Eating the alphabet will not make you smarter.

          We are two days away from Christmas. I have already eaten a “J” shaped chocolate. I wonder how many letters of the alphabet will suffer the consequences of my presence in the Netherlands. Sadly I could not travel to Argentina for the holidays, so I will be working in Amsterdam this winter’s break. 

But not all is bad news, since finally my printer and I have come to an agreement, and we are slowly printing Guidelines and legislation. If you still don't have a topic and feel guilty about it, just think in general terms, and then you can narrow it down with your tutor. Furthermore, 9 out of 10 times you are going to change your topic (or at least your angle of it) once you start with the research.

           I just wanted to have the opportunity of wishing you a merry Christmas and wherever you are, enjoy your family and friends...be happy of all the effort you are doing. I mean, I know many of you have travelled not only with clothes and shoes, but also with books. That is exactly what I am talking about: The unspeakable truth about being a student, the sense of effort even in the most relaxing holidays.

          I am incredibly happy with my classmates and the University, as I never felt (not for one moment) alone, and If I ever needed something (like the coordinates of a specific location, or the time of the lecture and number of room) there’s always someone to give you a hand. So, in this post I would like to thank you all...specially because we still have around 7 months together, and those kind of questions will never cease.

          Read your guilt away, and celebrate with eyes closed, I will probably post something more before New Year’s Eve. Rest assured, I will take care of Utrecht until you all return.

Fijne feestdagen!!

Just think.. What would Mariah do?

         December 15, 2015. We are 16 days away from New Year’s Eve and if concentration was hard enough a week ago, I can imagine it is rather unthinkable at this point. This means that we have little more than two weeks to accomplish all what we promised in a similar Eve from last year. Good luck to us all.

           One of the perks of living in this beautiful city is that now I can actually be a part of it. Yesterday I attended a ‘pub quiz’, and I believe I haven't been attended one since my highschool years. I still find myself surprised at this kind of events, living in a student’s city is more exciting, Utrecht is always bubbling and coming up with a lot of activities. Of course the Christmas Markets are everywhere! I have never experienced holidays like this. Somehow it is very hard to maintain the ‘ Christmas spirit’ alive when its summer (although we eat as if we were in a gruesome winter). The good thing about that quiz Is that I got to keep our prize… a sparkling little tree; and since I don't really have decorations, I had to do what students do best: Improvise.

           I know the holidays are coming, but please, have a seat...WE NEED TO TALK. Let's discuss a difficult matter in all students life: The Thesis (thunders and lightning). Some of you might already have a topic, maybe even talk with your supervisor about it and if you are adventurous enough you might already have written a few lines about it. For others, the path is not so positive, as you can suffer from a complete lack of ideas or be overwhelmed with a bunch of them. Worry not. Thesis writing is not supposed to be easy, and as everything in life, the most important step is starting with it, then it’s all about being constant and not fall into despair. As many of you already know, there is going to be a Thesis Market on December 17, (14.00 hs, location: JKH15a 0.04), and as a student myself, I advise you not to avoid or reject any opportunity the University is giving us. There is no way of knowing when your brain will come up with a great idea, but you can sure help it by surrounding yourself in the correct environment.

           It is very hard to know what you want (whether it's job related, socially, economically, or your next lunch), but it’s far more easy to know what you DO NOT want. This is not the only way, but it's A way into deciding your thesis topic. Out of all the people that I have talked to, the most important thing is being interested in it, because then commitment is far more easy. Do not choose just because it sounds complicated, innovative and exotic, choose whatever sparks something in you: the need to investigate, ask questions, develop a train of ‘what if’s. Talk with your tutors, they can point you in the right direction. 

      Another interesting experiment is to explain your possible topic to a random person (not too random), in other words, someone that is not in your same field of study: Try to explain your thoughts and see if the person can understand your view, or if it’s too complicated or not that compelling. This might not be conclusive, but it could help you to play with the idea and giving it a different shape. I hate to bring up dates, but we have until 6th of January till we submit our topic. If you are struggling, then speak up, the university is more than equipped with staff that can help you out.

       
       I'm back on my bike again and feeling like speed racer. Well maybe not so fast, but you get the idea. Time to brainstorm and sing along Mariah Carey. Can you imagine how different would the world be if all she ever wanted for Christmas was a ‘thesis topic’ ? We will never know for sure.

