Erasmusblogs

If you’re about to leave or you’ve already arrived at your destination: don’t you think that the suitcase shrinks just before you start packing? In a while, loads of things have slipped into my head, things that I didn’t even think I would carry with me: for instance, the hairdryer, which my mother wants me to transport. I think it’s a good idea anyway, ‘cause winter in Marbella has nothing to do with winter in Berlin, so wet hair can cause troubles.

I’ve only put a few things inside the suitcase and it’s already half-full, unbelievable. I’ll have to stick my sleeping bag in the rucksack that I’ll use as clutch bag in my flight. The sleeping bag is a must to me, as I intend to use it as a blanket on the first days, and I may need it for future Erasmus trips. I reckon that I’ll just manage to squeeze everything together…if I leave clothes out! Lucky me, I won’t carry tons of clothes, ‘cause as I’ve said… my winter clothes here won’t be worth taking, I’ll have to buy almost everything there. I guess I’ll have to squeeze some clothes, loudspeakers and CD’s together inside the clutch bag, thus leaving enough space in the suitcase for the sleeping bag.

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I was so bored this morning after I had picked my new European Health Insurance Card, which was to replace the E111 form from the 1st June 2004 onwards. It´s been faster than last year, when the proceedings took me a few walks to and fro. In the remaining time before lunch I have been filling in the application form for the scholarship and have been trying to find out what do I exactly need to do upon arrival in Berlin. And well, I have.

1. I have to sign my accommodation contract, for I´m going to need it before further steps are taken.

2. I must go to the Registration Office. I don´t see the point in registrating before I make my matriculation at University, but rules are rules. Lucky me, there are five Offices in Lichtenberg (my district) and one of them is just off the street I´m going to live at. Hopefully it won’t be too complicated. I must provide the following documents:
–Passport.
–Proof of fixed abode.
–European Health Insurance Card.
–Application form, properly filled.

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Last Monday I wrote my last exam, and I´m afraid I didn´t do my best. I won´t be granted the state education scholarship that I´m supposed to get every year in order to pay my expenses at University, including the fees for matriculation, around €1,000. This is a personal tragedy to me, but let’s face it, that’s what I deserve.
I had three exams: I´ve already failed one, Psychology (I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, hate psychologists!), and I´m sure I´ve also failed French. To get the scholarship I could only fail one. Shit…

But I´ve got one realief, at least: I´ve passed Computer Science in Translation, A. That was the ONE compulsory subject that I really needed to pass. Psychology was an elective subject and French didn’t even count as free election subject. I won´t have to choose them next year: all things considered, it´s not that bad.
Next week I have to go to the Uni: matriculation awaits. I´ve seen that I´ll have at least three exams to write next September, maybe four. I´m going to writhe in pain as the time comes closer, but now I even think it´s alright and I´ll be capable of doing such feat, haha. As a matter of fact, they’re not easy subjects, and I fear that I won´t be recognised the subject International Affairs, even though my University has a priori agreed to do so, in which case, I mean, if I come out badly with my purpose, I’d have to sit next year once again here in Málaga to do International Affairs.
Gosh, what a mess…
I´ll tell you about the administrative proceedings in my next instalment, when my matriculation is already done.

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Last week I wrote two of the three exams I had. Apalling, to tell you the truth: one of them was Psychology and the other was Computer Science in Translation Studies. Now I´m trying to study French, for I have an exam on Monday, but I´ve got the feeling that I already know everything I should know (when the time of the exam comes I will realize that I don´t) and moreover I don´t like French at all, I just chose that subject to fill gaps in my timetable. I think I´ll end up talking better French than German, but yet there’s a long way to put my French at the same level.

I have started to list all the things that I have to or I want to take to Germany with me, and I´m concerned about the weight restrictions (well, who’s not in this low-fare airline world?). Even though I´m not one of those students carrying tons of luggage I think I won´t manage to cut the basic goods I´m going to need to a reasonable 10-kg-pack, leaving thus another 10 for clothes. I´ll soon make my first suitcase random trial, packing everything I feel like to and then testing its weight, and I´ll stick to the results: I really need to play it safe, ’cause I can´t afford to pay 4 € for every extra kg: my belt’s ultra-fastened to fulfil the monetary policy.which will allow me to live in Berlin this academic year.

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