Saturday, August 28, 2010
what should I take on my student exchange trip to belgium?
what should I take on my student exchange trip to belgium?
I mean...other than the obvious (toiletries, clothes, soap, make up, money, camera, laptop etc) I'll be there for at least 6 months. What should I bring? For fun and for school and just in general?
Belgium - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Nothing special, you can buy everything in Belgium like in each other country. I should suggest to bring your interest in culture and history, your social skills to meet a lot of new people and be open for another culture and society. Maybe you better contact your exchange organisation or the school/university where you will follow lessons. They can bring you in contact with other students. You will get rainy weather so make sure you have a rainjacket and good shoes :-) A lot of students use a bike but also public transport is well organised.
2 :
Bring adequate clothes for the weather. It rains often in Belgium but not necessarily hard. Mostly overcast. Umbrella is a must and good shoes. Other than that, you can pretty much get anything in Belgium that you can get in the US. Once you get there you may want to go to the consulate to see if you can get an ID that is not your passport so that you can carry it around with you. They used to have international ID's but I don't know if they do anymore. I would exchange my money before getting to Belgium, you will get a favorable exchange rate here vs. there. Everything there is 220 volts. Most laptop AC adapters can handle 220volts but they need an adapter (which is not expensive) that you will be better off buying in the US. If you use electronics that aren't equipped to handle 220volts, you will need a transformer. Calls and text messages can be expensive from Europe. I would suggest calling your carrier before to see what you will be charged. Maps, and willingness to converse in another language and you're good to go. I hope you like waffles. :)
3 :
French-English dictionary unless you speak french. Most people do not speak english unless you are in Brussels. Bring an umbrella as well. I would also suggest you bring a guide book such as Lonely Planet or Frommers to give you the best places to go and background Information on the places you will see. You will need a fair bit of money as Belgium is expensive, especially the bigger cities.
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Saturday, August 14, 2010
If i am a belgium citizen can i apply for student visa i20 in canada?
If i am a belgium citizen can i apply for student visa i20 in canada?
im a Belgium citizen (now i am in the u.s.) and want to apply for student visa (to study in the us) but i have to leave the u.s. to be able to apply for one, because i entered with VWP - visa waiver program, now my question is: if i can go to Canada and to get a student visa from there, or the council is going to ask me why am i applying from Canada? please answer me
Immigration - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Going to Canada will not change your VWP status; a visa application from Canada will more less be rejected since U.S. consular officers stationed in Canada are able to assess your personal and economical ties to Canada (which you don't have) and to assess the genuineness of Canadian documents provided for the visa application. They are not able to assess your ties to Belgium or to check the genuineness of your Belgian documents..
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Saturday, August 7, 2010
Where would you go as a exchange student; Antwerp, Belgium OR Prague, Czech Republic?
Where would you go as a exchange student; Antwerp, Belgium OR Prague, Czech Republic?
I'm planning on going as an exchange student to one of these countries for one semester, but I don't know which one yet? what are the advantages of each city? languages they speak?, average cost?, attractions?, friendly people?, nightlife?, anything else you want to share?.. thanks!
Other - Europe - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Belgium for sure!! Im going there hopefully next October :). Though, Prague would be very nice too! Have a great time!
2 :
I would go to Prague, as I am very interested in the Czech culture and I would like to immerse myself in the Czech culture
3 :
I would go with Belgium. Its location is ideal for travel, particularly since it sounds like you'll be in school and likely will only have weekends to go places. From Belgium you can easily make quick trips to Paris, London, Amsterdam, Munich, Berlin, etc. Belgium has wonderful, easy-to-use public transportation and offers student discounts on travel, among other things. Many, many Belgians speak English. Antwerp is an interesting city, with the diamonds and the zoo it has good touristy sites, but there are many other neat places to visit in Belgium & because it's such a small country none of them are too far away. When would you be going? At Christmas there are great markets and festivals in many of cities, including Brussels, Liege, and Brugge. Oh, don't get me started on Brugge! Belgium is also a good choice because there are many international students (high school, gap year, and uni) and it's very easy to find them, so you would have the opportunity to meet not only Belgians or people from your school/university, but from all over the place. Belgian food is quite tasty (I recommend the waterzooi, frites, and of course the waffles - I'm not much of a chocolate person). I've visited Prague and it's beautiful, but I would go with Belgium for sure.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
What should a Canadian exchange student bring his Belgium host family?
What should a Canadian exchange student bring his Belgium host family?
My brother will be going on an exchange to Belgium in August and we're trying to brainstorm ideas of little gifts that he can bring his host family. We've thought of typical things like maple syrup, but is there anything that instantly comes to mind or might be neat to bring? Thanks :)
Belgium - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hockey Jerseys - people overseas love them!!
2 :
Depending on your budget that's a great idea. I got official NHL hockey hats & one home team jersey.Another idea is maple syrup or sugar. The syrup will have to be placed in checked bags as its a liquid. Its about the gift not the cost, put a little time into it Have fun
3 :
My husband and I have hosted 5 students (plus had guests of 2 others). The gifts I've enjoyed most: the cookbooks our Hungarian and German brought; regional candy/unusual food (your maple syrup would count); the bookmarks in a traditional Latvian pattern and colors; the Russian matrushka dolls; the Russian 'doilies' (for lack of a better word) and Chinese handicrafts; the travel books for various countries. One of the best: the homemade photo album with pictures of the region where our German lives. One thing that I buy for ourselves and for others: desk top flags - they're about the size of your hand and can be put into a little stand. (Do an internet search or go to flagsgeorgia.com ... they probably ship to Canada and I know will have the Canadian flag. They also have lapel pins with the US and other flag on them, but I'm not sure if they have the Canadian-Belgian flag combination.) It truely is about the thought that your brother puts into it. Handmade is great! If I had a child who was going on exchange, I'd likely make something in cross stitch. I hope this helps! I hope your brother has a wonderful, fun, and productive exchange!
