I GOT MY VISA.
Seriously I haven't been this excited since the last Harry Potter book came out.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Title change!
So, I've changed the title of this thang from Yours truly, xox to Gauffre-a-gogo because
1: I always thought "Yours truly, xox" was REALLY corny
2: My friend has decided that Belgium shall be referred to as "Waffle-a-gogo Land" (it's a long story), but in Belgium, waffles are called "gauffres" (gohfr) and "Gauffre-a-gogo" sounds better than "Waffle-a-gogo" because of the alliteration
So that's that! I might change the layout while I'm at it. Not really fond of the green birds, man.
I've finally gotten EVERYTHING in the mail to the Consulate General of Waffle-a-gogo Land (except the Almighty Background Check)! This is super exciting for me, because that business was my main cause of stress about all of this. I did a lot of running around on Friday; I went to the Study Abroad office (which is on the 4th floor and Clemson stairs are WICKED; srsly those things are VERTICAL) and the university post office, but they only accept cash or checks there and I never have cash, so I had to walk/run downtown to the city post office (which closes at 4) so I could express mail everything to Atlanta. I definitely had a nightmare last night that I left out my passport and found it in a sale bin in the mall, only it turned out that it wasn't my passport, it was somebody else's and then I was relieved. In the same dream, I bought a watch whose face looked like a record player. I really want to find that watch now and actually buy it, because it was really cool.
It's actual exam week, so I'm INFINITELY perkier than I was last post (can't you tell?) because the anticipation is ALWAYS worse than the actual event. Now if I only I could realize this about airplanes, we would be golden.
I'm starting to get nervous/excited about all this biznass. I'm nervous 1: because I hate airplanes, and 2: because I'm starting to worry about communication. Don't get me wrong, I speak French (rather well, I might add) and it's good that I have such a strong accent (so say my professors, anyway), but I've come to learn that my accent is a Parisian accent, and sometimes, like in English, I get REALLY southern because I put a lot of emphasis on the last syllable (yup; they have different accents just like we do!), and Parisian accent ≠ southern French accent ≠ Belgian accent. WHAT IF THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND ME AND MY PARISIAN/SOUTH CAROLINIAN SELF?
And I know y'all are probably all thinking, "Fool, they speak ENGLISH in Europe too!" but I don't WANT to speak English. What's the point of me even going abroad if I'm going to speak English the whole time? I'm one of those weird Americans that actually sees a benefit in learning a language that isn't English, and that would actually like to use said language if I'm going to go through the trouble of learning it in the first place.
I'm sure I'm just being silly.
1: I always thought "Yours truly, xox" was REALLY corny
2: My friend has decided that Belgium shall be referred to as "Waffle-a-gogo Land" (it's a long story), but in Belgium, waffles are called "gauffres" (gohfr) and "Gauffre-a-gogo" sounds better than "Waffle-a-gogo" because of the alliteration
So that's that! I might change the layout while I'm at it. Not really fond of the green birds, man.
I've finally gotten EVERYTHING in the mail to the Consulate General of Waffle-a-gogo Land (except the Almighty Background Check)! This is super exciting for me, because that business was my main cause of stress about all of this. I did a lot of running around on Friday; I went to the Study Abroad office (which is on the 4th floor and Clemson stairs are WICKED; srsly those things are VERTICAL) and the university post office, but they only accept cash or checks there and I never have cash, so I had to walk/run downtown to the city post office (which closes at 4) so I could express mail everything to Atlanta. I definitely had a nightmare last night that I left out my passport and found it in a sale bin in the mall, only it turned out that it wasn't my passport, it was somebody else's and then I was relieved. In the same dream, I bought a watch whose face looked like a record player. I really want to find that watch now and actually buy it, because it was really cool.
It's actual exam week, so I'm INFINITELY perkier than I was last post (can't you tell?) because the anticipation is ALWAYS worse than the actual event. Now if I only I could realize this about airplanes, we would be golden.
I'm starting to get nervous/excited about all this biznass. I'm nervous 1: because I hate airplanes, and 2: because I'm starting to worry about communication. Don't get me wrong, I speak French (rather well, I might add) and it's good that I have such a strong accent (so say my professors, anyway), but I've come to learn that my accent is a Parisian accent, and sometimes, like in English, I get REALLY southern because I put a lot of emphasis on the last syllable (yup; they have different accents just like we do!), and Parisian accent ≠ southern French accent ≠ Belgian accent. WHAT IF THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND ME AND MY PARISIAN/SOUTH CAROLINIAN SELF?
