Being an Int. Stud.

After quite a while I’m writing from Istanbul. I’m now here for two weeks to get prepared for my stay in the United States. As I’ve written in one of my previous blogs, I will spend six weeks at Vanderbilt University this summer to work on my research proposal for next year. I’m super excited! However, at the same time, all the preparation process and coming to the end of the year made me realize once again how hard it is actually to be an international student. Before leaving Utrecht, I had to pack up everything, re-register myself with the city once again for a change in address, re-register to the university, prepare all the documents for IND, renew my insurance, finish courses, say bye to friends and at the same time enjoy my last days in Utrecht.. Both emotionally and physically all this change and busy schedule are quite tiring but I guess I handled it well. Once I turned back to Istanbul, I spent the first two days to prepare the documents for my visa application. Since I’ll be leaving really soon, I was stressed about it but everything worked out very smoothly yesterday when I had the appointment at the consulate. Now I have to plan more concretely what I want to do when I’m at Vanderbilt so I can efficiently work there. But I really need holidays and just to have a few lazy days! I deserved it after such a demanding academic year, no?! Well, I’ll just make up the time for myself –of course!-.. It’s all about being an international student: living in different places temporarily, preparing the next stay once you settle down somewhere, already thinking about your next flight ticket when you’ve just landed.. leaving people behind and meeting others in a new destination.. It’s maybe hard and challenging but I really enjoy it and find it refreshing... Anyways, I'll be writing soon again about what's going on in an international student's life in summer!