4 :
Well, like when you go to anywhere else, just bring presents that typically say "Canada". Like maple syrup, and whatever else edible or non-edible that you can think of. Or something they don't sell in Belgium, be it Canadian or not, as long as you can't buy it here. I'd say bring me a few comedians, because there aren't a lot of good ones here and Canada is quite known for it's stand-up comedy scene. But that scene might not be for everyone. Belgians generally don't have a sense of humor (hence why most of our stand-up comedians are bad). @ Dam: Hah! My dad didn't believe they were called matrushka dolls, thanks to that Flemish show with the same name he probably thought it was another word for stripper... And yeah... I love Hockey jerseys myself! Any kind of sports jerseys actually, so I can pretend to do sports without actually doing it! :p So Hockey jerseys is definitely a winner! It depends on the person receiving the gifts, though!
5 :
We went to Belgium last year and stayed with a family. We brought Maple Syrup as you've mentioned. We also brought Ice Wine which is not something they have in Europe. IF there are kids, any kid of toys with our flag is appreciated (balls, kites etc)
6 :
Hockey sweater with name of family, inuit moccasins, inuit fur items, book of jokes about the newfies, pix book about panoramic train thru the Rockies, pix book about whales in the Saint Laurent, maple syrup and book about OLD syrup farm, small ski and apres ski clothes (Belgians go a lot skiing in Germany, Switzerland and Austria), T shirts with joke in French from Quebec.
7 :
I'm a Canadian living in Belgium and the following are items they like from Canada... 1) Maple syrup - However they can buy it here 2) Hockey jerseys - Try to put the family name on it 3) Anything Native - Moccasins, Haida or inuit art, etc... 4) Canadian cookbook - Ok, there is no really Canadian food per se, however I introduced french toast over here to some family and friends and they love it. Also, their BBQ is crap over here so maybe a good BBQ cookbook. 5) Ice wine - For the wine lovers. Have a great time in Belgium. Travel around when you can.
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My brother will be going on an exchange to Belgium in August and we're trying to brainstorm ideas of little gifts that he can bring his host family. We've thought of typical things like maple syrup, but is there anything that instantly comes to mind or might be neat to bring? Thanks :)
Belgium - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Hockey Jerseys - people overseas love them!!
2 :
Depending on your budget that's a great idea. I got official NHL hockey hats & one home team jersey.Another idea is maple syrup or sugar. The syrup will have to be placed in checked bags as its a liquid. Its about the gift not the cost, put a little time into it Have fun
3 :
My husband and I have hosted 5 students (plus had guests of 2 others). The gifts I've enjoyed most: the cookbooks our Hungarian and German brought; regional candy/unusual food (your maple syrup would count); the bookmarks in a traditional Latvian pattern and colors; the Russian matrushka dolls; the Russian 'doilies' (for lack of a better word) and Chinese handicrafts; the travel books for various countries. One of the best: the homemade photo album with pictures of the region where our German lives. One thing that I buy for ourselves and for others: desk top flags - they're about the size of your hand and can be put into a little stand. (Do an internet search or go to flagsgeorgia.com ... they probably ship to Canada and I know will have the Canadian flag. They also have lapel pins with the US and other flag on them, but I'm not sure if they have the Canadian-Belgian flag combination.) It truely is about the thought that your brother puts into it. Handmade is great! If I had a child who was going on exchange, I'd likely make something in cross stitch. I hope this helps! I hope your brother has a wonderful, fun, and productive exchange!
4 :
Well, like when you go to anywhere else, just bring presents that typically say "Canada". Like maple syrup, and whatever else edible or non-edible that you can think of. Or something they don't sell in Belgium, be it Canadian or not, as long as you can't buy it here. I'd say bring me a few comedians, because there aren't a lot of good ones here and Canada is quite known for it's stand-up comedy scene. But that scene might not be for everyone. Belgians generally don't have a sense of humor (hence why most of our stand-up comedians are bad). @ Dam: Hah! My dad didn't believe they were called matrushka dolls, thanks to that Flemish show with the same name he probably thought it was another word for stripper... And yeah... I love Hockey jerseys myself! Any kind of sports jerseys actually, so I can pretend to do sports without actually doing it! :p So Hockey jerseys is definitely a winner! It depends on the person receiving the gifts, though!
5 :
We went to Belgium last year and stayed with a family. We brought Maple Syrup as you've mentioned. We also brought Ice Wine which is not something they have in Europe. IF there are kids, any kid of toys with our flag is appreciated (balls, kites etc)
6 :
Hockey sweater with name of family, inuit moccasins, inuit fur items, book of jokes about the newfies, pix book about panoramic train thru the Rockies, pix book about whales in the Saint Laurent, maple syrup and book about OLD syrup farm, small ski and apres ski clothes (Belgians go a lot skiing in Germany, Switzerland and Austria), T shirts with joke in French from Quebec.
7 :
I'm a Canadian living in Belgium and the following are items they like from Canada... 1) Maple syrup - However they can buy it here 2) Hockey jerseys - Try to put the family name on it 3) Anything Native - Moccasins, Haida or inuit art, etc... 4) Canadian cookbook - Ok, there is no really Canadian food per se, however I introduced french toast over here to some family and friends and they love it. Also, their BBQ is crap over here so maybe a good BBQ cookbook. 5) Ice wine - For the wine lovers. Have a great time in Belgium. Travel around when you can.
Read more other entries :
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