And I know y'all are probably all thinking, "Fool, they speak ENGLISH in Europe too!" but I don't WANT to speak English. What's the point of me even going abroad if I'm going to speak English the whole time? I'm one of those weird Americans that actually sees a benefit in learning a language that isn't English, and that would actually like to use said language if I'm going to go through the trouble of learning it in the first place.
I'm sure I'm just being silly.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Owl humor, only I'm not laughing.
Technically this is my second post for today. That's intense.
The good news is, I got everything done last night that I needed done for today EXCEPT (of course there's an except) the kanji assessment for Japanese class, but compared to the econ test, oral exam, poli.sci quiz and cultural presentation, all of which also happened today, it's not such a big deal.
In "holy gracious I'm going to hurt someone" news, Clemson is 1 snarky email away from me walking over to the president's office, ripping out my brain and going "Here. You keep it. You've earned it." because these people are driving me loony tunes. Srsly. There was a misunderstanding about notarization, and no one has gotten back the all-important background check yet, but they're sending our visa requests off anyway. Wheredeydodatat? Apparently this is being done so that most of the work will be done already and when the bg checks come in all the school has to do is scan them and email them in, but seriously? What the heck, guys.
I just left the Study Abroad office talking to our SA advisor lady, and she goes, "Well, now we're starting to worry about getting everything back in time."
You guys have been doing this program for HOW MANY YEARS and you STILL haven't gotten it right yet? Slap yourself. Slap yourself and go home.
Honestly.
Pinky promise, I'll be happier after exams.
The good news is, I got everything done last night that I needed done for today EXCEPT (of course there's an except) the kanji assessment for Japanese class, but compared to the econ test, oral exam, poli.sci quiz and cultural presentation, all of which also happened today, it's not such a big deal.
In "holy gracious I'm going to hurt someone" news, Clemson is 1 snarky email away from me walking over to the president's office, ripping out my brain and going "Here. You keep it. You've earned it." because these people are driving me loony tunes. Srsly. There was a misunderstanding about notarization, and no one has gotten back the all-important background check yet, but they're sending our visa requests off anyway. Wheredeydodatat? Apparently this is being done so that most of the work will be done already and when the bg checks come in all the school has to do is scan them and email them in, but seriously? What the heck, guys.
I just left the Study Abroad office talking to our SA advisor lady, and she goes, "Well, now we're starting to worry about getting everything back in time."
You guys have been doing this program for HOW MANY YEARS and you STILL haven't gotten it right yet? Slap yourself. Slap yourself and go home.
Honestly.
Pinky promise, I'll be happier after exams.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Phones and what not
Y'all, I am so sleepy right now it's not even funny. Tomorrow (today?) I have an oral exam in Japanese lab, an exam in econ, a quiz in political science, and a presentation in Japanese (the actual class). I've been awake since like 9 something, and I walked downtown today to get MORE passport photos made because CLEMSON STUDY ABROAD LOST MINE. Today has been very productive.
Anypoodles, the last pre-departure study abroad meeting was Monday! I missed it. I thought it was at 5, and it was definitely at 4, and by the time I realized that it was like 4:15. Ooops? Fortunately, Peebles (the program head) is my French teacher, so I talked to her about it today (yesterday?). I filled out forms for my metro pass and housing, got my international cell phone and international student ID, and Peebles even gave us all travel books about the area! Be jealous, architecture kids! (the arch. department isn't spoiling them nearly as much)
About this international cell phone biznass: my phone has a UK number (why a UK number if we'll be in Belgium? No comprende!), but I can also set it up to have a US number too, so you guys can call me without paying like $20/second for international calls! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!
That was my last bit of enthusiasm for the day. I'm going to bed. Wish me luck! Tomorrow's gonna be rough.
Anypoodles, the last pre-departure study abroad meeting was Monday! I missed it. I thought it was at 5, and it was definitely at 4, and by the time I realized that it was like 4:15. Ooops? Fortunately, Peebles (the program head) is my French teacher, so I talked to her about it today (yesterday?). I filled out forms for my metro pass and housing, got my international cell phone and international student ID, and Peebles even gave us all travel books about the area! Be jealous, architecture kids! (the arch. department isn't spoiling them nearly as much)
About this international cell phone biznass: my phone has a UK number (why a UK number if we'll be in Belgium? No comprende!), but I can also set it up to have a US number too, so you guys can call me without paying like $20/second for international calls! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!
That was my last bit of enthusiasm for the day. I'm going to bed. Wish me luck! Tomorrow's gonna be rough.