Sneaky sun on the rise

         December is on the rice, I mean rise, and I know concertation, I mean concentration is very hard to accomplish. But we've made it this far students, we are only one week away from holidays season and most of you are probably planning what date to go home, get plane tickets, buying presents and deciding whether you are sleeping 12, 13 or 3 hours. I understand your pain, but real life is still very much here, and so there are still papers to be written and presentations to be held.

       On a more Christmasy news, yesterday I was part of an Exchange meeting, and we discussed a bit Dutch traditions and I am very pleased to know more about it, rather than pretending I know what's going on when I see little kids in colorful costumes. I'm sure that by now you must know the difference between Sinterklaas and Santa Claus, if not, then you are really not making an effort. Sinterklaas was an actual person, and this tradition dates back from BC times, and (spoiler alert) did you know that even though the traditional dutch songs says he came from Spain, that is not geographically correct? He actually came from Turkey. I also heard that on the 5th of December we (the dutch), do not celebrate Sinterklaas birthday, but we actually commemorate his passing.I know, I'm 26 years old and I am a fan of his. Any celebration that includes chocolate is bound to be close to my heart, and reflected on the bathroom scale.

             Over the last few days I have been walking and taking buses again, as my bike is in the hospital right now. How did this device become such a big part of my life? It certainly constitutes a lot more than a means of transportation. I have come to think that part of Dutch happiness is due to the biking, because of the freedom it implies, even if it’s cold and raining, you just don't get into a bus so easily. Which makes me remember, we actually had some real life sun in Utrecht, but luckily I didn’t go for the hawaiian look, because it was actually pretty cold in the shade. Do not get fooled, over-wear clothes, better safe than sorry on that matter.

           Another thing that happened yesterday was going through the decisions and steps that got me in to Utrecht. The meetings, the papers, the application, it was not so long ago, but everything is moving so fast, that sometimes I need to stop and remember how did I get to this point. This is important in order to know about our progress: be proud of yourself and your courage. Once again I'm happy to know new concepts and not panic or get confused when I hear the word cartel (in spanish it means “a sign”) or concerted practice. As clases advance we become a part of the program rather than being only spectators. Participation is unavoidable, and that is the reason why you become a key player during lectures and seminars.

           
Speaking of which, I have a presentation to re-read, and an essay to look into. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a glimpse of freedom before the holidays. Remember: Do not trust a December sun, you must always keep your winter socks on.Tot later!

Walk the walk, fall the fall

      Since today we are beginning the last month of the year, I think it will be interesting to assess our progress here in The Netherlands. Naturally, I will use my experiences as a starting point:

Days in the Netherlands: 216

Exams taken:2

Courses: 4 (so far)

Number of bikes: 1 (I call it ‘The Granny’)

Number of functioning brakes:1

Number of lost gloves: two. (Of two different pairs)

Number of falls from bike: 2

Number of times I pretended that I didn t fall : 2

Attendance to the gym: 2 times.

Kg of cheese eaten: probably reaching 3 digits.

Misinterpretation of schedule: 1

         After taking a closer look at the previous numbers, I can't say I have any regrets. I think I am slowly starting to adapt to life in The Netherlands. When you don't even consider taking a bus, regardless the weather; or that wonderful and courageous moment when you decide to leave your house and DO something, even though it's cold or raining. Or windy and rainy. Or little drops in form of ice start to fall. Anyway, I have realised that life goes on. Dutch implicitly taught me that much: No matter what may be falling from the sky, or how dark the day is, life does not stop there, and you should not stop there. Go outside and meet some friend, go to the gym or to the supermarket. We are all in the same situation. Your socks might be wet, but you will prevail.

