Welkom!

At long last UA have sent me my welcome pack! It's full of useful things like a map of Antwerpen, my acceptance letter (in both English and Dutch), an information booklet on all things UA, information about the Erasmus Student Network and approval of my module options. Marvellous!

So my 12 modules (6 per semester at 5 ECTS) will be:

• Consitutionalism in a European and International Perspective
• Law and Globalisation
• Institutional Law of the EU
• International and European Protections of Human Rights
• European Economic Law
• External Relations of the EU
• European Competition Law
• Law of the WTO
• Advanced International Law
• European Private Law
• European Information and Communications Law
• European and Comparitive Discrimination Law

The first 8 are compulsory... I mean, who ever actually wanted to study economic or compeition law?

The ESN information is very exciting - I've already signed up for their Buddy system where I'll be paired with a local before I get out there who'll be a friendly face upon arrival and give me hints and tips on the best places to shop, eat, go out (to be shared here!). They also have organised lots of events for the first week of semester at the end of September in their Ice-Breaking Week, which should be lots of fun.

Looking at my academic calendar, I discovered that my Christmas holiday starts on Christmas Eve! I immediately ran to my laptop to find cheap transport to the UK to get home for the holidays before the prices sky-rocketed or the tickets all sold out, and managed to get a fantastically cheap flight from Brussels Int. Airport. After talking to my best friend about our New Year's plans (we always spend the eve together) we decided that since this year it is my turn to host, we'll spend it in Antwerpen! Flights back to be booked as soon as we've agreed on dates. Yay!

Re: accommodation. After sending what seems like hundreds of emails (but is probably only about 15 or so) I have gotten two responses that say they have a room available in a shared building. Both of them are within 5 minutes walk of Stadcampus, 10-15 minutes from Grote Markt in the historic centre of Antwerpen, at a reasonable price within my budget and include internet in the rent.

Stijfselstraat looks like a nice - a 16m² room in a house with 4 others with shared facilities and utensils for 270€/month. Paardenmarkt is a 13m² room in a building with 30 others and a bathroom to every 2-3 people and shared kitchens for 300€/month. As soon as I have pictures of Paardenmarkt I'll make my decision - probably Stijfselstraat - and pay my advance!

Only 41 days to go!