A Journey Begins

On Wednesday, January 11, I left Copenhagen and Denmark – the safe environment I call home – and flew to Rotterdam in the Netherlands to embark on a 6-month journey of studying at the Erasmus Universiteit.

Frankly, I’m very nervous about it all. Although my parents are with me these first, few days, I know that I’m on my own as of Saturday afternoon. My parents won’t be one hour away. I won’t have most of my closest friends nearby. I won’t have a safe environment anymore.

For the first time I have to REALLY live by myself!

That might be a lifelong dream for some people – and it is for me, too – but actually being in the middle of it all, being in Rotterdam on my own, is almost frightening.

I arrived with my parents in Rotterdam two days ago. Adding to me being nervous, the manager of the building where my apartment is located didn’t show up to bring me my keys at 7:00 pm as agreed. When we were going back to my parents’ hotel, the building manager called me and told me he’s in the hospital. He had had a heart failure and won’t be out of hospital until one or two more weeks. Just my luck!

After having stayed at a hotel for the night, my dad and I went to the housing agency. We got the keys, I got compensation for my hotel expenses, and we thought everything would work out and the troubles were over. We all went to the building: the front door key worked, the mailbox key worked, my apartment door key worked – and then the door wouldn’t open. It turned out the housing agency had forgotten to give me the last key for the second lock in my apartment door. Just my luck!

They sent a very helpful man, Hugo, with the key for the second lock, and the door to my apartment opened. I was finally able to get into my apartment. Except for a few things not working, e.g. the internet router (essential, amigos, essential!), everything’s fine. The apartment is on the ground floor – let’s see that works out…

The fact of the matter is that I’m so happy to have had my parents with me the first days in Rotterdam. It’s difficult to describe in words how much I appreciate their help. I actually don’t know what I should’ve done without them!

I’ve spent my first night in the apartment. There are a lot of new noises and sounds, as well as the cars and scooters driving right outside the window, to get use to. But I’m thinking it’ll normal to me within days or weeks, right?

Today, the intro weekend for all exchange students of all faculties at the university begins. I’ll get back to you on that – and try to stay sober.

Have a nice weekend! Tot ziens!