       Thanks to my facebook-who knows more about my life than myself- ‘told’ me that it's been 8 years since I graduated from high school. And so I started to think of all of the things that have happened since that day, and it seems crazy that, not only am I living 12.706 km away from home, but also that I'm halfway of my Master. I know saying that is quite optimistic of me, but just think about it. Time passes by so quickly now, and this is a fast programme, which makes it very dynamic and interesting to follow. I don't particularly believe in regrets, but I do wish I had come before to the Netherlands. Either way, there's still plenty way to go, and who knows what will happen in 8 years? I hardly know what I'm having for lunch…

         Please excuse my reflective mood today, but it must be the fact that today we start the last month of the year that brings up all these thoughts. I remember my first day and feeling so lost! Now I find comfort in the streets, the classrooms (by the way, as from next year, we will have new classrooms in Janskerkhof) lectures and seminars. I'm not afraid of writing a paper, though I'm still working on my nerves when it comes to oral presentations. But one thing is for sure: There is a lot going on, and as students-as young professionals-we should go for all the opportunities that we are presented. Utrecht University is out there, letting us know that there is a market for us (through the publications and announcements in BlackBoard), and that we should not be afraid to own up to our knowledge.

     So, we have come this far, and probably go further. December or not, reading is still very much needed. Bedankt, and tot ziens to you all.

Internal monologues and lost bikes

            I know this extract will cause a lot of students to roll their eyes, but I swear ever since I read this text for the first time I was struck by it: … ‘an efficient course of action would be to apply means that are consistent with attaining the desired goal or program of goals. Inefficiency arises when means are chosen that are inconsistent with the desired goals’. Forget about the meaning of the words ‘inefficiency’ and ‘efficient’ in an economic context. I think in this article by Roy E. Cordato we can find one of the secrets of life. Read it again. It’s all about being consistent, you cannot complain about things not going your way if you haven’t been consistent. Of course life is not a perfect equation where you can predict its outcome, sometimes there's an ‘X’ factor that alters everything. But I'm thinking about what we can ‘control’, such as identifying our goals and choosing the correct means, like sparing time to read, even though exams are next year, and going to the gym, even though summer seems to be ‘ in a galaxy far far away’.

           Last saturday I was in Den Haag, in an event called ‘N4Talents’ (I learned about it in the announcements of blackboard, and got a free ticket by applying), I took part of a seminar about how to ‘spice up your speech’ , and that got me thinking about the insecurities we face when we need to speak in public. In my view, giving an opinion does not represent such a challenge, as you are hardly afraid to be wrong or having a debate about your arguments. The problem arises when an academic question is released into the tense air of a classroom. And then silence takes over. Some students are not affected at all by this, and speak their views regularly. But the majority of the students (including myself) struggle with it. The good thing about Utrecht, is that, at least in our Master, active participation is highly valued (and also graded), I think it's a good first step in order to flood lectures with voices, although we need to work from home, preparing mentally and dealing with our insecurities. You and I are here to learn, nobody is going to kick you out for a ‘wrong answer’, so speak up!

           On a different train of thought I would like to use this space to express my happiness about living in Utrecht. The time I save on travelling is amazing. After a week I can proudly say I do not need to GPS my way home, although I have serious doubts about why I learned so fast. I think I'm just avoiding that spanish voice trying to pronounce dutch street names, and having response-less conversations in my bike saying what? What street did you try to say?, then going off and checking the map myself. Internally I fear I might sound just like her. I also love to dedicate 5-7 minutes to find my bike in the station’s parking, as it is slightly bigger that the one in Haarlem. Tip for finding bike: Take a picture, talking to the bike and say ‘please show yourself’ doesn't work, I tried.

          I cannot emphasize this enough: Please use scarf and gloves, even though the sun might appear in the horizon. I mean it. I had no idea I could actually have pain in the back of my neck for not having a scarf. I know it's not THAT cold, but still there's nothing worse than getting a cold or a flu when you have to attend to class or work. Reporting from Utrecht, looking the rain fall down, I salute you and wish you all a great week. 

Struggling for coherence after the thought of snow

         Ok, formally reporting from Utrecht now, feeling truly happy I finally got to move to the city I fell in love with months ago. If you see me I'll probably behave like  a 3 year old, just looking at every winkel (shop) and cafe in order to memorise my surroundings and locate important spots. It will  be fun to discover this city, walking around it, dodging bikes and investigating who bakes the best poffertjes.

          I am pretty sure everyone is familiar with the whole Christmas sensation we are feeling here, It's not something you can easily miss...there are sparkling lights in every gallery, and lamps hanging across the streets. It is truly an amazing view you could stare at all night...but of course you don't, because you soon realise you are actually freezing (although the dutch argue that ‘this isn't cold yet’ ). My brains insist we are heading to summer, and I'm trying to make it understand we are not getting a bikini for Christmas, but a nice warm hat and colourful socks. There is hope building inside of me… as I was told that when the days start to get colder, a rumour spreads in the Netherlands: Maybe this year canals will be closed and water could freeze enough to skate on it. Can you imagine? I really have to fight the urge to act like a child, and avoid bouncing around when I hear the word ‘snow’, but this is too much to take.

