Gadling Geek

Students in the kitchen, part I: pasta

2011-07-05T10:56:00.000-06:00

Finding the time to get into the kitchen to make a meal can sometimes be a challenge, especially for those with limited cooking experience. This is part 1 of a series of recipe posts (hopefully, anyways). I decided to start with what most consider to be a staple in the student kitchen: pasta. Its fast, cheap and, for many recipes, quite easy to make. Also, you can make many pasta recipes with just a hot plate, which some of my foreign student friends in the Netherlands should appreciate.

In both recipes in this post, I've used farfalle. I think its the child in me that likes this bow-tie-shaped pasta... You could substitute other pastas as well. Farfalle takes longer to cook than most other types of pasta, so if you are short on time, try something else. Check package directions for cooking times. The recipes here are for 1 serving, but usually I make twice as much as I'll eat in one meal so that I can take the left-overs for lunch the next day. Here are a couple of simple ones:

Pesto farfalle with sauteed mushrooms and shrimp
I combined the pasta with mushrooms and shrimp, but you can put whatever else you like to combine with pasta. You can find jarred pesto at the supermarket.

Ingredients:

1 servings-worth of Farfalle
20-30 mL of cooking oil
Small package of pre-cooked shrimps
8-10 mushrooms
Jarred pesto

Instructions:

Fill a large pot with water (about 3/4 full). Bring it to a boil on high heat. Add the farfalle, put a lid on the pot and let it boil until soft (about 10 minutes).
While the farfalle is cooking, heat the oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Saute the mushrooms and shrimp until the mushrooms are cooked and the shrimp are thoroughly heated. Turn off the heat.
Drain the pasta and add it to the shrimp and mushrooms. Add a 2-3 big-spoon's worth of pesto and stir until the pesto is evenly distributed.

Farfalle with cherry tomatoes and cheese sauce

Making cheese sauce is more challenging and more effort than using jarred pesto, but its sooo tasty.

Ingredients:

1 servings-worth of Farfalle
20-30mL butter
30mL white flour
200mL milk
1-2 handfulls of grated cheese
small package of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
fresh basil (optional)
salt and pepper

Instructions:

Fill a large pot with water (about 3/4 full). Bring it to a boil on high heat. Add the farfalle, put a lid on the pot and let it boil until soft (about 10 minutes).
While the farfalle is cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour (it should form a paste). Gradually add the milk, stirring until smooth and letting the sauce thicken between each addition. In the end, it should be thick enough to coat a spoon, but thin enough that it is still pourable.
Add the cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Drain the pasta. Add to it the cherry tomatoes and sauce. Cover and leave a few minutes to let the tomatoes become a bit warm.

I hope you enjoy these recipes. I'm hoping to keep future recipes relatively easy, but maybe I'll include some more challenging ones too. Good luck in the kitchen!

Unwinding in Italy

2011-04-17T15:30:00.000-06:00

After a long period of hard work, there is nothing better than to go on an adventure with some close friends. So, when Christmas break rolled around, some classmates and I decided that some time in Italy would do us all some good. (Side note: I realize this post is a few months late, sorry...) We opted for a two week tour, starting with a flight into Milan, a day in Pisa, four days in Rome (including Christmas day), three days in Florence, four days in Venice and a day in Milan. If I had to choose one word to sum up how I feel about the trip, I'd have to go with "amazing". There were some less than ideal occurrences, but the combination of great friends, beautiful surroundings, delicious food and great memories more than made for those.

So, in the early morning on a cold day in December, my travel mates and I found ourselves standing in the lobby of my building waiting for our taxi to arrive and take us to the Schiphol airport. The driver arrived slightly late in a van that looked less than reliable, leaving us a bit frazzled, hoping we will make our flight on time. Thankfully, we got to the airport and checked in with a bit of time to spare. We were ready to go through security when we found out that our flight was delayed. What we thought would be just a couple of hours turned into the better part of a day. On the upside, we did manage to get a Christmas cowboy hat from Sinterklaas and meet what appeared to be a very tall angel.

Eventually, we did make it to Italy. Unfortunately, we made it there so late that, after a "30 minute bus ride" (more like and hour or more) from Milan Malpensa airport to the central station, there were no direct trains to Pisa. Even more unfortunately, the first train we took was late, which made us miss our connecting train, which left us in some unexpected location, attempting to find someone that spoke English to help us find our way to Pisa. We managed to get to Pisa. But.... yet another unfortunate incident: the only cab available was too small to get us plus our luggage to the hostel. After many phone calls to our hostel asking for help to get a taxi big enough, an hour or so later, we got our taxi. By 3am, we were in our hostel (which turned out to be really nice!). After a very rocky start, we were crossing our fingers for some improvements in the coming days.

Our less-than-a-day in Pisa turned out to be nice and relaxing. Of course, we saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Fortunately, we ended up hearing some historical facts about the construction of the tower by listening in on a tour we were not a part of... and we also discovered that one of the funniest things to hear in an Italian accent is "banana shaped". It was in Pisa that we had our first pizza's and gelato's of the trip. YUM!

Next stop: Rome. We arrived late at night and took what we thought would be a cab to our hostel. Word of advice to anyone going to Rome: before you let the driver take your bags to his car, see the car first. It turned out that this "cab" was nothing more than some guy with a car that was waaay too small, we had to hold some of the suitcases on our laps. He did get us to our hostel, but tried to charge us 30 euro for the 5 minute ride. After a heated argument outside of the hostel, we managed to get the help of the hostel manager. In the end we paid the guy just 10 or 15 euro. Lesson learned... I will be much more careful with taxis from now on!

Our hostel was really amazing. We stayed at the Sleeping Beauty Guest-house. The room was beautifully decorated, it was very clean, the staff were extremely kind and helpful, the location was nearby some decent transportation and we even got some free treats (some kind of Italian cake and a bottle of wine) on Christmas Eve. Around the corner from the hostel is a small cafe, where you can get a really great croissant and cappuccino. Nothing better than starting your day with a freshly baked chocolate and cream filled pastry ;)

On Christmas Eve, our first site to see was Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It was as big and beautiful as we expected it to be. Funny story: on our way out, we checked out the crypt. Prior to our trip, my friend broke her ankle, which meant that we had to use wheelchair friendly entrances and exits. So, when we were leaving the crypt, we were instructed to go back the way we got in. But, there was a barricade in front of the door and no one around to let us out. While one of us went to find some help, a security guard from outside saw us and asked why we were there, in a bit of a panic. After we explained, he let us out saying "quickly, you must leave, the pope is coming!" Had we known this before looking for someone to let us out, perhaps we would have hid inside the crypt to meet his holiness.

