Study in Antwerp UAMS !! 2010-2010

Hi,

I am from the province of Antwerp, what would you like to know? It's a nice city for students, although it's quite calm if you compare it to other university cities. The university neighbourhood is in the centre of Antwerp, quite close to the train station and bus stations and around the campuses there are rooms to let for the students and there are of course quite some bars and restaurants as well. Maybe ask what you want to know, that's easier :-)

Marthe

Marthe hi !!! thank you for the info !! well I will be there late August. I will be greatful to you if you can answer......
What about the weather?? what clothes should I take with me ??
What about the people? Are they friendly with foreign students?
the cost of food drinks ??
Do you work or study? About a mobile number can I get one there easy?

Hi,

at the moment, the weather is fantastic, already some weeks around 30 degrees, but I'm afraid that's quite exceptional ... well, it depends, some years summer is great, some years we have at least a whole month of rain, so it's best to be prepared for any type of weather and bring summerclothes, but also rain clothes, winter clothes, etc. Winters are getting colder and more snowy these last years, with minimum temperatures until about minus 10. Normally, september and october are very nice months, though, so those winter clothes are hopefully only necessary afterwards.
About the people, you'll arrive when university still hasn't started, so I'm afraid that, during your first weeks, the student area will still be quite empty, but they have quite a good Erasmus programme in order to let you meet up with other foreign students in the beginning of the academic year and will try to involve you into the activities of the Belgian students.Did they already send you information about it? And do you know when activities start? If not, I'll try to ask a friend that studied there for info about it.
In general, if you're social enough, it should be fine, but it might often be so that you'll need to take the first step in making Belgian friends, as Belgians can be very closed.
The cost of food and drinks is more expensive than in Greece. For exemple, a bread (handy as food in the mornings) can cost between 2 and 3 euros. If you buy drinks in a restaurant or bar, you'll need to pay about 2 euros for it as well. The university should have it's own restaurant, and there for a hot dish, you'll pay about 5 euros, but need to inform myself on that as well, I will let you know when I know more exact information :)
I'm working and not in Belgium, but in Luxembourg, the small country next to it, so I don't live there myself anymore.
And a mobile number is no problem. You have 3 big mobile companies: Proximus, Mobistar and Orange, which all do fairly good actions and you can opt for a year pass with monthly paying or a prepaid card, so that's as seems best for you. You can get those cards in every mobile shop...I think, in the "Phone House" shops, you'll find offers from all those companies and there people can help you finding the card that fits you best.

Ok, enough for today. I'll inform myself a bit more and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate!

Marthe

Hi

26/08/2010 I will be in Antwerp !! so do you have something to tell me ??
should I bring warm clothes now ??
How was your summer ??
Do you have something to recommend me ? any restaurant ? any shop? any museum?
Any area that I must not walk alone at night ?

What about Erasmus? I do not have any news!!
thank you !!!

hi Stella,

I'm afraid I told most of what I know in my last mail. The weather is as predicted. Sometimes it's really warm, sometimes really cold. So one day you'll need your summer clothes as it's practically 30 degrees and the other day temperatures are around 10 degrees, so quite cold. So yes, definitely bring warm clothes and clothes against the rain, but summer clothes as well, as September and October can still be quite nice.
There's a lot to see in Antwerp and Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, etc, but you'll notice that there (for example: Bruges, Ghent, Amsterdam, etc.). For Antwerp itself, the best thing to do would be to go to the Tourist Information Office (on the main square in Antwerp) to see what museums are advised and what activities are planned for the next days (summer has quite a full activities agenda). The Erasmus students themselves will probably organise trips to different places, but I can't help you with info about the Erasmus programme.
I always avoided to be alone in the neighbourhood around the central station (Astrid) and the bus station (Roosevelt) after nightfall, but as long as you avoid eye contact with the people that don't look honest, things should be ok ... but that counts for everywhere, I guess.

Good luck with your stay there. As soon as you'll be there, things will fall into their place themselves, I guess.

Marthe