            Today we start week number 2 of the new subjects, and so far European Competition Law seems to leave a bittersweet feeling, as I know I will have to study a lot, but the topics are just too interesting to ignore. That's what is different in this Master, everything we are learning is happening right here and right now. As I mentioned in my first blog entry, I have a Law bachelor, and I'm used to reading legal texts and Codes that sometimes don't really relate to what happens in reality. People’s conduct is in constant change, and sometimes can even be erratic, completely unexpected. That's why it is said that Law is a bit slower, as it takes longer for it to adapt to human behaviour. But here everything is different, probably because of the economics influence, that injects more speed to the topics discussed. It's the first time I'm studying something that is happening as we are learning it, and that makes you feel a bit insecure, but also this leads to ‘thinking outside the box’, proposing alternative solutions. This new freedom gives you confidence in your studies, as you don't have to memorise, but learn to use the texts as a new tool in order to argument and defend your stance.

            Last week some classmates and I were having a chat with one of our former professors from last term, and after discussing briefly a couple of subjects, he said something interesting: ‘ Not everything we teach is meant to be in an exam question, sometimes we show you certain things for your own knowledge’. That got me thinking...Why is it that we only focus on the questions we are going to be tested? I guess is a bad habit some of us have since high school or even before that. It is hard to hear a lecturer say, ‘ you should know this by now’, but, to be honest, there is certain amount of time you need to invest in this, classes are not enough to cover everything, commitment is key...as hard as it may be. It’s just another step towards the life that awaits beyond university.

         

It's November, I got my hat, nice winter jacket and gloves. Winter, bring that ice, because I'm ready…. to be pointed at and land-elegantly-on the ground. Till next time! Tot ziens! (Always say that when you exit a shop, it gives the false impression you can actually manage to babble some words in dutch). 

The final of finals: Students reloaded.

Our first term is officially over and we are ready (yes we are!) for our next subjects. They say time passes by quickly when you are having fun...well I would like to add 'finals' in that phrase. I don't think I  can truly describe what went through my head these couple of days: Anxiousness, nerves, scattered thoughts of holidays in remote beaches and the good old fear of the unknown, since this past finals were my first written examination in a long long time.

I feel very lucky and thankful, we had excellent tutors that could not only portray their knowledge but also their love for teaching. That is what will make a difference in the end: It is the ingredient which separates a lecture from an insightful experience. There were always space for questions and comments...this freedom is the starting point of transforming us into professionals  (yes I'm talking to you, student that fights with coffee machines, you are a professional! ).

Going back to my first day in Utrecht, I can say I'm very happy with my progress. Had it not been for the lectures, If I heard the term ‘margin squeeze’ I would have thought you were talking about putting on recently washed jeans in the morning. What makes matters worse, until the first couple of weeks, I had no idea what RBNB or Uber were...those companies don't exist in the same magnitude where I come from. Learning your way into the EU is certainly challenging, but not impossible. I have never felt alone in this process, and for that I should thank my classmates and teachers.

On a different order of things, I found a room (No, I did not, a fellow student found two, so she had one to spare.. thank you! ) in Utrecht, so I will be reporting soon from the city of Nijntje (Whatever you do, do not search for its song, for it will be stuck with you forever).

Leaving Haarlem is a bittersweet feeling, because on the one hand that would mean I will no longer have to live from train to train, but...I will definitely miss certain things. For example my restless neighbour, that from 6:30 am is completely dedicated to open the window and 'shoo' every pigeon that DARES  to stand in her balcony. This happens every 15 minutes. It is certainly a good company when you are studying, specially when she uses a broom. I hope she will be well and keeping that feisty spirit for a long time.

I'm guessing  on my next blog I will have a different view -and neighbours-, regardless my ability to pronounce my new street. 

Congratulations my fellow students, we have made it through our first set of finals!

 Don't forget, if you have any questions, suggestions or comments, just write them down, because one day... “ you could write a paper on that” .