The disadvantage to being in Rome on Christmas and Christmas Eve is that many of the sites are closed on those days. This limited what we could see after Saint Peters. Fortunately, Castel Sant'Angelo was open. From the rooftop, there is a nice view of Saint Peter's and the river. After seeing the castle, we got some gelato and went back to the hostel. Another thing to keep in mind when in Rome on Christmas and Christmas Eve (which we didn't consider) is that the only restaurants that are open outside of the center are delivery pizza places and international food. So, on our first day in Rome, our dinner was... take out Japanese. Delicious, but not what we expected to eat.

Being that most things were closed on Christmas, we opted to simply walk around and take a look. We saw some of the Roman ruins and lounged around at cafe's. Before dinner, my friend and I went to see a live piano concert while the rest of the group got a small tour from one of our friends that is from Rome. The concert was wonderful, and from what I heard the tour was too. For dinner, we went to a restaurant in the center. I will never forget my meal there. It was ricotta-filled ravioli in a rich truffle-cream sauce. Heavenly!!

The next day we had a guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. I highly recommend the tours. Not only do you skip the lines to get in for a cost not much higher than regular admission, you also get a lot of information that, if you are someone like me, you likely will not end up learning on your own.That day we also saw the Pantheon and Trevi fountain and ate some Tiramisu and Gelato. Our Roman friend mocked us when he found out we had dinner at Pastarito near our hostel, because it is a chain restaurant there. I thought the food was pretty good and the portions were huge.

On our last day in Rome we saw the Vatican Museum. There is a lot to see there! We only covered a portion of it. Of course, the Sistine Chapel was very impressive. What really got me was how some of the paintings appear to really pop out of the surface. I recommend that you check it out for yourself. I don't think I can adequately describe the experience.

From Rome we went to Florence. After the magnificence of Rome, Florence was not as enchanting as it probably would have been, had we gone there prior to seeing Rome. The river was beautiful and it the street markets were cool. The David was definitely a highlight. Given that it is one of the masterpieces that we all see pictures of throughout our lives, I was expecting it to be good, but it totally exceeded my expectations. The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is a beautiful building that is worth a peak. We also got free entrance into another museum, which was cool... sorry, but right now I really can't remember the name! Unfortunately, our impression of the city was poorly influenced by our terrible accommodations, which were cramped and dingy. The only good things I can say about the place we stayed was that the pub across the street was great and it was nearby a place to get a decently priced Steak Florentine.

For New Years Eve we were in Venice. It really was as beautiful as they say. One thing to keep in mind, which thankfully did not affect us, is that at certain at times of year (including New Years), Venice is prone to flooding. So, if you are planning to go, keep that in mind. But that aside, it really is a lovely place.

One of the challenges we faced was crossing the bridges that go across all of the canals with a wheelchair. While we could have seen things on the Grand Canal via water bus, we would miss a lot if we did that. So, we worked out a system. My friend with the broken ankle would hang on the the railing, I'd hug her around the waist and hoist her up the stairs as she hopped on her good leg. The others would carry the wheel chair and other things while we did that. By the end we got quite good at it! And, bonus, we probably burned quite a few pasta calories off in the process.

We rang in the new year in San Marco Square, which was filled to the brim with people celebrating. It was quite the experience. I had no idea what the people on stage were saying, but it was really entertaining when they randomly chose couples from the crowd and make them kiss on the big screen. Very cute. The countdown was a typical countdown. Afterwards though, the square seemed to turn to chaos. People were putting off firecrackers everywhere and there was a lot of broken glass. The firecrackers were quite unusual for me, but my travel mates from India, Mexico and Indonesia didn't even bat an eye. We had a great time though!

On New Years day we slept in, spent a few hours roaming the streets, had a good dinner and caught a magnificent performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. It was in a gorgeous church in the center. I really do encourage anyone going to Venice to check out a show while they are there. It is, after all, a city of arts.

Our last day in Venice we spent on the islands of Murano and Borano. As many may know, Murano is famous its amazing glass work. Glass is a challenging medium to work with, but the effects that can be achieved are really breathtaking. While the prices of most of what you can get in Murano are quite high, even just going to look is well worth it. You can also watch some of the artists as they create.

Borano is one of the cutest places I've been. Its multicolored houses give it a really unique charm. Its worth the time to take the water bus there and walk around for a couple of hours. We happened to be on the water bus when the sun was just starting to go down, which made it a beautiful and refreshing ride.

Our last stop was Milan. We were there for a day, which was plenty. I'm sure there is a lot to see in Milan, but we didn't have much time. We made it to the Duomo, which was very impressive. But, after two weeks of being on the road, and then finding out that the hotel gave away the ground floor room that we needed (due to our wheel chair bound friend), and also the less-welcoming atmosphere, compared to Rome and Venice, we were really ready to leave. I apologize to any fans of Milan... no offence, its just hasn't made it onto my list of places I'd like to return to.

Well kids, that's my account of my trip to Italy. While this post is very long, I really have to say that it definitely wasn't a thorough account of the trip. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed myself, especially in Rome and Venice. If you are looking for a place that has a lot of culture, great food, a variety of atmospheres between cities, beauty, eye candy and much more, then Italy is your place. As for me, I'm finally going to publish this post. I hope you liked it! Ciao!!

Semester 1: Done... sort of

2011-01-30T08:42:00.001-07:00

Five and a half months ago I boarded a plane going to from Calgary, Canada to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After a cordial greeting at the airport and a short bus ride to Delft, I began to settle into my new "home", not sure what to expect, but very excited. I quickly made many many new friends, which to this day is my absolute favorite part of this whole experience. The down side: classes were much more difficult than anticipated, and it took a long time to get the basics settled, like a bank account, campus card and residence permit. Even though there were many days that I found myself homesick and wondering how I ended up here, coming here is definitely the best decision I have made.

