Settling in as a Groninger

I moved into my room in kornoeljestraat on the first of the month. The first thing I did was rearrange the furniture, of course! It's looking really bare because my luggage was still lost in Amsterdam somewhere.

While still in stinky clothes that I've been wearing for two days, I went to a Ph.D. "promotion" at the infamous Academy building with my new co-workers. It was all in Dutch, of course. But they put a nice mural on the background so you can look at it and dream a bit while listening to this ultra-formal public defense. Later that night I went to the promotion party, my first social event in Holland. The poor girl had to pay for an open bar for everyone who showed up. Apparently it costs thousands of Euros (like a wedding!) and students have to save up for years for this promotion party.

The next order of business, of course, was to get my own new (well, used) shiny bike! Made in Holland! It is very handsome, don't you think? All the bells and whistles for the low, low price of 75 Euros. On the way to the bike shop, I actually rode on the back of Bart's bike, on the rack thingy. It was so scary yet so European! I felt like a little kid again! However, I had to grow up and learn to use this beauty, which actually is more difficult to get used to than you may think. The best part was riding back from the promotion party in the dark after a few beers. The strangest yet most exhilarating feeling ever.