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Taste of Belgium : a drop-in
Saturday was a success! For a spur-of-the-moment idea, "A Taste of Belgium" went very well, and without a hitch! Thank you to everyone who came came out and/or donated and/or kept us in your thoughts :]
The set up! Pledge cards, AKA pens (v. nice, Aunt Tracy), and the donation basket were right when you walked in :]
(a somewhat incomplete photo of) The spread! For American food, we had chicken wings and ham biscuits. For Belgian food, there were chocolates, Flemish asparagus (WHICH I MADE MYSELF YES THANK YOU), Belgian waffles, Dutch apple Pie (not seen here), and Patty and Liz brought that red plate of cookies (which were delish). There was also ice cream for the pie, fruit and whipped cream for the waffles, and my clever clever Aunt Tracy made the cutest little party favors! If I find a picture of them, I'll post them later.
Some folks are weird about their pictures being on the internet, so I'll leave those off, but we had a good little crowd!
The food was really inexpensive and everything was super delicious! And we made a good bit of money too :]
Special shout out to my helpers, Aunt Tracy and Granny! I couldn't have done it without you guys :]
The set up! Pledge cards, AKA pens (v. nice, Aunt Tracy), and the donation basket were right when you walked in :]
(a somewhat incomplete photo of) The spread! For American food, we had chicken wings and ham biscuits. For Belgian food, there were chocolates, Flemish asparagus (WHICH I MADE MYSELF YES THANK YOU), Belgian waffles, Dutch apple Pie (not seen here), and Patty and Liz brought that red plate of cookies (which were delish). There was also ice cream for the pie, fruit and whipped cream for the waffles, and my clever clever Aunt Tracy made the cutest little party favors! If I find a picture of them, I'll post them later.
Some folks are weird about their pictures being on the internet, so I'll leave those off, but we had a good little crowd!
The food was really inexpensive and everything was super delicious! And we made a good bit of money too :]
Special shout out to my helpers, Aunt Tracy and Granny! I couldn't have done it without you guys :]
Thursday, November 18, 2010
I promise, I'm still here
It's been a minute since I updated last! Sorry guys; it's just not much has been going on (nothing related to this trip, anyway). In totally unrelated news, one of my favorite bands put out a new CD. They have a new sound, and the concept is really awesome (wooo futuristic themes!), and I must have their CD for the plane ride.
I'm thinking about a name change for this blog. It's just kinda corny, you know? Or at least I think so. But I'm terrible at naming stuff :[
This had a point, I swear. I just don't remember what that point was at the moment.
The second (and final) pre-departure meeting is...sometime before the end of the semester? Seriously, no date has been set. This is worrying me. The architecture kids just had their final meeting this week, but they've had like... 5 meetings spanning the entire semester (they're going to Barcelona). Also, the SA office lady said she would notarize our bank statements, but she just sent me an email asking why my statements weren't notarized. I don't know; maybe because you said you could do it? See what I have to deal with? Okay, no more complaining!
This weekend, I'm having a drop-in/fundraiser 'round Granny's house! There has been much ripping/running/phone calling in preparation for this, I tell you what. And I'll be making the dishes myself (except for the ham biscuits, because Grandma so graciously offered to do those for me, and Aunt Tracy is helping me do waffles), including a streusel apple tart (wooo Belgian food!), so they'll be extra delicious. For those of you who will be there, I'll see you Saturday :]
I'm thinking about a name change for this blog. It's just kinda corny, you know? Or at least I think so. But I'm terrible at naming stuff :[
This had a point, I swear. I just don't remember what that point was at the moment.
The second (and final) pre-departure meeting is...sometime before the end of the semester? Seriously, no date has been set. This is worrying me. The architecture kids just had their final meeting this week, but they've had like... 5 meetings spanning the entire semester (they're going to Barcelona). Also, the SA office lady said she would notarize our bank statements, but she just sent me an email asking why my statements weren't notarized. I don't know; maybe because you said you could do it? See what I have to deal with? Okay, no more complaining!
This weekend, I'm having a drop-in/fundraiser 'round Granny's house! There has been much ripping/running/phone calling in preparation for this, I tell you what. And I'll be making the dishes myself (except for the ham biscuits, because Grandma so graciously offered to do those for me, and Aunt Tracy is helping me do waffles), including a streusel apple tart (wooo Belgian food!), so they'll be extra delicious. For those of you who will be there, I'll see you Saturday :]
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The good, the eh, and the bad
Good news: I survived my TB test! Matt, my friend from Japanese class, magically appeared on his scooter as I was going in for it (and on the verge of tears) after class and gave me the thumbs up. I'm sure if he hadn't had a helmet on, he'd have given me a がんばって (ganbatte; the Japanese equivalent of "You can do it!"). He's a nice guy.