So, the semester is over. And by over, I mean that classes for next semester start tomorrow. In actuality, last semester has not completely ended. I still have three oral exams and a final project due in February. This concept of overlapping semesters is quite foreign to me... back in Canada, the fall semester ends before Christmas, during which time the only things you have to worry about are waiting for final exam grades to come in and Christmas shopping. Of course I would prefer to be completely done with last semester by now, but its really not the end of the world. Aside from that, what is really amazing to me is how fast the past five and a half months have gone by. In five more months I will be moving to Sweden for my second year. I have definitely learned a lot so far, both academically and in terms of life. I'll comment on a few things about the daily life of an international student.

If there is one piece of advice I'll give to new international students, it is to invest a bit of time and money to make your room/flat more like a home. When I first got here, the basics were provided: I had a furnished room, including sheets, blankets and basic kitchen equipment. But, the walls were bare, the blankets were old and unattractive and my linoleum floor even has holes cut out of it. At first, I decided that because I was only going to be here a year, I would just stick with this place the way it was. But, after a few episodes of home sickness and feeling like I live in a little depressing little box, I decided to fix it up.

I bought a nice, warm duvet, a purple bedding set, some mirror tiles, a carpet to cover up the holes in my floor, candles and some over-the-door hooks to hang clothes/towels on. I have put up some art that I bought on my recent trip to Italy (which I will eventually write a post about) and made some flower decals out of colored paper. Low and behold, being in my apartment felt much more comfortable, which did make a big difference. It was easier to unwind after stressful days at school.

As someone who likes to cook, another thing that helped me to relax was to make myself a nice dinner. The "kitchen" of my apartment has a sink, tiny fridge, hotplate and cupboards. Without a freezer, oven or microwave, I found it hard at first to cook. Until I bought a combination microwave and oven, all I could do was either fry or boil things. I am still missing a freezer (and REALLY missing ice cream), but the 90 euro cost of the combi-microwave was really worth it. At some point I will post some recipes.

The other thing I've learned to do is not to take the hard parts of being an international student so seriously. Of course, there may be times that I feel overwhelmed again, but I am better able to remind myself that these crappy things will soon pass. Sometimes you can't do anything about a sucky situation... it will suck no matter how much you complain about it and wish you were somewhere else. But, one thing is for sure: the more you focus on how unfortunate it is, the worse the situation will seem. I know many other people that have had some tough times, but none of them (that I know of) regret coming here. So, for anyone trying to decide whether to go abroad or not, I will say this: If you move abroad, you will likely have some challenging experiences, but in most cases, you will learn a lot about the local culture, have some life changing experiences, make new friends and learn a lot about yourself. If you are up for the challenge, you'll likely find that it is well worth it.

Sunny Portugal

2010-11-01T14:17:00.002-06:00

After a challenging quarter of school, a week in Portugal was a fantastic way to unwind and recharge. The sun and blue skies were a welcome change from the rainy and windy weather of Delft. A classmate and I spent 3 nights in Porto and 4 nights in Lisbon, where we met up with one of my Canadian friend for a couple of days.

Picturesque Porto
Situated next to a wide river with steep slopes, Porto offers magnificent views and atmosphere. The town center has many monuments, historical buildings and churches, most of which have elaborate and beautiful designs. We toured Porto by foot. It turned out to be quite a lot of work to make it up and down the endless hills. The hard work was worth it.

For those who prefer chilling out on the beach, you should head west along the river. During our trip the weather wasn't quite hot enough for sun bathing, but I'm sure in the summer its a fantastic place to lay out a beach towel and soak up some vitamin D. Even without sunbathing we were able to enjoy the sun on the patio of one of the many cafes.

One of my favorite parts of our time in Porto was when we crossed the river into Gaia where the Port Cellars are found. After randomly walking great distances trying to find our own way, getting lost and then asking for help, we found what we were looking for. We toured a few of the cellars, after which we got to sample some great Port for free. I came home with a few bottles ;).

One of the biggest challenges in Porto was that I don't know Portugese and most of the people there don't know English. For my first meal, I made an educated guess on what to order. My guess was half right: I got Bacalhau (cod). What went wrong was that it was steamed, which was definitely not what I was expecting. I was envious of my friend who got the fried variety. We had more success communicating with waiters along the river, which is a popular place for tourists to eat.

Lovely Lisbon
The capital of Portugal is much bigger and busier than Porto. City center is filled with cafes, restaurants, hotels and historical beauty. While still hilly, Lisbon is flatter than Porto. The distance between many monuments is far enough that we opted to both use public transport and hitch a ride on the tourist buses.

Situated on top a hill overlooking the city, Saint George's Castle is the perfect place to view Lisbon from above. Visitors can walk through almost all parts of this ancient structure. It has a small museum with some old artifacts, a lovely courtyard, small cafe and an archeological site. Reserve at least a couple of hours (plus the time it takes to get up and down the hill), because it is worth it to wander around all of the walkways and see the city and water from many different angles.

On our second day we opted to take the tourist buses to see the city. The company we chose had two routes. Between the two of them, we got a nice overview of city. After a few days of walking and climbing hills it was very nice to give our aching feet a rest. Also, the bus was double decker and open on the top, so we got a chance to enjoy the sun some more. The tours start at south side of Parque Eduardo VII, which stretches up a green hill with manicured shrubbery. At the top you can see all of the way down through the park, down Av. da Liberdad to the city and the water.

The next day we headed to the west of the city. Here you can see two very impressive monuments. My favorite was the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, which is a tribute to the great explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries. I highly recommend going to the top for some great views.

The second great monument on the west side of town is the famous Torre de Belem. King John II built it as both a defensive structure and a gateway to Lisbon. You can also climb to the top and visit a few floors in between. On our trip up and down the stairs we encountered many traffic jams, because of the popularity of this site. I can't even imagine how busy it would be in high season! Of course, its worth it.

While on the west side, you should stop into a cafe and try a pastel of Belem. This egg tart pastry was invented by the nuns of Mosteiro dos Jeronimos before the 18th century.

On the east side of the city you can find many newer structures. The Expo 98 was held here, and many of the structures there today were built specifically for the expo. We visited the Oceanarium. If you like aquariums, I recommend you see it.

On our last day we took a fairy across the water into Almada to see Christo Rei, a giant monument of Jesus Christ. Its huge! Like at Padrao dos Descobrimentos and Belem, the view from the top of the structure is wonderful.

All in all, my trip to Portugal was great! There were many new things to see and experience. We definitely go our exercise and some sunshine. And now that I have returned to Delft, its time to get back to work!

