Cauliflower curry.

Well fed

On Saturday evening I was treated to a home cooked meal from my friend: a make-shift risotto/paella mishmash: with rice, peas, carrots, soy sauce, cauliflower and chicken. The original plan was for us to be unbearably adorable and cook a meal together...in the end Zane might have put in most of the effort. Although I did cut up the chicken to perfection!

Cauliflower curry - not looking too hot.

She created a really nice meal, but perhaps I was a little too inspired...

I mean seriously, what on earth possessed me to buy a whole cauliflower instead of potatoes?! Although, I feel like I was rather creative with my curry plan. And it wasn't half bad, but having said that, a bit of variety would have been nice...

Sinterklaas en Zwarte Pieten

Sinterklaas is a strange little celebration: a man looking suspiciously like Santa Claus, but with slightly creepy blacked-up helpers instead of elves. I wonder why it is a tradition surrounded by controversy... But when in Rome and all that!

There was a lovely evening organized for the international IBCoM exchange students. We were given traditional Dutch food and sweets (I ate far too many of the little cookies) and a gift-giving game was organized. We all brought two or three small presents, which were placed in the centre of the table, then it was a case of rolling the dice for the opportunity to steal, swap and loose gifts, and a few challenges along the way! It was a great evening, and everyone stayed much longer after the event had finished, laughing and chatting with one another.

A Sinterklaas game for the mismatched collection of IBCoM Internationals! =D

My winnings: a very Dutch mug and a Christmas decoration with chocolate coins inside. I was tactical when it came to the decoration - I wanted my room to look a little more festive, although once I got home I realized that I had no where to hang it! Oops...

But these kind of events is something that I love about the Netherlands: everyone is made to feel so welcome, especially at EUR! And it is always nice to experience a little bit of the Dutch culture!

Merry Sinterklaas everybody!!

Two weeks

Christmas is looming, and I am yet to buy a single present...clearly so organized. And Glasgow will regain one of it's least Scottish Scots (well, for a fortnight at least)! However, I'm starting to have mixed feelings about this one.

On the one hand I am desperate for some family time. In the last week of so I've gotten very clingy when it comes to family skype sessions - it's ridiculous! I guess I just need a little dose of Scottish madness to keep me going. What am I craving most? Family, friends, familiar food and a break from uni work (long overdue!). Possibly just hearing all of our delightful Scottish accents - it will be nice to speak at full speed again!

But at the same time my friends from this first semester will already be beginning to leave! I hate the thought of loosing most of the people I spend time with. And although I am always willing to meet new people, starting (almost) from scratch again is a slightly disheartening thought. 

IFFR

One thing I am definitely looking forward to in January/February next year is the International Film Festival Rotterdam. I actually went for my little meeting/interview today along with two other girls. Apparently I am currently put down for volunteering as a member of the Party Crew! Buzzin'. So hopefully all goes well with that - it sounds like a lot of fun and great for the CV (always a bonus)! 

Post-interview!! (Went a little over the top with the editing...no judgements!) =D

P.s. Sorry, feel like this post was a little lazy this week! Not been in the mood for writing (weird, I know!), and had a lot of bike related drama to content with. Guess what? Broken. Again. *wail of despair*

Just a final note. How cool is this? Cannot believe I missed it!! Absolutely gutted.