Foreign NOMs NOMs

Although it is not as interesting as the topics I may have discussed before, I find it just as important especially students who are just beginning their "independent life" or "life away from home". Let's face the facts, when leaving the nest, along with its home cooked meals, it is hard to surviving off of the "pizza and noodles" diet.

Sure, I cooked back home, and yes I enjoyed it partially, but those days when you felt exhausted or you  just weren't in the mood to play chef, those leftovers in the fridge made by a family member or whom ever it may be, tasted and felt pretty good.

In the present scenario, if you didn't make it, you're most likely not going to find it your fridge. I have gotten over the fact that I would have to cook for myself daily, pretty quickly. I genuinely enjoy cooking but for those who don't like it as much, I suggest cooking big portions, not only will you not have to cook every day, due to satisfying leftovers from these big portions, but it would probably be cheaper than cooking smaller meals everyday.

Grocery shopping is my weak point. In other words I'm not a smart bargaining shopper, especially in a new country, where everything is different brands, products, vegetables etc. However i strongly advise trying out local brands instead of imported ones seeing that these are cheaper. It's a great idea to check out local markets that are selling seasoned vegetables & fruits at really good prices. Make weekly grocery plans instead of going daily, it'll be cheaper in the long run.

When it comes to cooking never be afraid to experiment, and recipes and cookbooks will be your best friend in the first couple of months. Lastly, cooking can be something enjoyable, cook together with friends or maybe even cook a dinner for friends.

Any tips, advice, comments, stories or even pictures about some of your experiences studying abroad are highly welcomed!!!

How I Learned to Lose Fear of Uncertainty

Living and Loving Taiwan : How I Learned to Lose Fear of Uncertainty: There are many many lessons that I have learned in Taiwan that I could write pages about but the one lesson I am so happy to come back home ...

If i had to describe my year so far, studying abroad, this little story does it almost too well. The choice to leave home along with its feeling of security and stability and reach out to new experiences, you learn to fear not what you don't understand and that not knowing is but an opportunity to learn.
Check out this insightful post!

And as always, Ask any questions about my experiences or share some of your stories & pictures of your experience studying abroad/ visiting a foreign country :)!!

Big shot, Big Campus!

Here in the Netherlands I attend Erasmus University, which at first seemed completely different than I was use to. Not only were the people and professors I met at campus a new experience but the campus itself, which is really really huge. 10 story buildings all around the campus gave a entirely different feeling of "school", one that i wasn't entirely used to. But that definitely intrigued me. Everything what we students on the island (St. Maarten) knew about what "universities" or "colleges" looked like, came from television or the internet so we sort of knew what to expect but it's a completely different feeling when seeing it in person.

This is a picture i took of a building on campus, it's funny to know that I haven't been in half of the buildings on my campus.

Just to give you a preview of my high school back home i found some pictures online.
(Pictures source: AOB architects: http://www.aobarchitects.com/miltoncollege.htm)

Buildings were nowhere nearly as tall and colors like neon green and blue seemed very appropriate. 

My high school, Milton Peters College, is the biggest school on the island with a rough average of 1000 students. From going to a class of 10 students to a class of 100+ was defiantly the weirdest for me. Making classes seem somewhat impersonal and difficult to even remember all the names of your classmates.

But that's what I love about studying abroad, it is experiencing these different situations and scenes and getting out of your comfort zone. 

Ask or share some of your stories & pictures of your experience studying abroad/ visiting a foreign country :)!!