April 26, 2011

PARIS

This weekend was amazing!

My friend and I couch-surfed in Paris for the first time (second for him)! It saved us over 100 euros on hostels/hotels which were completely booked. The guy who hosted us was about 23, from Israel, and actually hosted someone a week earlier who knew girls that are on exchange at Utrecht, that were in Paris at the same time! His friend also knew my old roommate and friends from Miami, because last summer he worked in a summer camp during his army service! Small world.

Anyways, they took us around at night and gave us locations to visit, which we would have never found otherwise! Like Bercy or Luxembourg Park. I can't wait to do it again!

We managed to do a lot! Eifle Tower, Notredame, Louvre, free walking tour, a few parks, walk, Champ Elysee, St. Michel, and much more. We found a non-touristy entrance to the Louvre, which saved us over 2 hours of waiting :)

OH, and ALL the museums/attractions were FREE because we had an EU resident card and we are under 26!


I'll let the pictures do the rest:

















 

April 17, 2011

One week of Sun, One week till Paris

Good news and really bad in a very annoying way news. The good: forecast for this week is 70s and low 50s! On Thursday I am going at 11pm on a bus to Paris!

The Bad: The University (since I applied to the regular before the honors) assumed I will be leaving Europe after classes, so my permit will expire may 21. This gives me until June 21 to legally leave the country without being fined or have future issues to come back to the states. However, my flight is scheduled for some time after that date, and now I will have to pay a $150 fee to change it! Along with having much less time to travel, at least in the Netherlands. Almost all the other exchange students received an expiration date of July 1st, since that is when the dorm keys have to be returned. I will hopefully have something figured out soon!

I'll keep you posted.

Anyways, much work was completed this week. I have a test, presentation and paper due this week. On Saturday UCU hosted a a school from Amsterdam, and somewhere else in the Netherlands (I just know it was UCM), for a school spirit and all around competitions. During the day debates, art competitions, and sporting events (which UCU won the soccer match) were held. At night, a battle of the bands and improve show was held in the auditorium. It was fun and the most school spirit I have seen since I arrived here.

I need to go finish my project. I will update again on Tuesday when I return from Paris!

Vaarwel!

April 10, 2011

UCU Festival

University College Utrecht had its 12th annual festival (mostly a fundraiser) however students had the opportunity to show off in either Dance, Music, Humanities, or other clubs by tabling or preforming. A rodeo simulator, bounce house, several bands, outdoor music (Including a military band) and places to sit and relax throughout the day were accessible to all ages. I think or at least I sent a request via e-mail to preform at another festival that is occurring right before Easter weekend (in which I will be in PARIS!).





I attempted to obtain my residence permit AGAIN, but they don't know where they placed it! So now I am waiting for a phone call..I also need to find out why I haven't received my student ID, which will give me discounts on many museums in Paris and across Europe.

Nothing much else too exciting aside from living and studying in Europe! Just trying to get work completed before Paris and Finals, trying to plan my summer and possible travels (which I will post as soon as they are known!). But that is all for now!

Vaarwel!

April 3, 2011

70 degrees and nature!

So this week was average? I guess. I began doing papers and presentations that are due this month in hopes of finishing everything before I go to Paris Easter weekend, and my girlfriend comes to visit right before finals!

The trees and plants all over campus are starting to grow leaves/flowers and its gorgeous! There is a vibrant pink/purple tree that blossomed almost overnight! Tulips are growing in splotches all over the city along with other flowers, so as soon as I can I will update with some pictures!

I attempted - key word - to go to the Immigration office and retrieve my residence permit! My bike got a flat tire about half way and I decided to chain it to a public lock area near a market and walk the rest of the way. The office however, was moved to the other side of town, much closer actually than I needed to go. So by the time I got there it was closed :/ So I will try again on Tuesday. However, on my way back I did not see my bike! So hopefully I just walked by and didn't notice it and its not stolen!

This weekend though it reached 74 degrees! So to celebrate the unusual warmth, some friends and I went to a park down the street and had a picnic/volleyball game in the sun. It was great! I can't wait to start walking around town more now that it's warming up. I was able to wear shorts for the first time since I arrived!

This week I don't have anything major planned but I will keep you posted.

Vaarwel!