Parent's visit

Since July, things have been hectic... Lots of work, very little time.

My parents visited Amsterdam at the end of July and I visited them during the weekend. It was a great trip that also involved windmills :) Can't let someone visit the Netherlands and not have them see windmills!

Curiosly enough, I also discovered that there are in fact many crooked houses in Amsterdam. Forwards, backwards, sideways...of all shapes and sizes. It's really amazing!

The weather could have been better but I'm not complaining because it didn't rain a lot. But the sky looked very scary...

Visiting cities with parents is always nice because you also get to go to the museums. Depending on the type of museum, I'm usually up for it... I like painting during my free time as well. We visited the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum :)

This area of windmills I had not yet visited, so it was a nice change. Located in Zaanse Schaans, it has siz or seven windmills all together. I definitely recomend it. You can visit some of the windmills and the whole town is very picturesque. There is also a cheese factory and a wooden shoe factory. Nothing like having all Dutch things together... The place was, of course, filled with tourists but I really liked the whole feeling of it all. It was so green!

Belgium

 Last year, I went on a BEST summer course that took place in Leuven, Belgium. I had a great time during those 10 days and met great people. This was what lead me to join my own LBG back in Almada. These people that dedicate themselves to creating opportunities for students to improve their knowledge, social skills and overall cultural experience, are simply so much fun :)

Being so close to Belgium, I saw a great opportunity to hop on a train and go visit them. So on rainy July 19th I made my way through 4h35 of train rides and "crashed" their summer course of 2012! I stayed at a friend-s house that I had met last year and he was simply the best! We had communicated several times throughou the year, to keep in touch and to share our Erasmus experiences. Having friends such as these makes it so worthwhile...

After being in a 24h awake mode and crashing their last party of the SC, we went to Beleuvenissen at the Oude Markt. There, along with other besties, we watched the concert by Hooverphonic (a new band that I learned about and kind of liked).

But a trip to Belgium also has to include some cultural sightseeing. Since this year at their SC they did not visit Brussels, some of the participants stayed behind as to not miss out on the opportunity. So, with two other besties and two participants, we made our way to the capital. Because it was a national holiday, the Manneken Pis was all dressed up!

There was also a parade with the Armed Forces, Navy, etc... Even the Netherlands flag made it's way on there somehow. Although I had been to Brussels last year, this time it was a 'take your time' visit and I got to see different things. This also included trying the best fries ever, according to the Belgians. And they were, very good by the way...

@ the way to the European Commission

This trip was of course followed by a trip from my friend to Enschede :) Just like we had agreed during our many talks...

the group in Brussels

A visit & a little football

On Friday I received a visit from a friend I hadn't seen in two years. Having picked her up at the train station Drienerlo, after a two hour plane ride and two hour train ride, she was tired, but looking forward to a couple of relaxing days before finishing off university :)

Saturday was the day to show her around campus and the city of Enschede, where I found, in one of the stores, that they were selling Portuguese flags. It is worth mentioning, however, that they were also selling Brazilian, American and Japanese flags, for example...

It is true that when someone visits you, you end up seeing places you haven't had a chance of seeing before - especially the ones closer to you. This means that I visited Volkspark for the first time and other such green areas surrounding the campus. It was nice to enjoy nature at its best, and keeping company with the rabbits. 

Sunday we ventured a little further, although not too much (so that the train ride would not be too long). Having previously visited Deventer and Zuthpen, this time around, I ended up seeing other things I did not get a chance to see the first time. 

The reason for having chosen Deventer, rests on the fact that it was the closest place I could think of that had a windmill :) If you have seen a windmill in the Netherlands, then you have really seen the country... Zutphen ended up being a convenience visit, due a detour caused by the works that were being done on the railways.

Ah, but the day could not finish without the Portuguese folks getting together to watch Portugal vs The Netherlands :) We all 'dressed up' in the national colors and made our way to the Oude Markt in the center of Enschede. A lot was at stake, considering that the Netherlands needed to beat us to go through to the quarter-finals and vice-versa. 

