Anna-Log

Call to take in Haitian students to foreign universities

2010-01-17T14:52:00.000+01:00

The catastrophal earthquake at Haiti caused UNESCO to call upon all universities to take in Haitian students. Not only is the university in Port-au-Prince destroyed, staff-members, professors and students are dead. According to UNESCO, education will be at the start of rebuilding Haiti. In the Netherlands you can donate for Haiti through Giro 555.

The revenge of Berlusconi

2009-12-20T10:43:00.000+01:00

By @Tjarkovanderpol

Inventing a new world

2009-11-28T13:28:00.002+01:00

Entries International Student Video Contest

2009-11-01T19:15:00.002+01:00

Nice to see! These are the entries of the International Student video contest I posted earlier. www.internationalstudent.com

A new message, a new job..

2009-10-26T16:03:00.001+01:00

Image via Wikipedia

Oh wow, a new message to my blog! Well, I have a new job and therefore very little time to spend on writing. At the same time this job is very very cool because I work with American exchange Students. And the things I learn from them are pretty cool. So I decided to write about it anyway.

The most memorable activity up to now is bringing them to a game of Ajax Amsterdam (soccer). And that is because I tried to explain the Amsterdam soccer supporter culture. With Ajax, there are a lot of supporters-songs about Jews. In the subway, which we had to take to the game, we where introduced to the supporters singing "If you do not jump you are not a Jew" (subway moving), "Where does the superjew live" and simply shouting "Jews, Jews". Now I knew that Ajax supporters do that, but I could not imagine a explanation that I could offer to the American students. My explanation was that Ajax-players are considered to be sons of God. While, as far as I know, Ajax was a Greec God who did something in the Trojan war and wears a helmet.

Anyway, it was all very confusing. And anytime one of my students asked me; 'Anna, what do they say now?', I felt a bit confused. How it is possible that Dutch people consider it normal to shout "Jews" to football players? And next to that, the football players are clearly all kinds of nationalities, wouldn't they feel insulted?

Image via Wikipedia

Wikipedia offered me some peace of mind. It is not known why Jews is a nickname for Ajax players (and Ajax-fans by the way, because apparantly, if you do not jump you are not Jewish and therefore not a good Ajax-fan). I always choose to not jump, which makes me a non-Jew, a hooker and sometimes gay. But once you have to explain the traditions, you will have to face your own culture.

My next challenge in explaining Dutch culture will be Black Pete.. my childhood hero.

To All Bloggers

2009-09-29T22:38:00.002+02:00

Ryan is almost there

2009-09-14T22:15:00.000+02:00

Ryan runs from Amsterdam to Athens. Everyday he runs about 30 km. And he is almost there. Today is his last day in Italy and tomorrow he will arrive in Greece. His blog rules! He is a real adventurer, although he has a lot of shitty places to sleep like busstops, backseats of cars or 'the beach'. This is the map of his adventures and RyanRunsEurope is the name of his blog.

Just a little more internationalization at Dutch universities

2009-09-12T15:45:00.001+02:00

Nuffic reports that the percentage of international students in Dutch government-funded higher education increased slightly in 2008, to about 7.5%. As in previous years Germany, China and Belgium are the three main countries of origin. Dutch students still prefer to go the United Kingdom and Belgium. The number of schools for primary education offering early teaching of foreign languages saw a 70% increase. In secondary education 59.5% of schools have active partners abroad for educational cooperation.

Belgium and the UK, our neighbouring countries.. Dutch students, show some courage! If I knew back when I went on exchange what I know now, I would have gone to Russia, or to Turkey or to Azerbaijan. Go and meet the unknown!

complete nuffic article here

The end of te world is rescheduled

2009-09-10T23:01:00.000+02:00

Look what my notification said on facebook:
Keith Edmonds changed the time of the event "The End of the World"

He also defined the event as 'party', 'farewell-party'. In case you want to join, the end of the world, it is now scheduled at october 21st.

Kill your Cookies --- for cheap flights

2009-09-10T09:51:00.001+02:00

I found out just yesterday that (some) websites of airlines remember your visit and therefore make a the flight you have seen before more expensive every time you visit. Which worked for me, because I thought; 'Oh no, my flight is getting more and more expensive, I should book it now!'

Image via Wikipedia

I got fooled by technology. So Kill your Cookies! Or at least remove them before checking your flight again. Or use another computer.

Nice Online Expat Communities starting with B

2009-09-08T22:11:00.002+02:00

In every internationally orientated city you willl find an 'Expat Community' where you will find the best drinks, meetings and tips for expats. An expat in this case is something different from a foreigner. An expat is in short a rich foreigner, or a foreigner with a good job.

