Whew. Made it to the guesthouse.. Safe, just slightly battered. It started with hand-carrying an approximately 15kg cabin luggage over 2 plane changes. Then there was the physical challenge in Doha where you’re hanging onto a handstrap for 10 minutes while the Cobus driver ran circles around the International Airport. I honestly though he couldn’t find the plane from the terminal. My suitcases fared slightly worse. The Samsonite luggage, which is supposed to be very sturdy, had a busted outer zipper. So I was pushing this big red suitcase in Belgium with a big side pocket gaping open.
But to backtrack a little.. I was met by a girl from the university at the airport, so that was OK enough except that I always manage to fall in the slowest-moving Passport queue so it was quite a wait. Train ride from Brussels to Leuven was quick though getting the ticket for it was another long process. All the machines seem to be not functioning properly, one way or the other. One wouldn’t accept bills, the other won’t read the card, etc.. But the real challenge came when disembarking in Leuven. Taxis were scarce as apparently today is a public holiday and everyone just started drinking since 10am. Roads were blocked and they all became fairgrounds with stalls and shops. So in search of a cab I had to push my 30kg luggage all over town trying to find a cab. Never saw one, until I just asked the student who met me to call for one.
So I eventually found and settled in The Viking Guesthouse where my accommodation is back to being a student. Still a slight upgrade from my state university lodgings back in UP. I would post pictures but for some reason my phone wifi is crappy & I cannot transfer via bluetooth. Gaad, have to figure out soon how to function efficiently here. But, I did get a local SIM, I’d announce the number, but cannot figure it out yet 😛 I’m thinking in my 3rd time zone now, from Philippines to Oman, so having a slight temporal shifting disfunction..
Made a small walkthrough of the area, street names are sooo long! Managed to buy my essentials, which means orange juice & milk. And now that I finally logged online via laptop, I just thought to update everyone who cares to know. Thank you. I’m so looking forward to sleeping good as jetlag and all the events of the past week will catch up.
Hope things will go well tomorrow. Next on the list: 1. registration 2.accommodation 3.enrollment. Yeah, coz I’m actually supposed to study here.
arkitrix 