One Month Later

2010-09-19T12:00:00.000-06:00

Looking at the date, I realize that it has been a full month since I left Canada. I'd say "time flies when your having fun", but that's only half of the case. This month has been full of both extremely fun and very unpleasant times.

The good news is that Delft is just as charming as ever, I keep making new friends and, when I have the time, there is always the opportunity for fun. Whether it be strolling the streets of city center with some good friends and a camera, grabbing a beer at a pub, dancing at a club or hanging out at a party, there are plenty of great times to be had.

There are interesting events that go on in city center. Last weekend I was pleasantly surprised to find a carnival in the square in front of the New Church. After dinner and some drinks, my friends and I payed 5 euro each to ride the "Booster" (the tall ride in the picture). While this seems a bit expensive, it was worth it. I got a night view of Delft and surrounding area, and also an upside-down view as the seat flipped.

From August 30th to September 2nd, my faculty took the new masters students to Bunnik, which is out in the countryside near Utrecht. The location was great, and the weather turned out to be quite nice. As usual, I met people and had a lot of fun. However, it is in Bunnik that I got my first indication that things were going to get very difficult. Part of the program was to have our first few lectures for our core classes.... wow, that was a shocker! As it turns out, these classes are meant for people with a bachelor's in math, which I am don't have. After telling a couple of professors about my limited math background, one of them actually said "Well, you are going to have a lot of difficulties."

Luckily, my schedule is quite open. On Monday I have one two hour class, on Thursday there is a one hour class, Wednesday is the day of hell with four two hour classes, and then every other day is free. After my first full-day Wednesday, I truly grasped how much I need that "free time" to study. That was 8 hours of "Oh #$&*, I don't know anything! I am going to fail..." That Wednesday made me extremely homesick. It was the worst day I have had since I got here.

I am pleased to say that, even though I still have a long way to go, I feel much better already. I am grasping some of the concepts. That being said, I'm sure that my days will mostly be full of studying for the entire semester. I am hoping that the other semesters won't be as bad.

Other than classes being hard, there are a few things about being an international student that are difficult. For one, it wasn't until late last week that I was able to open my bank account. A bank card is required for many things, like getting a drink from coffee machines and reloading my printer balance at school. I got by with cash, but every time I need more cash from my Canadian bank account, its costs five Canadian dollars in bank fees. Of course, I also needed my Dutch bank account to be able to receive my scholarship money. The form is in, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll get the money by next week.

The other annoyance is that new students still have not received campus cards. Given that most of us are lacking some of the background knowledge for our math courses, sometimes we need library books to study from. Without a campus card, we cannot take them out. Also, without a campus card I can't get into my faculty building on the weekends, where I have an office. Luckily, with some help, I was able to retrieve my books from my office on a Saturday, even though the security guard didn't want to let me in the building.

So, to summarize, I definitely have mixed feelings right now. But, I can still say that I am happy to be here. As time goes on, things will get easier in many ways, and I'll always have great friends around.

Finally! I'm in Delft!

2010-08-25T13:22:00.001-06:00

Technically speaking, I arrived in Delft 5 days ago, but the last few days have been so busy that I haven't had time to post anything. So, as I sit here sipping wine and waiting for my dinner to cook, I finally have a chance to summarize my trip, arrival and first few days of settling in.

The week before I left was BUSY. From the time I came back from a trip to visit extended family to the time I left, I ended up meeting up with friends for every single lunch and dinner. There was last minute preparations, packing and shopping for necessary gear. All in all, I didn't get much sleep.

My flight was in the afternoon on a Friday. The check-in counter was less than pleasant. The lady at the counter first weighed my carry-on, then informed me I'd have to reduce the weight by 2kg. Fair enough... Once I repacked my bags, she then asked me to measure its dimensions in the device they had. It was very very close, only one of my wheels got caught on the top rail. Because of this she made me pack as much as I could into my backpack and check the bag. I was not pleased, to say the least.

Once I got though security, however, things got significantly better. I was called to the flight desk, where I was informed that I was randomly chosen to be upgraded to first class for free! Needless to say, this was the most pleasant flight I've ever been on. To top it off, I had some great conversations with the Dutch guy in the seat next to me.

After I arrived, collected my luggage and went through customs, I was greeted by TUD volunteers who brought me to the Welcome desk where I was given important documents. Shortly after I was taken by shuttle to my residence in Delft, where another volunteer was waiting to guide me to my apartment.

My first weekend involved some pre-organized evening activities and unpacking my bags. The was a daytime city rally organized, but my cell battery died, and so I ended up sleeping through it. It was just as well, since the extra sleep likely helped me to be more energetic at the welcome party that evening.

This week is introduction week. I've attended some lectures, met up with and worked with a project group, met a tonne of people and bought many things for my apartment. Today I (finally) found a bike. Now, I need to get a local cell phone, buy a few more items for my apartment and take care of a few more things.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is my last day for this week. Next week my faculty has organized a four day camp in a "secret location". All in all, I'll say that my trip to Delft has been great so far. I've met some wonderful people, seen some of the beauty of the city and I am becoming more organized. I am almost ready to begin my studies. I am so happy to be here, and I'm sure the next year will be great!

Great Wine and Tan Lines

2010-08-05T23:52:00.000-06:00

Before my departure for Europe, I really needed some quality RnR time with one of my closest girl friends. The solution? A road trip to the beautiful Okanagan of British Columbia, Canada. The hot sun, crystal clear lakes, orchards, wineries, food and many other attractions was a perfect way to fill five days of quality girl time. Of course, this region is great for guys, couples and families as well. We spent most of our time in and around Kelowna.

Our most frequent activity was cruising around the side roads looking for wineries and fresh fruit. Most wineries have free tastings. The ones with a fee (three to five dollars) allow you to apply the cost of the tasting towards the purchase of a bottle of wine. One mistake I made was buying too many bottles from the first winery we visited. With my flight to the Netherlands approaching, I had to limit the amount of wine I bought to what I will be able to polish off before the flight. Another worthwhile liquor tasting is the Raven Ridge Cidery, which features iced ciders. These are similar to ice wine, but for a fraction of the price.

Rainier cherries and peaches were the main fruits in season. Both were very flavorful. Also an awesome find were strawberry-rhubarb and blueberry-rhubarb-apple pies. We were sad to discover that the grapes were nowhere near ripe... I love wine grapes.

