogposting van deze maand.. je mailtje was een impuls! thanks!
@Marleen: inderdaad schandálig! Met tweede borrel skypen lijkt mee top idee! Even organizeren! ga jullie nu een mailtje sturen!