Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Grad School Stage 2: Vilnius, Lithuania


            We have arrived! After a train ride to Berlin, Charlie and I stayed the night with Franzi where we rested up after carting FAR too much luggage across half of Europe (what can I say winter clothes are big and heavy! Right?!). Franzi and I had a nice dinner while we caught up, and the next morning took Charlie on a long walk and had brunch before heading to the bus station where we boarded my bus to Vilnius….18 hours!! I want to take a moment here to congratulate Mr. Charlie Pants. Upon purchasing my bus ticket I didn’t realize that he was not actually allowed on this particular bus line. I only discovered this information as I was printing my ticket the day before…oops. So poor Mr. Bean had to be smuggled 18 hours under my seat in his tiny box, and I’ll be damned but the little guy didn’t make a peep the whole time! Way to go Bean! You are so clearly born to be my loyal traveling companion!!
            Our overnight bus ride took us directly across Poland and I found myself wishing it were daytime so I could better admire the scenery. The full moon lit up the surrounding area so spectacularly it only made me hunger for more. The dark landscape was stunning even along the highway and inspired me, since I was so close in Lithuania, to get my butt back for a visit to Poland! And so I shall…at some point.
            Upon arriving in Vilnius, Charlie and I were met by Cagri our new roommate. Cagri is from Turkey and also a student here at Vilnius University in the department of Economics. Lucky for all of us, he and Charlie get along famously. I think it was love at first sight because now half the time Charlie prefers to nap on Cagri’s bed instead of mine! Traitor!!
I wont lie, the first few days in my new city were a bit of a shock. Vilnius is much bigger and more city like than Groningen and much much colder! Luckily Miriam joined me a few days later and it was great to see a friendly face. We started exploring our exotic new home by taking a walking tour of the city, which was very cool although we ended the tour 2 hours later as human popsicles. The day after the tour we took a trip to a nearby town where there is a medium size castle called Trakai. It was pretty cute although the weather was less than desirable and we spent most of the time trying to keep warm! Stupid wind!
Anyway, the following week we started classes and I was able to meet all of my new colleagues. Again we are a very diverse group, which is wonderful! Together our cultures span the globe from Spain, Ecuador, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Denmark, Austria, Lithuania, Belarus and even another American from Wisconsin! Yahoo!
After a bit of acclimatizing, I find I am settling in nicely here. I was able to join a gym nearby my apartment and with the extensive help of my wonderful roommate was able to find my way around the city, our neighborhood, the bus routes and university campus fairly quickly. Thank you so much Cagri! I would totally lost without you! :D
Also I have found a market where I can get my groceries! It’s a bit far but is worth it due to cheap prices, and well you know me, I just LOVE markets.    
I also found a place through the university where I can continue taking Chinese classes! Very cool! AND last Monday Lithuania celebrated its Independence day and the whole city was filled with bustling people and even a parade and concert, which I did not attend but was happy to experience a holiday so soon here. :)
The only downside so far that I have discovered, is Lithuanian food (and Eastern European food in general I’m told) is very heavy, greasy, meaty and mostly smothered in sour cream…yeah, not my fav. But of course I will make a point to try a few traditional non-meaty items such as beet soup with potato, Cepillini with mushroom and Gria…Ill let you know how it goes….
  
There is a statue of a woman on the river here, which runs along the city. It looks like her dress and hair are blowing in the wind and her arms are raised and spread wide with a lantern in one hand. She looks as if she is welcoming the entire world to Vilnius and so far is my favorite monument probably ever. On rare occasions when the sun is out, she appears to welcome that too, or the clouds, or the rain, or the wind or anything passing through the busy city. Almost everyday my bus route takes me by her and although I am not sure why, she warms my heart and makes me glad I’m here…no matter how may layers of clothing I have to put on before leaving the house. Wish me luck!
On a totally non-related note, I want to congratulate my amazing little brother on buying himself his first airplane!!! So cool!! You rock Spud and I am always amazed by how much you inspire me!! You make me such a proud sister haha but please be safe! Also, not too long ago I wrote an article for a women’s travel magazine called Pink Pangea and it was published last month. It is about train car segregation in India and if you are interested in reading it, here is the link:


Well I think that is all for now! Stay tuned until next time and please email me and let me know what you are all up to in your lives as well so I don’t feel so out of the loop! J Love and miss you all xoxo

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Goodbye Groningen


            Well, here I am at the end of five wonderfully enjoyable months in Holland! I just can’t believe it! We ended the semester with a bang as Han Yue, Sanau and I gave our final presentations and polished off the exam/evaluation week with a wonderful group dinner at a local restaurant with all the students and staff. I was horribly sad to say goodbye although I was comforted to know all my newfound friends wouldn’t actually be too far away.
            Also, I went to France! I have a dear friend in Lille who is also studying whom I met while in India. We have been looking forward to a reunion for quite sometime now and finally had the opportunity a few weeks ago. I hoped a train from Groningen and we spent a whole weekend chatting, walking, eating cheese, drinking wine and catching up.  Much to my delight, I discovered she lives in a very small room in the city center where we had a picnic dinner on the floor when I arrived. The next day I met her charming/handsome French boyfriend and the three of us took a little road trip across the boarder to Belgium! We visited the small city of Courtrai, where it rained on us mercilessly until we had to take refuge in the town’s beautiful central cathedral. To dry off we stopped to have a nice coffee and snack (which included some dearly dark Belgian chocolate) to refuel before exploring the rest of the town. The following morning her and I went on a nice run by the canal before I hopped a train back to Holland. What fun! Thanks Mansi and Fredrick for everything! I had such a lovely time!
            When I returned home it was all winding down and slowly packing from then on.  I had many farewell coffee dates/lunches/dinner with many friends which included making authentic Chinese dumplings with some colleagues, a hot-pot date with Han Yue, homemade Kenyan Curry with Sanau and her girlfriend, stir-fry and apple pie with Gerben’s parents and countless more.  Plus, I was able to make excellent use of my newfound free time with numerous long put-off sewing projects and recipe experimentations. What a relaxing last week!
            My last day was very bitter sweet. Boyfriend and I had coffee in our favorite overhanging cafĂ© followed by a few rounds of pool (where I was beaten mercilessly), and in the evening we went out for sushi and wandered the city a bit so I could say all my goodbyes to my favorite place. My wonderful landlady drove me to the airport the next morning and as I caught my train I found myself thinking yet again how lucky I was to be a part of such a wonderful place. It was if the whole city was sending me off as the new snow from the night before left the earth crisp and crusted in glittering white. To polish it off the sun came up early and reminded me that Groningen isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It also reminded me I now have deep connections there, and above all I am not done with the lovely little city. Not even close. Groningen said it would wait for me and my heart whispered, “Fear not. I won’t be long you know.”

            Of course those of you who know me, are well aware I am like this. I easily become attached and drawn into the places I live. My home lies wherever I can place my purple bedside candle, my blue-glass flower vase and Charlie’s doggie bed. I have no doubt that whatever awaits me in Vilnius will be no less spectacular. That comfort doesn’t lessen my fondness of Holland, just the tightness in my chest at leaving it. So for now I have packed my monster suitcase, said my goodbyes and continued on to the next chapter of my life. Vilnius here we come!!