Bonjour Everyone!
This past week has been considerably busier in regards to school work. Firstly, French courses are up and running so Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8 pm I get to indulge in the language here. I absolutely love that class. It is truly one of those that feels like no work at all despite the homework and quizzes. I just feel like a sponge soaking it all in. If I could, I would drop out of HEC (the management/economics faculty) and just take French full time. A girl can dream...
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Saturday, 22 October 2011
ESN Paris Trip: October 14-16
Hello All,
I truly should have written about Paris immediately after I returned - forgive the late posting!
The trip had a very early morning start with a 5 am meeting at the HEC campus to catch the coach. Myself and a few others stayed up all night in anticipation of the trip. What is the point of sleeping when you know you're going to bed around midnight and getting up around 4? Or so the logic went (and what completely terrible exchange student logic it was...). Due to some quick feet and good luck myself and Camillo (Brazil) managed to score the front seat on the top level of the bus. Driving 4.5 hours to Paris is much more bearable when you have the best seats in the house. Sleeping for more than half of it didn't hurt either. Until we actually got within 20 minutes of Paris, it was an extremely quiet bus ride as everyone crashed.
First stop on the tour was the palace of Versailles. We only had an hour or so to whip through the main palace and tour the gardens. While it was not enough time, it was a great opportunity for everyone to stretch their legs and get a good idea of the grandeur and splendor of the place...
I truly should have written about Paris immediately after I returned - forgive the late posting!
The trip had a very early morning start with a 5 am meeting at the HEC campus to catch the coach. Myself and a few others stayed up all night in anticipation of the trip. What is the point of sleeping when you know you're going to bed around midnight and getting up around 4? Or so the logic went (and what completely terrible exchange student logic it was...). Due to some quick feet and good luck myself and Camillo (Brazil) managed to score the front seat on the top level of the bus. Driving 4.5 hours to Paris is much more bearable when you have the best seats in the house. Sleeping for more than half of it didn't hurt either. Until we actually got within 20 minutes of Paris, it was an extremely quiet bus ride as everyone crashed.
First stop on the tour was the palace of Versailles. We only had an hour or so to whip through the main palace and tour the gardens. While it was not enough time, it was a great opportunity for everyone to stretch their legs and get a good idea of the grandeur and splendor of the place...
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Another Week Flies By...Unifestival, Masquerade, Tom's birthday
Hello Friends and Family!
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Our gorgeous sunny autumn weather has taken a cloudy damp turn for the worse. Today is a pretty typical example of the weather as of late: light rain with a high/low of 14°C/9°C (57°F/48°F) with wind at 12 mph. Although the air temperature is decently warm, the wind just cuts right through you in this extremely bone chilling way. Additionally, it gets really dark here really quickly. Although the sun sets at almost the exact same time as home (Calgary is on latitude 51° 03' N and Liege is 50º 50´ N), it feels like the light doesn't linger as long. I think it is probably just the effect of the high buildings and narrow streets instead of the big open landscapes I'm used to. Regardless, winter is coming.
Not that this stops Erasmus students from anything! Not even in the slightest.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Our gorgeous sunny autumn weather has taken a cloudy damp turn for the worse. Today is a pretty typical example of the weather as of late: light rain with a high/low of 14°C/9°C (57°F/48°F) with wind at 12 mph. Although the air temperature is decently warm, the wind just cuts right through you in this extremely bone chilling way. Additionally, it gets really dark here really quickly. Although the sun sets at almost the exact same time as home (Calgary is on latitude 51° 03' N and Liege is 50º 50´ N), it feels like the light doesn't linger as long. I think it is probably just the effect of the high buildings and narrow streets instead of the big open landscapes I'm used to. Regardless, winter is coming.
Not that this stops Erasmus students from anything! Not even in the slightest.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
La Nocturne des Coteaux de la Citadelle
Hello Family & Friends,
In the old neighborhood of Hors-Chateau, Liege has a particularly intense set of stairs known as the Montagne de Bueren. The staircase, built in 1875, honours Vincent de Bueren (1440-1505) who was one of the fiercest protectors of Liege against Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Don't quote me on this but a friend told me there are 374 steps. Anyways, as an annual tradition, on the first Saturday of every October the stairs and entire neighbourhood get lit up by candles in an event known as La Nocturne des Coteaux de la Citadelle. I have heard estimates of the number of candles to be as low as 3000 and as high as 15 000. Regardless, it is an extremely good time. People are out late wandering the crowded streets with friends and family, live music is being played everywhere, and the evening ends with a big fireworks display.
