Dutch Courage
When I decided to study abroad in the Netherlands I already had some expectations regarding the way of life here and after extensive googling of the country and Utrecht (the city I study in) I was pretty sure I would come across no surprises. As long as I didn’t open my mouth (exposing my lack [...]
Looking for Maha: Digested
The Story So Far Well, this is nerve-wracking! Salaam from our gold-plated, pastel-pink, jasmine-scented and fly-infested apartment on Shaari’a Mohamed Wagih Ahmed, Alexandria, Egypt. I’m sat in our second (yes second) dining room surrounded by bedraggled plants and Arab magazines, and I’m freaking out. We had a placement test today at the language institute. Our doorman [...]
Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen
40 years of hippy happiness Wishing to visit Christiania since the beinning of my stay in Copenhagen, I couldn’t have chosen a better occasion to finally absorb the vibrancy of this self proclaimed autonomous community. The locals are celebrating the 40th anniversary of its conception, and thus the streets are adorned with DJs, bands and [...]
Gringa de Ipanema
Rio Reality Having been in Rio two months now, the honeymoon period is coming to a close. The exquisite white sandy beaches, the breathtaking landscape, the diverse nightlife, the relaxed attitude to studying in a university framed by a lush rainforest and the array of perpetually cheerful, shiny happy people that walk the streets, are [...]