The idea is that most cities are expensive for tourists. So it is time to stop being a tourist. Also it is a way to connect with home. In Amsterdam you will find the 'Expat Market' where you can buy typical American products like Skippy peanutbutter, Marshmellow-spread and, most inportantly, American Barbeque saus. Believe me; I know no American who hasn't compleined about Dutch Barbeque saus.

To start the topic of, the best Expat Communities online, starting with the letter B.

Brno Now

Brno, one of the most beautifull and historic cities of the Czech republic has its own expat website by the name of Brno Now. A good example of information that is not easily found for tourists is this schedule of big ice hockey games in Brno. A ticket costs only 5-7 euro's and you will have a nice night for little money. Plus, you will meet with real Czech people and Czech culture.

Berlin Zitty

Zitty Magazine is a not to miss magazine in Berlin. It is in German though, but you will be able to figure out the agenda. When it says no price it isusually free, and if it says 80's disco, you'll now what to expect. Look for movies that say 'OR' (orginalsprache), which means 'in the original language'. That is mostly English, but it could be Spanish too. The agenda holds festivals, sport tournaments, art and much more. Here is a link to trips outside of the city; Ausflugtips. If we had not read this magazine while in Berlin, we would have missed Obama's speech.

Bejinger, Bejing

The Beijinger is the website in Bejing for Expats. It gives job postings, events, courses in Chinese and, for example, Social English Drama Parties. Bejing has a very big Expat community, and the way I read it, you have to beware to not only end up with other foreigners.

Internationals without a house in The Netherlands

2009-09-05T18:15:00.000+02:00

In The Netherland, the city of Utrecht, 100 students are kicked out of their appartments because their building is not safe. The emergency exits were blocked, and the students did not have enough opportunity to get out of the building in case of fire. Also a couple of students from the Dutch Antilles (the Carribean) where stuck without an appartment. They have nowhere to go. For now it seems that the owner of the building is providing them with hotel rooms.

Dutch Newspaper and Dutch TV about the subject.

New lay out and option in Dutch

2009-09-03T10:25:00.000+02:00

If you hadn't noticed, my blog has a new lay-out. It is still under construction, so expect improvement in the coming days. The main advantage should be that my blogs will also be available in Dutch. Also, it should become more of a website than a blog. We will keep you updated.

Win Win Win

2009-09-01T10:19:00.004+02:00

You could win $3,500 with your video about travelling or studying abroad. Internationalstudent.com holds a yearly video contest, but the prize this year is bigger than everrrr. They say;

and there will be other great prizes, like an iPod Touch and a video camera. Not to mention worldwide fame and fortune in the international education community with your very own blog on InternationalStudent.

Image via Wikipedia

So now I am triggered too. Though I do not have a camera.. And I'm not really planning to go abroad for my studies anymore. That is one of the criteria, you have to either be an international student, or you should be planning to become one.

Good luck.

No more free education in Ireland

2009-08-31T10:46:00.004+02:00

As of september 2010, Higher education in Ireland will no longer be free. The government blames the economic crisis. There are not many countries left with free education, the countries that I know are:

Sweden
Germany (well, not free, but cheap)
Norway
Finland
Danmark

Trough Wikipedia I found some more;

Cuba
Argentinia
Libya
Brasil

In Sweden and Finland you also do not need to pay if you are a foreign or exchange student.

Report by University World News.

General Tips Valid Everywhere

2009-08-31T10:37:00.004+02:00

Image by jp1958 via Flickr

I think by now I have some general tips for students staying almost everywhere. So, I decided to post it!

1. Buy your groceries at an outdoor market
Mostly cheaper then the supermarket, more fresh vegetables and fruits and a nice way of mixing with the locals.

2. Read local magazines
Though you might not understand a word, you will be able to find out free/gratis/gratuit and the time and place. Go, and see if it's worth going again.

3. Get out!
Staying in is the fastest way of becoming homesick. Join an organisation (like ESN), become a volunteer, join a dancing class, all will do.

4. Cook local food
That's mostly available cheaper and a nice way of intergration.

5. Do not miss first class
From the first class you can judge how urgent it is to attend the next classes.

Lowlands prize for this blog

2009-08-19T14:01:00.007+02:00

Without thinking I joined a competition for blogwriters. And I won! I got a ticket to the Lowlands festival! I also wrote a blog about Lowlands in Dutch (anna-log-lowlands.blogspot.com), but they gave me the prize for 2 blogs, this one included.

And what's more, I get to be on stage at the Lowlands festival. I am exited. But maybe a bit too exited. What to say once on stage? Well... I can say I just started my blog and already won a prize :D.

I am going to be a star. Yies yies.

That 70's Show

2009-08-18T12:16:00.011+02:00

Remember Fez from 'That 70's Show? It was just suggested that Fez stands for Foreign Exchange Student! One of the coolest Exchange Students around, I say. And, you wouldn't believe it, but he, the actor, Wilmer Valderrama, looks so cute now!