In the old neighborhood of Hors-Chateau, Liege has a particularly intense set of stairs known as the Montagne de Bueren. The staircase, built in 1875, honours Vincent de Bueren (1440-1505) who was one of the fiercest protectors of Liege against Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Don't quote me on this but a friend told me there are 374 steps. Anyways, as an annual tradition, on the first Saturday of every October the stairs and entire neighbourhood get lit up by candles in an event known as La Nocturne des Coteaux de la Citadelle. I have heard estimates of the number of candles to be as low as 3000 and as high as 15 000. Regardless, it is an extremely good time. People are out late wandering the crowded streets with friends and family, live music is being played everywhere, and the evening ends with a big fireworks display.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Oostende, Bruges, and Parrainage
Hello all!
I had three really amazing opportunities occur yesterday.
Some friends of mine threw together a spontaneous trip to Bruges so I ended up joining them, bright and early (7:30 am), at the Liège-Guillemins train station. Mid train ride, we decide that we want to spend the morning in Oostende, a small sea side city in the northern Flemish region of Belgium. This is what I love about travel in Europe. All we had to do to fulfill our new travel plans was stay on the train for an extra stop or two. About two hours after we hopped aboard the train, we were standing in perfect sunshine on the coast.
I had three really amazing opportunities occur yesterday.
Some friends of mine threw together a spontaneous trip to Bruges so I ended up joining them, bright and early (7:30 am), at the Liège-Guillemins train station. Mid train ride, we decide that we want to spend the morning in Oostende, a small sea side city in the northern Flemish region of Belgium. This is what I love about travel in Europe. All we had to do to fulfill our new travel plans was stay on the train for an extra stop or two. About two hours after we hopped aboard the train, we were standing in perfect sunshine on the coast.
Monday, 26 September 2011
ESN Trip: Bouillon, Belgium
Bonjour à tous!
This past weekend the International Exchange Student Network put together a trip to a small Belgian medieval town in the second southern-most province of Belgium, Luxembourg (not to be confused with the country!). Bouillon is just under 5500 people and although the actual founding date is unknown, the first reference in text dates back to the year 988. Again, it is absolutely tiny. There are two main roads that line the river, as well as the fortress on the hilltop, a little town center, and little houses dotting the hillside. It is however, extremely picturesque.
This past weekend the International Exchange Student Network put together a trip to a small Belgian medieval town in the second southern-most province of Belgium, Luxembourg (not to be confused with the country!). Bouillon is just under 5500 people and although the actual founding date is unknown, the first reference in text dates back to the year 988. Again, it is absolutely tiny. There are two main roads that line the river, as well as the fortress on the hilltop, a little town center, and little houses dotting the hillside. It is however, extremely picturesque.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Classes Debut & International Dinner
Hello all my lovelies,
This week has finally marked the beginning of school work. Amazingly, however, I have still only had one class to date. The way the semesters, classes, and credit systems run here is unlike anything I could've imagined. Back home all the classes start within a day of each other, finish by the end of December, and they are either worth 3 credits or 1.5 credits. Here in Belgium, the semester runs until the end of January, classes stagger start, and the classes can be worth anywhere from 2-6 credits. It is a really strange conversion! 3 courses at my home university equates to 18 Belgian credits instead of 9. I'm talking 18 Belgian credits, getting credit for 3 courses, but in actuality, I'm taking 4 classes. Thank goodness for academic advisers - I'm not sure what my transcript will look like after this but at least it is up to them to sort it out and not me!
This week has finally marked the beginning of school work. Amazingly, however, I have still only had one class to date. The way the semesters, classes, and credit systems run here is unlike anything I could've imagined. Back home all the classes start within a day of each other, finish by the end of December, and they are either worth 3 credits or 1.5 credits. Here in Belgium, the semester runs until the end of January, classes stagger start, and the classes can be worth anywhere from 2-6 credits. It is a really strange conversion! 3 courses at my home university equates to 18 Belgian credits instead of 9. I'm talking 18 Belgian credits, getting credit for 3 courses, but in actuality, I'm taking 4 classes. Thank goodness for academic advisers - I'm not sure what my transcript will look like after this but at least it is up to them to sort it out and not me!
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