Most of the restaurants we visited were good, other than a couple of breakfast locations. Of note is the last place we went for dinner, RauDZ. It is somewhat pricey, but worth it. The stuffed calamari appetizer (in the picture) was fantastic. The filling was perfectly moist. It was a nice change from the typical battered and fried varieties that are found at most restaurants. We loved the fresh fruit sangria. I had the blue cheese new york steak and my friend had the arctic char. For desert, we shared the featured cherry mousse, which was just a taster size.... perfect considering we were already stuffed! Overall, RauDZ was a very good food find.

Also of note:

Moo-Lix Icecream Shop: many fantastic flavors of ice cream on freshly made waffle cones.

Blenz Coffee: We had many shaken iced-teas from here. Their baked items were also good.

Siam Orchid Thai Restaurant: I loved my greed curry and the atmosphere.

Momo Sushi Cafe: Very fresh and tasty sushi for a decent price and friendly staff.

Marmalade Cat Cafe: Awesome Sunday brunch. I got the Eggs Benedict with sweet potato and regular potato hashbrowns. Yum.

If you like goat cheese, check out Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan. They offer a free tasting of all of their cheeses. There was a nice variety of flavors. Some are quite strong in taste, but worth trying at least once. We ended up buying a softer cheese and ate most of it for dinner along with some French bread, fruit and, of course, wine. If you make it out to the farm, definitely try the gelato. I found it to be slightly creamier than the cow's milk variety. The flavor of the goat's milk was noticeable, but overall pleasant for most flavors.

This post wouldn't be complete without mentioning the lake. The water was clear, the sun was hot, the atmosphere was wonderful. I would have loved to cruise the water on a motorboat, but that will have to wait for a future trip. While we were there, unfortunately there were some nearby forest fires that added a haze to the lake, so in some places it was difficult to see across the lake. On the upside the smoke wasn't too thick and we couldn't smell it.

While the food and lounging in the sun took up most of our time in the Kelowna, I should also mention some of the other things we enjoyed. Downtown Kelowna is beautiful. We loved the flowers, street performers and Japanese gardens. Our visit to Croc Talk, a Crocodilian conservation facility, was surprisingly fun. We did not expect to get so close to crocodiles, aligators, wild cats and tortoises.

As far as accommodations go, our first couple of nights were in the Samesun hostel, and our last three were at the UBC Kelowna campus. They were of comparable price. Samesun had the advantage of being close to downtown. We got a private room, but the washrooms were shared. UBC had the advantage of separate rooms with our own private washroom. It was very new and clean. However, we did notice that noise travels through the vents when our young neighbors above us attempted to have a conversation though the washroom vent. The out-of-town location made it harder to go out at night, but didn't really make a difference otherwise since we had to drive around to get to the wineries and farms.

This trip to the Okanagan was just what I needed before I fly away to Europe. We didn't have a strict schedule, which made it easy to relax. If you need to unwind, take a trip to the Okanagan.

Stuff: Pack, Store or Discard?

2010-07-27T21:51:00.000-06:00

Even though I am not leaving for the Netherlands for another 23 days, I have only five days left in my home town (maybe one or two more). So, for the past two days I've been going through my stuff and deciding what to pack, what to store and what I don't care to keep anymore. My airline includes 23kg of checked baggage (eg- one suitcase) and 10kg of carry-on, plus a purse and a laptop bag. Extra baggage is $10/kg, but only when purchased at least 10 days ahead of time, otherwise its $15. So, space is tight, and expensive. I've opted to spend extra for another bag (15-20kg). So, the mission is to reduce my life's collection of stuff into 43-48kg worth of luggage, including the weight of the bags.

Before I came anywhere close to packing, I had to decide what I'll use for luggage. Well, I do already have some Atlantic Suitcases that I originally purchased to take to Switzerland. They have served me well on many trips. BUT, the downside to suitcases are that they are bulky and relatively heavy. Buying an excursion backpack was another option. While this was not a bad idea, the pack would be bulkier, heavier and more expensive than a simple duffle bag, and I can get a backpack in Europe if/when I need one. I settled on using an Atlantic suitcase and carry-on along with a large MEC duffel bag.

I have the bags, now what should I pack? The question is: what is this worth $10/kg? The duffel bag is already almost full of clothes that had no evidence of being worn out. There is still some room left. My suitcase is currently half-full, including some shoes, jewelry, some good hair products and a few other things. My carry on will be packed later on. I have more clothes and a few other things set aside to pack when the time comes. For anything I don't already own, but will likely need, I've decided that I will buy them when I get there. The only thing left to determine is how much extra baggage to pre-purchase.

Now, what about items to store? About an month ago, I started filling a metal chest full of little treasures I cannot bear to part with. These are mostly keep-sakes: childhood creations, pictures, doodads from special days (like high school graduation), yearbooks and things I've made in recent classes (ceramics, blown glass...). In the past two days, my stored items doubled when I filled a wooden chest, which includes a few more keep-sakes, smaller sport items and other things I won't use now, but don't want to part with just yet. Other than that, my parents garage and house will store some bulkier sports equipment, a few items of clothes and some old vinyl records (thanks Mom and Dad!! You are THE BEST!).

And as for the rest: DISCARDED. The process of discarding technically started a few months ago when I moved back into my parents house. Anything that was glaringly obvious that I wouldn't need (kitchen appliances, for example) I gave away right away. In the past two days I've discarded much more than I thought I would... you know, it actually feels pretty good to realize how much junk you don't really need!

Whew! After some hard work, I'm nearly done converting my life-full-of-stuff into a life-out-of-a-suitcase (well technically, a suitcase, duffel bag and carry on). As always, there are mixed feelings, but the good far outweigh the bad. Feels great!

The Biltmore Estate

2010-07-22T18:29:00.000-06:00

Tucked away in the hills of Asheville, North Carolina lies the opulent Biltmore Estate. On Christmas Eve 1895, George W. Vanderbilt opened the house to his friends and family. While it was originally a country escape, once George married Edith Dresser in 1898, they made the estate their family home. With a 175,000 square foot and 250 room house on 125,000 acres of land, it is safe to say that the Vanderbilts most definitely lived a comfortable life. Today, the estate sits on 8000 acres and is one of Asheville's primary tourist attractions.

The cost to visit the estate is relatively high ($60 the day I went), but it is worth it. You may also pay to use the audio guide when touring the house. Since I had a limited timeline, I opted to simply read the free paper guide. I will spare you the details now. It is best seen in person. I found the indoor garden, billiard room, banquet hall, library, bowling alley, swimming pool, a gym and servants quarters most interesting.

