Farewell Amelia&Bea

These are my last days in Groningen before my departure to Spain and although it's highly probable that I come back to Groningen in a few weeks, I cannot help but feel a little sad these days.

I will miss my bike and all the walks that I do with it... I will miss speaking English with my intercambio partners and my neighbors... meeting new people from all over the world at parties in our old student house, and even, doing all the housework by myself (like cooking, doing the shopping at the supermarket, doing the laundry....), because I really like to do it alone without help, I don't know why, but it makes me feel more independent.

Although the main reason of my sadness, is saying farewell to one friend, Amelia. I came back to Groningen with two of my best friends, Bea and Amelia. I wanted to improve my English level and they started an internship at Hanze University. And last Friday we had our last party together, at least for a few months, because they will be my friends for all my life no matter what and I am confident that we will continue seeing each other wherever we are.

And although my plans are to go to London to do an internship soon, I can't imagine my life in Groningen without my two best friends... luckily Bea will come back in January and I hope that  Amelia changes her mind and comes back to Groningen with us so that we can spend a few more months together.

SINTERKLAAS

Last week, on 5th of December, I was greatly surprised. My friend Renate, who I talk English&Spanish with once per week, gave me the letter "B" in chocolate!! Apparently this is very common in the Netherlands, giving and receiving letters of chocolate according to your name on the 5th of December. I really appreciated this sign of affection because it made me feel like I am taking part in the Dutch culture.

Renate told me this happens because here in the Netherlands, they celebrate Sinterklaas (an elderly man very similar to our Santa Claus in Spain), who gives presents to good children visiting their houses the night of the 5th of December, but besides that, you yourself can also show your affection to your friends or relatives, giving them a present. And one of the possibilities are these chocolate letters.

We also have this tradition in Spain. We have Santa Claus, who leaves presents in children's shoes if they have been good, the night of the 24th of December and moreover we have the three Kings, who do the same on the 5th of January, if the children have shown good behavior during the year.

Will I see snow before I leave Groningen?

These days has been very cold here, in Groningen, and I am wondering if I will see snow before going back to Granada. I would like to see it snow, due to the fact that snow isn't very common in Spain, well, concretely in the south of Spain. Althoug it's true that where I live, we have one of the more famous places to ski in Spain, maybe you know the "Sierra Nevada"

But this isn't the same... I mean, it's really nice to wake up and seeing all the snowy streets and to go to the universtiy walking over snow!! It's more special living your normal day around snow than to only experience it if you go to the mountain.

For that reason, another special moment in my Erasmus year was seeing "this particular environment", I tool a lot of pictures, I drew names in car windows, I threw snowalls to my friends. I could really enjoy snow like a child and I hope to repear these moments before my Christmas holidays.

The followings pictures were taken the last year, aren’t  they beautiful?

EUROSHOPPER

One of the things that I remember as part of my Erasmus year in the Netherlands, is the brand "Euroshopper" that we can find at "Albert Heijn". I have bought (and I am still buying it this year) a lot of products from Euroshopper, basically because it is really cheap and the quality is ok, no bad. I remember drinking "Euroshopper beers" at all my parties, it's the cheaper way to get drunk at a party!!!!

I have never seen it before I came here, however apparently you can find the same brand in 11 other countries. And now, I will find it in Spain, at "El Corte Inglés" when I come back.

I think this news has two different meanings, one the one hand it is a good news for the customers in Spain because they will able to reduce the amount of money spent in the supermarket, on the other hand it isn't very good for the Spanish companies, which are not going through their best moment.

Anyway, what is sure, is that I will walk around the supermarket to see which Euroshopper products are coming to Spain.

Tips to save a little money in the Netherlands

Today I was reading an article in Hanze mag, http://www.hanzemag.com/, about how we can save money living in Groningen. I would like to give you my owns tips since I have made my own experiences!!

- When you arrive at Groningen, the first thing that you'll need, probably, is to get some cheap furniture for your room. Sure you are thinking about IKEA... and it's true that IKEA has nice and cheap things for your home, but beforehand you should go to mamamini. This shop has really cheap things because this furnitures are donated by people who don't need them anymore, and the benefits of any sale made are donated to charity.

 - Do you want to eat for a few euros? You can go to IKEA and this time, visit it to eat hot dogs for only €0.50.  You can also go to McDonlads and to eat a burguer for €1. The third way to eat cheap, is going to turkish pizza, where you can get one pizza for €4.

- And if you love coffee as much as I do, you should do your weekly shopping at the Albert Heijn, where you can enjoy a cup of coffe for free at the same time, and even taste some delicious cheese.

- And finally, you can enjoy concerts without paying anything!!! There are several clubs, like VERA or SIMPLON, where you can enjoy live music for free.