The game started off negatively for us, but luckily Ronaldo came through and helped Portugal make it. In the beginning, the Dutch were full of confidence, but alas, their team failed them and some decorations fell before the final whistle was blown. After taking pictures with us before the match and congratulating us on the win, I have to say I appreciate the fair-play shown by everyone :D Today, we will face-off the Czechs in the quarter-finals. 

Groningen

This post is about a week overdue... My apologies but last week was a little hectic withe the attempt to get results and finish an abstract to submit by Friday, watching Portugal pass to the quarter finals of the Euro 2012, and receiving a visit from a friend I hadn't seen in two years.

But on to the purpose of this post. On Sunday, June 10th me and a couple of friends made our way to Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands. It is now the northernmost point I have ever traveled too :)

@ Groninger Museum

@ Sint Martinuskerk

@ Vera international pop underground club

There is one thing that has been able to amaze me in most of the cities I have visited here in the Netherlands. Near churches or parks, I always find a sun clock. Now, in a country where the sun is rarity, why would there be such a need for sun clocks? 

@ Prinsentuin 

@ University of Groningen

@ A-Kerk

@ Dutch cartoon museum

Later in the afternoon, we were joined by other friends. With them we saw what was still left to be seen in the city before making our way back to Enschede. The day wasn't particularly warm but it was still an enjoyable trip to culminate my journey throughout the major cities of this country. I think I can now, honestly, say that I know more places in the Netherlands than the average Dutch! :)

Benção das Pastas 2012

A cycle has come to an end. Well, almost. The Portuguese Universities have the tradition of 'Benção das Pastas' every May. It symbolizes the end of our studies, whether it is a Bachelor's or a Master's. Because, my course is of five years, here I am at my own 'benção'. It is a catholic celebration because 'benção' means blessing, and thus the Bishop of Setúbal performs that blessing on our folders, which represent our studies and all the wishes we have for the future. 

The ribbons are given to those we choose, and these include family, friends, and teachers... Of course I had ribbons from my friends back home, but also from the new ones met in Erasmus :)

Those that sign-up, get the privilege of having their name called out :) And of getting a diploma of participation. This because in reality we're not really done with university. There is still the thesis to be finished, turned in, and presented. As the 20 Biomedical Engineering students gather on stage I am reminded of the five years spent in their company and of all we went through together.

Our going up on stage was even more special because we had two birthday girls present :) So, to be different and honor them, we of course sang Happy Birthday!

"Artilharia
Malta da folia,
Gente do trabalho,
É e oh é, Biomédica é que é!
É e oh é, Biomédica é que é!
É e oh é, Biomédica é que é!"

The traditional picture with all of us was taken outside Building 1 - the Physics building :)

After all the pictures and all the goodbyes, I headed to lunch with my family. It's nice that we gather, once in awhile, even if it is due to occasions such as this one. My dad filmed the event, and I've had a chance to lock at part of it... it's a nice souvenir of the day.

And tomorrow I'm heading back to the Netherlands, but I will be back in September to see all of them once again...

Keukenhof & Noordwijk

Tulips are often associated with the Netherlands. However, commercial cultivation of this flower began in the Ottoman Empire. 

Last Sunday, May 13th, a group of about 50 internationals made their way by bus to Keukenhof park in Lisse. When we arrived, we divided ourselves and made our way through the park that at first sight captured us by all the colors.

The giant chess pieces reminded me of Harry Potter... I wonder why.

The colors surprised me the most... Sooo many colors and in all shapes and sizes. Tulips certainly come in many forms. All flowers were beautiful enough to be photographed...

the group

Visiting the park, even if at the end of it's two month opening (the park is only opened March-May every year) was very worthwhile and it reinforced my thought that tulips are my favorite flowers :)

The day trip still included a stop by Noordwijk beach...

At my second beach trip I still did not place any part of my body (except my hand) in the sea but it was great to smell the salty air once more...

I am now writing this from my house in Portugal, where I arrived on Friday evening!!! I'll be here for about 10 days (sort of a vacation that includes surprising one of my grandmothers - best surprise ever - and my graduation in a week) and then it's back to the Netherlands for about 3 more months. The thesis is full underway, hopefully I'm getting some results that could lead to something.