For gardening enthusiasts, the Biltmore Estate has plenty of flowers, bamboo, trees and shrubbery to see. You could spend a day simply wondering the walking paths.

I found the gardens wonderful, but I liked the pond even better. There are turtles, fish and even a small man-made waterfall. And to imagine, this mountain paradise was made for just one family and their guests!

My next stop was Antler Hill. The cool walk through the wine cellars was very welcome on the sweltering summer day. Guests that are over-21 can partake in a free wine tasting and the Biltmore's award winning winery. Those concerned about the $60 entry fee may be able to recoup some of the cost, since it seemed as though there was no limit to the amount of samples you could try. Normally I prefer red wines, but I decided to buy a sweet white desert wine as well as a nice rose.

The child in me really enjoyed visiting the farm. The barnyard is filled with sheep, horses, funny looking chickens, as well as other critters. For families and animal lovers, the farm is worth the short walk from Antler Hill.

Other than what I have included here, there is much more to see and do on the Biltmore Estate. As far as food goes, I loved the chocolate filled croissant, iced latte, black cherry ice cream and my flat-bread lunch. If you are into biking, there are many paths throughout the estate. The Biltmore Estate is also a popular venue for weddings and graduation parties. If you need a place to stay, the estate has an onsite hotel. If you ever find yourself in or near Asheville, North Carolina, be sure to visit the Biltmore Estate. You will not be disappointed.

Last week at work

2010-07-06T14:57:00.001-06:00

After a heck of a lot of waiting, my last week of work is here. Thursday is my last day! Knowing that I am THAT much closer to my awesome adventure, I am ecstatic. Though, as this 3 year part of my life comes to an end, I do have some mixed feelings. I have met so many great people, made friends and learned a lot in my first "real" job. So, in some ways, its kind of sad to say goodbye to this life I've known.

On the other hand, I CAN'T WAIT to start my new life as a foreign student in Europe!! As time passes, I only become more excited. What makes this time even better, is that the day after my last day, I leave for a trip to visit my sister and her family in North Carolina. The rest of the month and a bit before I leave for Holland is filled with other trips with family and friends. I predict the time will fly by. :)

To everyone that I met in the past 3 years, it was great getting to know you! We must keep in touch. To everyone I will be visiting before I leave, I can't wait to see you all! To everyone else that I know, I hope we have the chance to get together before I leave.

Under the Hawaiian Sun

2010-06-30T10:54:00.001-06:00

Hawaii has been a popular sun destination for ages. Now that I have been there, I understand why. It is hot, sunny, beautiful, there is plenty to do, and it suits a variety of lifestyles. However, it is also very expensive. Fortunately for me, my friend decided to move there to attend med school (tough life, eh?) and invited me to visit her. So, for most of the trip, I had a place to stay and we did not have to rent a car, which made the trip significantly cheaper than it could have been.

First I'll rave about the SUN. There is a lot of it, and it is HOT. If you want a natural tan, you can certainly get one here. Don't forget the sunscreen though! Unfortunately for me, before one snorkeling adventure, I put sunscreen everywhere besides on my behind, assuming I'd remember to finish the job when I stood up. I assumed wrong. After a couple hours of swimming with my back side facing the sun, I was not very happy to discover the tomato red burn covering my bottom.

On the upside, the sunsets are absolutely beautiful! If you are facing west, you are almost guaranteed a sky full of color, whether you are lounging on the beach, filling your face at a luau, above the clouds on top of Haleakala Volcano (Maui) or simply enjoying a drink on a patio. I am sure sunrises are just as nice, but I never got up early enough to find out for sure.

If you are looking for underwater life, you can find it in Hawaii. Fortunately, this can be one of the cheaper activities. On Oahu Island, check out the coral reefs in Hanauma Bay. This is a national park, so there is a small entrance fee, but it is well worth it. In Maui, we swam out to Turtle Town. We did spot a couple of sea turtles (sorry, forgot my camera), but if you go at the right time of the day, you can see many more. It is a relatively long swim, but well worth it. Alternately, you can go on a tour, which is expensive, but eliminates the need to swim all the way there.

If you are willing to spend a wad of cash, there are plenty of great tours. In Maui there is Molokini, a crescent-shaped volcanic crater that is home to a beautiful reef and a resting place for seabirds. You are not allowed to step onto the land because it is a conservation area, but on a tour you can check out the amazing reef. I recommend taking the earliest tour you can find. We went on the second or third tour of the day, which was still before 8am. Although we saw many fish, we heard that the ones earlier in the day have even more. Another great tour is a shark dive. The guides drive a boat out to a cage in the middle of the water. You climb into the cage and watch sharks swim around you. Keep your arms and legs inside the bars!

For good eats and great entertainment, go to a Luau! You can experience some of the Hawaiian culture, including traditional food, music, hula dancing, tahitian dancing, fire dancing... it is an evening full of entertainment. Also, there is plenty of... eye candy... for both sexes ;)

There are some nice short hikes on both Oahu and Maui. Try the Lanikai Pillbox hike. It takes you up high to a great view of the beaches below. Along the way, you will encounter "pillboxes", which are bunkers used during World War II. You can climb into the graffiti-filled cement structures, but watch out for broken liquor bottles. A great hike in Maui is the Iao needle. A guide from our hostel took us off the marked trail and to some great views.

And last, but certainly not least, if you are into the arts, Maui is the place for you. Paintings, sculptures, blown glass.... you can find it all, and much much more. And what's more, everyone in Maui dresses down. So, even if you are not rich, gallery owners can't tell the difference and so will take the time to show their pieces to you. Yes, they will try to sell them to you, but the free information can be quite interesting.

Well, there you have it: a condensed account of my trip to Hawaii in June 2009. I only saw two of the many islands. I'd love to see the rest. Even just between Oahu and Maui, there is something for everyone... so if you can afford it, go to Hawaii!

Costa Rica!

2010-06-22T15:14:00.001-06:00

When I graduated from my bachelor's degree, my incredibly generous Godmother took me on a wonderful vacation to the beautiful land of Costa Rica. We spent most of our time on a resort in the dry province of Guanacaste. Guided day trips were a good way of experiencing life outside of the resort. Renting a car and driving south to Manuel Antonio let us leisurely explore the coast without the schedules of the organized tours. Here are the highlights of our adventure.

