No.3 - Winscho

Winschoterdiep 46, Room A21, 9723AC Groningen.

Winscho is the nick name given to the International student housing where I live and, I just LOVE it.

Winscho is so much fun and everyone here is just fantastic. People are literally from all over the world. You want to know someone from Brazil? Spain? Arab Emirates? Korea? Lithuania? Ireland? You got it. People come and go from winscho all the time and no one stays for more than a year, so there is a real sense of community and friendliness. Everyone is used to making new friends and accepting all of the newcomers.

I have met so many beautiful people since arriving here, all of whom are fun, generous people. There's a general sense of 'my door is always open' people are always coming and going from each others rooms. When you want time by yourself it's easy to just coop up in your room and then emerge and knock on a friends door to have some fun or just find a bit of silent company. These people are in your home, which creates forced intimacy and fast friendships. It's a bizarre feeling to walk past people in a towel, or straight out of bed. All of the things that you would do in the privacy of your own home but with a million people around. However, everyone does it, so there is no judgement if you have breakfast at 1pm or stay in your pajamas all day.

I am now completely used to having to take my toilet paper with me to the toilet, wandering around the corridors with bed hair, and taking my toiletries to the shower.

The only thing I haven't yet mastered is not singing in the shower. . . There's time, and for now people will have to deal with my absent minded humming and morning songs.

proof that i have friends

everyone deserves a birthday cake - kisch's 21st

blue sky, taken whilst cycling!

snowy night out

the americans!

No.2 Prins Claus, what a guy!

The Prins Claus Conservatorium, where I will be studying for the next 6 months, is a fantastic institution attached to Hanze university. The relationship is very similar to that between WAAPA and ECU as the campus and institution are somewhat separate form the main university.

The conservatory is a 5 minute (including unlocking and locking my bike!) cycle from my accommodation, which throws all plans for getting fit but makes for a nice lunch break, and gives me little excuse not to practice.

I will be studying percussion with three incredible teachers for the duration of my study, as well as attending regular theoretical classes.

Luuk takes me for timpani, Tatiana for mallets and Joeke for snare and excerpts.

So far I have only had lessons with Joeke and Tatiana, this week I will finally meet Luuk!

Joeke takes us for lessons once a week whilst Luuk and Tatiana come every alternate fortnight. It makes me feel so privileged to have so much tuition! Having three different people all expecting things from me is both daunting yet fantastic and I know that I am going to improve so much. They are so committed to my development and after each lesson I feel energised and inspired to work.

Last week, I had an 'inspiring' lesson with Joeke on Monday, however when Wednesday rolled around, it brought with it resignation. I could remember how inspired and excited I felt, however I couldn't summon up the excitement or concentration to work. That was when I had a lightbulb moment. I felt I was so taking for granted that these people were inspiring me, I didn't even think about how I could inspire them. So my new commitment is: Be inspired and inspire. I decided I wanted to arrive at my lessons full of possibility and excitement. I want to exceed their expectations and inspire them with my reaction to their teachings.

Boy did that send a surge of energy through my soul!

Last week I had my first performance in Holland which came as a bit of a shock to the system! It was so familiar but something I hadn't done in a while that by the end of the evening I was EXHAUSTED!

The performance by the 6 of us Percussionists was the warm-up for the band Rubatong, a TURA style heavy metal band that Tatiana plays with. They are the best performers you've never seen! Really unique performers with such amazing stage presence, I was blown away! 

It was such a nice experience for me to bump in and out, rehearse and perform with a new bunch of percussionists. For me it is this experience that really solidifies my new friendships and made me feel like 'one of the gang'.

The next day the said 'gang' - although they are the sweetest, funniest people, who in no way resemble a gang - headed to 'the' percussion shop near Amsterdam. After a long train trip, walk, few wrong turns, bus trip, few more wrong turns and four hours, we arrived at the shop. This was another experience that made me think of home - friendly percussionists. It seems no matter where you are in the world, percussionists take care of each other. As soon as we were in the door we were being fixed up with hot coffee and tea, as we then proceeded to spend the next few hours trying out every different mallet, stick, drum and shaker. By the time we departed we had also been stuffed with cake, soft drinks and left satisfied with our bellies and new purchases. Almost enough to forget the deathly cold! . .  Almost.

This week I begin my other classes at university. I am still sorting out some of my timetable and am apprehensive about how I will fit into my classes. It is so exciting however, to have a full schedule and once again and feel like I am being productive!

I feel that getting into the swing of my classes will be the last step in really settling in to life here.

Lx

first performance at the grand theatre

the drum shop

coen enjoying his cake at the shop

you can see why it took us a few hours

my new life

Here it is!

My "new" life!

Funny how even when you plan on having a new life, in a new city it seems to be all the same. Then you realise it's the common factor. You. Or rather, Me.

Life in Groningen is fantastic and it already feels as if I've always lived here. It's been so long since I've blogged anything that I've decided that I'll update you with a few anecdotal stories. . .

No. 1 - IKEA
Yes, it needs it's own post. My living space in "winscho" (the street is called Winschoterdiep, however all students abbreviate our college to winscho) is generous, yet modest. I have a nice little room that is purely mine to fill with whatever I desire. . . there's not much there to begin with. All kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared, and to begin with it feels much like being on a school camp, however when it's what you have, it becomes the norm!

I have filled my room with IKEA - sheets, lamps, boxes, you name it. There has been many an evening spent roaming through the IKEA maze an of course I've thrown in a bit of people watching in the restaurant for good measure. I swear that every Dutch family goes there for dinner - it's a legitimate thing!
There have also been a few work outs, known as 'interesting trips home', roping new friends into carrying heavy, awkward pieces of flatpack furniture back to college. We're students! Did you really think we'd pay for delivery, or a taxi! Couldn't think of a better way to make friends anyway....

Then there are the things that I would never normally even think about:
- Having to take my own toilet paper to the toilet. Every. Single. Time.
- Buying bowls, plates, a SHARP knife, tupperware, baking paper!
- Not only laundry detergent but a laundry basket (actually I still haven't got one) and drying rack (haven't got one of those yet either).
- Towels! Dish cloths! Tea towels! Tongs!

I was definitely under the false pretence that these things simply existed for people everywhere! I mean TOILET PAPER.

I am overwhelmed by the number of things I take for granted at home. Not only that, it has really opened my eyes to the 'consumerist world we live in'. The number of things we 'need' to live. WOW.
Amongst all my moaning and aching muscles from carrying tables home from IKEA I, of course, have had the BEST time decorating my room. My inner domestic goddess has emerged and I have spent hours making paper cranes, pin up boards, paper pom poms and various other things to make my room inviting. Finally I get to choose the colour of my scrubbing brush and chopping boards.

Freedom at last!

- paper crane mobile
- goodies!
- tea towel pin up board