Greetings to you all from the land of windmills, clogs, cheese and Dutch people. It’s been 2 weeks since I posted on this blog. A lot has been happening in and around me as you can imagine. The weather is changing and with it comes the mannerisms of the low land climes not unusual at this time of the year.  

My countdown to graduation is still on as I can imagine your countdown to arriving in Delft is at hand. In three days I will have resided officially in the Netherlands for 2 years as I can imagine the journey to your own 2 year stay begins. For me it is been a worthwhile journey; a lesson in the many specters of life that mould a man. And so I say with the Delft confidence – something you will learn to drape in the coming couple years – which I have conquered. Enough of the philosophy and back to basics. 

Many of your will arrive Delft confused, very confused about a lot of things and so I have decided to clear the air on some issues in this post. Finance is where I will start; ensure that you have adequate cash on you when you arrive. Last year, a few many students had problems with their bank accounts details and as such could not assess the funds they had transferred before arrival. As an international student this could help to unsettle you as my experience thought me.  Now to another practical issue. The weather. It rains at this time of the year in Delft. It is wise to pack an umbrella or raincoat and some good jumpers too. About clothes, perhaps it will be nice to also bring along some but try not to travel like Puff Daddy Delft has a good shopping area that can cater for all budgets, tastes and fashion savvy.  

To accommodation. My guess is anyone coming to Delft will have made adequate arrangements for this. Housing is big issue in the Netherlands, and trust me without a place to rest your head studying will be a problem. For more information about this contact the international office or DUWO (http://www.duwo.nl/eCache/DEF/1/532.html )If you have friends in Delft then contact them before your arrival.  

Well I have to end this post will continue in the coming days.

Greetings people!!! It’s been two weeks since I put thumb to key board to pen down a few words about life here. Blame it on work and all the lot that makes life in the Netherlands on such a frenetic pace, a speed train may seem like an old grandpa’s bike. Life in Delft has been put to on a standstill – holidays been the main reason. July is the time of the year when all the Dutch people take time off their busy schedules, agendas and engagements to splurge, have a quiet vacation or basically stay away from work. While many of my friends have taken time off, I have decided to give it one last shot; work hard and graduate then my time to holiday will come. That said I miss home, haven’t been there in almost 2 years and my God do I need a holiday.   

Last night I got a post card from some friends on holiday in Italy. The lovely post card was sent from Venice taken from the Piazza San Marco a lovely square in Venice. Last year my classmates and I visited Italy for a Solar Energy Conference in Verona. After the “hard work” and “engineering peering” we decided to take the one hour or so trip to visit the beautiful city of Venice. On our way back from Italy, we had stops in a host of other countries and cities. Suppose thats one of the many perks of studying in a Schengen country. Because we didn’t require visas to travel through those countries we were able to stop by and enjoy the beautiful sights, sounds and food in these nations.  

Well that’s all I have for this week. Till my next post tot straks!!

Groeten van Nederlands this beautiful Wednesday evening from where this blog post emanates. It has been a long week; already as you can imagine; work has inundated me, the rains drenched me and the quiet city of Delft tries to deafen all in it with the tranquility the nation of Oranje has never experienced. By why is the happening? Well for one; its holiday season; the university is officially closed for holidays. Most students have packed up and gone as far away from Delft as they can to enjoy the six weeks holiday. And so Delft has become desolate, dull and calm.  

Second reason is the Netherlands failed to win at the World Cup. This albeit is another reason Delft wears a cloak of deafening tranquility. Well pardon my pun on words, the nation is as you’d expect sad at the loss but things will go on. Yesterday my friends and I gathered at the sports centre as we do on Tuesdays and Thursdays to play a game of football and decided to replay the World Cup final. This time of course the Netherlands won, at least to appease us all a little. 

 Sunday afternoon before the World Cup final my friends and I went down to the lake for BBQ. This time I manage to let go of the meat and take a few shot of the milieu and the grills Sometime back I was asked by a blog reader about doing BBQs at Delftse Houte, and so I took the liberty to ask about it. I was told that BBQ’s are allowed in all areas around the lake except the beach area and the dog area. For clearification feel free to contact the management of the place.  With this I call it a day for this week. Hope you have a lovely summer holidays! Tot straks!