The Animals

Costa Rica is FULL of all sorts of amazing wildlife. I didn't get pictures of all of the animals we saw, but here are a few decent shots:

Perhaps the most memorable animal was the white-headed capuchin monkey. Dozens of them visited our resort daily. When visitors gave them bananas, the monkeys would roll them on a branch before opening and eating them.

We also saw the capuchin's on our Palo Verde River Ride. They jumped onto the boat to beg for food while the concerned alpha male watched on. We saw an alligator (or crocodile.... I forget which), some bats, many varieties of water birds, and even a shrimp. An interesting fact about shrimp is that their bowels are very close to their brains. In the words of our guide, "Costa Rican women say that Costa Rican men are like shrimp, they've got sh*t in the brain!"

Other sightings include toucans, raccoons, lizards, sloths and howler monkeys. Also note-worthy, but in a disgusting way, were all of the giant insects in the town of Manuel Antonio. At night they come creeping out of the rainforest.... one landed on my hand while we were enjoying drinks on our balcony, which caused us to promptly move indoors.

Beauty and Relaxation

Although Costa Rica is a relatively small country, you don't have to travel far to find a difference in climate and flora. Our resort was in the dry region, but it was still lush and beautiful. Every day, farmers set fire to their nearby sugarcane fields before they were harvested. This is done to kill deadly snakes so that the workers aren't killed by surprise attacks. The smoke leaves a bit of a haze in the area, which added to the atmosphere and spectacular sunsets, which are equally beautiful farther south in Manuel Antonio.

Travel inland or south and you'll find yourself in the rain forest, where the vegetation becomes even more lush and the climate is considerably wetter. Inland you find Monteverde, where you can explore the rain forest by walking on suspension bridges way up above the treetops. I recommend staying on trails and not touching the plants. Our tour guide informed us of some of the poisonous and otherwise dangerous plants that can give you a rash, or much worse.

We took a roadtrip down the west coast to Manuel Antonio National Park. The beaches were beautiful and hot. The water was much better suited for swimming than at the resort, other than potential rip-tides. The rain forest added a fantastic backdrop to the soft sand and rolling waves. There are relatively well maintained walking trails in the forest that lead to breathtaking views.

We didn't visit the east side of the country, but I have heard that it is worthy of a visit.

Adventure
If you seek adventure, you can definitely find it in Costa Rica! We opted for a one-day organized adventure tour, but there is far more to do than what we were exposed to in a matter of hours.

Our tour began with a horseback ride. This took us on a trail through the trees. The path lead to hiking trail. We hopped from rock to rock to cross a river and arrived at our destination: a nice waterfall! For those not afraid of heights, it was time to JUMP!

The water was surprisingly cold, considering the hot weather. While it was a shock to my system, leaving me gasping for air, it was certainly exhilarating. I'd do it again in a heartbeat... actually, I jumped a few times. To warm up, our next stop was the mud bath.

This was a different kind of adventure. We started with a sweat-inducing session in the sauna. The next step was to paint volcanic mud all over our bodies. I got to the mud station later than everyone else, so they gave me a helping hand. Once that dried, we showered off and sat in a hot tub for a while. Next stop: the zip-line.

After a short safety demo, we climbed to our first platform and began zooming through the tree-tops. Some of the lines were extremely high in the air, but provided some nice views of the forest and rivers below. We rappelled down to a platform above the water, then climbed back up the other side of the canyon wall.

The adventure combo was definitely worth the money we paid. It was jam-packed with a variety of interesting activities. Going back to the resort for a delicious dinner and a drink by the water was a nice end to a perfect day.

Day Trip to Nicaragua
When you cross the northern border into Nicaragua, the differences with Costa Rica are easy to see. It is definitely a much poorer country, but it definitely has its charms. One piece of evidence showing the poverty of the nation is the frequency of seeing flee-bitten dogs. On the more charming side are the hand-made trinkets lining the streets of the first town we drove through, the wonderful scenery and our delicious lunch. Being there was a real eye-opener.

It was amazing to watch the talent of a boy making pottery with a foot-powered wheel. In a matter of minutes, he turned a lump of clay into a beautifully shaped piece of art. Now, I've tried pottery before, and I can say from first hand experience that there is a steep learning curve, and my wheel had a motor!

While I had seen the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, it was from a distance. This is because the concentration of toxic gases becomes very dense and fatal as you ascend. In Nicaragua, we were able to not only ascend the volcano, but also to stand right up on the edge of the crater! Very Cool! The name of this volcano escapes me, unfortunately, as does the names of the towns we visited.

The marketplace was an experience like no other. Our tourist van pulled up, and was immediately surrounded by school-aged kids, all begging for food. Once we made it through to the market, we were greeted by the older boys, anxious to be our paid guides. Since we weren't planning on buying much, we declined their help. There were hand made goods, clothing, food, cigars, and much much more.

Upon returning to the van, we pulled out some apples. Prior to our departure a lady at the resort informed us that they would be a hit with the begging children. Boy was she right. We tried to give the treats to the smallest kids, but it was hard when there were arms flooding through the doors. Once we gave out all of the apples, the guide shooed the kids away from the door. Knowing the source of the apples, one child came to the window beside me and made an eating motion towards his mouth with his empty hand. I realized the true poverty of this place.

On the way back across the border we stopped at the duty-free zone, where you could get all sorts of great stuff. All I bought was a few bottles of Flor de Caña slow-aged Nicaraguan rum. At $7 a bottle, you can't go wrong.

All in all, my Costa Rican vacation was fantastic. I had a chance to learn about new cultures, saw beautiful landscapes, experienced mind-blowing adventures, got a tonne of Vitamin D, and so much more. On our last night, we were treated by a rather rare experience: Howler monkeys at the resort. They stayed in the tree-tops, but called down to us. We called back to them. If ever there was a perfect ending to our time in the Costa Rican sun, that was it!

Application Time Line

2010-06-15T13:12:00.001-06:00

Creating effective applications for schools and scholarships is no trivial task. The criteria for an "ideal application" varies. It is critical to know your audience, what they are looking for, and the deadlines by which you must submit your application. Here is a my application time line:

Making the decision to apply: June - July 2009
Deciding whether or not to apply for school abroad was probably the hardest part of this whole process, emotionally speaking. A past professor, family and friends were a great support. Once I finally made the decision, I felt so great about it.

