Up and Running

Hi Crew,

Although I don't leave for another five months, I figured it would be best to get the blog up and running before I leave. Besides taking the time to tinker away on small details like colour schemes, I will also post on what it takes to get set up for a trip like the one I am taking. For those who don't know, I am embarking on an international exchange through the University of Lethbridge's (U of L) Faculty of Management to Liege, Belgium from September 2011 - June 2012. During these 10 months, I will be studying at the University of Liege (ULg) at the HEC Management School. Although I will receive credit for the courses I take, let's be honest. I am Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science major going on an international management exchange. My actual goals are as follows:

1) Learn how to survive on my own in a foreign country
2) Become fluent in French
3) Travel as often and as broadly as possible
4) Seduce a handsome Belgian Prince and create a Canada/Belgium mega-nation

In actuality, I will serve as a convenient excuse for any friends and/or family that have always wanted to explore Europe to finally jump on a plane. That being said, you are all highly encouraged to come visit me.

In the mean time, I am going through the process of applications to ULg, acquiring a student visa, filling out all the fun liability forms the Faculty of Management requires, and attending information sessions and meetings. Last Friday we had a meeting that was Culture Shock and Risk Management. Instead of scaring me with all the things that could possibly go wrong, it only served to build my excitement as we talked about little customs that are intimate to the Belgian culture. For example, when invited to a house, bring flowers or fine chocolates for the hostess. If you bring flowers, they cannot be chrysanthemums (which symbolize death) and they must be in an odd number but not 13. Exposure to these culture differences, no matter how small and specific, is exactly why I'm going.

I am fortunate in that I have another student going on exchange with me to the same school for the fall semester. Her name is Chelsa. She is a third year management major and wants to travel as much as possible during her single semester exchange. We are extremely fortunate to be able to plan together for housing, flights, rail passes, etc. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, she is only going to be in Belgium from September to December. As such, I will be on my own for the second semester unless another handful of students from U of L arrive for the spring semester. Being on my own is a relative term though. ULg has an absolutely enormous international student population.

Cheers,

Jacqueline

PS: The name of this blog is a reference to a friend from Lethbridge. Having spent 7 months in Tanzania prior to when we met, he would often start his stories with, "This one time in Tanzania...". After I called him out on overusing that line, he told me my karma for teasing him would be finding myself constantly starting all my future stories with, "This one time in Belgium...".