As you can see, there are many ways to save a little money without a big budget. Youn only need find your own way!!

Food typical in Groningen

Here I am, once again, and today I want to tell you abouth the typical food that I have gottten to know in holland. Since I haven't gotten to know enough of its gastronomy, perhaps I should investigate some restaurants about it... However, I cannot affor it and I haven't gotten to know many Dutch people who could teach me their culinary arts, as well.

But, like every student here, I have gotten to know some typical food that I love:

The first one is chips with mayonnaise, which is very simple but absolutely delicious after a party!!!!! You can buy them at many places in the city centre.

The second one is fish&chips, whicht is sold at the market of the city centre (the market is taking place only three times per week).... also it's very good, especially because you can accompany fish&chips with a tipical Dutch garlic sauce. This dish is perfect on Saturday morning with your friends while taking a sunbath.

With regards to sweets, I like waffles so much, they are made of some king of a biscuit  with caramel, so delicious!!!!!

And the most awesome thing that I have seen in Groningen are the automatic machines where you can buy fast-food. It's a great idea, since you can buy this food at anytime. You can find burger and croquettes among other typical fast-food.

Do you believe in tarot??

I wanted to do one post about this topic, because for me this art is very interesting.... I think it has something special, mysterious... and of course not all of it is true but... is everything about a lie?? ... Really, I don't know if I should believe in it or not... but it's true that it maybe the only way can you can get to know some answers difficult.

If you aren't very accostumed to this practises, tarot consists in read the future in some cards. Maybe you have see it in a tv show. It looks easy, right?

Reality and face to face are always better, and I think If you want to know something, you should be asking directly. But, if something is impossible to know?? or if you can't ask him or her personally?? What can we do?? well... maybe one way can be tarot.

I recognise that I use this way to know some things. I have the luck that one friend of mine knows to read tarot cards and I get "his answers" for free, because if I had to pay someone for this, I am sure that I wouldn't pay this service because I don't believe 100% in it. 

And well, If you ask me if it's true..... I don't know yet... I hope to find iy out soon!!!!! ;-)

One month in Groningen!!!! I miss Spain :-(

I have already spent almost a month in Holland and I think I am on the right way, because in those 20 days I have improved my English level a bit more...  Everyday I try to study grammar and to learn new vocabularies, I do writings, readings, listening-exercises and most importantly, three o four times per week I have meetings with other guys who wans to do a tandem with me. It consist of speaking for half an hour (for example) in English and  another half an hour in Spanish. 

I really like tandems, because besides of improving my speaking level, I like to meet other people from different countries and to learn about their culture. And why not.... making new friends while learning something new:-)

But, this month I have missed Spain a lot.... I miss its food, its fantastic weather, my family and friends.... Where I live the weather is very different to Groningen. I can't wait for Christmas to come, so that I can go back to Spain for a few weeks. After this break I want to stay for at least two more months in Holland and continue improving my English.

Groningen has a lot of good things, as you could see in my preview post. However, I miss the good weather of my city, the food prepared by my mother, going out with my friends and eating "tapas" (If you don't know what are, I recommend you visit Granada!!!), watching soccer matches with my brother, walking through Granada and taking pictures of its drawings on the wall....

Well I think, we all miss what we don't have.... since when I was in Spain I missed the epic parties in Groningen, riding a bike, my friends here and some of the Dutch food  also...

I have an idea!!!! hahaha, in another post I would like to talk you about food typical for Holland!

Well, peace and love for everyone!!!!!

The differences between Spain and The Netherlands

Today I am going to talk to you about things I love from Holland and in Spain I don't have :-(

FREE COFFEE AT ALBERT HEIJN 

I don't know any supermarket in Spain where you can drink a cup of coffee for free (Maybe there are some, but I have never seen one). In Holland it's possible, and since I love to drink coffee, this is fantastic!!!! (especially for my  poor pocket) and of course in this city where the weather is so cold, to drink a free hot coffee in the middle of the afternoon is priceless!!!

MY MUDERER BIKE

Maybe you have read in previews post that one of my favourites hobbies is riding a bike. Of course in Spain I could to do the same, but it's more difficult for two main reasons: Firstly, because tere are many hills in my hometown. This can be exhausting If you aren't in good physical condition. Secondly, there are only a few bicycle paths, so the city centre is not adapted for them. 

In Holland it is more easy to drive on a bike because this is part of their lifestyle. All people ride on a bike here and the entire city is full of bicycle paths. Besides, the landscape is very flat and the other road users respect the cyclists a lot.

The name of my bike is "murderer" because thanks to her I have fallen a lot of times last year. She is going to kill me!!!!!! But I don't mind, I love my bike anyway!!! 

THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment of Groningen is somewhat different to Granada. In Groningen you can find a park or lake every 100 meters and isn't much traffic so the people look relaxed and calm. Granada is beautiful, with an important historic centre with years of history, but it is full of traffic, noise, stressed people and there aren't many parks where you can be relaxed. 

Besides the weather of the Netherlands is somewhat special for me, because I am from the south of Spain where the average temperature in winter is around 20 degrees Celsius (and 45º in summer) and it rarely snows in the city. So, to see snow in Groningen made me feel like being five years old!!! The last year was awesome since I saw the frozen lakes whoñe the people were walking on them!!!

HALLOOOOOWEEN O.o

Yesterday night, I celebrated this particular party again in Groningen.

I have spent the last two Halloween in Groningen, but I think with regard to that there aren't many differences between Groningen and Granada (Spain), because for a few years ago it has been an international party now. So, you will find the same party here in the Netherlands than in Spain.

Yesterday was a great night....I really enjoy when I have to dress up... because it is somewhat different to the other parties.... and more fun!!!! The best part of the night was meeting new people, tasting a delicious cake (because it was also the birthday of a girl who lived in the student house that I went to with my friends) and taking a lot of pictures in order to remember this party for all my life :-)

After the party in the student house, we went to the city centre and I shared the rest of the night with the other undead who we found in the pubs!!!! It was a great night, like I told you before, but being here in Groningen, I couldn't stop to think about my friends of last year... It was my first Halloween here in Groningen and I had been with all my friends (I didn't make new friends because I was already with all my best friends), enjoying, drinking a lot (I have to say that too) and the first time of something always is special.

By the way, I want to show you pictures of my two last Halloween... the last year my costume was a devil...

and this time, I decided to go as widow.

Well, I hope your comments telling me about your costumes!!!!

The WEATHER in Groningen

I am doing this post at this moment because I have just arrived at the university soaking wet!!! It's raining cats&dogs!!! (like would say our English neighbours), and so, I am going to talk you about the weather in Groningen.

The weather in Groningen is most of the time cold, raining and foggy, when you arrive in september until you come back your home in July, you'll always wear a coat!!! or a raincoat at least!!! It's true that some days it's sunny and then the city of Groningen is becomes beautiful, full of people in the parks, going to shopping and enjoying the city basicly. 

But, I would like to give you an advice: enjoy the city even if it rains, don't let the bad weather stop your rhythm of life, is better to buy a good raincoat!!! For example, my favourite hobby is riding a bike while I listen music, and though it's raining outside, I go everday to give a walk. And of course, I have never MISSED a party in the city centre or in other student house for the bad weather. 

If you want to come to The Netherlands you must be know that the weather here can be awful most of the days but even with bad weather you can enjoy your Erasmus year a lot. You only need to adapt your lifestyle to a raincoat. :-)

Why I chose Groningen like option in my Erasmus year?

This is my second time in Groningen. The last year I was studying as an exchange student at Hanze University and this time, I have wanted to repeat the experience of living in this awesome city. This year, I want to continue improving my English (Taking English courses and having intercambios with other Erasmus students) while I am looking for an internship in The Netherlands or UK.

When I did my application form to Erasmus, Groningen was my first choice. I wanted to speak English and in Hanze I could do all my subjects in English, so it was perfect to improve my speaking and writing level while I had the oportunity to practise my favourite sport every day: cycling!!

What I was expecting, was in reality something different. I arrived to Groningen with a B1 level and I felt very embarrassed by my bad pronunciation when I talked with somebody in English. so at the end, I only spent time with other Spanish people. It was a big mistake, because now I know, though at the begining I had had a horrible pronunciation, in ten months, sure I had been able to improve my level, although It's true thanks to my hard work at Hanze, I could to improve a little my level, but It was not enough, I came back to spain talking English worse than an Indian.

For this reason I have wanted to come back to Groningen again. Here, there are a lot of posibilities to improve your level (Intercambios through ESN and facebook, private teachers, international parties and excellent courses support at Hanze), besides, as I said before, I like to ride bikes (while I listen music and take picures). Groningen, furthermore, is a university city and there are a lot of parties and international activities where you can put in practice  what you have learned.

WELCOME TO GRONINGEN!!!!

Welcome to my first blog in English!!!

My name is Bea, I am from Spain and some time ago I wanted to write a blog in English, so I can improve my writing hability. In fact, this year I am living in Groningen (The Netherlands) to improve my level and get a good job outside from Spain, it's sad because I love Spain and its good weather (so different than Holland) but the actual economic situation does not give young people any other option, so we must to begin our professional career far away of our hometown.

Additionally, I love to write and take pictures, so in Holland, I can combine my studies with my hobbies. Sure, at the beginning I will make a lot of mistakes... I know... because my English isn't very good, but I hope you can understand me and follow my adventures in Holland (by the moment).