Research schools and funding: July - August 2009
With my new life plans in mind, I made a detailed list of the applications I needed to fill out, the dates they'd become available, due dates, required documents and qualities that they were looking for. When I had questions, I contacted program administrators.

I also registered for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). It was required by one of the schools I was planning to apply to. I got my GRE study book and began preparing. After discovering that I did not meet the minimum course requirements for that school, I canceled the test.

Scholarship application: August - October 2009
Scholarship applications became available in August. Gathering official documents and filling out the application form is easy. The more challenging task is writing personal statements and acquiring high quality reference letters.

Well thought-out personal statements are crucial. If a personal statement is poorly written it is likely to be quickly forgotten. I re-wrote my personal statement several times, sometimes with help from friends, family and past professors.

When it comes to reference letters, you don't have control of the content. All you can do is find relevant referees that are willing to write you a positive letter and give them plenty of notice. A word to the wise: Don't assume that your referees will remember the application deadlines. Polite reminders may be necessary. I even had to chase down one of my referees in person. In the end it was worth it.

Prepare school applications: September 2009 - November 2009
This process was pretty much the same as the scholarship applications. I gathered documents, adapted my personal statement to the schools I was applying to and got more reference letters.

Wait... wait... wait....: November 2009 - March 2009
Whew! Finally.... done applying! All I had to do was wait.... and wait.... and wait some more. Just like making the decision to apply, waiting was emotionally trying.

In December, some progress. One of my scholarships made it past the first round of decisions. Yay! More waiting.... In January I received news that I had been accepted to one of the schools. Hurray!

More waiting... February came with some disappointment: 2 rejections. What a blow to the ego! Fortunately, March was much kinder to me: I was accepted into another school and awarded two scholarships, one of which was a full scholarship to one of the schools. This made my decision easy... This fall I will study for one year in the Netherlands, then one year in Sweden.

Get ready to go!!: March 2009 - now
The last few months have involved receiving and sending documents, arranging a one-way flight, arranging accommodations, researching the Netherlands and Sweden, amongst other things. It has been a year since this application process started. The hard work and waiting were worth it. I can't wait to board my flight in August!

Santé to Switzerland!

2010-06-08T08:50:00.001-06:00

Back when I was working on my Bachelor's degree, I hadn't done much traveling. While reading online articles about my area of study, I stumbled upon one from a laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. My interest was piqued. It just so happened that the lab was offering funding to foreign students for short-term work. After much persistence, I landed a job from May through August. It has been around four years since then, but thus far, it is the trip that has made the biggest impact on my life. As a toast to Switzerland and all its greatness, here are some the things that stood out to me. For everything else, you can check out some of the great guidebooks and tourist websites out there.

Lausanne really is a picturesque place. My favorite part of the area was Ouchy on the lakefront. Looking across Lac Léman (also known as Lake Geneva), the view of the French Alps is absolutely amazing, especially when accompanied by a beautiful sunset. If you ever have the good fortune of visiting Lausanne, I highly recommend taking a ferry to some of the nearby towns (both Swiss and French).

If you head uphill into the downtown area, you find charming old buildings and cobblestone streets. On Saturday mornings, you can head to the market, where street vendors sell fresh produce and other goodies. Even on rainy days, people are out and about enjoying the atmosphere.

Coming from Canada, I was quite excited when I first realized that most Swiss lakes have graceful white swans. Anyone coming from a place where swans are common may not find this so enchanting. For me, it was another element that added to the "fairytale" image of the country.

Another thing that I hadn't (and still have not) seen in Canada is grass roofs. This is something I wish I'd see more often at home.

I LOVED seeing farm animals in the middle of the city. I saw a variety of animals, including sheep, goats, donkeys and horses. One of the things I looked forward to on the way to work was passing by some of these critters. Its really a win-win situation: the animals get to eat nice fresh greens, and humans don't have to mow the lawn or buy fertilizer. When I grow up, I want a goat ;).

As I write, I am realizing that I could go on and on about the things I love about Switzerland.... and to be honest, I didn't come close to visiting the entire country. Unfortunately, I completely missed the Italian region and only saw limited parts of the German region. But, I can't end this post without raving about the Alps! So. very. beautiful. If you like to hike, you'll love them. My only regret is not being there in snowboard season.

On that note, I'll leave you with this thought: VISIT SWITZERLAND! There is something for everyone. I most definitely have not given a thorough list of all of the things to see and do in this diverse and beautiful country. There are many great guide books out there. I used Fodor's. Whether you are looking for sport, adventure, beauty, architecture, fantastic food, art, culture or just a great atmosphere, you can find it in Switzerland! Cheers!

Spilling the Beans

2010-06-01T17:00:00.001-06:00

Today was a first for me. I handed in my resignation letter for the first "real" job I've ever had. Don't get me wrong. I like my job. I work with many great people, have learned a lot, have had opportunities for advancement and I am good at what I do. However, in the three years that I have been working, I realized that life has become quite predictable: get up, go to work, go home, make dinner, relax for an hour or two, go to bed, then do it all again. Since I have nothing to tie me down to my home town, I decided that its time to do something awesome!

With a need for change, I entertained a few ideas. At first, going back to school was not part of the plan. When I finished my Bachelor's degree, I definitely needed to get away from the student life. There was a time that I thought about getting a job abroad. After a previous experience of living in Switzerland for four months during a spring/summer break from school, I knew that I wanted to travel more. However, when the world wide economic crisis hit, I decided that I'd rather not run the risk of being laid-off on the other side of the world.

The next best option at the time was to focus on buying some property. I still had travel in the back of my mind, but planning trips with my 15 days of vacation per year would just have to do. Searching for property kept me entertained at first. When it came down to it, though, I really was quite bored.

I toyed with the idea of pursuing a Masters part time while continuing to work. Then I thought, "What the crap is the point of this?" When I first started working, I could not wait to get away from school and finally have some spare time. If I combined school and work, I'd have no spare time and likely would not travel. That was it... after much deliberation I came to the conclusion that I am really a keener at heart, and I have a bad case of the travel bug.

So here I am. Over the last year I've applied for schools and funding. The hard work paid off. Starting in August, I will be a Masters student for a year in the Netherlands and then a year in Sweden. In this blog I will share anything and everything related to being a student abroad. In the coming weeks before I leave, I will post about the application process and previous travels.

I really have no idea where I will end up, both geographically and professionally. All I know is that I'm ready for my new adventure.