Exam - Danish style: 1

This is how an average open-book 4-hour exam looks like in Denmark.

You are allowed to use any source of information that you find appropriate.. including the internet. You can also write on your laptop, instead of paper. Then you upload your file on a USB stick (which they give you on your way into the exam room).

I suppose that's not something that one can experience in Denmark only.. but I never heard of such a practice in Bulgaria. Also, for my open-book exam in Belgium I was forced to print some 1000 pages, because: "if you are reading from your laptop, I can never be sure whether you're not on the internet"..

(click on the picture to view it bigger)

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* Roberta, thank you for making this (though blurry ;)) photo for me! :)

Therapy

As it turns out, Belgians don't only have beer..

(click on the picture to view it bigger)

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* Seen here.
Thanks to Marto! :)

Integration as a business

I received a letter from Inburgering Vlaams-Braband. "Inburgering" seems to mean "integration".

These nice people are offering me complete integration program for free: with language, job search, free time and culture courses. They say that if I want to get integrated, we will sign a contract. If I don't do things right, I will pay a fine. But if I do, in the end I will receive a certificate saying I was integrated. Splendid!

This might be a good moment to share the following video*.

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* I want to stress on this: I am NOT intending to offend/ mock/ make fun of Belgium or Belgians! The text was written by Marcel Sel (a Belgian writer) which makes me assume it is not supposed to be insulting in the first place. I just find the video funny. Moreover, I believe every single country (including my own) should have such videos - pointing at the absurd way things are done.. who knows, maybe this will be a good first step to a positive change. :)

Orjana, thanks for the video! :)

Just don't!

The dead Friday silence in my building reminded me that I never shared this fact in the blog: Belgian students go home (in another city) every weekend...

As soon as they cope with their Thursday-night hangover (known as Friday-night hangover in other countries), students from different parts of Belgium head to the train station with a fast pace and a bag of dirty clothes.

The melody, created by all the wheeled suitcases pulled on the paved streets, turns into a signal that the weekend has started.

Dear Belgians,.. for once,... be rebels and don't leave!

Hollywood in Brussels

The resemblance with the view over the hill with the Hollywood sign in LA is stunning..
* Look closely and you'll find the letters

 (click on the picture to view it bigger)

Cool stuff

When I was told that all 15 people living in my building will share one fridge, I thought that might be a problem.. Fortunately, nobody seems to be interested. The only Belgians to use the fridge are the girl with the jar of pickles and several alcohol owners..

Belgian rain - not like any other..

Everybody, sing along: "Rain, rain, go away..." :D

The double-fried potato

If you consider coming to Belgium you should be prepared.. French fries are not what you think they are.. Or at least the Belgians claim so.
I heard that story (there are, of course, other variations): During WW I American soldiers arrived in Belgium (the French-speaking part) and tried the fries. Confused by the language around them, they thought they were in France.. and therefore called the fries "French"..
No matter if that's true or not, the fries taste differently. They are freshly cut, fried twice (yes, two times), fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.. And, you know what? They are actually damn good..

(That's my small portion from today.)