Eh news: I paid $15 and wasted 30 minutes sitting in Redfern (Clemson's health clinic) being told I weigh 195 pounds (which is bollocks, if you ask me) and answering questions about whether or not I have chronic this (no), chronic that (no), or medical allergies (codone). Srsly? I COULD HAVE LIED, PEOPLE. I am not, however, overlooking the fact that there was no blood drawn. Thank you, Jesus, for sparing me the finger prick/dull razor. (I'd hate to seem ungrateful)
Bad news: I haven't gotten my all-important FBI background check back yet. Deadline was today. But I emailed Meredith (the lady in the study abroad office who's working with us) and she told me to just hand in what I have.
In other (good) news, I don't have TB! (so now Matt can stop teasing me about it)
Eh news: I paid $15 and wasted 30 minutes sitting in Redfern (Clemson's health clinic) being told I weigh 195 pounds (which is bollocks, if you ask me) and answering questions about whether or not I have chronic this (no), chronic that (no), or medical allergies (codone). Srsly? I COULD HAVE LIED, PEOPLE. I am not, however, overlooking the fact that there was no blood drawn. Thank you, Jesus, for sparing me the finger prick/dull razor. (I'd hate to seem ungrateful)
Bad news: I haven't gotten my all-important FBI background check back yet. Deadline was today. But I emailed Meredith (the lady in the study abroad office who's working with us) and she told me to just hand in what I have.
In other (good) news, I don't have TB! (so now Matt can stop teasing me about it)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Buhhhhhhhhh
Sooooo apparently I have to get shots.
Technically, it's not a shot. I have to do that skin test thing for tuberculosis (REALLY?! IT'S 2010. IN AMERICA! NO ONE HAS TB!) but NEEDLES OH MY SWEET JESUS WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
That is all.
Technically, it's not a shot. I have to do that skin test thing for tuberculosis (REALLY?! IT'S 2010. IN AMERICA! NO ONE HAS TB!) but NEEDLES OH MY SWEET JESUS WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
That is all.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Classes!
Yesterday I finally got off my bum and emailed Peebles about the classes I need to take next semester at UCL. There's this tricky little rule (i.e., the reason why I'll be graduating in May instead of December) (yes I'm bitter about this) where students doing the French Language Immersion Program (which will henceforth be known as FLIP because I'm lazy) have to take a crash/immersion course where you pretty much sit around and speak French for 3 hours for the first few days in Belgium, 9 hours of French courses (3 classes) and may take 3-6 hours of classes in other departments (2 classes) in order to remain full time students. This is what I'll be taking:
French 312 -- Writing in French I
French 317 -- Contemporary French/Francophone Civilization
French 398 -- Intermediate Oral Practice
Marketing 427 -- International Marketing
English 316 -- Writing & International Trade
I'll be doing 398 twice, because it's also the crash course all of us have to do at the beginning of the semester. Fr317 is only offered to the Clemson students, so I'll have that with the kids in my program (and I think Dr. Denis, one of the chairs of this program from Belgium, teaches it). Everything else? I get to mingle with foreign kids! :D
I'm only taking Eng316 at the insistence of Touya, my academic adviser, who I am loathe to listen to anyway because he neglected to mention that study abroad will put me behind graduating in the first place ('cause you know...that's only his JOB), and then proceeded to tell me (after I reamed him for it), "Well, sometimes, staying a little longer can be good." Do you wanna pay my tuition? No? Then sit down, shut up and GO HOME. Ugh. I am seriously about to pay for a whole semester + some change to eat chocolate, get fat, drink beer, and meander around Europe for 6 months. How about I just take a semester off and wander anyway? It'll be CHEAPER.
I think we'll end this on that positive note, hahaha
French 312 -- Writing in French I
French 317 -- Contemporary French/Francophone Civilization
French 398 -- Intermediate Oral Practice
Marketing 427 -- International Marketing
English 316 -- Writing & International Trade
I'll be doing 398 twice, because it's also the crash course all of us have to do at the beginning of the semester. Fr317 is only offered to the Clemson students, so I'll have that with the kids in my program (and I think Dr. Denis, one of the chairs of this program from Belgium, teaches it). Everything else? I get to mingle with foreign kids! :D
I'm only taking Eng316 at the insistence of Touya, my academic adviser, who I am loathe to listen to anyway because he neglected to mention that study abroad will put me behind graduating in the first place ('cause you know...that's only his JOB), and then proceeded to tell me (after I reamed him for it), "Well, sometimes, staying a little longer can be good." Do you wanna pay my tuition? No? Then sit down, shut up and GO HOME. Ugh. I am seriously about to pay for a whole semester + some change to eat chocolate, get fat, drink beer, and meander around Europe for 6 months. How about I just take a semester off and wander anyway? It'll be CHEAPER.