Thanks to Flygurl191 who's just posted this on Twitter!

Picture Fez trough abcfamily

Picture Wilmer trough laprensatoledo

Economy hurts foreign-exchange student placements

2009-08-16T23:54:00.002+02:00

The Chicago Tribune reports that host families are less open to bringing exchange students in their household because of the crisis. According to the article, in Michigan the STS Foundation had to refuse 8 students because they did not find housing for them.

Sad news, exchangies only need food and a bed and they might be inspirational. An exchange student could also provide free French courses for example.

Another reason to go travel; World’s Biggest Cave Discovered in Vietnam

2009-08-12T13:20:00.004+02:00

Lonely Planet just tweeted about this article: World’s Biggest Cave Discovered in Vietnam. It looks absolutely amazing. I apologize for using these standard words but I don't know any better English words to describe it.
There's also a more extended article availabe on National Geographic. It reports that the Son Doong cave is 80 by 80 meters high and wide, and it's at leat 4,5 km long. The researchers haven't been able to discover the real length of the cave because it's somewhere in a forest and floods prevented them from discovering more.

It just reminds me of how much there is still to see in the world...

picture trough WierdAsiaNews.

Report: Naples man accused of sexually molesting exchange student

2009-08-12T13:14:00.000+02:00

A Naples man, who was the sponsor of a foreign exchange student from Ukrania, has been charged with molesting the 15-year-old during a visit to Osceola County.

Shernon James, 27, was arrested late Monday after the student complained his host had been fondling him while he slept in a room at the Omni Hotel on Masters Boulevard, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

The teen, who had intended to live with James' family this school year, told investigators that James took nude pictures of himself with a cell phone and showed the teen the pictures, the agency wrote.

Directly quoted from naplesnews.

Being an exchange student is like being a pet

2009-08-10T13:19:00.004+02:00

Just noticed the funny way host families talk about exchange students.

'Our exchange student is coming today'
'Do you want to have coffee with me and my exchange student?'

I can imagine that exchange students make great pets and sometimes even good looking accesorries. Like the exchange student that plays guitar or the one that knows karate.

Luckily in reality exchange students are more like brothers and sisters who will be missed once they go back home. Probably this just happens to be the time the exchangies leave and arrive. And like unborn babies, they are not yet cool boys and girls, but the 'it' that we are still waiting for.

Student Leaders arrested in Zimbabwe

2009-08-07T16:45:00.002+02:00

Amnesty International reports that leaders of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (ZINASU) were addressing students outside the main library of the University of Zimbabwe when they and ten other students were rounded up and detained by police.

Though the ten were later released, the others spent the night in custody. Nobody knowes what the charges are. The student leaders had spoken out against the way in which the university authorities have been preventing students who have not paid their fees from attending lectures and accessing the libraries.

Reports indicate that as many as three-quarters of all the students have not been able to pay their fees this semester, which range between USD 400 and USD 600 per semester. Lectures were due to start on 4 August.

View the complete article here.

Win win win

2009-08-05T16:04:00.002+02:00

Another European Photo Competition. The EU must need pictures badly, 'cause the prize is 3000 Euros. This is a competition on safe and healthy working environments, so think smiling people. Deadline is soon! August 15th your pics have to be in. Next to the main prize of 3000€, there are also prizes of 2000€ and 1000€ Euro's.

Cool eh? Good luck!

Young succesful internationals; inspiring or depressing?

2009-08-04T17:19:00.001+02:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

You probably recognise the feeling. Boris Becker wins Wimbeldon at the age of 17! You, being anywhere older then 17, feel like you must have failed to take a chance at something you’re good at. Next example, Ben Woldring, a Dutch entrepreneur who started his first website at 13, is now, at the same age as me a millionaire! What did I do when I was 13? I think I knew how to play ‘Prince of Persia..’Or a world-famous example, Mozart, who wrote his first symphonies at the stunning age of 7. Inspiring? Or just plainly depressing?

Of course there is another category of these stories. Like Peter Oakley, who became famous for his YouTube video’s at the age of 80, or Susan Boyle from Britain’s got talent, she is 48. And ok, that is not old, but still middle-aged. And what about Min Bahadur Sherchan, who was 76 when he climbed the Mount Everest. Now that is inspiring!

There is one thing that you can do whatever your age is. And that’s going abroad. There are exchange programs for students, teachers, workers and entrepreneurs. Just a simple search query away. The best thing is, if you go abroad, you will gain so much experience and inspiration, that you yourself still get a chance to let your talent shine. Because maybe you are a natural born climber, traditional dancer or mudfighter.

Listen, who knows! By sitting here, reading stories about good looking 17-year olds winning Tennis Tournaments, you won’t find it. Go!