I think we'll end this on that positive note, hahaha
Friday, October 22, 2010
Let's get it started!
Hello friends! As you all know, I had started a blog this summer that was SUPPOSED to chronicle my adventures in Japan that never happened. We're going to try this again, and this time the results should be much more successful :]
My major (Language and International Trade) requires a semester of study abroad, and the easiest destination as far as transferring credits back to the university goes is l'Université catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. It's a bit east of Brussels. Here's a map so you peeps can have a reference.
.... did NOT realize that was so close to Germany. Ew, Germany. Maybe I'll move to Luxembourg. Anypoodles, that's Belgium! There's lots of beer, and lots of chocolate, and lots of waffles. Nothing is open on Sunday, everyone goes home on the weekends, and they all party on like Tuesday. Or so I've heard.
To start things off on a totally sour note, Clemson is NOT persuading me to be one of those wonderful alumni who donate oodles of money to the school after graduation. AT ALL. Like, they will be lucky if I even tell people this is where I went to college. I will lie and say I went somewhere with cooler colors (purple and orange? REALLY?). This is why:
1: Because my adviser is a dirty little liar, studying abroad will put me a semester behind so I'll have to graduate in May '12 instead of December '11
2: the office ladies are rude; even my friend Kevin says so and he never says mean things about ANYONE. And he only came here for summer school! UGH.
3: these forms are difficult. You know if you're 21+ you have to get an FBI background check to apply for a student visa? Madness, all of it.
Anyway. The program I'm participating in is the French Language Immersion program, headed by one of my professors, Kelly Peebles, and I've met the head of the Belgian school, Philippe Denis, and he's really nice in a totally whimsical European man kind of way. There are only 15 Clemson kids participating in the program and I don't know any of the other 14 so this should be an interesting adventure. I haven't picked which classes I'm taking yet, but I have to do that by Monday so I should probably get moving.
As of right now, I have been fingerprinted and have sent off for my FBI background check. The cop at the police station that fingerprinted me seemed really impressed by the fact that I needed a background check, hahaha.
Cop: ...FBI background check? O_o <-- "wut" face
Me: Yup! :D
That's pretty much what happened verbatim.
This was supposed to just be an introductory post and it's getting really long so I'll stop here. We're just in the organizational phases of Study Abroad, so updates will most likely be far and few between. Next time, I'll give you the low down on classes!
-- xox
My major (Language and International Trade) requires a semester of study abroad, and the easiest destination as far as transferring credits back to the university goes is l'Université catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. It's a bit east of Brussels. Here's a map so you peeps can have a reference.
.... did NOT realize that was so close to Germany. Ew, Germany. Maybe I'll move to Luxembourg. Anypoodles, that's Belgium! There's lots of beer, and lots of chocolate, and lots of waffles. Nothing is open on Sunday, everyone goes home on the weekends, and they all party on like Tuesday. Or so I've heard.To start things off on a totally sour note, Clemson is NOT persuading me to be one of those wonderful alumni who donate oodles of money to the school after graduation. AT ALL. Like, they will be lucky if I even tell people this is where I went to college. I will lie and say I went somewhere with cooler colors (purple and orange? REALLY?). This is why:
1: Because my adviser is a dirty little liar, studying abroad will put me a semester behind so I'll have to graduate in May '12 instead of December '11
2: the office ladies are rude; even my friend Kevin says so and he never says mean things about ANYONE. And he only came here for summer school! UGH.
3: these forms are difficult. You know if you're 21+ you have to get an FBI background check to apply for a student visa? Madness, all of it.
Anyway. The program I'm participating in is the French Language Immersion program, headed by one of my professors, Kelly Peebles, and I've met the head of the Belgian school, Philippe Denis, and he's really nice in a totally whimsical European man kind of way. There are only 15 Clemson kids participating in the program and I don't know any of the other 14 so this should be an interesting adventure. I haven't picked which classes I'm taking yet, but I have to do that by Monday so I should probably get moving.
As of right now, I have been fingerprinted and have sent off for my FBI background check. The cop at the police station that fingerprinted me seemed really impressed by the fact that I needed a background check, hahaha.
Cop: ...FBI background check? O_o <-- "wut" face
Me: Yup! :D
That's pretty much what happened verbatim.
This was supposed to just be an introductory post and it's getting really long so I'll stop here. We're just in the organizational phases of Study Abroad, so updates will most likely be far and few between. Next time, I'll give you the low down on classes!
-- xox
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